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

1-MIN READ1-MIN

An Airbus A380 Singapore airlines approaching London Heathrow Airport. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 10:27am, 28 Apr 2024

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.

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.