Walked on broken glass on plane

[neilmeister]

Hi All,
Earlier this year I was traveling SYD->SIN on Qantas in J when I stood on some broken glass while on the way to the loo, only 20 minutes after takeoff. My foot was bleeding very profusely and the cabin crew were great, expect one who told me off for being in bare feet #thereisalwaysone. On the way back (after the great purser fixed me up), I stopped and picked up about 6 more pieces on the way to my seat and gave them to the crew.

I was happy with the bottle of cheap wine they gave me but I was urged by others to take it further.

I just wanted to ask what others would have done.

Thanks
Neil

 

[Dr Ralph]

I would have kept my shoes on! I would never use the bathroom on the plane without wearing shoes.

Given your contributory negligence I'd hope you would not expect compensation.

 

[neilmeister]

Not at all, and that was the point I was trying to get at.

I was happy they gave me free booze!

 

[get me outta here]

There's no way I'd be going to a public bathroom anywhere in bare feet or socks, especially one that sways badly and causes people with a bad aim to do who knows what on the floor and everywhere else too. Not to mention broken glass in the aisle.

 

[Denali]

Pack a pair of hotel slippers when not sitting in your seat. I've even got my husband wearing them. Never go barefoot in the cabin.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think the real issue here is the presence of broken glass in the aisle of an aircraft (apparently not being attended to), not what the OP happened to be wearing on his/her feet, isn't it?

Doesn't the presence of broken glass in the aisle of an aircraft, not being attended to, shock/appal/disappoint more, and is more worthy of comment, than the OP going to the loo in bare feet?

 

[Gold Member]

Seems your a bit late to the party - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kkU2dx_wJGw

 

[neilmeister]

I think the real issue here is the presence of broken glass in the aisle of an aircraft (apparently not being attended to), not what the OP happened to be wearing on his/her feet, isn't it?

Doesn't the presence of broken glass in the aisle of an aircraft, not being attended to, shock/appal/disappoint more, and is more worthy of comment, than the OP going to the loo in bare feet?

To be honest, the only thing that did disappoint me is when I handed in the rest of the broken glass I found, I was treated like a nuisance...

...and I love that Annie Lennox song

 

[RooFlyer]

Did you find out how it got there? Was it left over from the prior flight, or dropped by a J pax on your flight? I can't imagine broken glass just sitting there ....

 

[neilmeister]

Did you find out how it got there? Was it left over from the prior flight, or dropped by a J pax on your flight? I can't imagine broken glass just sitting there ....

I don't think it was from my flight, it only occurred after take off and nobody broke their pre-flight glasses IIRC, and I boarded first. Crew blamed the cleaners.

 

[vandy]

The fact that you had to return to pick up the broken glass yourself after the incident and hand it to the crew is appalling. They should have immediately searched for any more and cleaned it up after you reported it.

 

[DC3]

A very unfortunate mishap, which could have been a lot worse, as far as injury goes.

As far as walking around in bare feet/socks in the aisle or toilet, I'm very cautious, and always wear shoes. Having said that, I see plenty of passengers getting around in bare feet in the aisle.

Edit: OP could always lodge a complaint about the glass not being cleaned up after the event. Do they have vacuum cleaners on board?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would have kept my shoes on! I would never use the bathroom on the plane without wearing shoes.

Given your contributory negligence I'd hope you would not expect compensation.

If the airline was successful in arguing contributory negligence it would only partially reduce the compensation. But I'm not sure that's the case here. I have never heard an airline give a warning that shoes should be worn to prevent injury, and they give out socks for comfort in all classes. I don't think it's reasonable for a passenger to expect or look for broken glass on the floor.

 

[eric2011]

I'm sure it would say somewhere about foot ware being worn while on a plane and so if a pax doesn't comply whose fault is that. Jeez it takes long enough to get a drink or dinner service now without deploying cabin crew to inspect everyones footwear.

