Unbelievable BA story
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Can someone confirm/refute that it is now sop to carry a body bag on board - use it or no. I know it is a delicate question and it has been brought up before but there wasn't really an answer.
Porche
Porche
Palmtree and others (who didn't appreciate my post), you are yet more examples of pax who don't pay for your C of F tickets! I am an elderly person who may well pop his clogs while flying one of these days. I AM NOT RICH. For health reasons I can only contemplate flying long haul in C or F. I do so at my own expense (not the company's - as most pax do). I don't believe my attitude is selfish. The dead person will certainly not enjoy the privilege of flying in F - and I certainly won't find their company lively. By all means upgrade any accompanying family members. I have no dispute with that. So give me a break all you politically correct do gooders, cos the HARD EARNED money I spend on my C or F ticket actually subsidises your cheapo ticket!!! Ban me from flying, ha! You make me laugh. The airlines need the revenue from my C or F ticket more than they need your few coppers. 
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MD, University of Wisconsin
Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Canada
Fellow of College of Physicians & Surgeons of Quebec
Diplomate of American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Is that enough? I still don't know jack-sh*t!
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Presumably the poor old lady was assigned a seat before she passed on. Why wasn’t she left there?
I heard a similar story about a passenger who died in first class and the crew decided to move the body out of there and into business. When the form of the flight engineer appeared through the dividing curtains dragging a body the passengers let out a gasp of shock and surprise. Not knowing what to say the flight engineer asked “Did anyone else have the fish?” True story apparently.
Kirk out……….
I heard a similar story about a passenger who died in first class and the crew decided to move the body out of there and into business. When the form of the flight engineer appeared through the dividing curtains dragging a body the passengers let out a gasp of shock and surprise. Not knowing what to say the flight engineer asked “Did anyone else have the fish?” True story apparently.
Kirk out……….
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Disclaimers first.
I was not there.
I don't know all the circumstances
I have never died on a plane.
BUT
If I was enjoying a first class snooze I'd be shocked and horrified if the crew placed a corpse next to me. If there were wailing and gnashing of teeth relatives on board why the hell was not the corpse placed next to them?
Why not switch with back row next to window and place relative next to deceased. Sorry, I am with the complainant on this one. And if it happened to me I sure would not travel with that airline again, ever.
Sign me, JASSLFWPYW (Just another stupid self loading freight who pays your wages.)
I was not there.
I don't know all the circumstances
I have never died on a plane.
BUT
If I was enjoying a first class snooze I'd be shocked and horrified if the crew placed a corpse next to me. If there were wailing and gnashing of teeth relatives on board why the hell was not the corpse placed next to them?
Why not switch with back row next to window and place relative next to deceased. Sorry, I am with the complainant on this one. And if it happened to me I sure would not travel with that airline again, ever.
Sign me, JASSLFWPYW (Just another stupid self loading freight who pays your wages.)
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obgraham
No need to be defensive old chap, I made a polite enquiry, which seemed germane to me as the pax involved expressed a concern about infectious disease.
Given that you appear to qualified to say that "nothing will seep out and get you", I wonder if you have a view as to why the crew of the aircraft apparently did not contact their medical service in Texas and gain such reassurance for the pax who expressed concern?
No need to be defensive old chap, I made a polite enquiry, which seemed germane to me as the pax involved expressed a concern about infectious disease.
Given that you appear to qualified to say that "nothing will seep out and get you", I wonder if you have a view as to why the crew of the aircraft apparently did not contact their medical service in Texas and gain such reassurance for the pax who expressed concern?
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Greens I don't know the protocols for contacting Med-Air or whatever it's called.
I just don't understand why there would be more concern 5 minutes after the passing, than there was 5 minutes before. Just general discomfort with the "dead body" question I guess. It was the guy wanting compensation for having to put up with it all that got my goat.
Sorry for my attitude today. Wife claims it's a routine thing now!
I just don't understand why there would be more concern 5 minutes after the passing, than there was 5 minutes before. Just general discomfort with the "dead body" question I guess. It was the guy wanting compensation for having to put up with it all that got my goat.
Sorry for my attitude today. Wife claims it's a routine thing now!
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ob
Thakns for the further thoughts.
One can perhaps understand a non medic, who wasn't sitting next to the deceased and then awoke to find the corpse being placed in reasonably close proximity, being concerned about the possibility of infection.
I would have been.
Understandably a non issue for you with your knowledge, but for those of us who don't know what we don't know....
I also think that Flybywire's post makes a lot of sense in looking at a different way of handling the event.
Thakns for the further thoughts.
One can perhaps understand a non medic, who wasn't sitting next to the deceased and then awoke to find the corpse being placed in reasonably close proximity, being concerned about the possibility of infection.
I would have been.
Understandably a non issue for you with your knowledge, but for those of us who don't know what we don't know....
I also think that Flybywire's post makes a lot of sense in looking at a different way of handling the event.
