Umrah pilgrims still waiting for compensation after 2023 travel disruption cost them 4 days
Some pilgrims who were stranded in Singapore for four days in 2023 are still seeking answers and compensation.
A Stomper shared with Stomp that he was one of more than 120 pilgrims whose Umrah pilgrimage was affected by a flight disruption.
Umrah is a mini Islamic religious pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia which can be undertaken at any time of the year.
In a letter from Saudia, formerly known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, given to affected passengers, the aircraft was grounded in Singapore due to "technical problems".
As such, the flight, which was scheduled to depart on Nov 17, 2023 had been cancelled.
The passengers had been rebooked onto a flight departing Singapore on Nov 20, 2023 at 5pm instead.
"We were not told by YBD Travel on where to go or what to do after the flight was cancelled," he said.
"Saudia was the one who put us in a hotel," he said.
The Stomper and his family of 15 had booked their Umrah packages via YBD Travel, a company based in Saudi Arabia.
Their package had cost $4,990 per adult and their travel dates were from Nov 17 to Dec 1, 2023
According to Berita Harian, the affected pilgrims on the same flight had booked their trips with Shahidah Travel & Tours, Travel Connect and Syukran Travel.
"We lost four of our travel days," said the Stomper.
"We felt cheated as other travel agents paid compensation to their customers who were on the same flight as us.
"Shahidah Travel compensated their clients $500 each.
"YBD Travel did tell us they will give us compensation for the lost days but from our return on Dec 1, 2023, until now, they have been uncontactable.
"They also didn't tell us how much compensation they would give us.
"When we visited their office in Changi Road, nobody was there."
