I wouldn't have asked the FA to clean it up, I usually wipe down things anyway with a wipe because I am weird like that. I would have actually got some sick satisfaction out of cleaning it up myself. But that's my particular wiring.

I just never would assume that it was a FA's job to clean the plane.

I wasn't judging, I was just asking the original poster what his/her expectations were.

Curious from the picture was this the seat in front of you?

As long as I didn't have to touch it when seated, and if it was too late for cleaning crew I would have just left it. And promptly submit a complaint to DL.

If they made you clean your seat before you could sit down, now that is something else.

Don't misunderstand I agree it is disgusting and disappointing, regardless of cabin class. The fact that you paid to upgrade to that mess just adds insult to injury. Just that as a paying customer I am not cleaning messes I didn't make.

I am sorry if my question made you think I was assuming you were being a prima donna, I was just trying to clarify your expectations.

No, it was a simple question for clarification. You sure read a lot into it.

Kinda looks like OJ.

I'd email DL and send them the picture. It's worth mentioning the cleanliness of the aircraft.
Sadly, I've seen similar on various DL flights.

Yes, it was the seat in front of me. Whatever it was, though, went much further down to the floor than the picture shows. I couldn't stow anything under the seat bc i seriously didn't know what it was.

And i didn't want to bang my leg into it even just sitting there, that kind of thing.

Trust me, I survived. And I know it's a high class problem. But it wasn't a little tiny stain that someone could have missed. It was HUGE and really pretty gross.

And I'm not a germ freak either. And I didn't ask the FA in such a way that I expected her to clean it for me. That's not my way. I just kind of pointed it out to say, hey, this is pretty foul, not so jazzed about sitting with this for the next 4 hours. Any suggestions? And then I politely asked for gloves expecting to clean it myself and was rebuffed. Not sure what else I could have done.

I sat there with the blanket over me and figured let the crappy Delta blanket touch it instead of me. I didn't complain any further. I just wanted to get home!

Not weird . People are nasty. I do this too, but luckily haven’t encountered anything remotely like what’s pictured.

Yes, this is the best advice. As long as you don't have to touch it, don't. And then promptly submit a complaint to DL.com and they should give you comp. I have noticed a significant decline in cabin cleanliness recently (coinciding with the decline in meal quality) and I have been hammering both of those issues in post flight surveys. Please do the same!

I hear you, a very unpleasant "first class experience" to be sure, I trust you are filling a complaint with Delta.

Honestly though I wouldn't call it a high class problem. A certain level of cleanliness should be expected. I was just trying to understand if they made you sit in it or touching it or something along those lines. To me that would change what I would expect the FA to do about it. Like you said rather sit near filth and get home on time than force the issue and risk a delay. Sit in filth would be another story.

Didn’t this happen recently on delta?

I was being figurative, however now that you mention it I think you are correct, so apparently it is quite literally another story.

Wow, I would submit this complaint to Delta as soon as possible.

I switched to Delta from United over the summer due to a move. I've had something similar about a month ago and filed a complaint via customer service. Haven't heard back. (Though I am only a Platinum Medallion member.)

With United, if something like this would happen, I would receive a voucher for several hundred dollars within 24 hours almost like clockwork. I am still Premier 1K for another couple of months there. Would never abuse the complaints, but it seems like United cares far more than Delta - just my two cents. I'd be interested to hear what comes of this.

its unfortunate that this is not something you will see on DL, but on all airlines.
It seems that with the schedule they put the planes thru, there is no time to clean the planes.
I have been on some of the first flights out of the day.... you would not be too surprised to find garbage still on the plane.

Delta winds up with a lot more time between flights than other airlines. The aircraft are filthy not due to a lack of time, but because the cleaning crews are lazy and DL does not hold them accountable. I had a flight delayed recently because in the two hours that the regional jet had been sitting on the ground, DL forgot to schedule the cleaning crew. And the plane was filthy. As you say, when you still have garbage on the aircraft for the first flight of the day, it has zero to do with flight scheduling and everything to do with laziness and a lack of accountability. Flights departing some airports are better than others, but SEA is routinely the worst for cleanliness.

Looking at the picture it appears that it could be some kind of lubricant/oil coming from the armrest. Whatever it is is up under the metal piece at the top appearing that it's leaking from inside. The area at the bottom seems to have some similar appearance from what might be an area that the seat might recline. I drove past a car on the highway recently that had a similar looking stain on the front passenger side wheel well. I thought it was an odd stain and sure enough the SUV started smoking significantly shortly later. Some fitting must have blown on the car. I really don't think this is something that someone spilled. Still pretty obnoxious to look at.