Michelle Reed
Travel Tips

Passenger’s fury over “windowless” window seat on plane

A Jetstar Australia passenger has posted an epic rant about the "worst flight" of her life, after being offered a window seat that had no window.

Nat Pelech, a regular Jetstar customer who was happy to receive a randomly-assigned seat, looked forward to a view when she was assigned to seat 30A.

But she soon found her seat was in the only row that had no window.

"I was quite pleased to see I'd been placed on a window seat, because I hadn't sat at the window for a while. I was looking forward to enjoying the clouds."

"I got on the plane to find, yes I was seat 30A but this was the only row on the plane that DOESN'T have a window."

To make matters worse, the seat was at a "crampy little corner" at the bowels of the aircraft, where she became more acquainted with the toilet habits of her fellow passengers than she felt comfortable with.

"I was seated on the very last row at the back ... in a crampy little corner which was made even smaller by not having the window there to open it up.

"It is right next to the toilet, where it smells and you hear everyone flushing."

"Right behind you is the chatter and rattle of the flight attendants ...

"I'm sorry but I paid just as much money as everyone else to be put in [a] claustrophobic, stinky, loud corner. This row should NOT exist," raged Pelech in her Facebook complaint, which she posted on to Jetstar Australia's page.

Having experienced an unpleasant flight, Pelech was keen to escape her misery as quickly as possible, but it was just not her day.

"I was relieved when I finally climbed out of my hole to see that I was at the front of the line and would get off first from the back door but no... They decide not to open the back door and unload everyone from the front."

"Thanks Jetstar. Worst flight of my life. I'm not claustrophobic but do get uneasy in tight spaces... Especially thousands of feet in the air in a dark hole where I can't see where I am going or anything that's happening. Thanks a lot.

"Avoid row 30 ABC for anyone travelling."

In a reply to Pelech's rant, Jetstar Australia said it offers customers the choice of purchasing a specific seat during the booking process.

"When customers have not pre-selected seats for their flights, seats are assigned for them by an automated program.

"I'm sorry to hear that you were unhappy with the seat that was allocated to you on your flight yesterday. It certainly wasn't our intention for you to be uncomfortable on your journey with us," a representative wrote.

Pelech said the seat should only be used for storage, as enclosed spaces with no windows cause discomfort. "I'm not claustrophobic but do get uneasy in tight spaces... Especially thousands of feet in the air in a dark hole where I can't see where I am going or anything that's happening."

She advised other travellers to stay away from the window-less seats: "Avoid row 30 ABC for anyone travelling."

This is not the first time Pelech has had problems with Jetstar.

In August, she posted a note complaining of poor customer service after she was made to wait 54 minutes to get in touch with a Jetstar representative.

First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.

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Tags:
travel, flying, holiday, flight, Jetstar