Curious: what's suitable recompense for no loos SFO-SYD in Y?

[Katie]

A friend arrived back on the SFO-SYD flight yesterday. He reported to his FB friends that this flight had *no* functioning loos in Y :shock:; he was in Y. He estimated 350+ pax were all using 2 J loos (am guessing other J loos for J/F pax).
United is offering him (all Y pax??) either a free domestic upgrade or 7000 bonus non-award-capable miles. No idea what J pax might have been offered for all the Y pax going through their cabin.

Is this appropriate recompense for all the loo queuing that would have been required in a trans pac flight??? Are there any precedents for better (or worse) recompense? Should he just be happy he got safely to SYD without incurring some kind of bladder infection/explosion?

 

[simongr]

To a certain extent I am not sure any compo is really payable - he was able to use the loos just much less convenient. This is the sort of incident that would lead to some people swearing off an airline so what would he want to persuade him to fly them again? if he will fly them again anyway then no compo really necessary so it is just a sliding scale of what bribe he needs to fly them...

 

[robd]

To a certain extent I am not sure any compo is really payable - he was able to use the loos just much less convenient. This is the sort of incident that would lead to some people swearing off an airline so what would he want to persuade him to fly them again? if he will fly them again anyway then no compo really necessary so it is just a sliding scale of what bribe he needs to fly them...

You'd be pretty peed off (pun intended) if you were a J pax

 

[mannej]

Is two operating toilets on a 747 even acceptable?

I think UA may be taking QF leads way too literally!

 

[Katie]

And btw, I'm just curious about this. My friend has not stated he is satsified or dissatisfied or expecting more from UA. Having the storm here yest afternoon hit his house, cause damage, & freak out his family is far more of a concern to him.

 

[markis10]

Is two operating toilets on a 747 even acceptable?

I think UA may be taking QF leads way too literally!

Sounds like there was more than two toilets operating, unless J and F where given a bottle.....

 

[Simo]

I am doing some basic maths and there would have been some major delay around peak times and also if there a children on the flight and certain movements which can take a little while longer than other movements.

Maybe J and F shared one lot of toilets.

I am also wondering when the toilets become Un serviceable was it before the flight or in mid flight.

If it only happened in the last hour or so no big deal but if the left SFO with no operating toilets in J then they should have changed the plane.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I hope it didn't take off from SFO in that condition...

 

[ozmille]

That is horrendous, you won't find me on a UA plane anytime soon!

 

[docjames]

Paging news.com.au

They love this sort if story (but a certain starter if it was QF!).


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[anat0l]

I've already commented on this on Facebook. That said, I think simongr has a good point, but I also liken it to people who have complained (and been compensated) for flaky IFE (e.g. rebooted a couple of times, bit shaky etc.), even if they moved to another (nearby spare) seat. Except that whilst one can live without IFE (well, most can ), lack of toilets is, well.....

Of course, the compensation is mostly useless unless you are a UA MP member, and if you aren't, is it a case of 'take it or leave it'?

Naturally, UA MP elites (especially 1Ks) who were affected on this flight will be raising big complaints and getting quite generous compensatory measures.

Didn't QF hold an aircraft back from departing due to one faulty toilet once? I'm not sure what's a bigger evil - cancelling a flight over faulty toilets (in order to fix them, or wait for replacement aircraft), or pushing ahead with the flight with inoperable toilets.

 

[cbourl]

Id ask for at least 40K miles or some sort of cash compensation i got 10K miles when i asked for 5k on as PremiumService flight in C from JFK-SFO on 15/11 - there was no power available in my seat for the 5 hour flight and they charged my phone in F anyway - no toilets is reprehensible - wouldnt there be some sort of legal ramification for united not providing adequate loo access -why dont u make this known on flyertalk.com ill do it for you anyway

 

[Mwenenzi]

.. He estimated 350+ pax were all using 2 J loos (am guessing other J loos for J/F pax)

"350 Y pax using". And then the are the Y pax who did not need to use the facilities.
So a very good load factor UA on that B747 flight (with 12F 52J 310Y) United Airlines - Boeing 747-400 (747)

Paging news.com.au
They love this sort if story (but a certain starter if it was QF!).

Would have been headline news if was a QF flight

Thread on FT by cbourl:- No toilets SFO-SYD in Y yesterday - FlyerTalk Forums
With a post by a pax on this flight:- FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - No toilets SFO-SYD in Y yesterday

....The problem arose well after takeoff. I started noticing things about 3.5 hours before landing. The crew was good at trying to keep things organized.....

 

[Rebekkap]

"350 Y pax using". And then the are the Y pax who did not need to use the facilities

Seems pretty unlikely that pax in any class would be able to hold on and not use the facilities between SFO and SYD! :-D

 

[Skyring]

Seems pretty unlikely that pax in any class would be able to hold on and not use the facilities between SFO and SYD! :-D

I dunno. I've flown across the Pacific once or twice without leaving my seat. I've got a mate in a wheelchair who flies longhaul and doesn't use the facilities.

Obviously not for all, but it can be done.

 

[nonpop]

Had all but 1 of the J dunny cans fail on a AA flight NRT to ORD.
There seemed to be an issue with Y as well.
Was in J and we were directed to use the F ones.
Y pax were directed to the J 'rear' toilet.
There were constant lines. The F pax were clearly not happy with us all tramping up and down their cabin. I think even a few Y pax made the run as well.
I just took it as a sign I had to drink less Champagne and improve my health.
No compensation was offered except the crew were apologetic. They did the best they could. These things happen sometimes, but agree it is not ideal and not what you have paid for.