drbond

I have been asked by a colleage, what type of compensation they should request for the following:

Got on plane, strong stinch of vomit. Sat in seat, asked FA about odor, said insufficient time to clean during turnaround. Moments later, notices wetness in pants, gets up, puts hand on seat and sure enough wet and smells, puts hand around seat and pulls hand back with vomit on it. Seat was apparently wiped but vomit was around edges and in cracks. FA brings a blanket for seat and one for very wet floor. Plaintiff ended up sick for a few days after flight. Pax disgusted and wants to complain.

I have never experienced this or anything like this so I don't know. I suggested some miles or money. Then I was asked how much would be appropriate and fair. I said "I don't know, but I have a forum that might could help with this". So here you go, what are your thoughts?

brp

Generally, I find the "what compensation should I get" threads to be annoying and whiny. This is not. This is simply disgusting, and should be addressed. I would venture that 20K miles would not be out of line. We all know that AA do a poor job of cleaning the AC (WN has faster turnaround and does a far better job), but this is unacceptable.

Cheers.

diapickle

Did they at least give him/her another seat/upgrade? I can't imagine staying in that seat after this "discovery".

PHLDividends

Just a Freudian slip, or has a lawsuit already been filed?

IceTrojan

I'm still baffled as to why a) AA doesn't switch to all-leather seating for ease of cleaning, and b) why the cleaning crew doesn't have extra seat cushions.

Yuck. Seriously, puke = inoperable seat, in my book.

19103_aa

Dry cleaning reimbursement, full refund on entire ticket, and ~ 20k of AAdvantage miles.
Absolute disgrace

AEpilot76

If they ended up staying on that flight why should AA give them a full refund? They did transport them from A to B

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Agree, there is noooo! excuse of leaving the a/c in this fashion even if mean't delaying the outbound. Yes they transported him but I think the revolting circumstances cries for all three-cleaning, miles and refund.

Buster

I really hope that you're not being serious. I can't imagine being forced to sit in a seat with fresh vomit, then getting sick from the experience. That's the kind of thing that would truly drive me to never fly that particular airline again, particularly if the attitude from the employees is "Hey, we got you from A to B."

brp

I think AEpilot76 was saying that "full refund" may not be in order...and I hope he was not saying that no compensation should be forthcoming. I agree that a full refund should not be expected.

Cheers.

AEpilot76

I'm very serious. If the passenger was that disgusted by it (which I'm sure I would be) why did they not get off the plane and demand the refund then? Getting on a plane, sitting in a seat full of vomit, flying to your destination and then demanding a refund is the same as ordering a meal, eating the entire thing, then demand that it be taken off the bill because you didn't like it.

The bigger question is why the seat was not completely cleaned. There is ALWAYS time to clean vomit, thats a delay I don't mind taking

AEpilot76

Exactly...compensation yes, a full refund, no

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

But what we don't know is whether the paxs had little option. With flights full and limited it may have mean not arriving to his destination on time, particularly if he was within a time sensitive traveling scenario (meeting with a client, attending a meeting/conference, etc.), if he was provided alternative travel arrangements.

And what options did GAs give him. From what I gather the ground crew, including, GAs did not appear to be very concerned about their paxs, particularly if they would allow an a/c with fresh vomit to take on paxs without a total and thorough cleaning. Did they offer a F seat or try to find him an alternative flight or tell him this was it, take it or leave it.

workandski

I have to disagree with you on this one. Sometimes we just have to get somewhere on time, disgusted or not. I frequently fly across the country for a meeting and go home the next morning. Getting off the plane (as long as the plane was going to the destination) wouldn't be an option for me unless I was on my way home.

kaztm

I'm no doctor, but doesn't vomit contain body fluids? If so, I would view this incident as the passenger coming in direct contact with the body fluid of the previous passenger due to negligence of the airline.

Perhaps they owe you a full medical check for contagious diseases. Maybe the passenger's sickness was something more than emotional?

If human vomit is in no way a bio hazard, then the compensation should be...I'll leave it to the experts.