A couple that was left fuming after being stuck on a 13-hour flight next to a dog that was "snorting", "farting", and left them covered in "saliva goo" has now received a $1,400 refund for their troubles.
Gill and Warren Press had been on their way home to New Zealand after traveling to Europe and were on a 13-hour flight from Paris to Singapore when things started to go wrong.
The couple had paid extra to be seated in premium economy on the Singapore Airlines flight, in order to have a bit more legroom.
They were therefore horrified when they discovered that they were sat next to a passenger with an emotional support dog that ended up farting next to them and taking up their space for the 13-hour journey.
Recalling the less-than-pleasant journey, Gill told Stuff magazine: "I heard this noise - a heavy snorting. I thought it was my husband’s phone, but we looked down and realized it was the dog breathing. I said, 'I’m not having this sitting next to us the whole trip.'"
She then added: "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."
The couple had really had enough when the dog then started farting and asked for alternative seats, but said they were told that the only available seats were those usually reserved for cabin crew.
They later contacted Singapore Airlines, which initially told them the incident would be logged and they received $120 travel vouchers each, but complained that the vouchers do not make up for the "experience they paid for."
They have now been given a refund of around $1,410 which they said they plan to donate to a New Zealand charity that provides guide dogs to visually impaired people.
Gill told Insider that their complaint wasn't about the money but about the fact they weren't informed of their seat-mate having a service dog beforehand.
She told Insider: "The principle wasn't about the money, it was truly about making people accountable."
Singapore Airlines had earlier said 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."
