Airlines Fumigating Passengers

[honedright]

Warning!! This is more of a rant than anything else.

We were kept on a Hawaiian Airlines jet upon arrival at Sydney Airport in Australia, and involuntarily sprayed copiously with some form of aerosol pesticide. I just did some research online and apparently this practice is not uncommon. But I'd never experienced this before, and at the time, found it to be rather alarming. Afterwards I felt pretty much violated.

I don't know, maybe my Jewish roots kicked in. I just thought it was a crappy thing to do. I understand vector disease control. But being treated essentially like cattle and mass sprayed.... Very dehumanizing.

We weren't informed about the spraying until we began our descent to the airport and I remember feeling trapped. I suppose I should have known had I done my homework, but as a very infrequent traveler, I had no idea such things were done.

Still pisses me off thinking about it....

Rant over

[shayne]

A bit different but similar situation . when the last round of swine flu went around asia we were all met on the flights arriving in china by full Hazmat suited goons taking everyones temperature with a laser . but elsewhere such as japan nada.

also anyone in china who went to the hospital for flu symptoms was placed into quarantine for at least a week.

in both cases no warning no way to know. And if you were taken away no contact allowed with family or friends.

Shayne

[easyace]

To be fair, some people I have had to sit next to, could have done with a bit of a spray before they boarded.

[Wintchase]

I can see your outrage,but I can also see the Aussie's point of view. Given the toads and other nasties that other cultures have brought over.. Look at that and also Hawaii and that brown snake.. I think a doc and a hazmat team should check every flight coming in to keep the ebolli and japanese wood beetles where they started.. Everytime a plane lands, or a ship docks fom another country there is the potential to recreate the Spaniards swapping small pox spit with the Mayians all over again.

[ndw76]

I remember many years ago when I went on a holiday to Hawaii with my family. When we arrived in Australia we got fumigated. I have flown in and out of a few other countries since then and not had the fumigation. So I assumed that it didn't happen any more. I have flown many time back and forth between Australia and Thailand with no such issues.

This leads me to think that this might just be something they do for planes that have been to Hawaii, such as I would assume a Hawaiian airlines plane could have been.

[MickR]

I've only ever flown 'Cattle' class, so I don't expect to be treated with much respect at all. In fact, every time I have flown domestic carriers, I've been treated to the utmost in dis-respect by some of the stewards and hostess'. Once, just because I got up to use the toilet, just as they brought out the meal/drinks cart! Some choice words were used by a hostess' with absolutely no justification. I was dumfounded to say the least.


Mick

[BobH]

If you take a flight from JFK to JoBurg South Africa you will also get fumigated. I am sure there are other places that do this too depending on where the aircraft is arriving from and what they are trying to control. An advance notice of this procedure prior to boarding would be nice though.

Bob

[Johnus]

It is a way to intimidate people! Tell me that they open up each box in each container on every Container Ship that lands there and spay the content of each! Sorry just another way to show that they can control you! ✈

[unit]

I can understand the outrage...they should have done a better job informing you of what would happen.

That said, as passengers on airlines we do not have the same rights we might expect in our homes. We are guests, and your choices are to like it or not....and there are less and less options these days, so if you want to travel over seas, you better opt for the first choice.

Domestic flights have more regulations and concerns than ever, International flights have even bigger concerns as they must comply with multiple governments. If you contemplate all the responsibilities airlines have these days compared to 20 years ago, and couple that with the global economy...it is not a surprise (nor is it acceptable) that customer service sucks.

Regarding conspiracy theories and control...I think they have a lot bigger concerns. What I mean is, they (the airlines) are interested in dotting the necessary i's and crossing the necessary t's in the manner they are mandated to do...they could care less about anything other than CYA. Non-compliance can be very costly.

Now if you want to debate the effectiveness of a rule, that is another story....governments unfortunately tend to be extremely good at shutting the gate and triple pad locking it, while the horses walk out the gaping holes in the fences. Laws and sausages...you do not REALLY want to know how either are made.

[Hirlau]

Warning!! This is more of a rant than anything else.

We were kept on a Hawaiian Airlines jet upon arrival at Sydney Airport in Australia, and involuntarily sprayed copiously with some form of aerosol pesticide. .......................
Rant over

That wasn't pesticide, it was seasoning.
Those Aussies like to spice up their tourists.
Keeps the Crocs & Wild Dingos happy.