Singapore Airlines ordered to pay $3,580 to couple after recliner seats failed to work
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/singapore-airlines-ordered-to-pay-3580-to-couple-after-recliner-seats-failed-to-work
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With a simple compromise, this Business Class passenger (Director-General of Police, Telangana, India) could have used the manual recline function, which appeared to have been working, and avoided spending the 14-hour flight without sleep! He and his wife perhaps did!
Per SIA, its crew had been checking on the passengers through the flight for helping them with manual reclining!
Or, should the airline be responsible for any sleep disorder that passengers may have?
This appears to be a petty issue blown out of proportion. The decision of the Dispute Redressal Commission is, to me, absurd. What mental agony and physical suffering did the passengers face? I hope SIA does not pay the penalty and challenges the order.
Digital malfunctioning is not uncommon on flights.
Earlier this year, I experienced a minor issue on a SIA flight from London to Singapore. The electronic button did not work at first, prompting me to request help from a stewardess.
She was also unable to get it functioning on first try. After I got up from my seat, she pressed the button and, voilà, it started to recline! Thereafter, it was smooth-going for the rest of the journey!
That said, I hope SIA does not allow such QC issues on its flights. It is not just about seats reclining, it is more about arresting any declining standards!
G Joslin Vethakumar
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