Couple demand refund after being seated next to 'snorting, farting' dog on flight
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A couple have demanded a refund after sitting next to a 'snorting, farting' dog on a 13-hour flight.
Gill and Warren Press are travelling from Europe to New Zealand with Singapore Airlines, and this particular journey was their first leg of the trip, from Paris to Singapore.
The pair had paid for premium economy seats for the lengthy flight but quickly realised they weren’t going to experience the luxury they'd forked out for.
Sat next to them was a passenger with their emotional support dog, who happened to be quite noisy.
Speaking to Stuff, Mrs Press said: “I heard this noise – a heavy snorting.
“I thought it was my husband’s phone, but we looked down and realised it was the dog breathing.
“I said, ‘I’m not having this sitting next to us the whole trip’.
She asked a member of the cabin crew if she and her husband could be moved, but was quickly informed that the only seats available were those at the back of economy class.
So they stayed put, hoping that the dog would settle. But throughout their journey, she says that the dog started 'farting'.
Mrs Press claimed: “They 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.
“My husband was in shorts, and was getting the dog’s saliva goo on his leg.”
Mrs Press then requested to move again to a flight attendant, who said that the pair could now sit at the front of economy class, which was where cabin crew were seated, however, it was currently available.
They were claim they were told by staff that the incident would be put on record, but they didn’t hear anything until emailing a complaint to the company a week later.
They say they were offered £95 travel vouchers each, three weeks after the event occurred.
However, the couple were not happy with the token gesture and are still after a full refund, after claiming to have not 'received the experience we [they] paid for'.
Singapore Airlines told LADbible in a statement: "Singapore Airlines (SIA) apologises to Mr and Mrs Press for their experience on board their flight from Paris to Singapore.
"SIA endeavours to notify customers who may be seated next to an assistance dog prior to boarding. In circumstances where customers seated next to an assistance dog request to be moved, we will assist to re-seat customers within the same cabin if space permits.
"In this instance, we were unable to move Mr and Mrs Press within the same cabin as the Premium Economy Class cabin was full. Our crew offered to move Mr and Mrs Press to two empty seats in Economy Class, which they accepted after take-off.
"We are in contact with them to provide further necessary assistance on this matter."
