pambam

Warning: Racial profiling may be implied if not actually intended.

Three weeks ago I flew Emirates for the first time IST-DXB-MEL. My husband had just had a great experience flying on Emirates to Oz so I was looking forward to it.

Imagine my surprise when I get to my seat to find the row occupied by a veiled woman in the middle and a child on each side. I politely ask her to pick up her child - under 2, it was clearly a lap child. She refused. I asked again and she again refused. I called the flight attendant. She asked politely and the woman refused again, to which the flight attendant shrugged and said she would find me another seat.

Since I insist on an aisle seat - chosen and paid for in advance - the only one she could find was next to a very large man spilling from the middle into the aisle seat. But as I tried to sit, he barked at me to get up and that he would NOT sit next to a WOMAN! I was stunned - I fly numerous times a month and have never run into this! Unbelievably, the flight attendant shrugs AGAIN and we go off again trying to find a seat.

After probably nearly 30 minutes of many attempts, I end up at the bulkhead surrounded by nannies struggling to hold onto wild toddlers whom they were clearly not allowed to discipline. I was hit in the face by arms and legs numerous times. When the meal came, I explained that I could not possibly eat in such a situation. The flight attendance was very kind, asked about my choice, and said she would hold it for me in the kitchen.

The food fight then began, these children throwing food from the trays at each other, at other passengers and into the aisle. Then, to my shock, these nannies threw - literally - the food trays onto the floor, spilling food everywhere. And to top it off....as Dave Barry says I SWEAR I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP - one of the nannies pulls down the pants of a 2 year old boy and has him URINATE INTO THE FOOD TRAY ON THE FLOOR.

I disappeared immediately to the kitchen where I stood to eat my meal but at least in a clean environment. All the flight attendants soothed me that things would be better AFTER Dubai. And they were.

Such was my first - and last - time flying Emirates.

enviroian

Sorry to hear of your experience. I look forward to the replies on here.

what is <br /><br?

kcmd

I thought it was against the rules here to have a TR without pics sorry for you experience but not exactly a TR.

injian

mannej

OP, as this could occur on any airline is it really an EK specific fault, or more bad luck?

daniellam

Most people on FT fly either First or Business class when flying on Emirates.

Economy class on Emirates is an entirely different world!

NWIFlyer

As this is clearly not a Trip Report, we'll move it over to the Emirates forum for further enlightenment.

/mod

m3red

m0hamed

Why is the woman's veiled mentioned? Would you mention the clothing of a White woman?

JamesKidd

Not surprising. The FA aren't in power to deal with what may turn out to be Emirati's for fear of repercussion. So the only option they offered was to move you. In reality, they should have asked the woman to move and if refused get CSD involved. But rather they moved the OP because it was easier dealing with her. As for the man refusing to sit next to a woman, again he should have been dealt with but again it seems it was OP who had to suffer.

Complaining to Emirates isn't going to get anywhere either.

JamesKidd

It is still factual though

m0hamed

That's what casual racists say....

JamesKidd

Oh ok

thijsseh

Although the woman in question was clearly 'out of line', her clothing, race or religion (which of course id the implication of the OP) is of no consequence here. Even if it is factual.

JamesKidd

As you correctly point out, it is of no consequence. But that still doesn't mean the OP cannot describe the passenger.