Should there be a minimum standard of cleanliness to fly?
 

On AC 140 last night I was assaulted by the pax in the row ahead of me. This person clearly hadn't showered for some time and the aroma had me alternating between mouth-puking and getting teary-eyed. It was impossible to avoid the foul cloud as it engulfed the entire area of the E-90, FA's walking by had a visceral reaction and it was only made worse when the pax would stretch it's arms up releasing more of the stench.

Shouldn't there be a minimum requirement of cleanliness in order to board?

Where was your mask?

I always have a couple of N95 masks in the carry-on for this purpose.;)

There you go OP, c'est la vie, travel with a mask and your assault would have been mitigated. :D :D :D

Too many here creating a stink.:p:D

no...it is public transit after all. clearly not been in the subway in Toronto.

I had a buddy who had a summer job working at a funeral home...
 

...when he was in uni.
He said the SOP for retrieving a stinky dead body was vicks vapour rub.
He has a small tube (like a mini toothpaste tube) he carried with him at all times.
When retrieving a rotting corpse he would wipe a thin line under his nose and proceed to work.
He said all the coroners/cops and funeral guys do this.
Besides it will help with your sinuses during the flight.
Or you could get the FA to have him removed, but thats kinda hard mid-flight.

I think there was a flight last year, or maybe earlier this year, where a passenger flying to or from YYG was removed from a flight before take off due to his odour.

Recall that episode on the American version of Airline (about SouthWest) where a similar soul was trying to check in for a flight. The ground agents found some clean clothes and escorted him to a men's room to wash up, then they let him on board.

Quite surprised your "friend" was allowed to board or even remain on the flight under such circumstances. Did nobody complain to an FA prior to departure?

why didnt you request for the overhead oxygen masks???? :p

i am sure AC will then charge $18 for the use of it

I think that is the price you pay when sitting in the Y cabin, it is part and parcel of the whole Y experience.

And what on earth does that mean? People in Y stick?

a wider assortment of interesting people surrounding you :D:p

Yes, that too, people in Y do STICK together, seat pitch too tight!!

I was thinking about that exact episode - this pax was one of the last to board and the IC was telling/yelling everyone to sit down for pushback to avoid being late......

...sigh...yes....it's the annual SG&A cuts to make year end so BOY I'll be exposed to all kinds of un-bearable situations :D