Dirty Bedding - Rant
Sep 27, 2021, 2:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 45
Dirty Bedding - Rant
This may be a "first-world problem" but I want to share this with you folks.
I have flown with BA a few times during covid, expecting greater care especially when it comes to cleaning the cabin. I must be pretty unlucky as I have always found an issue; whether it is dirty seat handles/belts/table trays or M&Ms by the side of the seat, there was always something minor at least.
With my most recent BA experience, I was flying back from MBJ on club world. Nothing out of the norm at the start, with a pillow and bedding bag on my seat. An hour or so into the flight, as I was preparing my bed for sleep, I grabbed my bag and noticed that it was damp (first warning). At first, I thought maybe the bag was put in a cool environment and this dampness was due to condensation. I began to unzip the bag and noticed that the seal was broken (second warning). Upon revealing the content, the bedding was messy (third warning) but still did not think too much about it. I touched the bedding and it was moist (fourth warning). At this point, I'm pretty sure that I was in denial that something was wrong with my bedding. I don't know what compelled me to do so, but I brought the wet bedding up to my nose, removed my mask, and took a whiff.
It was piss.
I also noticed that the part of my chair where the bedding sat on top of was damp, and my pillow smelt sour. I alerted the cabin crew quickly and they got me a new set of bedding and a new pillow shortly. In fairness the cabin crew were great, and they apologised profusely, but the damage was done.
I really don't think this is acceptable under any circumstances, and their claims of cleanliness are BS. Pretty lousy club world experience in my opinion and not value for money.
I sent a complaint to BA and while the customer service agent apologised, they did not (or could not?) offer any compensation.
Anyone else with similar experiences or am I just unlucky?
p.s. mods - I don't want to get anyone fired. If this thread could result in that, please remove - thanks.
I have flown with BA a few times during covid, expecting greater care especially when it comes to cleaning the cabin. I must be pretty unlucky as I have always found an issue; whether it is dirty seat handles/belts/table trays or M&Ms by the side of the seat, there was always something minor at least.
With my most recent BA experience, I was flying back from MBJ on club world. Nothing out of the norm at the start, with a pillow and bedding bag on my seat. An hour or so into the flight, as I was preparing my bed for sleep, I grabbed my bag and noticed that it was damp (first warning). At first, I thought maybe the bag was put in a cool environment and this dampness was due to condensation. I began to unzip the bag and noticed that the seal was broken (second warning). Upon revealing the content, the bedding was messy (third warning) but still did not think too much about it. I touched the bedding and it was moist (fourth warning). At this point, I'm pretty sure that I was in denial that something was wrong with my bedding. I don't know what compelled me to do so, but I brought the wet bedding up to my nose, removed my mask, and took a whiff.
It was piss.
I also noticed that the part of my chair where the bedding sat on top of was damp, and my pillow smelt sour. I alerted the cabin crew quickly and they got me a new set of bedding and a new pillow shortly. In fairness the cabin crew were great, and they apologised profusely, but the damage was done.
I really don't think this is acceptable under any circumstances, and their claims of cleanliness are BS. Pretty lousy club world experience in my opinion and not value for money.
I sent a complaint to BA and while the customer service agent apologised, they did not (or could not?) offer any compensation.
Anyone else with similar experiences or am I just unlucky?
p.s. mods - I don't want to get anyone fired. If this thread could result in that, please remove - thanks.
Sep 27, 2021, 4:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Northern Ireland
Programs: BA Silver, A3
Posts: 1,101
Sep 27, 2021, 5:05 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 45
They apologised for the experience and will use my comments to guide them and improve their service...
Then, regarding compensation:
"I'm afraid we can't look to offer compensation on this occasion."
They didn't say anything else. I would have thought that this experience would warrant some compensation, but no.
The cabin crew were aware of what happened, but maybe customer service agents aren't able to verify it?
Then, regarding compensation:
"I'm afraid we can't look to offer compensation on this occasion."
They didn't say anything else. I would have thought that this experience would warrant some compensation, but no.
The cabin crew were aware of what happened, but maybe customer service agents aren't able to verify it?
Sep 28, 2021, 1:26 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,255
Maybe during the switch over in MBJ your bedding pack was mixed up with a disembarking passenger pack. I am sure errors occur when there's humans involved. Glad the crew had a spare fresh set
Sep 28, 2021, 10:11 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
I once found the previous flyers pyjamas and slippers under the footstool in 1A (747) I didn't make a fuss but just asked that a note be made to report it to the oprations at Heathrow so they were aware. I then went to sleep and woke up to find a bottle of Grand Siecle in my suite as a thank you for not raising a complaint
Sep 28, 2021, 10:42 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
In the pre-Covid past I unwrapped my blanket in CW which was damp and smelled strange. I just assumed a laundry failure … the CC exchanged it without either of us making further comment.
Sep 28, 2021, 12:03 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: BAEC, VS Flying Club
Posts: 796
They apologised for the experience and will use my comments to guide them and improve their service...
Then, regarding compensation:
"I'm afraid we can't look to offer compensation on this occasion."
They didn't say anything else. I would have thought that this experience would warrant some compensation, but no.
Then, regarding compensation:
"I'm afraid we can't look to offer compensation on this occasion."
They didn't say anything else. I would have thought that this experience would warrant some compensation, but no.
What would you like compensating for when there’s been no loss or injury and the crew apparently did their best to make things right?
Sep 28, 2021, 2:10 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NCL
Programs: BAEC and Hilton mostly
Posts: 655
So pissed blankets are ok? Would carefully wrapped No. 2's be ok in that case? There has clearly been a failure here.
Sep 28, 2021, 2:15 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 91
Sep 28, 2021, 2:20 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
Posts: 726
Well, its a pretty poor experience coming across human waste. if one of my customers suffered this due to a failing on my side I'd go out of my way with a gesture and apology.