Passenger’s Unfortunate Bathroom Experience Leads to Controversy with WestJet

There’s a story about a passenger who found herself in a sticky situation after being kicked off a WestJet flight due to excessive bathroom use following a trip to Mexico.

So, let’s dive into the details and unravel this unfortunate incident that has sparked quite a bit of controversy.

The Unpleasant Experience Joanna Shu, a WestJet passenger, recently shared her upsetting experience of getting booted off a flight. According to her, the airline asked her to leave the aircraft because she had been making frequent trips to the bathroom before takeoff. The reason? An upset stomach she acquired during her recent trip to Mexico.

Denied Assistance and Tears In a series of posts, Joanna explained that she not only had to deal with the embarrassment of being asked to leave but also faced a lack of support from WestJet. After leaving her money on the plane in her rush to exit, the airline refused to cover her taxi fare to the hotel. Distressed, Joanna burst into tears when a WestJet supervisor gave her a hard time at the airport.

Video Controversy The situation escalated when Joanna began filming an employee who refused to provide her with a reference number for a rebooked flight. She claimed that the airline insisted she delete the video before granting her the number. This left her feeling helpless, as she expressed, “It is sad that I wasn’t able to get any help unless I publicly aired my experience.”

Public Outrage Joanna’s posts on social media drew mixed reactions from the public. Some were outraged at the airline’s treatment, questioning the necessity of ejecting a passenger for frequent bathroom visits. Others, however, supported the crew’s decision, arguing that the passenger’s illness could have posed a safety risk during the flight.

Below are few social media comment from Instagram handle

1. skwiggy
   • “I’m confused..as a flight attendant reading this I don’t see what’s the big deal, wouldn’t all airlines do this? And then I saw the comments that perhaps the general public doesn’t know how it works.”
2. justbeingcourtney
   • “First of all…what is “WestJet””
3. turnsoundon
   • “I mean, what choice did he have? Go in his seat?”
4. ashlimalcolm
   • “Typical WestJet move. Worst airline!!!”
5. brnidgrl1155
   • “But they leave the person who is coughing up a lung, sneezing and blowing their nose on the flight….”
6. deedeenewell
   • “Personally, I don’t wanna sit beside somebody who is sick… So good call on Westjet.”
7. houses.with.holly
   • “I have IBS….and I can tell you it’s so stressful to think about being on a plane, and having an IBS attack. It has happened to me more than once…it’s not the persons fault. This is not fair.”
8. julio_aka_ladyj
   • “Did y’all forget the emergency landing last year where the passenger literally shitted all over the place? Good call west jet! Lol”
9. carlavandamme81
   • “Well, at least we aren’t hearing about Taylor and Travis anymore. This is real news.”
10. jynnart
    • “I only speak for myself when I say I feel bad for the passenger but I don’t want to be stuck thousands of feet in the air with someone possibly shitting themselves and all over the only toilet every 5 minutes.”
11. auntieofaed
    • “Sounds like Charlotte from sex and the city had one too many pudding cups”
12. coolmommabear
    • “From what I read, it was multiple trips to the restroom BEFORE the plane took off. The plane can’t leave the gate or take off with someone in the restroom. Sadly it seems unlikely the person could refrain from needing the restroom between the time they had to leave the gate and when they were at cruising altitude and it was then safe to leave your seat…a minimum of 20 minutes if there is no wait time on the runway before taking off. At that point it’s a safety issue. The flight crew has no choice but to make that call.”
13. charlenelinnen
    • “You were likely asked to get off the plane for the safety of the other passengers and aircraft staff… no one wants to get your “upset stomach “problems!”
14. brunotkaterina
    • “Dude caught a bug ! Have a mercy, let him go home and sh…t in his own toilet 🙃”
15. caity_newsom_intuitive
    • “I mean, unless he clogged the toilet I dont get it. Also- how do you get kicked off a flight once in the air? The whole thing is confusing”
16. alyssaya
    • “Doesn’t sound very Canadian of them”
17. jfairle
    • “I hate to say it, but it happens if you’ve just been to Mexico. People just need to take their Immodium type meds with them before, during, and after visiting Mexico because you just never know.”
18. keriwarchollecrenski
    • “Yeah, it’s called Travelers diarrhea”
19. amesve1966
    • “Travel with Imodium and always take it before flying.”
20. drockolese
    • “What a crappy situation…. 😂”
21. shaunsuttle
    • “I’m confused. Was he kicked off before the flight departed or was he kicked off during the flight? These headlines make you go 🧐”
22. beckynkotb
    • “The person wasn’t able to stay in their seat long enough for the stewardesses to secure the cabin and the seat belt sign was on.”
23. kristx24
    • “@richieair23 what?!?!?”
24. jarkial
    • “This is so sensationalistic, I don’t even know why shit like this is posted. If the plane couldn’t take off because someone keeps going, too bad, off the plane. It happens. Big deal. Shit happens. Why make a big stink about common sense”
25. seattguate
    • “You don’t need to travel if you are sick of your stomach.”
26. meg_hig1
    • “Are we missing something? 🤔”
27. stoppelhopserrrr
    • “Airlines should stock up on adult diapers for pooping passengers 😂”
28. macabre_barbiexo
    • “multiple laughing emojis“
29. doughnuthoeev2
    • “They want another poop plane incident”
30. jovviiz
    • “They did the right thing. Nothing to talk about here. Sick people shouldn’t be trying to fly they need medical care first”
31. regina.archer
    • “He might have had Montezuma’s revenge.”

Safety Concerns or Overreaction? While some defended WestJet’s actions, labeling it a safety measure, others found it excessive to kick someone off a flight for a health-related issue. One former flight attendant chimed in, acknowledging that safety is crucial but questioning the communication aspect of the decision.

WestJet’s Response In response to the growing controversy, a representative from WestJet issued an apology to Joanna, acknowledging the inconvenience and discomfort she experienced. The statement emphasized that the airline prioritizes the well-being and safety of its guests and crew, taking health-related concerns seriously.

And there you have it—a whirlwind of events that started with a passenger’s upset stomach and ended in a public outcry. Whether WestJet’s decision was justified or not, this incident raises questions about how airlines handle health-related issues and communicate their decisions to passengers. As we wrap up, we hope Joanna gets the resolution she deserves, and we’ll keep you posted on any further developments.

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