An Open Letter to the Sick Passenger on My AS Flight
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA ExecPlat; AF Gold; UA GS; Hyatt L. Globalist; Marriott Plat; Hilton Diamond; National EE
Posts: 6,132
An Open Letter to the Sick Passenger on My AS Flight
Dear Sir,
On yesterday's flight, you were clearly unwell and had a severe cold. You were coughing and sneezing loudly and often throughout the flight from board to de-icing, to takeoff, touchdown, and disembarkation.
Yes, I get it -- everyone gets sick from time to time. But your repeated open-mouthed coughing was really not appreciated by the rest of the first class cabin. You did not seem to make any attempt to cover your mouth with a paper or cloth napkin, both of which were available from the flight attendant. You may very well have infected a dozen other passengers in the cabin. The passenger seated in front of you was forced to wear a respiratory mask because you were not considerate enough to wear one yourself.
If you are unable to postpone your travels, do at least try not to spread germs to your fellow passengers.
On yesterday's flight, you were clearly unwell and had a severe cold. You were coughing and sneezing loudly and often throughout the flight from board to de-icing, to takeoff, touchdown, and disembarkation.
Yes, I get it -- everyone gets sick from time to time. But your repeated open-mouthed coughing was really not appreciated by the rest of the first class cabin. You did not seem to make any attempt to cover your mouth with a paper or cloth napkin, both of which were available from the flight attendant. You may very well have infected a dozen other passengers in the cabin. The passenger seated in front of you was forced to wear a respiratory mask because you were not considerate enough to wear one yourself.
If you are unable to postpone your travels, do at least try not to spread germs to your fellow passengers.
Last edited by dayone; Feb 4, 2019 at 3:24 pm Reason: Remove specific info.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: BART Platinum, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,157
#4
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS
Posts: 2,292
I always carry several resp masks in my carry on bag. Have used it once on myself but never had to "insist" that a fellow passenger might benefit from one. But, that could change . Flying tomorrow and will place them on top. Also, carry wipes that I use to wipe down seat, tray table, arm rests etc. after boarding each flight. It would be nice of others would be considerate of other travelers.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: The Far, Far North
Programs: Alaskans fly everywhere on any aircraft going there!
Posts: 1,262
Or offer them a Comtrex, cough drop or other something to help them .... sometimes such illness doesn't really raise its ugly head until one is on the way to the airport and then caught without....happens to be most considerate. Also, I cough due to dry air on aircraft...I always cover my mouth and I'm not emitting cold/flu germs but I am coughing...a cough drop helps and I carry them handy for during flight. Hope the person feels better and hope they realize all those lessons back in grade K were meant to last a lifetime!
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
Someone in the FIRST CLASS CABIN was ill?! I don't believe it, definitely an MVP upgrade because 5%ers can afford flu shots.
#7
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
If latter, then the FA really should've instead (or additionally) asked the sick person to wear it.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: sometimes, strangely, I find myself at home
Programs: I need to do better in managing my affiliations. Oops, I overshot the runway for status next year.
Posts: 648
I now carry a mask in my kit.
Will common decency in the US eventually change to include that people who are sick wear the masks?
Will common decency in the US eventually change to include that people who are sick wear the masks?
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,560
(I do realize you were joking.... )
#12
Join Date: Jul 2015
Programs: HH Diamond, HGVC, WN RR, National Exec, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,054
I sat down in an exit row on a WN flight a couple of weeks ago and as soon as I sat down I hear a guy a couple of rows up hacking away. Sat for a moment to decide whether I wanted to give up the seat on a 4 hour flight or roll the dice. I decided to move back 10 rows and ended up with a row by myself. Shortly after I sat down a young woman sits in the aisle seat opposite me with a mask on. At first I thought I had gone from bad to worse, but she never coughed the whole flight so I assume she was wearing it for preventative reasons. i spent the next 4 hours wondering if I should start using a mask when I fly as I often come back from trips with some type of cold or respiratory issue.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage, SkyMiles
Posts: 2,931
This is 100%, no, 200% on the airlines. When I'm sick I would love to change my flight to a later date. The airlines make that impossible by charging $100-$200 change fees and a difference in the airfare costs. Get rid of those hurdles and now it's on the individuals still traveling.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,927
I always bring multiple hospital face masks in my personal carry on. As a former lowly AA platinum, I did not get upgrades on 90% of my flights (typically hub to hub), so I'm sitting in sardines class and there is always at least one or more people coughing and sneezing into me. I wear the masks myself and douse myself with as much hand sanitizer as I can bring on board. Would it be common courtesy for the person that is sick to wear a mask as to contain his/her own germ-infested projectiles? Absolutely. But I have yet to see one person do it, so therefore, I take my own precautions.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
This is 100%, no, 200% on the airlines. When I'm sick I would love to change my flight to a later date. The airlines make that impossible by charging $100-$200 change fees and a difference in the airfare costs. Get rid of those hurdles and now it's on the individuals still traveling.
I wonder if a flight is full, would they give you an option to fly later if you are stuck with a sick person ? Would a PC believer object to such request ? !