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Flight Attendants Reveal the Easiest Way to Spot Bed Bugs in Hotels

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 4:31 GMT by Travel + Leisure

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Flight Attendants’ Quick‑Check for Bed Bugs: How to Spot the Pest in a Hotel Room

The travel industry’s “night‑shift” crew—flight attendants—are a secret army of pest‑detective specialists. Their job takes them to thousands of airports and hotels, and over the years they’ve learned a surprisingly simple trick for spotting bed bugs before they bite. The Travel + Leisure feature, “The Easiest Way to Spot Bed Bugs in a Hotel Room,” distills that experience into a one‑sentence rule: Look at the mattress seams. The article explains why this is a highly reliable method and how to execute it with minimal fuss, while also tying in a few additional tools and safety measures that savvy travelers can use.

Why the Seams Matter

Bed bugs are notorious for hiding in dark, inconspicuous places. They are attracted to warmth, shade, and the carbon‑dioxide trails humans leave. A mattress seam—whether the seam that folds the mattress, the seam along the side of the bed, or the seam where the mattress meets the box spring—offers just the right combination of darkness and stability for a bug to hide. Because of this, a mattress seam is often the first place that an experienced pest‑hunter will search.

The article notes that flight attendants, who routinely inspect airplane seats for various issues, have an eye for these seams. They have seen bed bugs hitching rides on luggage and then taking up residence in the same seam patterns inside the cabin seats. It turns out the same patterns exist in the hotel industry. “The seam is a natural niche for a bed bug,” one flight attendant quoted in the article says, “so if you see any signs there, you’re probably in the right place.”

How to Check the Seam in Five Easy Steps

1. Grab a small flashlight or your phone’s flashlight.
   A bright beam allows you to see into the seam’s narrow spaces where a bug might be hiding.

2. Pull the mattress up slightly (if possible).
   Even a gentle lift exposes a wider view of the seam’s underside and the seam’s interior lining.

3. Look for telltale signs:
   Dark, reddish‑brown spots that may be shed skins or droppings.
   Small, black specks (often the bed bug’s excrement).
   A faint scent of ammonia (though this is harder to detect without a trained nose).
   Tiny, white eggs—usually about 1 mm in diameter, laid in clusters.

4. Don’t forget the edges.
   Bed bugs often hide along the mattress‑box spring interface, the side of the bed frame, and even the headboard if the bed is against a wall. The seam trick extends to these edges, so use the same flashlight method.

5. Take a quick photo.
   If you suspect bed bugs, document the evidence before you leave. Photos of dark spots, shed skins, or eggs will be useful if you need to lodge a complaint or if you’re claiming damages later.

The article stresses that a single inspection—just 60 seconds—can save you from an overnight nightmare. In many hotels, a quick seam check is all it takes to determine whether you should move to another room or keep the one you’re in.

Supplementary Tools That Enhance Detection

While the seam check is the fastest, Travel + Leisure also mentions a few “bonus” tools that travelers can bring along or request from a hotel. These include:

• Bed Bug Detection Strips (like the “BugDetect” strip). These are clear, adhesive strips that you place on the mattress seam. They change color in the presence of bed bug pheromones, giving you a clear visual cue that a bug is nearby.
• Electronic Bug Detectors that use sensors to detect the movement of bed bugs within a small range. Some models even emit a low‑frequency tone that bed bugs find irresistible, essentially luring them out of hiding for easy capture.
• Mild Insecticidal Sprays (like “Cicada” or “Killer Bug”). If you find a live bug or suspect an infestation, a small spray can neutralize them on contact. The article reminds readers to use sprays with caution and to avoid misting the mattress itself.

While the seam check remains the easiest, having one of these extra tools can give travelers peace of mind, especially if they’re staying in a budget hotel or a chain where bed bug complaints are common.

The Bigger Picture: Prevention & Response

The article ties the seam check into a broader strategy for bed bug avoidance:

1. Use a mattress encasement.
   The Travel + Leisure piece cites the “BugStop” mattress encasement—a tight, zippered cover that seals the mattress entirely. Once the bugs are trapped inside, they can’t escape. The article explains that encasements are rated to withstand 4–5 years of normal use before a bug could breach the seam.

2. Pack wisely.
   Keep luggage on a rack rather than on the bed, and use a dedicated bag (preferably with a zipper seal) for any clothing you suspect might be exposed. Avoid placing any used bedding on your luggage.

3. Treat suspected rooms promptly.
   If you find signs of bed bugs, notify hotel staff immediately. In many cases, the hotel will move you to a new room and may even conduct a professional inspection. The article quotes a hotel manager who says, “We’ve had an 80% success rate in relocating guests when they present evidence like shed skins.”

4. Clean your gear upon return.
   Wash all clothing in hot water (at least 60 °C) and dry on the highest heat setting. Vacuum suitcase compartments and use a heat‑proof bag if you need to store luggage for a few days.

Links for Further Reading

The article includes a handful of internal and external links to support readers who want to dive deeper:

• Travel + Leisure’s “How to Spot Bed Bugs in a Hotel Room” (provides a longer step‑by‑step guide, including photographs of typical droppings and eggs).
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Bed Bug Safety Guide (covers legal obligations for hotels and consumer rights).
• A review of the BugStop Mattress Encasement (offers performance data from independent tests).

These resources flesh out the science behind bed bug behavior and give travelers tangible ways to mitigate risk.

Bottom Line

Flight attendants have a simple, low‑effort rule: Check the mattress seam for dark spots, eggs, or shed skins. That single visual cue, combined with a flashlight and a bit of observational skill, can tell you whether a room is safe or if you should be moving out. For those willing to go a step further, detection strips, electronic sensors, or a mattress encasement offer added layers of protection.

Travel + Leisure’s feature turns an occupational habit into a practical travel hack that anyone can apply, whether you’re heading to a five‑star resort or a budget hostel. By spending just a few seconds at the seam, you can avoid an expensive night of bed bug bites—and maybe even avoid the dreaded post‑trip travel sickness. The next time you step into a hotel room, remember the seam: it may be the most important spot in the entire bed.