Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Crew stepped off aircraft and was on jetbridge. When I looked at my handheld it said we were boarding. So I replied back we had not been cleaned or sprayed yet so we were not boarding. About 3 to 4 minutes later 2 cleaners came up the airstairs and boarded. One had an electric vacuum in hand the other had [a] trash bag in hand. Shortly after a 3rd cleaner came on board with a bag of supplies and boarded the aircraft and put [the] bag down by the First Class Lavatory. About 5 minutes later another cleaner (gentleman with nothing in his hands) came up the airstairs and boarded the aircraft. Within 10 to 15 seconds the first 2 cleaners came off the aircraft and right after them the other gentleman came off the aircraft saying 'we are good to go.' One of my crewmember's asked him was the aircraft sprayed. He repeated 'we were good to go' and proceeded to exit the jetbridge door and down the airstairs. I and the other crew member both said I don't think the aircraft was sprayed as neither of us saw the cone being put in place nor did we see the sprayer. At this time the last cleaner with the bag with supplies came off. I asked her has this aircraft been sprayed? She said what did he say; I said he said yes; she proceeded to exit the aircraft.  I said can you please show me what you have in that bag; because if there is no sprayer in there; then there is no way our aircraft has been sprayed. She then said 'I will tell him to come back.' At this time the Gate Agent came down to see if we were ready to board. I explained the situation to the Agent and she said 'oh no I am so sorry; that's not right.' The Captain was on the jetbridge with us and we were all in agreement that we needed to be sprayed before we could start boarding. The previous gentleman came back up the airstairs with sprayer in hand and sprayed aircraft. When he was done; without further delay; we boarded and departed. The Gate Agent was very apologetic about the incident.
Flight Attendant reported a cleaning crew had to be reminded to properly sanitize the aircraft prior to passenger boarding.