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?

Jam.
I have Crohn's. I will always have Crohn's. And the likelihood is that I will always be on drugs that severely compromise my immune system. If my kids get a vomiting bug I have to send them to stay with their father as the last time I caught norovirus from them I ended up in hospital for over a week. Do you think I should be banned from international travel so your dad can vomit all he likes on a prebooked flight rather than wait in a hotel paid for by insurance for 48 hours?

The couple were Indian, perhaps they don't have the same ideas/values about sickness.

WTF!

Forget it OP. A shitty airline like that wont care. If it was a reputable airline you might get a response.

You're wasting your breath.

Um, op I can assure you the Indians in my family would be just as horrified as you were.

What a bizarre remark.

Emetophobe and fear of flying here - the double whammy I've only been on one hour long flight in my life and spent the entire time terrified that either another passenger nearby would be sick, or I myself would get travel sick and the other passengers would hate me. I didn't, but anxiety about that has prevented me taking any more flights since! I would be sitting there having panic attacks for the entire journey in the situation you were in.

Glad you are OK OP, but yeah the Indian comment is a bit odd?

Can't believe he sat on the floor puking (I assume sick bags were on seat???) Grim.

Op, that Indian remark is ridiculous.

Maybe it was an odd comment. All I'm suggesting is that what's seen as revolting in one culture can be totally acceptable in another.

Have you had a response from the airline Op?

Should, like I said, trust me on this one. I doubt there's a human culture anywhere that thinks this is okay. Certain gross individuals, sure, but they come from all nations.

Way to make anyone of Indian origin feel like a freak show, thanks for that.

You were kind and civil to the woman on the flight. You did the right thing. It's over. What exactly are you after from the airline now? If you are asking them to review their procedures for allowing sick passengers to fly, or consider in future making sure they are seated without someoen next to them, then that seems appropriate. If you are asking for financial recompense, then I would guess they would say as you did not complain at the time they did not have an opportunity to address it. You might get something though I guess.

My DH started with horrific dysentery mid flight from Sri Lanka - the staff just cordoned off a toilet and announced it was solely for his use and moved us to sit next to it. Luckily there was spaces. Was a long long flight - he got took straight from the airport to hospital.

Oh dear
Lost sympathy now with that dumbass racist remark