[oldtimer]

I apologize in advance for the graphic detail - but had to include it to reflect the reason for my complaint:

I have flown between asia, europe and americas for well over 25 years, and on most international airlines. Lufthansa, KLM, Air France and BA are at the top of my experiences for in flight and on land service and customer care.

Recently, I decided to try Continental, from Newark to Delhi, for the very first time on the non stop flight CO82. Most other CO flights I have taken domestically, and once to europe, and it was ok, nothing bad but nothing good either. My decision to try CO82 was primarily because I had a death in the family, and wanted to avoid the stop over in europe en route to India, to reach there that much sooner. Else, I woudl have stuck to my tried and trusted carriers like Lufthansa , BA or KLM anytime, or tried newer airlines like Virgin or Jet.

Unfortunately, a small dinner of baked potato I ate at Newark airport before the flight, didnt agree with my stomach. ( If I was flying trans Altantic on most other Airlines, I would have waited for in flight dinner - but the food choices & service on CO is horrible so I thought of getting food prior to flight).

About 4 hours into the flight, my stomach hurt, I was naseous, and quite sick. I went to one of the rest rooms, thinking I may throw up or have upset bowel movements.

As it turned out, in the rest room, I also felt like I was dizzy and may faint when I was in there, so I pressed the "call attendant" button, thinking I should let them know how sick I felt ( and not pass out in the rest room )!.

NO ATTENDANT CAME. I kept sitting there on the pot hoping to feel better.

Finally I was so nauseous, I threw up in the sink.

As usually happens, once the offending substance is rejected by the body via puking or bowel movement, it feels better right away, so did I .

Except, the sink wouldnt drain.

I dont do this all the time, but having flown over million miles worldwide, and travelled with kids etc in the past, I know if you do puke in the sink, when you run the water and drain it, it clears. Only at the seat does one look for the air sickness bags.

After trying a few times to drain an rinse the sink with tap water, I went back to my seat, after covering the sink with paper towels so it doesnt gross someone out.

About five minutes later, one of the stewardesses came to my seat, and aksed me (LOUDLY among sleeping/resting passengers) if I was sick in the rest room. Upon my confirmation, she asked me to come back with her. Not wanting to cause a scene at my seat, I obliged to find out what was up.

There was another stewardess waiting there also.

The first stewadess asked me why I had convered the sink with paper - I explained how I was sick, no one came, I threw up, it wouldnt drain, so I covered it.

The second stwardess commented that people press the help button all the time by accident so they just turn it off when the walk by. (wow - flight creww apathy at it best - what if someone was having a heart attack, I wonder !)

The first stwardess said " well you got the sink blocked so now you fix it - it is not our job to fix it"

I told her I tried to run water and drain it, but the that sink does NOT drain - I dont know why, I am not a plumber.

I also told her, that rest rooms, the toilette and sink, are for expected uses, and my usage of it to throw up in was not outside the realm of expected uses, but if the equipment is malfunctioning, I cannot help it.

It is not like I threw up all over the cabin and didnt assist to help - the darn sink was not draining?

She started making louder comments so the passngers in earshot could hear her, and it was humiliating and harrassing to be traeted like an ignorant passenger.

SHe proceeded to hand me some gloves and said, "open the sink drain and see if you can fix it" .

Out of compassion for the other passengers, I tried lifting the stopper ( thru my vomit and water), but the drain was all backed up.The sink was not functioning as it should. I picked a rest room where the sink was blocked - it wasn't that I threw up a truckload blocking everything !

The stewardess got very loud uttering to the other how I had ruined one of the few rest rooms they had working ( why only a "few rest rooms were working" I still dont know !)

I told her I cannot help any further, washed my hands, and went back to my seat.

I could hear her uttering more comlaints, how they had to lock this rest room for the rest of the flight etc.

I didnt get sick again, nor did I go to any rest rooms till we landed.

The said stewardess, who seemed to be assignde to our section, treated me with complete disgust then on.

Breakfast was NOT served to me, and when I aksed for coffee, she said loudly " are you sure you are not going to throw up again all over the plane" .

Upon landing, when she said goodbyes to all, she looked the other way when I left.

The entire treatment was utterly embarrassing, I felt harassed, and humiliated by CO crew for using a rest room for what it was meant to.

I have tried calling CO customer service without much feedback.

I will continue to call/write to them , but at this point I do not expect much feedback.

It is one of our major airlines, have good flight routes and connections, yet pay ZERO attention to client satisfaction and comfort. CO has some of the worst flight crew ever, even though once in a while you get an educated and caring personIt seems they hire people who cant get a job anywhere else !

Most international airlines have much better services and crew - if you can afford the stop over time in europe en route to asia, do NOT fly these long CO routes - they are the worst !!

If CO is reading this: There is STILL HOPE TO PICK UP YOUR SERVICES - Get some EDUCATED and TRAINED CREW and have them fly some routes with other top rated airlines to WHAT WORLD CLASS SERVICE LOOKS LIKE!!

Best of luck to all, especially to CO to get their act back - there is still hope if you care enough!

Weary from CO travel experience,

Oldtimer