Very upsetting experience with China…
Very upsetting experience with China Eastern Airlines I travelled with my 9-year-old son on China Eastern flight MU213 from Shanghai to London Gatwick on 31 August. While we were waiting on the ground before take-off, my son developed stomach cramps and urgently needed to use the toilet. I explained this to a cabin crew member twice, but he was not allowed to go. What upset me most was that I was then told that my 9-year-old son could urinate into an emergency sick bag at his seat. He was extremely embarrassed and refused because we were surrounded by other passengers. Eventually, he became so desperate that he had to urinate into a drinking cup at his seat because he could no longer hold it. I completely understand that airlines have strict safety procedures before take-off, and I would never expect cabin crew to compromise passenger safety. However, I believe an urgent situation involving a young child in pain should have been handled with much more compassion, sensitivity and dignity. I later raised the matter with the cabin manager, but I was particularly disappointed that we did not receive a meaningful apology for the distress caused to my son. I have made a formal complaint to China Eastern and hope they will investigate what happened, explain whether the situation was handled according to their procedures, and ensure that another child is not put through a similar experience. Safety is extremely important, but so are compassion and the dignity of a 9-year-old child.