UA55 CDG to EWR on Monday, May 29 ... I knew something was off when I walked up to Seat 1E and noticed that the carpet was soaking wet.

Shortly thereafter, I learned that neither the 1L nor 2L lavatory had running water. Indeed, someone took the time to duct-tape the sinks closed and print a sign stating that the sinks were out of order. But no one had the time to actually fix the sink? Does the “O” in POLARIS stand for “Outhouse”?

During the meal service, I was careful to not use my bare hands to try to minimize germ transmission from using United’s Flying Outhouse by Polaris. After the meal service, I was not pleased to learn that neither the 1R nor 2R galleys had running water. Like the Flying Outhouses, some enterprising mechanic had the time to duct tape the galley kitchen sinks shut with a printed “out of order” note, but not actually resolve the problem. How many health code violations can we count: no running water in the kitchen, food handlers preparing food unable to wash their hands, food handlers unable to wash their hands after using the restroom (because surprise! no running water there either), and passengers eating after using the same outhouse with no running water? Does the “L” in POLARIS stand for “Laced with E-Coli?”

What more, the flight attendants, who to their credit were embarrassed and ashamed, told me that this was at least the fourth flight that this aircraft (757-200 #3141 ) had flown in this sorry state because they worked the May 27 UA54 EWR to CDG when the front galley flooded rancid smelling brown water throughout the Polaris cabin. A-ha! The mystery of the soaked carpet has been solved. The squish beneath my feet is three day old toilet waste water! Does the “S” in POLARIS stand for “Sewage”?

Upon landing at Newark, did United pull this flying biohazard from service? Why no! 757-200 #3141 turned onto May 29’s UA751 EWR to LAX a mere two hours later! “Flyer Friendly!”

I have been loyal to United even when it was difficult to be so—the bankruptcy and draw down of New York flying, the poorly executed integration with Continental, system-wide computer meltdowns, and even an involuntary denied boarding. (With the free space, I think that makes BINGO!) I have tolerated perhaps too much from United over the years, but I draw the line at third world conditions and health code violations that would shut down any restaurant in any city in the world.

The fact that United chose to continue to fly this bird flight in flight out in this sorry state shows complete wonton and callous disregard for the safety, health, and welfare of its passengers and its employees. I hope the flight attendants took my advice and filed a grievance with their union. I have a message into 1K Voice, and I'm genuinely curious what they will have to say for themselves.