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Original poster

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

187 replies

ShouldHAVE · 25/08/2017 13:17

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?

OP posts:
Crunchymum · 26/08/2017 13:23

Getting ill during a flight is very different to boarding a flight when ill.

I appreciate it's incredibly inconvenient to miss a flight but it's incredibly selfish to fly when ill and probably contagious. To laugh about it after is just fucking ignorant though.

pilotswife · 26/08/2017 13:27

Well said CrunchyMum

Jamylollypop88 · 26/08/2017 13:45

Omg get a bloody grip. ! Crew knew he was unwel but let him board! Do yuh not think he was terribly embarrassed and felt bad enough I'm glad he can laugh about it or should he remain humiliated!
Fucking hate this forum !
One reason why I hardly ever post !

NikiBabe · 26/08/2017 13:49

Jamy he shouldn't have even tried to board the plane. He risked infecting everyone else.

Lol-ing about it is disgusting.

Jamylollypop88 · 26/08/2017 13:53

Laughing ? He wasn't laughing at the time you wolly!
He can look back and laugh
First time flying... gets struck by a bug.. faces humiliation... the fact is he WAS allowed to fly and given a wod of sick bags! For the flight
Hardly disgusting! Christ oh mighty

Crunchymum · 26/08/2017 14:04

He was probably 'allowed' to fly as he wasn't upfront about being ill?

Although I'm still gobsmacked that the guy in the OP was allowed to board a flight as the crew would have clearly known he was very, very ill.

Jamy your first post was very flippant. I'm sure it wasn't pleasant for your dad but I don't think I'd ever be able to laugh about it had I been in his flight Shock

Aeroflotgirl · 26/08/2017 14:11

Jamy If I had been sat next to or near your dad, I would have complained, that she should not be allowed to fly in that condition. There are probably people on the flight who might have immune disorders or illness affecting the immune system, which catching a bug like that, could be serious or fatal. He would also have been spreading germs about a closed and confined space, as well as vomit presenting a bio hazard as it cannot be adequately disposed of on a flight.

Aeroflotgirl · 26/08/2017 14:12

'he' doh.

Aeroflotgirl · 26/08/2017 14:20

Oh yes I am sure I caught a bug from someone sitting next to me at the Drs with a sickbowl vomitting. Days later I came down with it, and was so ill for days, good thing I did not have any immune illness, or it could have been much worse.

JacquesHammer · 26/08/2017 14:25

Fucking hate this forum !
One reason why I hardly ever post

Probably best you don't if this is the kind of anecdote you share.

If I had been next to your dad I would have been complaining he shouldnt be allowed to fly as loudly as I could.

Too right he should be humiliated for being willing to put at risk other passengers.

But ho ho, isn't he a card.

ShatnersWig · 26/08/2017 14:27

Beat me to it Jacques

TheFairyCaravan · 26/08/2017 14:41

Many years ago, before our first holiday abroad, DS1came down with what we thought was a tummy bug 48 hours before we were due to fly. I thought there was no way we were going. My mum and MIL said to just say he was travel sick at the airport Hmm

He was really poorly and ending up being admitted to hospital vomiting blood as our plane was due to take off but we had decided we weren't traveling the night before anyhow. It wouldn't have been fair to have dragged a very poorly DS1 on a flight and it certainly wouldn't have been fair to anyone else.

We went on a last minute deal the following week, and our insurance paid out straight away.

Aeroflotgirl · 26/08/2017 14:50

Well done TheFairy, that is what decent people do. If you did follow MIL advice, what if he had to be hospitalised during the flight, would mean the flight diverted.

GoldenOrb · 26/08/2017 14:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NikiBabe · 26/08/2017 16:28

A plane is one of those few places where you are in a very confined space, no access to proper toilet facilities and cannot get off no matter what.

All vomiting people should be banned from embarking the aircraft for those reasons.

I am glad Emirates kicked two vomiting passengers off.

Jamylollypop88 · 26/08/2017 16:38

My dad was handed a wod of sick bags and told my stepmom he wasn't up for it but thought he would be ok!
He was sick waiting for the flight.
What did you expect him to do?
People with low immune systems are told not to fly
Cancer patients are NOT allowed to fly I know this as fact.
My dad felt awful for every one around him! He didn't get off laughing thinking ha ha you suckers all got my bug Jesus !! Put a peg on it
If I was unfortunately sat next to a vomiting person I would ask to move and would feel pretty sorry for the poor person!
Some people get flight sickness and just can't help it! Not like they are purposely doing it

Crunchymum · 26/08/2017 16:56

My perfectly robust, non immunocompressed, non long term poorly 4yo ended up hospitalised after he caught a sickness bug. Healthy people catch bugs all the time???

Aside from the contagion issue, it's just plain fucking nasty to get on a plane if you are violently ill

Jamylollypop88 · 26/08/2017 17:00

Omg it's the ban the nuts on planes all over again.
Whilst we're at it.
Let's ban anyone who's not 100percent healthy and fit all disabled all learning difficulties anyone who is not totally immune to illness bla bla
Done with this thread.
Some people will moan and complain about anything. Boring

NikiBabe · 26/08/2017 17:01

What did you expect him to do?

Not to get on the fucking plane!

Use the insurance to stay recover and fly later.

If he was too tight fisted to buy insurance he should have paid himself to stay and get another flight.

Crunchymum · 26/08/2017 17:04

Happy flouncing Jamy

Sorry there wasn't enough lol'ing about you Dad's situation for you.

JacquesHammer · 26/08/2017 17:04

What did you expect him to do

I'm going to use tiny words here because you're obviously hard of thinking as a family.

He became ill before the flight. Therefore I would expect him NOT TO GET ON THE FLIGHT.

That's the point of having travel insurance

JacquesHammer · 26/08/2017 17:07

Some people get flight sickness

Indeed. But given your dad was throwing up before the flight that isn't actually the case.

NikiBabe · 26/08/2017 17:11

Cancer patients are NOT allowed to fly I know this as fact.

Jamy what the fuck are you on?

Ankleswingers · 26/08/2017 17:11

Disgusting attitude Jamy

M

Only1scoop · 26/08/2017 17:17

I assure you that Patients having cancer treatments ARE allowed to fly.

I bought a lovely man and his wife back from a holiday only 2 days ago.

Many people out there have compromised immune systems. You wouldn't even know.