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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:
GetOutOfMYGarden · 24/09/2017 23:07

Lady B was being unreasonable. Lady A may have been smelly, but it's not because she wanted to be.

jjgg · 24/09/2017 23:23

Lady B is a twat. Oils and smells like that are a recipe for headaches! Lady A couldn't help it and was obviously embarrassed, I feel really sorry for her Sad

ProverbialOuthouse · 24/09/2017 23:33

Oh I would have been in stitches! So glad I wasn't you OP as I would definately have been unreasonable! And I say that as a fellow IBS sufferer with an unfortunate sense of humour of a 7 year old boy.

Lady B was being a twat.

  • p.s. as I read your post I thought you were going to say lady B started opening the windows - which would have made her even more unreasonable.
Justaboy · 24/09/2017 23:35

Some people don't have any humanity or understanding about them do they?, I wonder what if -ladyB- pillock B, was to have the same condition or worse?.

Shezow · 24/09/2017 23:37

Poor poor lady A

ProverbialOuthouse · 24/09/2017 23:38

This is the funniest thread I've read in ages 😂 "Barrage of farts" 😂

Binghasalottoanswerfor · 24/09/2017 23:46

I think if I was Lady A, I'd have stayed in the Loo for the rest of the flight. Let everyone else use the others!

Not saying that's what Lady A should have done. Just what I'd do

Binghasalottoanswerfor · 24/09/2017 23:47

Thankyou Chloe!!!!! So irritating isn't it? X

Binghasalottoanswerfor · 24/09/2017 23:51

Totally agree Proverbial

TammySwansonTwo · 24/09/2017 23:53

I don't ever wish illness on people but I hope lady B gets a benign polyp in her colon. And maybe a couple of anal fissures. Nasty nasty woman. Bowel issues are so humiliating, especially in public and even more so in an enclosed space. I had bowel issues for years as a result of endometriosis - it required medication to make things work right after a surgery made things worse, and I was too mortified to ever take it while working so spent years only going to the loo once a week at weekend and caused myself multiple obstructions. I would die of shame if this happened to me.

bengalcat · 25/09/2017 17:33

Lady B obvs - it's not as though Lady A could help it - as a previous poster said presume the lav oil was in an appropriately size container

treacletoffee23 · 25/09/2017 17:50

Lady B
If she had wafted lavender around my daughter she would have made her ill, as she is allergic. How humiliating for the lady with IBS.

Carriecakes80 · 25/09/2017 17:51

Lady B was being an absolute Fanny Nugget.

No-ones fault if they have IBS, No, they shouldn't just not travel because of their illness, yes farts are not great when they're someone elses, although I think mine are fab, however, I bloody HATE Lavender, daft thing is, I get serious migraines that can literally knock me out, and was always given Lavender to have by my bed as its meant to help with headaches, nope, it smells like old ladies and makes me want to vom, so I would have wanted to stuff Lady Lavenders oils right up her bum! I think you were very kind to swap seats! Some people can be so bloody anal!

Winteriscomingneedmorewood · 25/09/2017 17:52

The whole experience sounds like a complete flightmare!

CockacidalManiac · 25/09/2017 18:01

Could be a useful answer to the crying baby problem on aeroplanes too.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=omIDkBnCX0I

Eveforever · 25/09/2017 18:07

My mother and daughter both have stomach problems, so I completely sympathise with poor Lady A. Lady B didn't need to kick up such a stink about things! However, I'm with the strong gag reflex crew and I have to say I would struggling not to throw up smelling farts for any length of time. Humiliating Lady A wasn't going to help anyone though. Lady B using lavender in a tissue sounds like it would have been the best way to deal with things, was this suggested?

OlennasWimple · 25/09/2017 18:09

Lavender woman needed to put some oil on a tissue and keep it under her nose - far more effective than wafting a bottle around, and less obtrusive for everyone else.

For that reason alone SWBU, but it sounds an awful situation for everyone involved

wasonthelist · 25/09/2017 18:09

Lady B didn't need to kick up such a stink about things!

I see what you did there.

ProverbialOuthouse · 25/09/2017 18:23

The thing with IBS farts though is that they're unlike normal run of the mill farts - they're like toxic sewer fumes. I fly longhaul in 5 weeks - what's the betting karma catches up with me for finding this funny and presents me with an IBS flare up 😂 I'll just blame DH - or a nearby baby.

Redadmiralflyer · 25/09/2017 18:27

This made me laugh I'm sorry.
I would rather explode inside than let my ibs come out but I do feel sorry for lady a.

Lady b was unreasonable

forestship · 25/09/2017 18:37

My ibs only ever manifests itself only through stomach cramps, no accompanying wind release. Is this typical symptom and something I have to look forward to

Lady Lavender was in the wrong here. There's always complaints about perfume being used in confined areas, and rightly so.

Fudgefase · 25/09/2017 18:48

Lady B was being a B. Farty pants couldn't help it really but what a nightmare situation for all of you. I travel on a bus and there's a care in the commnity lady who gets on regularly who could take out a regiment at 500 paces. Everyone on the bus freezes when she gets on but generally she can get a seat ok - it still stinks the bus up. I've used a fan in the past or just basically breathed through my coat, but normally I just get off early. Sadly you can't do that on a plane! Lady B was being nasty and could have been much more discreet. She just wanted to be a knob.

Viviennemary · 25/09/2017 18:59

I think you should have ignored the whole thing. You were all being a bit unreasonable IMHO. It was just one of those things.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 25/09/2017 19:08

I agree with a PP who said that Lady B was no lady. She was an ignorant, selfish, bitch.

Poor Lady A. I am lactose intolerant. The same can happen to me if I unwittingly eat something I shouldn't. And, TBH, as uncomfortable as it is, it's not really something I'd cancel my flight plans for.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 25/09/2017 19:08

Lady A made the classic mistake of owning her farts. The best approach would have been to look round indignantly and start tutting at the smell.