Singapore Airlines is hoping to resolve a dispute with a New Zealand
couple who were seated next to an emotional support dog and its owner on
a 13-hour flight.
The couple had booked premium economy seats on the flight from Paris
to Singapore but soon after take-off they became aware that the
snuffling noise below their feet was a flatulent dog.
The pair said flight attendants could only offer alternative seats in
the back row of the economy section, but they decided to stick with
their premium economy seats until they reached breaking point and
accepted an offer of staff seats at the front of the economy section.
“[The owner] couldn’t have the dog out in the aisle because they
couldn’t get the trolleys through, so it had to come in further, which
meant his head was under my husband’s feet,” said Gill Press, who was
travelling home to New Zealand with her husband.
After turning down offers from SIA of gift and travel vouchers, the
couple is calling for a full refund of their fare. “We didn’t receive
the experience we paid for,” they said.
A Singapore Airlines spokesperson told Simple Flying they are continuing to liaise with the couple over the inconvenience.