SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330-300 Config. 1 seat review by Gregory Bellamy #38478

Contrary to aircraft legal safety standards I was allocated a seat with a broken back. It would not lock in the vertical position (required by law) and had no damping - the seat back just flopped back into the fully reclined position. The flight attendant was notified prior to take-off. He could do nothing and as it was a full flight (he said) I had to make do with the broken seat. Myself, my wife and the couple behind us all complained that this was not a safe situation and needed resolving. The plane took off anyway. 2hrs into the flight the senior flight attendant final turned up to see what the problem was. He confirmed that the seat was broken, it required technical assistance and there was nothing he could do. What did I expect the pilot to do, turn round ho, ho! He informed that the pilot had been informed of the situation. As a pensioner I then had to do a 10 1/2hr flight with a broken seat. I ended up having to push the seat squab backwards with the back of my calves and wedge my left shoulder in the window aperture. I now have a recurring pain in my lower back. My wife's seat was broken as well. I complained to Sri Lankan airlines while in Sri Lanka given the options of either refunding our flight costs or upgrading us on the return flight. Our agent in Sri Lanka, Aitken Spence Travels, were informed and they complained directly to Sri Lankan Airlines as well. I never heard from them. On returning to uk I complained 4 times to Sri Lankan Airlines finally sending an email to their CEO. Their final offer was £100 so long as I signed a Non-disclose agreement gagging order. A total disgrace. Clearly Sri Lankan Airlines are not maintaining their aircraft correctly and do not take customer safety seriously.