to not want to sit next to this man on a flight

[ShouldHAVE]

Flew back yesterday from holiday with my family. When we were checking in, there was an older man checking in with his wife. The man was in a wheelchair, being pushed by airport staff. He had towels over his head and was making lots of moaning noises and obviously being sick under there.

Lucky old me only ended up sitting next to them! The wife apologised, saying he started throwing up earlier that afternoon and was very ill (was not disabled - only in the wheelchair as he couldn't stop puking). Now, I just can't get my head around how he was allowed on that flight. The poor man should have been in hospital! He spent the entire 4ish hour flight vomiting and moaning in agony. The smells (coming from ends) were horrific. God knows how many sick bags he filled, but no-one was taking them away - he was just collecting them at his feet.

I spent the whole flight lightheaded from trying to hold my breath. I've complained to the airline this morning, I even paid extra for the privilege of booking my seat next to them.

Were the airline out of order to let him fly?

Omg I'd have been sick myself . You poor thing . Why didn't you swap seats with his wife ?? The airline should not have allowed him to fly . Poor man sounds very poorly x

I think they were, but as a very infrequent flyer, I couldn't know for sure. There is a big difference between someone taken ill on a flight and someone being taken on a flight in that state. I would definitely not be happy. Be interested to know what the airline says (which was it?).

I wouldn't have sat next to him full stop. Just the sound of retching makes me gag 😷

Apologies I'm guessing the wife was beside him and you other side of her . I bet the plane was stinking

Too late now! We're there no other seats anywhere?

Wow that sounds awful for all involved up. Do you think it could be that this want a temporary thing and that he needed to get home for treatment? I can't fathom why they didn't remove the used sick bags though, that's dire.

That's awful - I can't imagine being sat next to him for the flight. Surely he should not have been allowed to fly? I would make sure that the airline don't try and fob you off in regards to a refund/compensation.

That is really awful and the collection of bags at his feet , Dear God!

That sounds terrible. The crew won't take sick bags on planes. In my experience they have to be disposed of in the toilets . Some kind of health and safety thing apparently.

That sounds all sorts of wrong, him being able to get on the flight. What were they thinking?

His wife should've got rid of them though, obviously. Collecting at his feet is horrid .

I can't believe they let him on either - the whole plane could go down with it if it was something like norovirus. I'd be complaining like mad to the airline.

If it was caused by a virus, they've put plenty of people at risk of catching it too.

@poster Mumof41987 sorry - yes, I was on the end with his wife between us.

It sounds ridiculous, but as awful as it was - I felt sorry for his wife and didn't want to upset her any further by asking for a seat away from them. She kept apologising and I was telling her not to worry about it. Having looked up the aisle, I didn't think there were any spare seats anyway,

@Sashkin, that's exactly what I think. We were flying with Balkan, so thinking of the country we'd been to, it was more than likely food poisoning, but they didn't know that for sure!

Did you ask to move elsewhere?

xpost

I feel I have caught something just reading this thread.

That's appalling.
We once flew back from Miami and the passenger across the aisle from me starting throwing up an hour or two into the flight. When the plane landed no one was allowed to disembark until paramedics had boarded and declared it to be unlikely to be contagious.
I would definitely complain to the airline. He shouldn't have been allowed to board.

Yes, but food poisoning is often caused by bacterial or viral contamination. It can be spread by droplet infection; e.g., when vomiting.

@mrsrisotto no - the wife told me he'd had breakfast in the morning then started puking in the afternoon. I'd told her that my daughter had been sick the day before and she asked which hotel I was staying in. She obviously suspected food poisoning.

I can't believe they let him fly op! I would have been sick myself from the sound and smell. The airline owe you some compensation!

That sounds like a passenger with norovirus to me. If it is, everyone on the plane will be exposed, and anyone who hasn't had it very recently is likely to come down with it.

He should never have been allowed on the plane. It is reckless and dangerous (yes, people do actually die of norovirus).

That's awful. Wonder if he had a Dr's note saying it was not contagious... If not surely everyone on at that flight was at risk of catching it.

If my DD has been on that flight there's no way she could have sat there (emetaphobe)

@sparklingbrook sorry. I had to come home in the early hours and go straight in the shower. I still feel contaminated.

As an emetophobe, I wouldn't have boarded the flight let alone sat next to him.

I am upset just reading this, it is literally my worst nightmare.