IndyHoosier

Urgent trip to restroom gets man kicked off Delta flight

Is it too hard for some FAs to use a little common sense? The below is the outcome that should have occurred in this situation...

air1jdg

What would they have done if he urinated himself at his seat with other passengers around him? This was a no-win situation.

muhakas

Several years ago, my potty-training toddler started calling out "I need to go potty" as we taxied to the runway. I told her to just go in her pull-up b'c we couldn't get up. A flight attendant overheard, radioed the pilots, and they pulled the plane over and stopped so she could make a bathroom run and not soil herself.

Austin787

I was on flight out of JFK which was sitting on the tarmac for over 30 minutes. A woman got up and headed for the lavatory and the FA told her to sit back down. She told the FA she couldn't wait any longer so the FA called the pilots then lets her proceed into the restroom.

chollie

Another example of something that could and should be handled with common sense.

Statistically, occasionally folks are going to have an urgent need to go at an inconvenient time. It's going to happen - whether because of meds, gate delays, whatever.

This must happen to flight crew, even if only very rarely. I wonder what an FA does if s/he is in the jump seat and suddenly has an urgent need during taxi or even takeoff. Do they stay seated, mess themselves, and then clean up as soon as it's safe? Or do they take a chance and use the facilities?

(I have heard a war story from a very old friend of a military flight crew member who did have to soil himself because he had gotten into green beer the night before the mission and he wasn't able to leave his position to go to the toilet. Crew members aren't uniquely immune to this issue).

The Situation

Common sense thing to do if I were that guy, would be to ring the call button and politely ask permission, but people seem to be forgetting to pack their common sense before they depart for their trip these days.

chollie

Or they rang the call bell and the FA refused to respond. Saw that happen once, and it was a medical emergency, not an urgent request for a PDB refresh.

Some people are innocent first-time flyers. Particularly when they see FAs standing and walking around, they assume it's safe for everyone to do so. They don't realize how dangerous it is for the FAs.

flyerCO

or used to flying on MU where they rarely make you sit down during taxi.

SJC ORD LDR

You can't get out of your seat while the plane is on an active taxiway for any reason. It's the rules.

I would also think that the last part of any pre-flight routine is to use the toilet one last time to clear any liquid that remains in your bladder.

chollie

For the record, not all emergencies are the result of a stressed bladder or careless timing.

Explosive diarrhea, regardless of cause, can strike anyone at any time, despite the best precautions.

Orange County Commuter

So Delta should risk a huge fine because of "common sense" Sorry Delta's not the one that made up this rule and they shouldn't be expected to risk a fine so......

And he was told "no" decided "the rules didn't apply to me" and headed in anyway. Then he refused to comply with the order to leave resulting in everyone else having to get off, once again "the rules don't apply to me". I expect there's more here than we are getting including his interactions with the FA especially since he took pains to point out that he expected to be abused. Wonder how he reacted to the FA saying "sir you can't do that'? Hmmm.....

FlyAO2

Exactly right. I'm getting a little tired of these stories where everyone thinks the world revolves around them and that the $79 they paid for a flight entitles them to break rules and do whatever they want. Whether it is getting up to use the bathroom while on an ACTIVE RUNWAY or refusing to listen and bringing your stroller on a plane.

and of course - no story would be complete without this classic gem: "Krista Rosolino, in her lengthy open letter to Delta on Facebook, questioned if the color of Hamilton's skin led the airline to mistrust him"

turkeyRIOO

+1

SSF556

I was on an antibiotic because of a root canal that messed up my insides something crazy....I was on a SW flight earlier this year where I was inside the plane lav until the door closed and then I was stressing until 10,000ft....stuff happens!

rickg523

There are numerous examples of planes being held for a passenger toilet stop.
The whole "rules is rules" argument collapses when you have to add "except when they isn't...my choice."