Admittedly glass shouldn't have been there to begin with and should have been investigated as soon as practical after being told about it

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sure it would say somewhere about foot ware being worn while on a plane and so if a pax doesn't comply whose fault is that. Jeez it takes long enough to get a drink or dinner service now without deploying cabin crew to inspect everyones footwear.

Admittedly glass shouldn't have been there to begin with and should have been investigated as soon as practical after being told about it

I would hope an airline has a hard time relying on small print buried somewhere on its website to get out of something like this. If the airline knows of dangers it could make an appropriate announcement at the beginning of the flight... as it does for seat belts and overhead lockers.

Cabin crew don't need to examine footwear, they need to make sure there isn't broken glass on the floor.

 

[eric2011]

I would hope an airline has a hard time relying on small print buried somewhere on its website to get out of something like this. If the airline knows of dangers it could make an appropriate announcement at the beginning of the flight... as it does for seat belts and overhead lockers.

Cabin crew don't need to examine footwear, they need to make sure there isn't broken glass on the floor.

I take responsibility for my own actions and not blame everyone else for my lack on common sense. Sorry but walking around public areas and in and out of what is in effect a public toilet in my bare feet IMO is a lack of common sense and a danger to my personal hygiene and if I choose to do that, then it is, in some way, partly my fault if I get hurt.
You say "If the airline knows of dangers it could make an appropriate announcement at the beginning of the flight". Seriously if the airline had to do this then the plane would never take off.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Seriously if the airline had to do this then the plane would never take off.

How many 'dangers' do you think there might be that warrant additional announcements? Along with 'please be careful when opening overhead lockers' and 'please keep your seat belt fastened', a 'please wear shoes when moving about the cabin' takes 10 seconds?

 

[neilmeister]

- The glass was in the middle of the J aisle.... nowhere near the toilet.
- I do not blame cabin crew for the glass being there, it was just after takeoff.
- 5 minutes after alerting them, I cleaned up the rest of the glass myself. (this is/was my only real beef)

I did not have a whinge or make complaints, but a few of my colleagues indicated they would have. After doing so much travel my first reaction whenever I see someone complaining at crew/ground staff/lounge staff is to feel sorry for them, airports and planes are full of aggressive idiots who believe they entitled to first class treatment by grovelling staff.

So my question was just that, wondering what a group of experienced travelers would have done. It would seem the array of reactions is exactly the same as my colleagues, so thanks everyone for contributing. After lurking for so long I am very appreciative that on my first day posting I wasn't treated like a noob, something I have seen on other fora.


... and I personally don't eat or touch anything using my feet, so even if the toilet floor wasn't cleaned just before I don't really see it as a risk to hygiene. A few people seem to have fixated on this. What is the difference between standing in urine barefoot or with shoes? Either way it is going to be walked all up and down the aisles and into each seats foot space.

 

[eric2011]

How many 'dangers' do you think there might be that warrant additional announcements? Along with 'please be careful when opening overhead lockers' and 'please keep your seat belt fastened', a 'please wear shoes when moving about the cabin' takes 10 seconds?

Sorry, I feel you are the one who is saying "If the airline knows of dangers it could make an appropriate announcement at the beginning of the flight" and suggesting warnings regarding lockers, seat belt, shoes etc are required. I don't really need these warnings because I use my commonsense, know what I can and can't do for my own safety and importantly, when I do stuff up and get hurt for doing something which is outside the bounds of sense then I don't blame everyone else. Please save the requirement for warnings for real safety requirements

 

[eric2011]

-


... and I personally don't eat or touch anything using my feet, so even if the toilet floor wasn't cleaned just before I don't really see it as a risk to hygiene. A few people seem to have fixated on this. What is the difference between standing in urine barefoot or with shoes? Either way it is going to be walked all up and down the aisles and into each seats foot space.

I'm not a medical person but hopefully one of our doctors can advise if we had a small area of broken skin on our under foot if it a good idea to walk through urine and then allow it to sit on our skin to soak in for a few hours