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Given that this happens from time to time and there has been such a large amount of publicity over this incident, all of it negative to BA, that I would have thought it is high time that BA, and other airlines for that matter, made provision for demised SLF. It must surely be possible to adapt some space for eventualities such as this on long haul flights. The space could double as luggage storage when not in use for a corpse. The only concern with that would be to ensure that the poor ex-SLF is actually dead, before laying them out. However, I would think on a long haul flight, the chances that there is a doctor on board who can give at least a cursory, if not official verdict, is pretty good.
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Like I said:
1. Leave the deceased where they are if at all possible.
2. If possible, move the neighbouring punters.
3. Make it look like the deceased is sleeping.
4. Get address details from affected neighbouring punters.
5. Continue flight to wherever is going to affect the least number of people and where there is infrastructure to best handle the problem.
6. Give the punters in point 4. something small from the duty-free trolley or a bottle of F/C wine as they disembark.
7. Send said punters a nice letter signed by the CEO, thanking them for their "assistance and understanding" and add a few thousand FFP miles to their account.
OK, this might happen 10-12 times / year. So it affects a very small number of flights per year. Not really worth the cost of blocking off a coffin-sized space on every aircraft.
1. Leave the deceased where they are if at all possible.
2. If possible, move the neighbouring punters.
3. Make it look like the deceased is sleeping.
4. Get address details from affected neighbouring punters.
5. Continue flight to wherever is going to affect the least number of people and where there is infrastructure to best handle the problem.
6. Give the punters in point 4. something small from the duty-free trolley or a bottle of F/C wine as they disembark.
7. Send said punters a nice letter signed by the CEO, thanking them for their "assistance and understanding" and add a few thousand FFP miles to their account.
OK, this might happen 10-12 times / year. So it affects a very small number of flights per year. Not really worth the cost of blocking off a coffin-sized space on every aircraft.
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That is a very sensible customer service orientated solution, Taildragger. If reported correctly, telling a first class passenger to 'get over it' isn't. So many airlines really don't deserve our business.
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I really am shocked at some of the attitudes in here. A person has died, it was a very difficult situation for all involved and the crew did what they thought was best. What could they have done???? Placed the body in crew rest??? IMPOSSIBLE...Have you seen the access hatches to these units....the crew would destroy their backs trying to get a body up there and then when rigor mortis has set there would be no way of getting the body out. Leave in the passengers origional seat??? Well no doubt if they did that we would have another news report about a full flight and children being traumatised by a dead body being strapped into an upright seat. Toilet??? NOW REALLY!
I personally feel the first class cabin was the most appropriate place to put the body, after all there is a little thing called "dignity after death" and the very fact that some narrow minded twit who feels he is above all else in life is a little pissed off that a dead person was put sitting next to him clearly speaks volumes about his lack of compassion.
Disgraceful carry on and I for one will certainly be avoiding SKY News from now on for giving such a muppet so much coverage!
And no, it does not happen that often statistically and no, Body bags are not loaded onboard!
I personally feel the first class cabin was the most appropriate place to put the body, after all there is a little thing called "dignity after death" and the very fact that some narrow minded twit who feels he is above all else in life is a little pissed off that a dead person was put sitting next to him clearly speaks volumes about his lack of compassion.
Disgraceful carry on and I for one will certainly be avoiding SKY News from now on for giving such a muppet so much coverage!
And no, it does not happen that often statistically and no, Body bags are not loaded onboard!
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some narrow minded twit
In the past 6 months I have flown 8 x F sectors with EK and LX - none on BA.
Now I remember why I don't spend money on premium travel with BA, the premium passenger is treated as a PITA or despised.
I'm obviously another narrow minded twit.
In the past 6 months I have flown 8 x F sectors with EK and LX - none on BA.
Now I remember why I don't spend money on premium travel with BA, the premium passenger is treated as a PITA or despised.
I'm obviously another narrow minded twit.
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I am as squeamish as the next person (or more so), but, for me, Paddy's post sums it up. No matter what you have paid for your ticket, surely the only appropriate response is to (a) do all you can not to increase the suffering of those grieving around you and (b) be damned grateful it isn't you/your mother.
I read the Sunday Times report where the chap was quoted as being saying he was worried about the hygiene implications of being near a dead body for 5 hours. Again, unencumbered by any medical knowledge, surely common sense suggests this isn't much of a risk...
The lack of humanity displayed by Mr. Trinder is really disturbing.
I read the Sunday Times report where the chap was quoted as being saying he was worried about the hygiene implications of being near a dead body for 5 hours. Again, unencumbered by any medical knowledge, surely common sense suggests this isn't much of a risk...
The lack of humanity displayed by Mr. Trinder is really disturbing.
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When you cough up the big bucks and/or miles to sit in the fancy sections, the airline already has given you a whole lot more: elbow room, butt room, knee room, and a real glass for your orange juice. And yes, at times I like it that way, too.
