# Vomit bags in aircraft. Whence they went? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997 "2014-06-30T12:25:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/21 "2014-06-30T19:43:54Z")
We flew on Alaska Airlines recently and they were present, and doubled as “This Seat Occupied” signs. Could it be that since most flights do not serve food any longer the risk of people puking mid-flight is less than before? Perhaps there is a correlation between the amount of food served and the employment of the barf bags? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/22 "2014-06-30T19:53:12Z")
I fly pretty regularly, and always see them still. In fact, the passenger beside me on my last flight actually used one for it’s intended purpose. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/23 "2014-06-30T20:13:40Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > I fly pretty regularly, and always see them still. > > In fact, the passenger beside me on my last flight actually used one for it’s intended purpose. Blech. The time I had to use one, the guy next to me actually tried to open the window. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/24 "2014-06-30T22:08:09Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > So, they’re not there because I stole them, and I stole them because they’re not there. But according to the frequent flyers they’re still there. Yet according to others they’re actually not there because: a) flights are smoother b) more people are more used to flying c) there are more things to distract you (from puking) d) less food is being served (\<– can be interpreted in at least two ways) Hmmm. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/25 "2014-07-01T03:12:32Z")
I really wish I hadn’t been ‘too cool’ as a teenager. I could have bought a ‘Quiet Urp’ airsickness bag (with a cartoon gunslinger printed on it) from an FBO at FAT back in the early-'80s. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/26 "2014-07-01T03:34:32Z")
I know that they’re still there because I usually take a couple with me every few years. The first time my ex-wife called and told me that my daughter puked in the car, I told myself that ain’t happening to me. So I grabbed a few on my next flight and left them in the pocket behind my car’s seats. Sure enough, she puked once in my car, but right into the bag like I planned. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/27 "2014-07-01T03:40:34Z")
I fly about 100k miles a year in a lot of different countries and I still see them. I used to work with a guy who collected them from different airlines around the world and had them displayed in the hall outside his office. People would bring them back from him from trips. ---
**Author:** ![WhyWhyWhy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whywhywhy/32/7539_2.png) [@WhyWhyWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyWhyWhy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/28 "2014-07-01T03:44:58Z")
They are still useful for small planes. Or not: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gzZ_gYlXENI/maxresdefault.jpg "Hot Girl Vomits On Everyone in Airplane!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzZ_gYlXENI) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/29 "2014-07-01T04:09:11Z")
> [@WhyWhyWhy](#): > > They are still useful for small planes. > > Or not: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzZ\_gYlXENI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzZ_gYlXENI) > :eek: I was looking out the window when the girl was spewing. I could see that the plane was in a sharp climb that is not a normal flight attitude. Sure enough, they were doing zero-Gs. 1. The girl should have let the pilot know she was calling Earl, or the other girl should have let the pilot know. 2. If the pilot knew he had a sick passenger, he should not have been performing a zero-G maneuver. Lack of communications. When I was a teenager I was flying dad’s Skyhawk. (I didn’t have my license, but dad was an instructor and I was flying in the left seat.) My best friend at the time was riding in back. He’d had a couple of cans of Coke or other carbonated drink. He spewed all over [my favourite _Mad_ magazine](http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/mad/166-3.jpg) that he’d been reading. OK, it can get a little choppy over the Mojave Desert, but sheesh! It wasn’t _that_ bad! :mad: We landed at Daggett, and my friend got to clean up his mess. But the magazine was beyond saving. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/30 "2014-07-01T04:45:38Z")
