After Jetstar gave him incorrect COVID info, man says he was held at Singapore airport for two days and is now banned from returning.
An Aussie man is claiming he was held in a ‘cell’ for two days and has been banned from returning to Singapore after Jetstar gave him incorrect information on COVID protocols.
Earlier this year, Richard Grant’s trip to Thailand came under question when he contracted COVID two weeks before departing. Grant claims that when he raised the issue with a Jetstar staff member, he was informed that he did not need a COVID test – only a GP’s letter confirming and outlining his recovery.
“I was booked in to get the [Covid] test done and I cancelled it because they [Jetstar] told me I didn’t need to do it,” Grant said to Sydney’s 2GB.
Upon arriving in Thailand, however, Grant was sent back to Singapore – authorities told him that he needed a negative PCR test. When he arrived in Singapore, things only got worse. Since Grant had no proof of a negative test, and there was no Jetstar staff member at the airport due to the late hour, he was put in a ‘cell’ as he waited for a resolution.
To be fair, Grant admits, however, he wasn’t ‘entirely cooperative’ with the authorities due to his plans going awry.
“It was 40 hours, I was locked up for; almost two full days.” he recalled. “It was a filthy two bunk cell, it had a wash basin and that was all. There was no hot water, it was extremely cold and they wouldn’t give me any luggage. There was a guard at my door with a gun; I wasn’t going anywhere.”
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In screenshots shared with 2GB, Grant is seen seeking support from Jetstar through chat, but all he received was a case number and a promise that someone would reach out to him within 15 business days.
Grant is then seen stressing his situation, “I’m in a cell. I need help now. You cannot be serious.” The chat support, however, told him that the ‘outcome remains the same.’
Eventually, he spoke to an official from Jetstar, who was ‘sympathetic,’ but couldn’t provide any assistance. “I explained the situation to them and while they were sympathetic, they didn’t really understand the fact that I was actually locked up, effectively in jail. That’s the bit that they can’t get their head around.”
While Grant was eventually released and made it to Thailand, he claims he is now banned from returning to Singapore, since he was detained there in the first place.
Jetstar has, on the other hand, offered to reimburse him and, in a statement, said they ‘regret any misunderstanding’ that may have occurred with Grant.
“This happened during a period of unprecedented Government restrictions on global travel, which were changing frequently, which is why we continued to strongly recommend that all passengers regularly check the entry requirements of the country they were travelling to,” the company said, before adding that while they tried providing ‘support and options’ to Grant, he refused to take them up on their offer.
“A member of our team visited Mr Grant during his time in Singapore to provide support and options, to enable him to continue his journey as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the most immediate option to travel was not taken up by Mr Grant, extending his time in Singapore.” the statement read.
