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Canadian airline forced to remove smelly passenger from plane
We've already been told that being too fat will have you kicked off the plane, but now "too smelly" is apparently also a (very) good reason to be sent back into the terminal. Not much is known about the specifics, but several weeks ago, Canadian airline Jazz had to remove a passenger because of his "brutal" stench.
I've been in the unlucky situation of sitting next to a stinker, and it really is a horrible position to be in - especially when you are dealing with the kind of stench that can't be masked by a spritz of Old Spice.
Thankfully, someone at Jazz had the guts to tell the passenger that he had to get off the plane. In situations like this, I'd rather see them embarrass one passenger, than inconvenience an entire plane.
The airline wouldn't reveal any specifics, citing privacy concerns, but they do admit that a passenger was removed, mentioning "safety concerns".
As far as I'm concerned, that is a perfect way to handle it. Seriously, I can understand smelling a little nasty after a few days on the road, but I've encountered people I could smell 4 rows up. Do everyone a favor, and take a shower before you fly!
| Overweight passenger spilling into my seat | |
|---|---|
| Smelly passenger stinking up the entire plane | |
| Talkative passengers who won't shut up | |
| Passengers changing diapers next to you |
(Image from: Getty)
Filed under: North America, Canada, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Craig Feb 19th 2010 12:18PM
I agree with not letting him fly, but if the smell was that bad, it was likely a medical issue and not a hygiene one. Perhaps he was on some sort of medication with a bad side effect.
Vikas Feb 19th 2010 1:59PM
I had a similar situation flying on Asiana airlines from Seoul to LA (for over 12 hours). The man smelled like he hadn't showered in weeks. I couldn't even manage to avoid it by sleeping, I kept waking up with nightmares about suffocating and realized I probably wasn't breathing.
Except in my case the flight attendants didn't care, refused to reseat me and my wife or the smelly passenger despite having multiple empty rows in the back of the plane. We found them later hanging out in those rows watching movies and gossiping loudly.
Good for Jazz airlines.
Nick Feb 19th 2010 2:25PM
You really should've allowed us to choose more than one answer on that poll above! Stinky passengers and those spilling into my seats are equally horrible.
cecile Feb 20th 2010 1:37AM
I voted for the yappping, irrelevant, loud, self-centered, stupid passenger. I have been caught in that situation a couple of times and had to really restrain myself from yelling "shut your F......g mouth!!!! I don't want to hear about your "ranch" or the sex habits of your children!
I thought about it awhile and should have voted to eliminate the smelly passenger. I was thinking that I could always cover my nose and mouth for the remainder of the flight. Not so. Very uncomfortable, and I had paid good money for my seat. I shouldn't have to do this.
Then I remembered I could always use ear plugs to muffle the noisy and verbal abuse coming from the other passenger. Sound and smell are the most acute memory-inducers. And I sure didn't want to remember this. But I can't seem to let go of the annoying rage I felt for this woman.
Now I am changing my vote to eliminate the noxious fumes.
Santosh Krishnan Feb 24th 2010 3:21PM
What if the passenger became smelly later? For example, I was in India and everything was fine. Then this woman who was very obviously from the village went to the restroom.
For those who don't know, India is a country of washers, not wipers - and so the whole concept of toilet paper hasn't really reached out too far beyond the cities (if that).
So when she stepped out of the rest room, clearly, there had been some confusion on what had to be done, and it would seem she didn't do anything and the smell was terrible.
It was horrendous - and it was a brand new A320 aircraft too.
And she definitely felt bad coz she had that look on her face like, she might rather have stayed in the bathroom for the rest of the flight except that it smelled so bad in there.
Did I mention my seat was across from the restroom?