article: A family claim they were forced to sit in vomit aboard a United Airlines flight after staff refused to clean an affected area of floor before take-off. Scott Shirley, his wife Mayo and seven-year-old son Phoenix, were travelling back to Washington DC after a birthday trip to Disney World, Orlando, when they discovered the vomit and complained to cabin crew. After boarding the plane, the Shirleys were storing their bags under their seats when they noticed their luggage was wet. Scroll down for video . Mayo Shirley, son Phoenix, and husband Scott were forced to sit in seats surrounded by vomit on a United Airlines flight . After putting their luggage on the floor of the cabin, the family discovered the bags to be wet with vomit . Mr Shirley told MailOnline Travel: 'My wife decided to transfer her backpack with all our snacks in it to the spot where my son was sitting. It was then, that she noticed her bag was wet. 'She then rubbed the carpet area on the floor of our seats and discovered the whole area was wet. When she raised her had towards her face to smell the liquid, that's when she made the horrible discovery that the liquid was vomit. 'Given my wife suffers from Mysophobia (phobia of germs), she immediately had a look of panic on her face and loudly pronounced it to be vomit. 'I immediately had a feeling of being grossed out that I too had had my hands all over this vomit. My wife got up and ran towards the bathroom area of the plane with me following behind. 'I told the flight attendant what had happened and she directed us both to the available bathrooms.' The Shirley's luggage remains in the plastic rubbish sacks while they decide how to clean items . Mr Shirley says the family were told by cabin staff that a passenger on an earlier flight had been sick in the seating area, and that staff had cleaned the area. 'It was clear that no one had cleaned the area where we were sitting, because there was no evidence of any chemical smell what so ever,' he added. 'This was purely that distinct smell of vomit on our hands and backpacks.' Mr Shirley described how his wife was so upset she began crying and shaking, and they were given two options by United staff; fly out next day or remain in their seats. Because Mrs Shirley had to go to work next day at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the family say they had no choice but to remain in the seats. The family were flying back on a United Airlines flight from Orlando to Washington (file photo) However, staff allegedly refused to clean and scrub down the affected area, and the passengers were given blankets, which they say did nothing to remove the pungent smell. Mr Shirley said: 'The pilot came out and asked if a resolution had been made. He told us we had to make a decision because he can't delay the other passengers. 'It was at this point I felt as if they couldn't care less about the disgusting situation they had put us in and only cared about moving the flight along. I told my wife that we should just take the next day flight. 'She said it isn't an option for her due to her position with the FDA and the nine days she had already been on holiday. Since we really had no choice in the matter, under duress of the situation, we agreed to the blanket option.' The family were given trash bags by the airline to put their luggage in. 'It was completely humiliating walking through the airport with our belongings in trash bags as if we were some sort of homeless family,' added Mr Shirley. 'I felt that we had to explain what happened to every person who stared awkwardly at us. This was the final straw for me. 'We went straight to United customer service who told us they can't do anything because it involves bags and we would have to go to baggage claim to speak with a supervisor there. This was on the other side of the airport which meant we had to now lug all this stuff there. No assistance was offered.' With their luggage still bagged up, Mr Shirley says United Airlines have offered them a $150 flight voucher each and some 'mileage points' A spokesperson for United Airlines told MailOnline Travel: The situation Mr Shirley described is certainly one that we wish no customer experiences, as our cleaners did not fully clean the seat area prior to departure. 'We offered them an alternate flight, but they decided to remain onboard. Our agents did the best they could in the short time they had to accommodate Mr Shirley and keep the flight on time. 'We’re reaching out to apologise for his experience.' The family were offered a $150 flight voucher, or the option to file a claim for the baggage, which they chose to do. Upon returning home, United has offered the each member of the family a $150 voucher as well as additional mileage points for Mrs Shirley. However, Mr Shirley said: 'I personally feel it is a slap in the face considering all we had to endure on this two hour flight from hell. 'I don't know what the lasting effects are going to be of this experience. We have to fly at least two more times later this year for weddings and I'm beginning to think the train might be an option. 'I felt so uncomfortable the whole time we were flying. All I could think about is what this vomit might have in it and if there was anything we would contact from it.'
highlights: Scott Shirley, his wife and son were returning from trip to Disneyland .
  But Mrs Shirley made grim discovery on floor of United Airlines plane .
  Mr Shirley claims staff refused to clean area and were offered blankets to cover area up .
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