Smelly seat mate.
May 5, 2018, 9:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 129
Smelly seat mate.
I was flying second segment of a flight from Vegas to Burbank yesterday on Southwest. A nice looking younger man, smartly dressed but smelled of horrible BO came on the plane. I was in the window seat a lady in the aisle seat and this guy took the middle seat. When he sat down the stench hit me, the odor was BAD! It was a full flight and fortunately a very short flight on WN otherwise I would have moved. Part 2 of the story is while waiting for my luggage I smelled the now familiar BO and looked around and he came and stood right behind me. Needless to say, I hightailed it to the other side of the carousal. Thankfully this was a first for me and hopefully the last.
May 5, 2018, 10:20 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,062
I think I've seen this episode before -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmQv...youtu.be&t=169
May 6, 2018, 12:06 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,374
Always carry lip balm to dab under your nostrils in situations like this
And, avoid flying low-cost airlines as they are more likely to carry passengers of the kind you describe.
Technically, malodorous passengers should be removable per the contract of carriage, so you could always plead your case with a flight attendant.
And, avoid flying low-cost airlines as they are more likely to carry passengers of the kind you describe.
Technically, malodorous passengers should be removable per the contract of carriage, so you could always plead your case with a flight attendant.
May 6, 2018, 1:03 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 129
It was a short flight, but seriously, the smell was pervasive. I generally don't fly WN but going to a small city in the Midwest the flights are limited. This was a first for me and being a full flight that was already delayed, I just sucked it up.
May 6, 2018, 1:08 pm
#6
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
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I vaguely recall from similar past FT threads that the 3 legacies and Southwest all say in their CoC that they can refuse transport passengers for being too malodorous (though some of them have a caveat along the lines of "except in the case of a disability")
May 6, 2018, 3:21 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
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Always carry lip balm to dab under your nostrils in situations like this
And, avoid flying low-cost airlines as they are more likely to carry passengers of the kind you describe.
Technically, malodorous passengers should be removable per the contract of carriage, so you could always plead your case with a flight attendant.
And, avoid flying low-cost airlines as they are more likely to carry passengers of the kind you describe.
Technically, malodorous passengers should be removable per the contract of carriage, so you could always plead your case with a flight attendant.
1) Low cost airlines are more likely to carry this kind of passenger.
I have sat with such folks on Delta a few times along the way (used to fly 100+ flights with them a year, and often in first)
2) Southwest is not exactly the low cost airline anymore. I often find the rates similar to UA/AA/DL. Sometimes even more.
May 7, 2018, 7:58 am
#8
formerly jackvogt
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta SkyMiles,
Posts: 822
Always carry lip balm to dab under your nostrils in situations like this
And, avoid flying low-cost airlines as they are more likely to carry passengers of the kind you describe.
Technically, malodorous passengers should be removable per the contract of carriage, so you could always plead your case with a flight attendant.
And, avoid flying low-cost airlines as they are more likely to carry passengers of the kind you describe.
Technically, malodorous passengers should be removable per the contract of carriage, so you could always plead your case with a flight attendant.
May 7, 2018, 11:15 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: CLE
Programs: UA, AA Plat Pro, DL, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 477
Not quite the same for me, but on a SAN-->MDW flight a few years ago, I was in the middle seat and the young man in the window seat consumed a generous amount of cool ranch Doritos along with a 20 oz. Dr. Pepper. Those were some stinky burps, and unfortunately when he fell asleep, his face was aimed in my direction. That was the happiest I ever was landing at MDW.
May 8, 2018, 2:41 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: CLE
Programs: UA, AA Plat Pro, DL, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 477
May 8, 2018, 3:57 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
This sounds like one of the "pseudo" complaints where it's important enough to whine on FT, but not really important enough to do anything about it (like move to a different seat). You'll get plenty of replies offering sympathy, then others who assure you that "IWFM" (It's Worse for Me)
May 8, 2018, 4:07 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,204
If the flight had been less full, he would have probably ended up with the whole row to himself. The beauty of open seating.
On my AF CDG-SFO flight, a passenger refused their original seat assignment because "it smelled bad" when she boarded. She was putting up quite a fuss and threatened to call her "lawyer," so the purser was finally called back to her row and moved her. She did not get upgraded which I suspect was the original intent. Ironically, they ended up giving her original seat to a late arriving passenger just before door closure.
On my AF CDG-SFO flight, a passenger refused their original seat assignment because "it smelled bad" when she boarded. She was putting up quite a fuss and threatened to call her "lawyer," so the purser was finally called back to her row and moved her. She did not get upgraded which I suspect was the original intent. Ironically, they ended up giving her original seat to a late arriving passenger just before door closure.
May 8, 2018, 8:45 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,269
My only experience with a smelly passenger was on a BA TATL flight so it's not like they're exclusive to the like of WN, NK, FR, and the rest.
Also, I'm pretty sure I might have been the stinky passenger once or twice. When we went to Belize we stayed at a place that did not have AC so I was sweating profusely despite showering two or three times a day in cold water. In particular, on the way back to BZE after the water taxi and cab ride I was pretty ripe and while I tried changing my shirt again and generously reapplying deodorant it didn't do much and I sincerely apologize to anyone seated nearby.
Also, I'm pretty sure I might have been the stinky passenger once or twice. When we went to Belize we stayed at a place that did not have AC so I was sweating profusely despite showering two or three times a day in cold water. In particular, on the way back to BZE after the water taxi and cab ride I was pretty ripe and while I tried changing my shirt again and generously reapplying deodorant it didn't do much and I sincerely apologize to anyone seated nearby.
May 9, 2018, 7:07 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 206
This happened to me flying business class United from Tokyo to Taipei (as best I recall.) We were in the center section with my husband at the aisle and me next to Mr. Stinky-poo. This "gentleman" might possibly have showered within a month or so and definitely did not use deodorant. I discreetly advised the flight attendant and asked for her assistance. Getting everyone settled onto the plane seemed to take forever and I was getting uglier by the minute. My husband offered to change seats with me, but I didn't want to do that to him. I wanted Mr. Stinky-poo escorted off the plane...the stench was raunchy.
Before take off (and before I hurt anyone) FA advised me that only empty seat was in the center section back in coach. I promptly moved there.
Before take off (and before I hurt anyone) FA advised me that only empty seat was in the center section back in coach. I promptly moved there.