Advertisement
Advertisement
Singapore
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
An Airbus A380 Singapore airlines approaching London Heathrow Airport. Photo: Shutterstock

Singapore Airlines ordered to pay Indian police officer for ‘mental agony’ after seat fails to recline: reports

  • SIA was ordered by an authority in India to pay a couple more than US$2,560 after their business class seats failed to recline electronically
  • The airline was ordered to pay compensation for ‘mental agony and physical suffering’ and the costs of the complaint, Indian media reports say
Singapore
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been ordered to pay a couple in India more than S$3,500 (US$2,560) after their seats failed to electronically recline during their journey from India to Australia last year.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Hyderabad ruled in favour of Ravi Gupta and his wife Anjali Gupta, media outlets in India reported on Thursday.

According to a report by the Deccan Chronicle, the couple had travelled from Hyderabad to Australia via Singapore on May 23, 2023.

They complained during the flight that their business class seats, which were supposed to recline electronically, had malfunctioned.

Descendants of Singapore’s ‘sea people’ keep Orang Laut way of life alive

India Today reported that the couple were “forced to stay awake throughout the journey”, after forking out 66,750 rupees (US$800) for each ticket.

Singapore Airlines had initially offered 10,000 KrisFlyer miles per person, but the offer was rejected by the complainants.

Gupta, who was Telangana’s director general of police, reportedly claimed that they were treated as “economy class passengers”, except for the extra legroom, the Deccan Chronicle reported.

02:42

Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong will hand over power to deputy Lawrence Wong on May 15

Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong will hand over power to deputy Lawrence Wong on May 15

The commission ruled that SIA should refund 48,750 rupees to each complainant, along with 12 per cent interest.

Additionally, the airline was ordered to pay a compensation of 100,000 rupees for “mental agony and physical suffering”, as well as 10,000 rupees for the costs of the complaint, the media outlets reported.

In total, the airline was ordered to pay 219,200 rupees.

SIA has been contacted for more information.

This story was first published by CNA
2