UK couple seeks refund after made to sit next to a 'farting, snorting' dog on flight

A couple is seeking a refund after their flight experience was marred by sitting near a dog that made unpleasant noises precisely ‘farting and snorting’.

Gill and Warren Press, residents of Wellington, were embarking on a long journey from Europe to New Zealand. Their 13-hour flight from Paris to Singapore with Singapore Airlines took an unexpected turn.

The trouble began when they realized that their premium economy seats were right next to a passenger with an emotional support dog that was making disruptive sounds. Mrs. Press described hearing a loud snorting noise and initially thought it was her husband’s phone. However, they soon discovered it was the dog’s heavy breathing.

Disturbed by this, Mrs. Press requested to be relocated to a different seat. Unfortunately, the only available seats were located at the rear of the economy class. They reluctantly remained in their original seats but encountered another issue when the dog began to emit unpleasant odors and reportedly occupied Mr. Press’s legroom.

Mrs. Press claimed that the dog couldn’t be placed in the aisle due to the hindrance it would cause to the flight attendants’ trolleys. This led to the dog’s head being positioned under her husband’s feet, causing discomfort. Furthermore, Mr. Press’s shorts were allegedly stained with the dog’s saliva.

Mrs. Press approached a flight attendant once more, who offered them seats at the front of the economy class that had previously been reserved for cabin crew but were now vacant. The couple was assured that the incident would be documented, and the airline would follow up. However, a week passed with no communication.

Mrs. Press subsequently sent an email complaint and received a travel voucher of NZ$200 (£95) per passenger three weeks later. Nevertheless, she finds this compensation inadequate and is now demanding a full refund, emphasizing that they did not receive the experience they paid for.

A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines acknowledged the situation, stating that they typically make an effort to inform customers seated near an assistance dog before boarding. They expressed sincere apologies for this lapse and vowed to work with their airport teams to prevent such incidents in the future.

Additionally, they mentioned that when passengers seated near an assistance dog request a seat change, the airline will assist in relocating them within the same cabin, space permitting. The airline is currently in direct contact with the concerned couple.