It's a trip they'll remember for a long time. Last June, Gill and Warren Press, a couple from New Zealand, decided to pay extra for premium economy seats on a 13-hour flight with Singapore Airlines. A journey from Paris to Singapore that quickly turned into a nightmare.
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Drooling, snoring and flatulence
Once they arrived at their place, the couple discovered that their neighbour was accompanied by a small bulldog. According to Gill and Warren Press, this was a special service dog for people with mental health problems. However, before their plane had even taken off, the four-legged animal had already begun to drool, snore and release pestilential flatulence. Gill Press told Insider:
I said to my husband, 'You have to sort this out. We can't have a dog next to us for that long,'
The airline crew then offered to move them to another seat. But the only seats left were in economy class. Gill and Warren Press initially refused, as they had specifically paid more to be in premium class. But as the situation became 'unbearable', they finally agreed to change seats, even though they were downgraded.
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Compensation of $1,410
Following this mishap, the airline wanted to make a gesture to the couple. It first offered them two gift vouchers worth $73. They declined. A month later, they received two travel vouchers worth $118 each. But, once again, they chose not to use them, judging that the sum was not sufficient for the damage they had suffered.
Finally, after several exchanges with Singapore Airlines, they won their case, as the company decided to pay them the sum of $1,410. Gill Press said:
It's the least they could do. If they wanted to be really nice, they could have given us a lot more.
The couple have decided to donate the money to a charity in New Zealand that provides guide dogs for the visually impaired.
For its part, the airline said it was 'endeavoring to inform customers who may be seated next to a service dog before boarding'. It then added that it was committed to relocating passengers to equivalent seats whenever possible. But, unfortunately, no premium seats were available for the couple that day.
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This article has been translated from Gentside FR.
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