[Anonymous]

[OnslowSW7]

I was recently travelling from LHR to IAH with BA in First. As usual with BA, it was a comfortable flight and I managed a bit of a snooze in the bed. However, towards the end of the flight I started to itch a bit, and when I got to the hotel, I realised I had been bitten quite a few times on one leg and my neck. It seems bed bugs are the culprit!

Am I alone in this, or has anyone else been bitten by these menacing stowaways??

[TominScotland]

I am sure that this is all part of BA’s service – I doubt WT, WT+ or even Business Class passengers can expect bed bugs when they travel. Count yourself lucky!!

[LeTigre]

That’s shocking. How can you pay thousands of pounds to get eaten alive in-flight? Bedbugs can be removed through hoovering, treating fabrics, chemicals…it’s so easy. But they spread so quickly, so if you had them, so did everyone else!

[VintageKrug]

Sadly, insects have little respect for who you are or indeed how much you paid for your ticket.

As an example, there were 44 reports of bed bug infestation at the San Francisco Four Seasons during 2008. It remains an excellent hotel.

It’s certainly not easy to get rid of them; a focused approach is needed.

It’s hard to determine whether the OP encountered bed bugs or some other malefactor.

It’s also not certain where bedbugs were encountered; could have been a Londres, could have been in the airport, though from what you say it does seem likely it was in board.

Even if that was the case, they could have been lurking in another persons hand luggage – plenty of unknowns.

What is certain is that it is ESSENTIAL you confirm whether or not it was indeed bed bugs (a pharmacist or doctor probably needs to do this) and ensure you sterilise your clothing and baggage, your hotel room (assuming your are resident in London, and currently in a hotel in DC) and inform the airline as soon as possible of your flight time, date and seat number so they can take action, including a deep clean and professional spray.

There are very stringent procedures in such cases, but without being informed there’s no way an airline will know of any infestation, and a standard clean simply will not kill them.

http://www.gettingridofbedbugs.com/

[MartynSinclair]

Whilst taking photos is probably the last thing on your mind at a time like this, but if you can get a shot of one of the mites or even the bite/rash, it would be very helpful to determe what it actually was that affected you.

[coudntthinkofaname]

I thought I had read something about this in the past – see the aptly named site

http://www.ba-bites.com/

Martyn – you’ll be pleased (or rather, disturbed) to see that the site is complete with photos!

C

[LuganoPirate]

Did you have to pay extra for them, or were they included in the ticket price? 😉

I’m sure Ryanair would charge for them if they could!!!

[MartynSinclair]

some airlines may use them for pre dinner snacks!!

[VintageKrug]

Perhaps it’s one of Heston’s new initiatives and a few got away? Deep fried bed bug, perhaps served on a pesto drizzle? Yum.

It’s not uncommon, particularly for airlines serving the US, though of course none of the cases below have been confirmed as Bed Bug related:

United Airlines:

http://upgrd.com/matthew/bedbugs-inflict-united-airlines-passenger.html

Delta Airlines:

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k4693316-o10-Bed_bug_bites_on_a_long_haul_flight-Air_Travel.html

[OnslowSW7]

It seems I am not alone in this then!

I’ve dropped a note to YouFirst to let them know and suggest they investigate/and spray the seats if necessary.

I’m not actually after any compensation from BA (although a few airmiles are always appreciated), but I’ll take a few photo’s of the bites just in case they ask for some evidence (and who knows, it could be the start of a new modelling career!)

[RichHI1]

As posted these creatures have been found in Many places upmarket and otherwise. I think there are two airline factors that are contributing. Firstly quicker turn round times for greater asset utlization has meant there is less frequent deep cleaning of aircraft seats, carpets and cabins, second in common with other industries there has been a shift away from dangerous chemicals in cleaning making 100% removal harder.
The big factor in airline fVor is that bed bugs die in the cold so they areas they can survive in flight tend to be in the cabin and not too widespread. Does any airline steam clean seats between flights? TAM spray anti bug spray in flight between Uk and brazil. I know this is not aimed at bed bugs but I wonder if it helps.

[FlyingChinaman]

Helston can now harvest the insects and makes a signature Fried Lice dish for the newly affluence Chinese passengers in First Class!!!!

[RichHI1]

I have heard a rumor not all bed bugs are being upgraded to new bb by 2012 after all. Apparently they will be replaced by the new european AirBb’s in early 2013.

[Tom Otley]

Continued here (merging threads)

http://www.businesstraveller.com/discussion/topic/Bed-bugs-at-BA

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