Yesterday
we had an overwhelming response to a letter we posted on Editor's Corner in
which a disgruntled Virgin Atlantic passenger, who has now been named as Oliver Beale, penned his views on the disappointing
mid-flight food and entertainment he was offered.
In the letter Mr Beale amusingly described the food as similar to receiving a dead hamster for Christmas and labeled a complementary cookie as a "crime against bloody cooking".
He also asked Sir Richard Branson: "How can you live like this? I can't imagine what dinner round your house is like, it must be like something out of a nature documentary."
The letter has been now been forwarded around the world and is being hailed as the best complaint letter ever.
Following yesterday's post we received hundreds of requests for a follow-up and for Richard Branson's reaction.
We've been hassling the Virgin Atlantic press office and they have confirmed that Sir Richard called the writer personally and invited him to come to the airline's catering house next month, to help select the food on future Virgin flights.
"We investigated his complaint seriously, and following Richard Branson's phone call we've invited him to our catering house to select the next range of meals and wines we serve on board," a spokesman for Virgin Atlantic told us. "Then we can ensure his personal taste is well and truly catered for."
According to Virgin Atlantic Mr Beale replied saying that he would "think about it".
In the original blog (link below) a lot of you thought this might have been a PR stunt. "I can assure you it isn't" was the official response from Virgin Atlantic.
To read Oliver Beale's letter in full follow this link: The best complaint letter ever?
Editor's Corner
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letter was hilarious!! I too forwarded it to all my mates, its a job offer not not to be missed...if he doesnt want it id gladly taste food and wine! defo best gesturew of good will EVER!!!
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That is right - that letter was classs.
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Good on you Virgin & Richard
That is Customer Services to the tilt, we need more of this standard in the UK.
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that's great, but they haven't offered a job they just invite him to taste fod, a bit misleading title.
Anyway good work for following this up.
Xavier Huddersfield.
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Cynical public relations from Richard "the smile" Branson!
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yeah it is, and at least he is being taken seriously
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why would virgin highlight problems withit own food unless its true "there's no such thing as bad publicity"?
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All power to Richard Branson. You can't say he didn't respond!
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it's hilarious!!!! Love it
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branson and his people truly are kings of spin, good story though=)
hey branson, the way you spend ur money is vile. how can you live like that?=)
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