Soaking wet seat: WWYD?
 

I boarded CO flight 703 last night and I was in seat 5B. Went to go sit down and noticed there was a blanket on the seat. It was damp. Below that, the seat itself was soaked! The seat belt was also. I sniffed at it a little but couldn't tell if it was urine or what. I could not BELIEVE that this could happen and nobody would notify an FA or whatever.

I alerted the FA, who brought a dry seat cushion, but the best she could do with the seat belt straps was to dry them w/ paper towels. I could feel their wetness on my clothes. It was a full flight. Would you have sat there, or demanded some other kind of arrangement? As it was, I sat there and tried not to be grossed out for five hours.

Limited options.

Seat belts are actually detachable from the seat pretty easily on many aircraft, so if they had an extra on board (or wherever the extra seat cushion came from), that could be switched out as well.

If not, you're within your rights to demand a different seat, but if the flight is 100% full, that dry seat might be on the next plane out.

(at home or at the office or in the airplane) Toilet paper is extremely effective in sopping up wetness that even the quicker picker upper paper towels won't snag. Next time just go to the plane lav and get some. Also next time you spill something on the carpet or sofa, give it a try. You'll need to squeeze hard.

(Philosophical) If you were able to detach the seat cusion and turn it upside down, would it be dry on that side?

Cleaning tips: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/clean.htm

You're a brave man for trying to identify the liquid using your olfactory system. ;)

I would have demanded a few blankets and some large plastic bags. And sorry, but as soon as the FAs did their safety checks, I'd take my chances and take off the seat belt.

Rather brave indeed. Don't think I'd be sniffing around what might or might not be someone's urine. I'd be requesting a different seat. Having a seat free from bodily fluids should be a given.

I NEVER would have sat in that seat, even if it meant waiting for a later flight. The delay would have been worth it. :rolleyes:

My prayers are with you that it was only just water!! I WOULD NOT have sat in it if it was urine - and I am not one to get upset, but if that was the case I would have demanded action be taken.

If I couldn't tell, I would say to myself that some kid just poured his water cup over and leave it at that - and take a long hot shower when I arrived at the hotel.

I would never have sat in a wet seat...who knows what gross or ungross thing it was. FA should have provided options- as in calling in maintenace and having it fixed properly.

...and just how do you "fix" a wet seat "properly"? You can dry it out, or you can rip out the whole seat and reupholster it. Guess which option the airline's gonna choose when you've got a full plane ready to depart.

If the plane's full, which was the case for the OP, you're pretty much SOL here -- either grin and bear it, or take the next flight. I'd ask the airline to pay for dry-cleaning my clothes afterward though. And for the record, your butt is not permeable, so you're not going to get anything worse than the cooties even if it is urine. (Which it probably isn't, because it would stink.)

I'm surprised that nobody commented on the OP's user name and the thread title...:p