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I had experienced a Food Poisoning incident on Etihad Airways on a flight from Denpasar to Abu Dhabi. After my trip home to Toronto I emailed the Head of Catering, Head of Guest Experience and the CEO (the email is listed below) with my experience and concern. I was expecting at least one of these gentlemen to reply to my email but obviously customer concerns are not a priority at Etihad Airways. As of today I have not received a response to my email. They are supposed to be one of the top 10 airlines in the world. Obviously the experience I had on their flight shows that they should not be listed in the top 10. They showed no compassion or care for their customers. I paid good money to fly business class on their airline but obviously would not recommend this airline to anyone that would like to be treated the way I was. I sincerely hope that no passenger experiences what I had on Etihad Airways.

Note - I did include my itinerary and the medical report from the Medical Team at Zayed International Airport.

I am writing to you to provide you with information about a major issue that I experienced on the above-mentioned flight (itinerary attached for your reference). This incident, as I will describe below, is related to the on-board food and its impact on my health and well-being during and after this flight.

I was a passenger situated in Business Class. Prior to take-off, the flight attendants began to take our orders for the after take off drinks and dinner choice. I selected the Peach Bellini (alcoholic beverage), the Arabic Messe (appetizer), Ayam Goreng (chicken and rice), Blueberry Cheesecake (dessert) and a ginger ale (non-alcoholic beverage). No other alcoholic beverages were consumed after the Peach Bellini.

My issue, I believe, occurred between six and seven hours after the meal service had completed. After meal service, I watched a movie and subsequently laid down for some sleep. Approximately one hour prior to landing in Abu Dhabi, my stomach began to get sore and I started feeling nauseous. Just as we were about to land, I began to vomit.

After leaving the plane and entering the Terminal Building at Zayed International Airport, I immediately felt an urgent bowel movement. I proceeded to the toilet and subsequently had a bowel movement consistent with diarrhea. I cleaned up and decided to sit just outside of the washrooms for a while. All of a sudden. I felt very nauseous and tried to get to the washroom. Unfortunately, I started violently vomiting on the Terminal floor. A kind gentleman from Etihad Airways came over to me to ask if I was okay while I was vomiting. I indicated to him that I wasn’t sure. He told me to clean up in the washroom, where I further vomited, and he would call facilities to clean up the mess. He waited until I came out of the washroom and asked if I needed medical attention. I indicated to him that I was not sure. He said to be on the safe side that he would call medical for me. I expressed my appreciation for his caring and concern. He left after that.

Medical was called and I was accompanied to the Medical Centre in the Terminal. The kind nurses asked me to lie down. They took my blood pressure, oxygen level and glucose levels. They subsequently gave me water and a fizzy tab with water to keep me hydrated. I believe that I was in the Medical Centre for approximately one hour before I was released as I was no longer vomiting. The medical staff provided me with medical report (attached for your reference).

At Abu Dhabi Zayed International, I had a nine-hour layover. I went to the Business Class Rest Area for some sleep. Afterward, I had a bottle of water and decided to take a shower to freshen up. While getting undressed in the shower area, I experienced abdominal pain followed by diarrhea and vomiting. Once it subsided, I took my shower and went to the gate for the final leg back to Toronto.

At the terminal, on my way to the gate, I went to a pharmacy and they recommended, for precautionary measures, to take Imodium and Motilium before my flight. I purchased these products and took the recommended dosage of each prior to boarding and during my flight to Toronto. On the thirteen-hour flight, I didn’t eat or drink for the flight as I was concerned that I may start vomiting or experience diarrhea; however, I began to feel unwell along with abdomen pain. The flight attendants asked what I would like to eat and drink and I indicated that I would like a ginger ale and no food. I tried to sleep the whole flight.

In my opinion, I strongly believe that it was the chicken. After returning home, I had appointment with my doctor. Supplying her with the necessary details including symptoms, she suspected that it was food-poisoning but obviously she could not confirm it.

As a result, I am writing to you to fully advise you of my Etihad Airways experience. It is truly my hope that you will appreciate what I experienced on your airline and I hope you would consider some the of compensatory gesture as a result. I would not ask this normally but this was an extraordinary experience which truly ruined my travel plans and expected wonderful experience on your excellent airline.

I thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I look forward to your correspondence.

Thank you,