Typically, the airline contracts with a separate cleaner who will remove all linens at each stop. In McGrail's experience, “Used blankets would be taken off the plane and washed on ground after every flight in a boiling hot wash, then placed inside individually sealed plastic bags ready for the next flight.

The cleanliness of United Airlines blankets depends heavily on the type of flight and your cabin class. On long-haul international flights and in Polaris (Business Class), blankets are generally laundered at industrial facilities after every single flight and returned to the plane in sealed plastic bags. For these flights, you can be fairly confident the blanket is fresh. However, on domestic U.S. flights, policies are more varied. Often, blankets are only "tidied" or refolded by cleaning crews between segments during a quick turnaround. A good rule of thumb in 2026 is: "If it’s not in a sealed plastic bag, it’s probably been used by someone else." United has made efforts to improve hygiene by partnering with brands like Saks Fifth Avenue for their premium bedding, but in the Economy cabin on a short hop from Chicago to Denver, the blanket might have been used on the previous leg. If you are a germaphobe, it is always safer to bring your own travel shawl or a lightweight, packable "down" blanket for guaranteed hygiene.