Disgusting airplane situation -UPDATE

[sporky]

Ugh, that is disgusting. I would be demanding a full refund in addition to miles.

[AAM2012]

Please let me know when you blast their Facebook page so I can comment about how fucking disgusting that is.

[rubytue]

OMG!! I try not to be grossed out by airplanes, but I may freak out now. Eww eww eww eww. They have got to do more!!

[Deleted]

I'm trying to think of what would right this wrong for me and I keep coming up short. I would want money. A lot of money. Which I know would be a fight. Lifetime elite status (whatever the top one for American is), might make me feel marginally better. Dude. I'm sorry.

[rikki]

AA gave me $300 voucher when the flight attendant spilled an entire glass of cola on me. They took my info and contacted me. This sounds like a bad joke. WTF? I was an elite member at the time. That is the only reason I can think of that I was treated so much better for such a minor thing compared to yours. Keep complaining!

[M]

Omg that's so gross! I'm sure if you bitched enough, you will get a full refund and some.

H's dad use to be a pilot. He said flight attendants are supposed to check every seat because that apparently happens pretty often.

[sarahsas]

Nasty. Reminds me of this article.They don't HAVE to do anything - but I'd definitely go the social media route and be loud about it if you want more compensation!

[BeagleMama]

Oh.my.God.

I would contact corporate by phone, email and certified letter. BLOW UP their social media and link it here (if you're comfortable) so that we can all comment in your support.

I would expect no less than full refund of that flight plus vouchers for new flights and cash for reimbursement of dry cleaning/doctor-visits-to-make-sure-I-don't-have-Ebola.

[Deleted]

3000 miles is unacceptable.

American just gave me 3700 miles because they changed the aircraft and so instead of having a window seat, I had a middle seat for a 3 hour flight.

[primo]

Ewww! So sorry this happened to you!

[CloudBee]

Eff that. You deserve a full refund, and a high value voucher with no blackout dates.

They should have an emergency pair of logo sweatpants and shirt for projectile vomit and pee incidents. (In a generic mens large?) Or someone should have run into the terminal and bought something for you before takeoff.

I'm disgusted. You deserved better treatment. 7 hours?!

[genet313]

This bull shit offer of 3000 miles is just another sad commentary on the state of airline travel today.   No wonder everyone hates flying.  What a complete joke.  

Like other PPs, I don't know what would make me whole, but it sure as hell isn't 3000 miles.  Flight refund at a minimum, BARE minimum, and then some other comps WAAAAY above what they're offering.

[LoveTrains]

Oh hell no. I am so sorry that happened to you.

[mokes]

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

I think everyone has pretty much covered it -- but absolutely disgusting and their response and offer honestly makes it even worse. Diminished your enjoyment? Are you fucking kidding me? I think you should blow up social media using phrases like "bodily fluids" and "stranger pee."

I don't even know what they do could do. AT LEAST refund your ticket and two use-anytime ticket vouchers--not miles. A few years ago, an international flight we were on left late (not even excessively late) and DH and I both got a choice between a 10% voucher or miles (I want to say like 10 or 15k) as well as four free in-flight alcoholic drink vouchers and vouchers to get something to eat in the airport. I only say that to acknowledge how crappy their response was.

[babsbunny]

I HIGHLY recommend you visit the flyertalk frequent flyer forums and search for pee. Here is an example thread from an AA 3.5 hr flight:

www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage-pre-merger/1550495-wet-drenched-seat-compensation-sufficient.html

They have a lot of great advice on making complaints, specifically, stick to the facts (let them proof read your tweet) and then tweet your issue (since you've already gotten a canned response).

I haven't read through enough threads to recommend an adequate compensation amount, but I can definitely tell you that 3000 miles is not enough. 

So very sorry this happened to you!

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2014 16:41:29 GMT -5 Pom said:

Post this on their Facebook page. This gets the fastest corporate response. I am so, so sorry.

Definitely post on Face Book. You WILL get a response!!!!

I would want a refund. Not a future trip. What if you were not planning on going anywhere for quite a while?

Don't back down....keep posting on their social media if you don't get what you want. They do not like the negative posts.

[changedname]

Omg.

Do not accept the miles.

Raise hell!

[dancingirl21]

This is horrific. Get all over social media and demand a full refund at the very least. Eff the 3000 miles, that's nothing.

[mswax]

We need an update on this! Tell us what your plan is!!!

[redblue]

Update: Thanks again for the responses. I have posted on flyer talk to see what they thought but I have had more helpful information from here.

I called AA and was unable to speak to the customer relations department. Apparently they only accept email. The reservations lady I spoke to was very nice and understanding and advised to send another email explaining what I had said to her.

I plan to ask for a full refund ($972 and money to replace my clothes and DS's pillow which I put on the chair before I sat down.

I have since googled for a customer relations phone number and found all sorts of contact info for them. I tried calling but it was too early ( I am in Europe).

I will also mention to them that I was traveling with my DS . DS was premature and under medical advice isolated him for until he was 10.5 months old to prevent him for getting sick. Until May he had never left the house apart from dr visits and go for a run out in the car. We are obviously super careful still. We wiped our armrests and tray tables down on the plane to prevent any infection so I was obviously concerned about DS being around the pee. I will tell AA this as it may help my case.

