Just How Badly Can You Treat Passengers - And Get Away With It?
I checked with Mrs Uplinker, (a purser on wide-body airliners, who also worked on the narrow-body fleet):
Yes, we carried about 4-5 spare seat cushions on each aircraft for this exact eventuality, (as well as passengers wetting themselves, or spilling drinks or food). The engineers would check on the stock of spare cushions and replenish them if required.
Mrs U once physically cut away and removed a complete seat pocket after a passenger had been sick in that, and no amount of cleaning could remove the smell.
So it can be done, service can be good, as you would reasonably expect it to be in situations like this.
PS, if an airline cannot afford to carry a few spare seat cushions on every aircraft, they are not charging enough for their tickets, or they are taking too much profit out of the airline.
my bold: Trust me, nobody wants to puke on purpose, or for a laugh........It is an automatic emergency response.
Yes, we carried about 4-5 spare seat cushions on each aircraft for this exact eventuality, (as well as passengers wetting themselves, or spilling drinks or food). The engineers would check on the stock of spare cushions and replenish them if required.
Mrs U once physically cut away and removed a complete seat pocket after a passenger had been sick in that, and no amount of cleaning could remove the smell.
So it can be done, service can be good, as you would reasonably expect it to be in situations like this.
PS, if an airline cannot afford to carry a few spare seat cushions on every aircraft, they are not charging enough for their tickets, or they are taking too much profit out of the airline.
my bold: Trust me, nobody wants to puke on purpose, or for a laugh........It is an automatic emergency response.
Well, since I have a travel-and-vomit story to tell . . . what the heck.
Young lady behind me did not like the turbulence and proceeded to vomit all over the back of my head and neck.
I know for certain that the young lady had eaten passion fruit for lunch.
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Certainly, Uplinker, any given puker cannot always reach a proper receptacle in time.
Mostly I was referring to the individual's disappearing act.
Mostly I was referring to the individual's disappearing act.
Ha ha ! No, I don't think we have fraternities in the UK? But like most young men, drinking a lot was part of my 'growing up', but the point was not to be sick - that would be a waste of good beer !
We were once complimented by a pub landlord who had observed my work colleagues and I drinking a LOT of beer one evening. He said "I have never seen a group of people drink so much beer and be so well behaved".
We could handle our drink
Anyway, sorry, back to the thread.
We were once complimented by a pub landlord who had observed my work colleagues and I drinking a LOT of beer one evening. He said "I have never seen a group of people drink so much beer and be so well behaved".
We could handle our drink
Anyway, sorry, back to the thread.
To answer the OP's question, as long as people continue to buy tickets airline management will see no need to do anything different. Why would they ?
As for carrying spare seat cushions/covers as a routine matter, Delta doesn't and never did to my knowledge.
As for carrying spare seat cushions/covers as a routine matter, Delta doesn't and never did to my knowledge.
Mrs U once physically cut away and removed a complete seat pocket after a passenger had been sick in that
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easyjet has a target for revenue from charging pax for bags at the gate that fall
outside policy. Said policy has been changed and made so confusing to create traps for the uninitiated to fall into. It truly is a race to the bottom.
outside policy. Said policy has been changed and made so confusing to create traps for the uninitiated to fall into. It truly is a race to the bottom.
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QR....
In company with Spouse and Daughter boarded a Qatar A330 at Doha for a flight to Melbourne, reached into the pocket for the briefing card and came up with a hand soaked in vomit, the stench was atrocious, though not noticeable prior when taking our seats. The aircraft from our vantage point was full but seats were found to reposition us, though split up and not together. Given the state of the floor awash in the terminal toilets and the appalling treatment seen of another passenger at passport control was more than happy to pledge never to return.
Not a favoured airline by many
What the hell is the pilot doing getting involved with pax while on the ground and never in the air. Furthermore were would he or she get the authority to put anyone on a no fly list.
Maybe Air Canada can have the pilot in for a chat,
Maybe Air Canada can have the pilot in for a chat,
I wonder what the reaction would be.
An immediate filing of a complaint about bullying and harassment would be filed with HR and the union rapidly followed by a lawsuit would be my best guess.
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The airline business is perfectly placed to exploit the public through withdrawal of any semblance of customer service.
Since 9/11 not only have draconian security measures been introduced and accepted by the public as part of measures to 'keep me safe' but also used as an excuse to treat customers like some bovine flock who exist only to be exploited. Youtube is full of 'Karen' videos of people who have 'lost their ****' with airlines, usually because they have been treated appallingly. The internet has also played it's part on commerce. At the flick of a switch ticket prices can be rigged in real time to demand the highest price for every seat on the jet. The internet allows airlines to completely control their relationship with the customer, reducing their ability to communicate with the airline or complain. Customer helplines are so sparsely manned that you get a reply in hours not minutes. The supplier sets the sometimes erroneous conditions of sale which place the entire burden on the poor customer who may have to re-purchase another ticket in time of disruption instead of simply being re-routed by an airline agent.
For the part of the airline staff.... Their contracts have been cut to the bone so enthusiasm is a thing of the past. I can tell you from personal experience that new procedures are trotted out like dictats from the politburo, procedures that will patently degrade the customer experience but add a few cents to the bottom line. The staff will complain as it is they that face the angry customers but it will be in vain. Failure to implement any direction comes with the immediate threat of disciplinary measure. Leadership is a thing of the past.... today it is all about short term gains and getting that management bonus.
Bullying passengers is now quite acceptable because that has become the very real culture of airlines from the top down.
Since 9/11 not only have draconian security measures been introduced and accepted by the public as part of measures to 'keep me safe' but also used as an excuse to treat customers like some bovine flock who exist only to be exploited. Youtube is full of 'Karen' videos of people who have 'lost their ****' with airlines, usually because they have been treated appallingly. The internet has also played it's part on commerce. At the flick of a switch ticket prices can be rigged in real time to demand the highest price for every seat on the jet. The internet allows airlines to completely control their relationship with the customer, reducing their ability to communicate with the airline or complain. Customer helplines are so sparsely manned that you get a reply in hours not minutes. The supplier sets the sometimes erroneous conditions of sale which place the entire burden on the poor customer who may have to re-purchase another ticket in time of disruption instead of simply being re-routed by an airline agent.
For the part of the airline staff.... Their contracts have been cut to the bone so enthusiasm is a thing of the past. I can tell you from personal experience that new procedures are trotted out like dictats from the politburo, procedures that will patently degrade the customer experience but add a few cents to the bottom line. The staff will complain as it is they that face the angry customers but it will be in vain. Failure to implement any direction comes with the immediate threat of disciplinary measure. Leadership is a thing of the past.... today it is all about short term gains and getting that management bonus.
Bullying passengers is now quite acceptable because that has become the very real culture of airlines from the top down.
Too many airline pax want "Champagne service" in return for "Lemonade money". Maybe they should pay more, & get more. It's simple stuff.
Remember that nobody forces anyone to fly anywhere, it's not like food, or oxygen, it's not essential to life. Aviation is a discretionary product. The industry might well do better, for both users and those that make their living from it, if the industry contracted.
Remember that nobody forces anyone to fly anywhere, it's not like food, or oxygen, it's not essential to life. Aviation is a discretionary product. The industry might well do better, for both users and those that make their living from it, if the industry contracted.
So how much extra should I have paid to get a level of service above waiting for hours to be told we were being cancelled with no effort to get us where we were going? I don't mind getting lemonade if that's what I paid for, but a cup of vomit I have to complain about.
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 19th Sep 2023 at 01:39. Reason: Remove profanity