S'pore Scoot passenger notes seat has 'unpleasant odour' & 'mouldy' seatbelt, gets itchy bites the day after

A passenger, who flew on a Scoot TR417 flight from Penang to Singapore on Oct. 19, claimed that she developed itchy, red bumps after the flight, and suspected that they may have been bed bug bites.

Seat had an "unpleasant odour" and seat belt was "mouldy"

Speaking to Mothership, the passenger, who wished to stay anonymous, revealed that upon boarding, she noticed a "strong, unpleasant odour" coming from her seat.

She also described the seat belt as "mouldy".

When asked if the other seats appeared to be in a similar condition, the passenger said the cabin was dimly lit during the late-night flight, making it difficult for her to tell.

As it was a short flight, she decided to tolerate the smell.

However, she said that the following morning, she began experiencing "intense itching and irritation" on her thigh, which later developed into "red bumps and bite-like spots".

The passenger said that the person seated beside her also had minor bites.

The passenger subsequently sought medical attention from two doctors and was prescribed cream for the affected areas.

According to the doctor's memo, it stated that she was "seen for rash over bilateral posterior thigh".

"It appears to be insect bites (multiple spots)."

Scoot's response

The passenger said she lodged a formal report to Scoot at around 10am on Oct. 21.

She followed up multiple times, and eventually received a reply on Oct. 27.

In the response she showed Mothership, Scoot apologised "for any inconvenience or dissatisfaction" she may have experienced.

"We understand the importance of providing a smooth and pleasant travel experience to all our passengers and we deeply regret any shortfall in meeting your expectations."

Scoot assured the passenger that an investigation has been started and will reply her at the earliest convenience once they have thoroughly reviewed all the information.

In response to Mothership, Scoot confirmed that they are aware of the passenger's feedback and are investigating the matter.

"Aircraft cleanliness is important to us in ensuring a pleasant travel experience for our customers. We have stringent cleanliness and hygiene processes in place, including regular deep cleaning as well as pest treatment on all our aircraft."

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Top photos via Unsplash, Scoot and the passenger