British Airways, "Get over it".

[phillybeth]

This is how BA handles these situations. This is the appropriate thing to do.

No, the appropriate thing to do would be to land the plane and remove the body and the grieving family. It's not an interstellar flight, there are plenty of airports between London and New Dehli- or they could turn around. If had my choice of a delayed flight or sitting next to a corpse for 9 hours, I'd pick the delay.

 

[yeartolate]

No, the appropriate thing to do would be to land the plane and remove the body and the grieving family. It's not an interstellar flight, there are plenty of airports between London and New Dehli- or they could turn around. If had my choice of a delayed flight or sitting next to a corpse for 9 hours, I'd pick the delay.

I am thinking most of the passengers would disagree. Except for the one stuck next to the corpse.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

Wow, BA really does make it tough to upgrade to first class!

 

[Charade]

Wow, BA really does make it tough to upgrade to first class!

I've been dying to try first class but I didn't mean literally.

 

[Patty3]

No way would I be able to sit next to a dead body. I really don't think it's a case of whining.... not everyone is comfortable being around the formerly living. Perhaps there was a mortician on board who wouldn't have minded sitting next to the deceased.

I am with you. I definitely would be uncomfortable, more like freaking out if I had to sit next to a dead body.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

I've been dying to try first class but I didn't mean literally.

 

[Pigeon]

Wow, BA really does make it tough to upgrade to first class!

 

[mrsltg]

I think people have watched a few too many zombie movies - it's a dead body. It's not going to eat your brain and turn you into the undead!

I like the "get over it" comment. However I would have added, "You think you're having a bad day - try being him!"

 

[bicker]

No, the appropriate thing to do would be to land the plane and remove the body and the grieving family.
It's not an interstellar flight, there are plenty of airports between London and New Dehli- or they could turn around.

I suspect anyone expecting to be at their destination on time would disagree. Also, the link in the OP mentions this was a transatlantic flight, so where do you want them to land? Even between London and New Delhi, the officials in Iran may have a problem with BA making unscheduled landings to deplane passengers and a corpse, without appropriate visas. And would being left in some random country en route be something the grieving family would perceive as even remotely compassionate?

If had my choice of a delayed flight or sitting next to a corpse for 9 hours, I'd pick the delay.

The crew has to make the best decision for all 300-400 passengers, not just one.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

If I were on that flight, I would have gladly switched with the complaining passenger. He could have my cramped cattle-car seat in the back of the plane and I'll take his place in BA's first class cabin. I'd gladly share a row with a dead person... it sure beats some of the people I've had to fly next to in the past!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Who knew a thread about flying dead bodies could be so funny?

There has to be something better to do than put the deceased in a first class seat. I can't imagine how scary it would be to children sitting nearby!

Nobody should have to sit next to a dead body, no matter what they paid for their seat. I agree that landing ASAP would be the best solution, if there's nowhere else on the plane that they could be moved to that would be a bit more private. Landing would be the most respectful thing for the people traveling with the person who died, as well as the fellow passengers.

Airlines ship corpses in the cargo area all the time, so we've probably all flown with a dead person at least once, but at least it's "out of sight, out of mind!"

 

[ducklite]

No, the appropriate thing to do would be to land the plane and remove the body and the grieving family. It's not an interstellar flight, there are plenty of airports between London and New Dehli- or they could turn around. If had my choice of a delayed flight or sitting next to a corpse for 9 hours, I'd pick the delay.

I totally agree with you.

I would have absolutely freaked out if I woke up next to a corpse. I don't know why they allowed someone who was in such obvious poor health onto the flight to begin with.

Anne

 

[bicker]

There has to be something better to do than put the deceased in a first class seat. I can't imagine how scary it would be to children sitting nearby!

You might have hit upon why it is standard procedure to move a corpse to first-class: Fewer people in the more private or semi-private cabin, and invariably fewer children there.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

I don't know why they allowed someone who was in such obvious poor health onto the flight to begin with.

Anne

So you would have people pass a physical before flying?

The article stated the individual had a heart attack. I've known perfectly healthy people who've suffered heart attacks. Someone doesn't necessarily have to be in "such obvious poor health" to suddenly die.

 

[bicker]

I would have absolutely freaked out if I woke up next to a corpse. I don't know why they allowed someone who was in such obvious poor health onto the flight to begin with.

I don't remember if it was here or on some other bulletin board, but I remember a big blow-up (major "outrage") a few years ago when a forum member was denied boarding because of "apparent poor health". (That was Southwest, if I recall correctly.)

I think it is unfair to set expectations such that the airline could not possibly be in-the-right no matter what they do in such cases.

 

[ducklite]

So you would have people pass a physical before flying?

The article stated the individual had a heart attack. I've known perfectly healthy people who've suffered heart attacks. Someone doesn't necessarily have to be in "such obvious poor health" to suddenly die.

The article I read a couple days ago stated that the lady was very elderly and in very poor physical condition and needed to be assisted onto the flight and was on oxygen. Her daughter stated she was "taking her mother home to die in India." Based on that, I don't feel the woman should have been allowed on the flight.

Anne

 

[bicker]

So you would deprive the woman the ability to get back to her homeland before her death? Gosh, imagine the outrage that could be fostered based on that policy statement from an airline!

 

[ducklite]

I don't remember if it was here or on some other bulletin board, but I remember a big blow-up (major "outrage") a few years ago when a forum member was denied boarding because of "apparent poor health". (That was Southwest, if I recall correctly.)

I think it is unfair to set expectations such that the airline could not possibly be in-the-right no matter what they do in such cases.

They deny boarding to late-term pregnant women for health reasons, I don't see the difference between that and someone who is in such pbvious poor health to begin with.

Anne

 

[bicker]

Pregnancy is likely to a temporary condition.

 

[Mr. Malaprop]

The article I read a couple days ago stated that the lady was very elderly and in very poor physical condition and needed to be assisted onto the flight and was on oxygen. Her daughter stated she was "taking her mother home to die in India." Based on that, I don't feel the woman should have been allowed on the flight.

Anne

Well, I'm glad you aren't running the airline industry. At least BA was more accommodating and understanding.