First thing I doo after clicking the seat belt is locate the little bag. I have a problem with notion sickness. Never had to use one yet but I have come close. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/31 "2014-07-01T06:21:50Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I fly about 100k miles a year in a lot of different countries and I still see them. I used to work with a guy who collected them from different airlines around the world and had them displayed in the hall outside his office. People would bring them back from him from trips. Yep - some folks collect them. Here’s a couple of links that have thousands upon thousands of images of different kinds of bags: > **[Kelly's World of Airsickness Bags](http://www.kellysairsicknessbags.com/)** [http://www.airsicknessbags.com/all-bags.html](http://www.airsicknessbags.com/all-bags.html) ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/32 "2014-07-01T06:30:29Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I fly domestic in the US several times a year and haven’t noticed their absence. I’ve noticed they’re smaller than I would expect. There’s no way my last meal is fitting in that bag if it comes back up. > > Did you check way down in the seat pocket? They’re pretty small. Not all of them. This one would probably accomodate a weeks worth of puke without breaking a sweat. Whatever that means. [![](http://www.sicksack.com/big.jpg) ](http://www.sicksack.com/big.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/33 "2014-07-01T10:24:21Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > One of the strange things one thinks about when bored. > > I remember for decades, commercial aircraft always seemed to have vomit bags in the seat pocket. Here in Oz they were always dual use - a photo-processing company had them printed, and if you didn’t need to use the bag, you were invited to place all your holiday film in the bag, and they would develop and print them for you. No doubt a tidy little earner all round. I wonder if anyone ever misinterpreted those instructions and mailed off a full bag… 😃 I don’t fly all that often, but I always seem to see a bag in the seat pocket, along with the in-flight magazine, the cover of which is always sticky for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/34 "2014-07-01T11:23:11Z")
The mob I work for has them. Jet transport aircraft but on mining contract work so you’re not likely to fly with us. I haven’t noticed any absence on Qantas and Virgin, but I haven’t really been looking either. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/35 "2014-07-01T14:51:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > He spewed all over [my favourite _Mad_ magazine](http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/mad/166-3.jpg) that he’d been reading. Ha! I knew which one it was before clicking. (I guess, which other one _could_ it be…) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/36 "2014-07-01T15:01:28Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Very simply put, _whence_ means “from where.” The word you probably wanted was _whither_, which means “to where.” But even then, you’d have wanted to say “Whither went they?” I always thought the question was implied by whence and whither. So you could simply ask _“Whence the pizza?”_ or _“Whither Mary?”_ and people would understand you were asking where the pizza came from or where Mary went. If you weren’t asking a question you could use hither and flither. They mean to here and from here. So you can answer _“The pizza traveled hither by delivery man whilst thou were in the bathroom”_ and _“Mary went flither after John expressed his admiration for her physical form in a most crude manner.”_ ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/37 "2014-07-02T21:34:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you weren’t asking a question you could use…flither.\* A quick google doesn’t show much for ‘‘flither’’. It does turn up a thread from last year where you claimed the same thing. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-699386.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-699386.html) You never responded to CookingWithGas who noted s/he couldn’t find it anywhere either. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/38 "2014-07-02T22:13:14Z")
Never heard of _flither_. In my experience, the opposite of _hither_ is _thither_. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/39 "2014-07-03T03:05:59Z")
I fly domestic US pretty frequently and they are still there. Smaller, and usually tucked behind 2 or 3 magazines but still there. I’ve never seen one used. My wild-ass, no data theory - people are a lot more used to vehicle motion and/or visual input not quite matching inner-ear input these days and therefore don’t get motion sickness nearly as often. My extremely limited data-set: 1. My mother. She used to get violently sick on any air travel. It used to be - basically knock her out with Dramamine or she will be miserable. She was born mid 1950s. But she’s gotten much better, especially in the last decade. She’s getting used to it. 2. Myself. Born early 1980s. Back in the 1990s I would get really sick if I tried to read in a vehicle. I used to actually get motion sickness from playing Goldeneye on the N64. But years of screens and video games - I’m just used to it. No problems whatsoever anymore. I really think the proliferation of screens, videos and FP video games have trained people to be far less prone to motion sickness. Can’t prove that, don’t feel like googling it now, but I’ve never seen anyone get sick on a plane in the last 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997/40 "2014-07-03T03:36:22Z")
Myself: Vomit more and more with age. Anecdote. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vomit-bags-in-aircraft-whence-they-went/691997.md?page=3)