15 February 2024 , 10:42
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A woman was kicked off a plane for going to the toilet too many times, she has claimed.
Joanna Chiu found herself making a number of dashes to the loo during her time aboard a WestJet plane ahead of take-off. The journalist had been struggling with an upset stomach after a holiday in Mexico.
She alleged that staff took exception to her multiple trips and decided that she was too ill to fly, asking her to leave the flight. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) she wrote: "Just got kicked off a @WestJet flight from Mexico because I had an upset stomach and was going to the washroom too much before take-off. No promise of a hotel or rebooked flight. I had meds and was on the mend. Some customer service.
"In my rush to get off the plane alone, I left my money with travel companions and a WestJet supervisor refused to pay for my taxi to a hotel 20 min away." Joanna said she burst into tears following an encounter with a member of staff.
Joanna was removed from the Westjet flight (Getty Images)Although she said another airline employee was "much nicer", the company still refused to give her a booking reference number for a rebooked flight and told her to come back to the airport the following day and ask at the counter, Joanna claimed.
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After returning home, the author offered some advice for people who don't want to find themselves in a similar situation. "My last word: Check whether your destination is known for stomach bugs. Take probiotics etc. If you're asked to deplane, take the time to gather your wallet, passport, medications. Duolingo proved useful and off-line translation apps. If staff are abusive, ask for another to help you," she added.
A spokesperson for Westjet has apologised to Joanna for the incident. In a statement to Global News they said: "We sincerely apologize to Ms. Chiu for the inconvenience and discomfort she experienced during her recent travel experience, including the communication delay that occurred as she awaited an appropriate re-accommodation option.
"Ensuring the wellbeing and safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority and therefore we take any health-related concerns very seriously. While unexpected illness can occur while travelling, maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all guests and crew members is paramount. In circumstances where a guest is deemed unfit to travel due to illness, our crew are trained to make difficult, but required decisions in the name of safety.
"Upon learning of Ms. Chiu’s experience via X last week, our Social Care team immediately reached out directly to her to ensure she was provided with a re-accommodation option and to receive any feedback on her experience."
As unfair as it may seem, airlines do have the power to remove passengers who they deem to be too ill to fly. According to Fit For Travel, "The airline you plan to fly with needs to make sure it is medically safe for you to fly, so you might need to tell them about any health condition you have."
Airlines might not let you travel with them if they are concerned that you have a medical condition that might get worse during a flight, or if you have an illness that could infect other passengers.
"Restrictions and rules can vary between airlines, so if you are in any doubt, you should seek advice from the medical department of the airline. Most airlines have a medical advisory service, details of which can usually be found on their website," the NHS information website adds.