Have You Read the Virgin Airline Complaint Letter? "Look at this Richard. Just look at it!"

Have You Read the Virgin Airline Complaint Letter?
"Look at this Richard. Just look at it!"

We know from reading the comments on Kathryn's What Foods Can You Carry On The Plane post that food on airplanes is a passionate subject for Kitchen readers. And while it seems like many of us have solved the just-plain-awful food problem by packing our own, most people end up eating what the airline offers...if they are offered anything at all, that is.

One very frustrated and astute passenger on a recent Virgin Atlantic flight had finally had enough and penned what is being called one of the best complaint letters ever to Sir Richard Branson, the airline's chief executive. The letter even included photos, one which is pictured above. Can you tell which is the starter and which is the dessert? Read on for links to his letter and the follow-up response from Sir Richard.

The letter has apparently been on its own worldwide flight via the internet. When it finally landed on the Telegraph's website, it quickly racked up over 6000 Diggs. Since then, the writer has been identified and was offered the opportunity to help select the food and wine for future Virgin flights.

(Image: Telegraph)

Comments (11)

I read this last week and was causing a scene in my office I was laughing so hard. I'd read 1 paragraph and have to click away because I was getting too loud.

posted by hyperRevue on February 2nd 2009 at 11:16am
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Same thing here.... My colleagues must of wondered...

LOOK AT IT RICHARD..! LOOK AT IT !!!
It keeps popping up in my mind and I chukkle alone. People must think I've gone crazy...

posted by Marie-Eve on February 2nd 2009 at 11:48am
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It would have been exquisite if he actually could spell... But I still enjoy the eloquence ;D

posted by Herzleid on February 2nd 2009 at 11:48am
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this is why i fly austrian air to europe. they actually serve...wait for it...FOOD! breakfast is the best - hot rolls, fluffy eggs with real tomatoes, creamy yogurt.

posted by nenasadije on February 2nd 2009 at 11:49am
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I saw this last week and it's definitely one of my favorite letters ever! Very well said, and the pics are great, extremely funny stuff.

posted by bobcatsteph3 on February 2nd 2009 at 12:10pm
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I got such belly-laughs over this that I had to stop and take deep breaths while reading it. Typical well-crafted yet dry British humor that still made for an extremely effective complaint letter!

posted by TheGoodBiGirl on February 2nd 2009 at 12:36pm
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My sister flew Virgin last month in economy and Sir Richard was on her flight. Hopefully he shared the food also.

posted by MoekatParis on February 2nd 2009 at 2:41pm
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It sounded like he was channelling John Cleese...

posted by mschatelaine on February 2nd 2009 at 3:10pm
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upon reading it for the *second* time this week just now, i was laughing so hard i thought i might wake up the neighbors' kids next door. very.damn.funny that dry british wit.

posted by civita on February 2nd 2009 at 11:50pm
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I must be the only person on the planet that didn't find the letter humorous. To call it a rambling mess would be kind. Regardless, it is too long and ill-structured to be very effective as an actual complaint letter had it not been plastered all over the internet. Perhaps much of the laughing is due to the sad state of writing from an adult.

posted by GL on February 3rd 2009 at 10:40am
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... its your hamster and hes not breathing. LOL. Well, not the dead hamster bit but the comparison.

posted by Taratootie42 on February 3rd 2009 at 1:29pm
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