But it never ceases to amaze me at the sense of entitlement that goes along with it. Somebody dies on a flight, and they just don't want to be bothered.
Next thing they'll have to install separate air systems so the toffs don't have to breathe the same air as the rest of us.
But it never ceases to amaze me at the sense of entitlement that goes along with it. Somebody dies on a flight, and they just don't want to be bothered.
Next thing they'll have to install separate air systems so the toffs don't have to breathe the same air as the rest of us.
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FINAL 3 GREENS....
DO NOT TAKE MY POST OUT OF CONTEXT!!!!! Yet again you make a thread all about you.
I am not calling all First class customers Narrow Minded Twits! I nor the vast majority of my colleagues consider ANY of our customers narrow minded twits (and if you really do believe that we all do then you obviously have some sort of a complex). I am referring to the person who is complaining about being sat next to a dead body on a flight so much so that they have gone to the press about it. This person is the narrow minded twit and is probably only going to the press because the company told him to get over it and rather rightly so as he was more than likely looking for compensation (eg... profit off the back of some poor dead passenger this person did not even know)!!!!
I know you have a chip on your shoulder over BA, you drone on and on about it regularly and its getting tiresome. I find it hard that one person has had so many bad experiences with just one company but sure you havent flown us in a while so perhaps you are just out of touch...and no, Im not pro BA just cos I work for them, I have been round a bit before landing this airline.
A person is dead, it is not something that should be using as an excuse to bitch about an airline! Get your priorities in order and thank god, Allah, Hishnu or whoever the heck you preach to that it was not you that died at 38000ft!
DO NOT TAKE MY POST OUT OF CONTEXT!!!!! Yet again you make a thread all about you.
I am not calling all First class customers Narrow Minded Twits! I nor the vast majority of my colleagues consider ANY of our customers narrow minded twits (and if you really do believe that we all do then you obviously have some sort of a complex). I am referring to the person who is complaining about being sat next to a dead body on a flight so much so that they have gone to the press about it. This person is the narrow minded twit and is probably only going to the press because the company told him to get over it and rather rightly so as he was more than likely looking for compensation (eg... profit off the back of some poor dead passenger this person did not even know)!!!!
I know you have a chip on your shoulder over BA, you drone on and on about it regularly and its getting tiresome. I find it hard that one person has had so many bad experiences with just one company but sure you havent flown us in a while so perhaps you are just out of touch...and no, Im not pro BA just cos I work for them, I have been round a bit before landing this airline.
A person is dead, it is not something that should be using as an excuse to bitch about an airline! Get your priorities in order and thank god, Allah, Hishnu or whoever the heck you preach to that it was not you that died at 38000ft!
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This person is the narrow minded twit and is probably only going to the press because the company told him to get over it and rather rightly so as he was more than likely looking for compensation
Your comments above are amazing - I am not surprised that this premium pax went to the press after being told to "get over it." F class pax pay your company a very large amount of money for a highly differentiated service.
He should have been compensated for his experience IMHO, as the service he received was considerably degraded. BTW I completely support the upgrading of the daughter, that was a humane and sensible move.
I don't have a chip on my shoulder about your company, I just find it too prone to the threat of industrial action and the attitude of a significant minority of crew/groundstaff to be poor (strangely enough, although we often cross swords on PPrune, I suspect that you are probably very good at your job and a credit to BA)
Your comments above are amazing - I am not surprised that this premium pax went to the press after being told to "get over it." F class pax pay your company a very large amount of money for a highly differentiated service.
He should have been compensated for his experience IMHO, as the service he received was considerably degraded. BTW I completely support the upgrading of the daughter, that was a humane and sensible move.
I don't have a chip on my shoulder about your company, I just find it too prone to the threat of industrial action and the attitude of a significant minority of crew/groundstaff to be poor (strangely enough, although we often cross swords on PPrune, I suspect that you are probably very good at your job and a credit to BA)
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Compensation
I'm pretty sure he'll get some sort of compensation as will most of the other passengers in F. We've only heard the press's version of his 'traumatic ordeal'. It did all seem to be about him didn't it?
I have to say if he was told to 'get over it', which is wrong, he must have wound the cabin crew up chronically. It would have taken a hell of a lot of goading for me to turn around and say something like that.
As crew we're told to look after the relatives with as much discretion and dignity as possible, and to me putting a dead person in a cupboard or toilet is hardly dignified. This is certainly something I hope I never have to deal with on board. However if it ever does, I will do my best to look after all those concerned and will consider every option available to me and hope that those affected will have some compassion.
I have to say if he was told to 'get over it', which is wrong, he must have wound the cabin crew up chronically. It would have taken a hell of a lot of goading for me to turn around and say something like that.
As crew we're told to look after the relatives with as much discretion and dignity as possible, and to me putting a dead person in a cupboard or toilet is hardly dignified. This is certainly something I hope I never have to deal with on board. However if it ever does, I will do my best to look after all those concerned and will consider every option available to me and hope that those affected will have some compassion.