Thanks again, I will update when I hear from AA.

[v]

Honestly, I'd ask for more than a full refund and money to replace the clothes!!! I'd aim higher (free round-trip tickets in addition, for example) and settle for no less than refund + money for clothes.

[BAMFMrsB]

Oct 29, 2014 10:12:08 GMT -5 v said:

Honestly, I'd ask for more than a full refund and money to replace the clothes!!! I'd aim higher (free round-trip tickets in addition, for example) and settle for no less than refund + money for clothes.

QFT. That's just nasty. They need to make this right. Not make it up to you. MAKE IT RIGHT.

[Pom]

redblue

I am dead serious, I have been in 2 MAJOR battles with 2 different corporations this year...Ashley Furniture and Jared Jewelers and if you want a response TODAY, post this travesty on Facebook.   This will get you farther, faster than dealing with CS.  I promise.

[bostonmichelle]

Please post this on facebook or twitter or something. This is absolutely disgusting and appalling. I'd be at the terminal bitching for a refund.

[liveintheville]

I'm with everyone else. I'd want serious compensation. Not the crap they're offering. Definitely post to Facebook.

[ECB]

I am just now reading this for the first time.   

Yeah- ask for more. a LOT more.  Get them to negotiate down.  

Disgusting.  

[babsbunny]

I apologize for some of the flyertalk responses. Sometimes they are not helpful.

For example, I would post something like the following on the AA facebook page.

Dear AA

I had an unfortunate incident on a recent flight and I am unhappy with the response I received from customer service. I was boarding my flight with my husband and holding our infant son. I sat down at my seat and immediately felt that the seat cushion was wet (which I later identified as urine). I quickly got up and notified the nearest flight attendant. The FA changed out the seat cushion with a dry one, but my pants and underwear were already wet, so I was given paper towels to sit on for the 7 hour flight. I submitted the online form to customer service with details about the incident and received compensation in the amount of 3000 AA miles, which I feel is insufficient. I am requesting a refund to my credit card for this segment of my itinerary because the experience was not satisfactory, was not sanitary, and no acceptable alternatives were offered.


I'm open to edits. I debated putting anything about AA or the cleaning staff being responsible for having clean seats.

[trident0]

Oct 29, 2014 21:02:58 GMT -5 babsbunny said:

I apologize for some of the flyertalk responses. Sometimes they are not helpful.

For example, I would post something like the following on the AA facebook page.

Dear AA

I had an unfortunate incident on a recent flight and I am unhappy with the response I received from customer service. I was boarding my flight with my husband and holding our infant son. I sat down at my seat and immediately felt that the seat cushion was wet (which I later identified as urine). I quickly got up and notified the nearest flight attendant. The FA changed out the seat cushion with a dry one, but my pants and underwear were already wet, so I was given paper towels to sit on for the 7 hour flight. I submitted the online form to customer service with details about the incident and received compensation in the amount of 3000 AA miles, which I feel is insufficient. I am requesting a refund to my credit card for this segment of my itinerary because the experience was not satisfactory, was not sanitary, and no acceptable alternatives were offered.


I'm open to edits. I debated putting anything about AA or the cleaning staff being responsible for having clean seats.

Too wordy!

AA-

On my recent fight from XYZ to ABC, my seat cushion was soaked with urine from a previous passenger.  Although the flight attendents were able to change the cushion after I had already sat down, I was forced to wear soiled clothes for 7 hours.  Customer service told me they were sorry this impacted the enjoyment of my flight and offered 3k miles, which is insufficient.  I am requesting a refund to my credit card for this ticket because the experience was not satisfactory, was not sanitary, and no acceptable alternatives were offered.


The fact that you have a sensitive baby doesn't really matter, this is gross no matter what.  If he got sick from it or something then you raise holy hell. 

[Deleted]

I am just seeing this now. I would do 2 things immediately. First, get to them on social media. Next, contact your local news.

You should at a minimum have gotten free tickets for you and your kid.

I received 10k miles for a bunch of severe delays last December, no pee involved. 3k is an insult.

[v]

Oct 29, 2014 21:02:58 GMT -5 babsbunny said:

I apologize for some of the flyertalk responses. Sometimes they are not helpful.

For example, I would post something like the following on the AA facebook page.

Dear AA

I had an unfortunate incident on a recent flight and I am unhappy with the response I received from customer service. I was boarding my flight with my husband and holding our infant son. I sat down at my seat and immediately felt that the seat cushion was wet (which I later identified as urine). I quickly got up and notified the nearest flight attendant. The FA changed out the seat cushion with a dry one, but my pants and underwear were already wet, so I was given paper towels to sit on for the 7 hour flight. I submitted the online form to customer service with details about the incident and received compensation in the amount of 3000 AA miles, which I feel is insufficient. I am requesting a refund to my credit card for this segment of my itinerary because the experience was not satisfactory, was not sanitary, and no acceptable alternatives were offered.


I'm open to edits. I debated putting anything about AA or the cleaning staff being responsible for having clean seats.

No no no no no.

If all she got was a refund of one segment, it would be an insult. She deserves a full refund, and then stuff on top of that.

SHE DESERVES A FUCKLOAD OF COMPENSATION FOR THIS.