B.C. man kicked off WestJet flight after falling asleep before takeoff
Nov 3, 2018, 2:29 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: YVR TLS
Programs: Air France Flying Blue, Altitude SE-100k, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, WS rewards, BonVoy Titan
Posts: 912
MedLink also has physicians who are used as necessary, but my understanding is that the initial diagnosis by a nurse is driven by a sophisticated medical diagnosis platform from Tempus.
Any sleeping pill should allow a person to be roused and responsive if there is a reason to rouse them, if still groggy and a bit disorientated. It is a matter of what other factors are also present that may indicate a problem. Much like the consumption of alcohol is the norm, but there is a line where a person is too inebriated to be allowed to fly. The crew doesn't want to offload a passenger due to the disruption and the extra work it causes them, but they also don't want to be dealing with an emergency once in flight, yes, it is a tough decision.
Any sleeping pill should allow a person to be roused and responsive if there is a reason to rouse them, if still groggy and a bit disorientated. It is a matter of what other factors are also present that may indicate a problem. Much like the consumption of alcohol is the norm, but there is a line where a person is too inebriated to be allowed to fly. The crew doesn't want to offload a passenger due to the disruption and the extra work it causes them, but they also don't want to be dealing with an emergency once in flight, yes, it is a tough decision.
Especially on the booze comment...
Nov 3, 2018, 10:00 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
I can see Medlink as WS medical advisor making a decision in a non-emergency role.
Sounds like the passenger was accommodated (at their own expense on an Air Canada flight) the following day. Clearly AC is getting different medical advise that WS. Odd that WS simply did not re-book them onto AC.
Nov 3, 2018, 10:08 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YEG
Posts: 269
Over the years I have noticed that WS seems to be a stickler for safety related processes (not a criticism). Whether it be making sure no one has headphones on during safety briefings or the exit rows are have all baggage completely stored underneath the seats. I really notice this after I have been flying on U.S. based airlines. As a result, the decison they made does not surprise me. If memory serves me correctly all the airlines use a service like Medilink.
Nov 3, 2018, 10:31 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,444
This study concluded in the airlines they studied, there was a medical emergency on one in 604 flights, a doctor was onboard in just under half of flights and 7.3% of flights with a medical emergency were diverted: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740959/ This would correlate with about one flight per day at WestJet with a medical emergency and an in-flight diversion due to a medical emergency about every two weeks.
Nov 3, 2018, 10:52 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,000
That's not how I would define being "accommodated."
Nov 3, 2018, 11:47 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
From the article:
”Once on board, he fell asleep in the lap of his wife, Josefa Sapelino.”
Having never taken Westjet — how would that be possible for a grown adult to fall asleep in the lap of another adult.
What position was he in?
I have fallen asleep waiting for take off— but never in the lap of another person.
AnI have seen people (ie family) after taking a certain sleeping pill and they may think they are alert — but they are certainly still under the influence.
”Once on board, he fell asleep in the lap of his wife, Josefa Sapelino.”
Having never taken Westjet — how would that be possible for a grown adult to fall asleep in the lap of another adult.
What position was he in?
I have fallen asleep waiting for take off— but never in the lap of another person.
AnI have seen people (ie family) after taking a certain sleeping pill and they may think they are alert — but they are certainly still under the influence.
Nov 3, 2018, 11:57 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,592
Substitute a lap for the middle seat table et voila...
Nov 4, 2018, 1:38 am
#23
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
In an emergency situation in the air Medlink will work with the crew and any doctor on-board, they bring trained physicians and extensive remote diagnosis capabilities to bolster any on board capabilities to stabilize the patient as much as possible during a diversion.
This study concluded in the airlines they studied, there was a medical emergency on one in 604 flights, a doctor was onboard in just under half of flights and 7.3% of flights with a medical emergency were diverted: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3740959/ This would correlate with about one flight per day at WestJet with a medical emergency and an in-flight diversion due to a medical emergency about every two weeks.
Nov 4, 2018, 6:26 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: YVR TLS
Programs: Air France Flying Blue, Altitude SE-100k, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, WS rewards, BonVoy Titan
Posts: 912
I understood Medilink is mainly for inflight use. While on the ground (at the gate) the airport paramedics would be the best course of action & of course an on board Doctor/Nurse. Since this is making the New Cycle now (Global BC) it seems the pax is intent on getting some retribution from WS. From the Global report his biggest complaint was being embarrassed by the airline.
Nov 4, 2018, 9:16 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
When a medical professional states a pax is fit to fly, does it mean the flight stresses won't cause heart or brain meltdown midflight, or that s/he will be able to perform appropriate steps for evac? I trust medical professionals for the former, airline crew for the latter.
When a blind person is flying I've noticed crew explicitly instructing the pax to stay seated during emergency and someone will assist. I actually think this is for other paxs' safety as much as it's necessary for the blind person. While I'm always impressed how such pax have managed to walk unassisted to lavatories, I would not want to see them attempt to disembark in an irrop condition.
Nov 4, 2018, 9:23 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Ice Cream Club, AC SE MM, Bonvoy Life Plat
Posts: 2,803
It's kinda like how a drunk guy thinks he's the wittiest... Alc or narcs, one might not die flying (fit to fly), but airline can refuse transport. I see no issues with this, and my handle here is DrunkCargo.
Nov 4, 2018, 11:31 pm
#29
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
That does not look so comfortable — maybe time for me to enroll in yoga classes. Will be on a LH flight soon, probably will not try this on the flight.
Nov 5, 2018, 2:39 am
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kan@da
Programs: Anything with sweet spots
Posts: 1,790