Tinkle Ticks Off Traveler

September 15, 2009

in Odds & Ends Stories

I boarded a flight on Continental in which when I arrived to my seat the cushion was pulled out and had a giant wet spot. I walked against the stream to get to the flight attendant to let her know. She told me that maintenance was changing out the seat. I waited quite a while and maintenance finally showed up and changed the cushion. I went back to my seat, sat down, grabbed the seat belt, only to find that the seat belt was saturated with something. I told myself it was soda but curiosity made me move in for the smell. It was PEE!!! I got back up, walked against the stream to the flight attendant and told her the problem. Had to wait for maintenance to reboard the plane and change out the seat belt.

In the meantime there were open seats in first class. I asked to be upgraded and was told first class was full. I was also told that the flight was full so I was stuck with my seat. I was, however, offered free $1 headphones for the movie and for them to pay for my dry cleaning bill. I went back to the seat and right before the plane pushed off from the gate they upgraded 4 passengers to first class, but not me. I called customer service when I got home and demanded a free upgrade the next time I travel (I fly on Continental 1-2 times a month). They said no and since contact with the pee did not cause a medical issue the best they can do is give me 500 miles. They then sent me an appology letter for the incident, restating that they will give me 500 frequent flyer miles. I of course posted the letter in my cubicle.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

saw September 16, 2009 at 3:52 am

Well… the 4 people who went up to first class were people with status, already on the upgrade list,

In your case, it would probably have been smarter for the airline to fly with your coach seat empty because of the problem, and let you sit up front. Could have been done, but the flight crew didn't feel up to doing it. Continental should have treated you better though – 500 miles is largely pointless – a $250 or $300 travel voucher would have been a more appropriate compensation – or a free round trip ticket (since that's what they offer if you volunteer an overbook seat).

I would probably have kept standing and refused to sit in the seat, regardless, because it's a sanitary problem.

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Kitty September 18, 2009 at 6:53 am

My 3 year old daughter and I flew back from Wichita early this month and on the second leg of the trip, she slept the entire way and had an accident in her seat. I told the flight attendant when we deplaned to make sure that maintenance changed out the seat cushion AND the seatbelt. I hope they did, because what happened to you was terrible.

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saw September 18, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Kitty…

What were you doing putting a 3yo on a seat by herself without a pad? It's good that you mentioned the problem, of course, but if you know your kid, you should have seen that one coming…

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Mack October 27, 2009 at 9:41 am

"I of course posted the letter in my cubicle."

Well I guess you sure showed them!

That'll teach 'em not to mess with you again!

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saw October 31, 2009 at 12:32 pm

Hey Mack… he posted the letter in his cubicle because he viewed it as a joke..

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Anonymous February 15, 2012 at 4:59 pm

That stinks, literally. Although, if four people were upgraded to first class, couldn't they have just moved you to one of their empty seats?….

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