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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Awkward flight-who was being unreasonable?

120 replies

Bombaypotatoes · 24/09/2017 19:52

Short flight home yesterday (4 hours), was seated next to a women (Lady A) and behind us was Lady B. About 45 minuets into the flight the women (Lady A) next to me apologised and said she thinks she's having a sudden IBS flare up and asked to swap seats so she could be a bit closer to the toilet. Lady A letting off a quite a lot of wind.Whilst not the most pleasent situation for everyone around her she was clearly embarrassed and kept walking about/going to the toilet.

Women B behind us kept commenting on the smell and ended up opening and using some sort of essential oils (lavender Iavender I think). she was wafting the oils about regularly (not putting a bit on a tissue or something and holding it close) and right behind me. I ended up with a headache due to the smells so asked if she could put it away for a bit. She refused and said the flatulance smell was to strong and I shouldn't have swapped seats with lady A (don't think it would have made much difference either way, except I would of have to get up and down regularly to let the women A out). Another person also asked her to stop using the oils as the smell was making them feel sick. Again lady B refused and got quite grumpy with lady A saying she should fly if she was sick, she's inconsidering and being was quite rude. Flight attendeant ended up intervening but the flight was full so no one could move seats (and we only had an hour left by that point).

So who WBU? Lady A, Lady B or me? I feel like the ibs flare up wasn't really something lady B could control but can also appreciate the smell wasn't pleasent. But neither was the oils and I would have rather smelt the flatulance than those to be honest. Sorry it's a bit long but it's been grating on me.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 24/09/2017 20:09

Bloody hell, standards are slipping ! Shock

Fuckoffee · 24/09/2017 20:12

Oh god I have an awful feeling lavender lady is my FILs wife. This is exactly the sort of thing she would do - and she takes lots of flights! I feel like apologising for her behaviour, even though it's unlikely it was her. She can be very lovely, but also is appallingly tactless, to the point where everyone is very uncomfortable. And she lurves her essential oils.

PurplePillowCase · 24/09/2017 20:13

poor lady a.
ibs is unpleasant but she was dealing with it.
lady b I can understand but after being told that her smellies were making others unwell she should have packed it in.

CaptainHammer · 24/09/2017 20:13

Lady B was a rude idiot.

BluePancakes · 24/09/2017 20:15

I'm allergic to strong smelling perfumes and oils, so would prefer to be sat near lady A than lady B.

Lady B was being unreasonable for her cuntish behaviour.

Etymology23 · 24/09/2017 20:17

What danceswithotters said exactly

Worst nightmare - feel bad for all involved!

Lweji · 24/09/2017 20:21

Lady B was a rude idiot.

This.

I would have hunted out a Lady C who had some chloroform in her bag for Lady B...

Best idea ever.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 24/09/2017 20:21

I don’t think anyone is BU, it’s not pleasant for all involved

Chloe1984 · 24/09/2017 20:21

Women = more than one woman
Woman = one woman

apostropheuse · 24/09/2017 20:22

I hope you didn't drop any of the 3 children you were juggling OP. Shock

Poor wee souls.

Ellie56 · 24/09/2017 20:22

Eww sounds like a fun flight was had by all.

Lady B was unbelievably rude and inconsiderate. She needed a good slap.

DoomGloomAndKaboom · 24/09/2017 20:25

I wish IBS on lady B. IBS and piles.

I really feel for lady A, how horrible for her. You did the right thing swapping seats.

I hope BA ban lady B and she is forced to use easy jet. Or is that too harsh?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/09/2017 20:29

I bloody hate flying.

OP, you poor lamb, stick with Farty and Smelly.

NotAgainYoda · 24/09/2017 20:31

I nearly poisoned me and DH one night after I splashed lavender oil around too liberally on pillows etc in a state of despair over my insomnia. Woke up feeling very sick and with terrible headaches

Lady A should try Shreddies (pants with carbon filter, not cereal)

I also tend to fart quite a lot on flights - and I'm pretty sure it's not just me

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 24/09/2017 20:32

Also, poor Farty and Smelly, not good for either of them.

This is why I'm alwauys tempted to get trollied on a flight. I never do though.

Aridane · 24/09/2017 20:33

Oh god - not sure I could cope being next to poor farty lady

Ttbb · 24/09/2017 20:34

A had no control over it. You couldn't help your headache either. B couldn't help hating the smell. However, you were in pain while B was in mere discomfort. B was causing you pain to allieviate her discomfort. As such B was being inconsiderate and unreasonable.

justaboutready · 24/09/2017 20:35

Lady B was BU

BellyDancer124 · 24/09/2017 20:36

Feel for lady A. IBS is no joke :(

bimbobaggins · 24/09/2017 20:40

Yes yoda , I'm the same. And I think you get a sense of invisibility on a flight where you don't think they smell or can be heard. Obviously not though.

BewareOfDragons · 24/09/2017 20:42

Lady B was being a selfish, nasty bitch. Essential oils can cause migraines for people who are prone to them.

I feel for Lady A. It was beyond her control and she was already mortified, no doubt.

Glumglowworm · 24/09/2017 20:47

Lady B was a bitch

I can't stand the smell of lavender, I'd rather smell the farts honestly.

Poor lady A

ElizabethDarcey · 24/09/2017 20:48

Poor woman A, she did her best in a distressing situation. It was nice of you to swap with her (and also sensible unless you wanted to be jumping up the whole time). Woman B was unreasonable, horrible and rude. I hope you asked her to put the oils away discretely when woman A was in the bathroom. Otherwise you were unreasonable to draw attention to them.

NameChangeFamousFolk · 24/09/2017 20:50

I can't imagine for one moment that anyone is going to say that anyone except for Woman B was BU.

It's pretty obvious no-one else did anything wrong, isn't it?

HeyRoly · 24/09/2017 20:52

If Lady A was totally incapable of holding in a barrage for farts until she reached a toilet, she needs to see a doctor. It's considered to be a form of incontinence.