Disgusting Things You've Seen Inflight
#617
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lihue, HI, USA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K; Delta Silver Medallion (1MM); Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold; National Executive
Posts: 1,111
Worst chain-reaction Barfapalooza I can recall was a Scenic Airlines late afternoon sightseeing flight into the Grand Canyon. The thermals were world class and we bumped and jerked all over the place. I was later told that late afternoon flights can be the worst for turbulence. It was a DeHavilland Otter, and every seat was full, and all but three of us barfed. My guess is most barfed from the turbulence, but having someone vomiting next to you activates the gag reflex, so there had to be some sympathy barfing as well.
I was actually one of three on board who did not vomit. And when we got back on the ground at Tusayan, there were TWO large trash cans for air sickness bags. The one trash can was overflowing, and the other was mostly full.
Scenic Airlines had two Otters. Less than a month later, one of them bumped into a chopper beneath the rim of the Canyon, and all those on board the two aircraft were killed.
So while our flight was awful, it could have been worse. Much worse.
I was actually one of three on board who did not vomit. And when we got back on the ground at Tusayan, there were TWO large trash cans for air sickness bags. The one trash can was overflowing, and the other was mostly full.
Scenic Airlines had two Otters. Less than a month later, one of them bumped into a chopper beneath the rim of the Canyon, and all those on board the two aircraft were killed.
So while our flight was awful, it could have been worse. Much worse.
A few weeks later, we heard about the crash and that everyone was killed, including the pilots. My mother contacted one or both of the pilot's wives and sent copies of the picture. It turns out that it was the last picture that was taken of the two pilots together (or at least that's how I remember it).
By looking up the event we attended in Flagstaff, I know that we flew on about May 30, 1986, and the crash was on June 18, 1986.
This may be incorrect, but I recall that after this flight they didn't let airplanes fly below the rim of the canyon, at least for a while.
#618
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,916
How does one contract hepatitis from walking barefoot? Aside from licking one's feet after stepping in urine, a la DeepUnderground, of course.
#622
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 494
The fact that a dirty look stopped this behavior is alarming because it means the person was not totally clueless that this antisocial behavior was not appropriate on an airplane, despite he or she initially thinking it was alright to use the cabin as a grooming station. Honestly, where do these people come from?
#624
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 408
EasyJet flight from RAK-MAD was seated in row A next to an American girl dressed in Berber attire, she had been volunteering a Berber village for 6 months. She seemed very nice until she raised her arm to adjust the air vent. Apparently she was was there long enough to have run out of deodorant. Every time she raised her arm I would be assaulted by waives of the worst BO I've ever experienced. I've been on buses in SFO that smelled better than this lady. I made sure to grab her tray and do ANYTHING so she wouldn't have to lift her arms. Oh god...I can still taste the smell... Gag.
#626
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: BOI
Posts: 223
Last weekend AS redeye SEA-IAH & the guy (late 60s?) in 3F (I was in 3D) was VERY restless. He was quite literally thrashing about, shaking the entire row in an attempt to find a comfortable sleeping position. I was reading, doing my level best to ignore him. Eventually he calms down & goes to sleep. I look over & his legs are frog-legged with his bare feet nestled cozily in the seat-back pocket....