A Sticky Situation

April 25, 2009

in Passenger Stories

All signs pointed to a good flight upon my return home after visiting family. The line in security was quick, the plane was on time and passengers found their way to their seats quickly and amicably. As luck would have it the flight was not full. I had an aisle seat and a business man had the window, leaving us comfortable with no one in between.

A young woman rushed in at the last moment before take off. I held my breath hoping she was not going to take the middle seat and was relieved she had the aisle seat in front of me. She shoved her bag in the overhead bin and buckled in for the flight.

Midway through the flight I noticed a drip of something coming from her overhead bin and landing on her shoulder. I let her know expecting her to explore the situation. Instead she held her hand up to catch what appeared to be a sticky substance. Soon the drip became a stream. This woman did not get up to investigate, but held up her hands to catch the goo. A flight attendant noticed and opened the over head bin to discover knocked over jars of honey spilling their content, and now some had dripped on my jeans! The flight attendant asked the woman if this was her bag. Yes it was. She asked if she felt she should clean up the mess. The traveler said “no, it’s fine” and caught more honey in her hands and wiped it on her clothes. She sat through the entire 4 hour flight covered in honey and when the plane landed she removed her dripping bag and left.

I was eager to get my bag from the luggage carrousel so I could change pants in the bathroom for the drive home. I thought I had seen everything. Travel will prove you wrong every time.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Hugh Jass April 5, 2009 at 3:57 am

Does you're wife know you got sticky pants from sitting near a young woman on the flight?

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Lynn April 5, 2009 at 6:49 am

Just wondering how she was able to get the honey past security. The three small jars of local jam that I was bringing home from Florida recently were confiscated from my carry-on luggage, ostensibly for security reasons. I just love the double standards….

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Marc April 6, 2009 at 4:50 am

I don't believe this story because all flight attendants know it is a federal offense to bring liquids on board a plane. The flight attendant would have confiscated the honey and had the police waiting.

In addition, all overhead compartments are designed to hold 3 gallons of liquid. They are sloped to the side of the plane and solid plastic as to not allow this sort of a problem.

I like reading these stories but please do not make them up.

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Joe Mama April 8, 2009 at 7:44 am

Well this could have happened before the the prohibition of liquids on flights, but like was pointed out the bins will hold liquid. If you've ever noticed, there is a lip on the front bottom which would hold liquid in.

But just why would anyone not resolve the leaking honey issue & try to catch it all in their hands?

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Rob April 25, 2009 at 4:34 pm

Marc, careful analysis of details does not account for reality. The jars of honey were on top, in a sideways position, the underpaid security personnel at the airport were about to have a shift change….

Assuming our flight system is like a machine is a fools bet, at best.

Napolitano says Canada lets Terrorists in easier than the US, even though every 9/11 hijacker flew into the US legally, with US paperwork.

I have more problems as a WHITE Canadian re-entering the my homeland than I ever do the US.

3 gallons….um, I think that's a bit of a stretch. Pour 3-gallons into your kitchen sink.

No overhead compartment could hold that much liquid, not now, or at any time in the past.

1/2 a gallon maybe.

Reply

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