The Huffington Post – There’s nothing funny about a miserable experience with air travel. But when your complaint letter gets a thumbs up from none other than Sir Richard Branson, it probably helps take the edge off.
In a post dated June 28, the head of the Virgin Group shared a complaint letter titled “An open letter to LIAT” that originally appeared in the BVI Beacon, a newspaper in the British Virgin Islands. LIAT is a Caribbean airline with destinations primarily in the Lesser Antilles, and according to the less-than-pleased passenger Arthur Hicks, with a circuitous route map.
Originally published in April 2013, the letter gained momentum online after Branson tweeted his more than 3 million followers in June, “How to write a complaint letter – read this hilarious note from a frustrated airline passenger.”
Below is the letter:
Dear LIAT,
May I say how considerate it is of you to enable your passengers such an in-depth and thorough tour of the Caribbean.
Most other airlines I have travelled on would simply wish to take me from point A to B in rather a hurry. I was intrigued that we were allowed to stop at not a lowly one or two but a magnificent six airports yesterday. And who wants to fly on the same airplane the entire time? We got to change and refuel every step of the way!
I particularly enjoyed sampling the security scanners at each and every airport. I find it preposterous that people imagine them all to be the same. And as for being patted down by a variety of islanders, well, I feel as if I’ve been hugged by most of the Caribbean already.
I also found it unique that this was all done on “island time,” because I do like to have time to absorb the atmosphere of the various departure lounges. As for our arrival, well, who wants to have to take a ferry at the end of all that flying anyway? I’m glad the boat was long gone by the time we arrived into Tortola last night — and that all those noisy bars and restaurants were closed.
So thank you, LIAT. I now truly understand why you are “The Caribbean Airline.”
P.S. Keep the bag. I never liked it anyway.
