LIAT Mistreating Customers and Harming Dominica
- September 9, 2013
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9 comments
We love Dominica and have since we first visited in 1987. After that voyage of discovery we returned numerous times while we were still in out working years and we began to plan to eventually live in Dominica upon our retirement. We made friends in Dominica, some of whom visited us as guests in our home when we still lived in the United States. In 2004 we were able to buy a small house lot here and in 2005 we had a small vacation lodge built on it. We were able to expand the lodge into a 2-bedroom ground floor apartment in 2006 and in 2008 when we were finally able to retire we sold our house in the US and complete our retirement home above the apartment, a lovely 3-bedroom villa.
Coming from and going to the US, which we do frequently because our daughter still lives there, we used to use American Eagle between Dominica and San Juan. When American Eagle announced it was quitting the route and LIAT picked it up we initially had hope that LIAT would correct the biggest problem with American Eagle; namely, the stupid early departure from San Juan that forces travelers from the US to waste their money and time in overnight Puerto Rico. But that hoped for change was not to be, and should have forewarned us that LIAT cared neither for its customers nor for Dominica.
Then on August 8 we began a truly awful experience with LIAT that showed us the company’s true colors.
My wife had made arrangements to fly to the US starting with LIAT to San Juan to meet a connecting flight. We arrived at Melville Hall Airport 1½ hours before flight time, which was also 1½ hours after the airport opened in the morning. But the LIAT plane, which was not to depart for another 90 minutes was sitting on the tarmac already full. My wife and another woman reserved passenger were coldly told by the LIAT desk clerk that the flight had been overbooked.
We informed the clerk that my wife had a connecting flight to catch in San Juan. It was to have been a 5-hour flight. The clerk got onto her computer and suggested we make other arrangements for the next day, using the same connecting airline and taking an 11-hour flight. There were no flights connecting to her destination that day. Instead of taking the clerk’s ridiculous suggestion, we called the airline we had hoped to connect on and were able to rebook the same flight she had missed, but for the next day. But we were charged a US$150 change fee and US$170 additional airfare, a total of US$320, caused by LIAT having overbooked.
The LIAT clerk told us that we would have no problem obtaining payment of US$320 from LIAT. All we had to do, she told us, was go to LIAT through its web site or call LIAT on the phone from home and tell LIAT about the problem. That is when we discovered that simply ignores people.
The LIAT web site gives a toll-free US number. We have a magic jack phone that allows us to use US numbers, so we called that number several times, with the same result: After several unanswered rings the phone goes to an error signal. The LIAT web site also gives a number in Antigua, but either a magic jack or LIME cell phone call to it would cost too much to make, especially if one must wait on hold. But the LIAT web site also gives a toll-free number for use from Puerto Rico and we found that our magic jack could call that number. That number is answered by an automated system that typically forces the caller to hold for over 15 minutes. (Imagine the cost if you’re not using a magic jack to call!)
Finally, I reached someone at LIAT on the phone. I tried to tell her about our problem. She did not want to hear. She simply told us that we had to send an e-mail to LIAT Customer Relations.
We quickly learned why LIAT probably calls what other airlines call “Customer Service” “Customer Relations” instead. It is because LIAT does not provide customers with any service. It instead has “relations” with them in a figurative sense, if you take my meaning.
My e-mail to LIAT and several follow-up e-mail messages to LIAT went un-answered. So I figured I would write to LIAT by actual letter. I could not find an address (although there is one fairly hidden in small print on the web site), so I tried to get one by calling. After the usual 15-minute hold I reached a human being. I asked her for the LIAT business address and she hung up on me!
So I drove to Melville Hall Airport and asked the LIAT desk personnel for the company’s address. Incredibly, they told me they did not know it even when I asked them what address was on their paychecks. But one of them let slip the information that LIAT has an office at the airport.
LIAT on Dominica tries to hide from the public. The telephone book lists no office on Dominica for LIAT. But LIAT has an office in the wooden building adjacent to the terminal. However, it has no sign, blacked out windows, and a locked door. I knocked and gained entry and the employee there reluctantly gave me a business address for LIAT. (Don’t bother writing. Doing so is useless. I wrote to both addresses. Neither letter received any reply.)
My letters and e-mails told LIAT about my problem, demanded LIAT pay us the US$320 it had cost us, and warned them that I would do my utmost to publicize this matter if we did not get our money within one month.
A week ago, still not having heard from LIAT I returned to the LIAT Melville Hall Airport office. On that trip I made certain to write down the names of the people I met there or was told about. And I also gave the secretary who was there a note about our problem with a repeat of my warning.
For your information, not only LIAT itself, but also its employees hide from customers. I had learned of a LIAT office employee from people in my village and got his phone number from his sister. His name is Raymond Warrington and his phone number is 275-7624. But he will not answer calls from anyone he does not know. He also will not return calls or answer text messages. He won’t even reply to messages left for him on Facebook! And LIAT has an office manager, Mr. Gerald Cools-Latrigue. His number listed in the phone book is out of service. But his office number is 448-3985. (Good luck trying to reach him!)
By the time I reached home and happened to check my e-mail, there was a message from LIAT. But all it did, at last, was acknowledge my original e-mail to LIAT by reply. It advised me to “be patient”, but did not give any indication of how long we must wait for redress. I e-mailed back and nearly immediately received a reply e-mail that was no different in content. I therefore replied with a repeat of my warning that I would make the matter as public as possible if we were not given US$320 by September 7.
LIAT has become adept, and tiresome, at writing to news outlets asking for patience. Well, the public is ready and willing to forgive problems that may be beyond LIAT’s control, such as bad weather, some reasonable amount of equipment breakdowns, or certain airport conditions. But LIAT’s rudeness and bad behavior can’t be condoned or forgiven. LIAT has only itself to blame.
If you check Wikipedia’s entry for LIAT you will see that it notes that LIAT is noted for surly, unhelpful employees, poor service, and frequently missed flight schedules.
There is potential good news. LIAT has some competition from Seaborne Airlines, Air Sunshine, and soon will also from Hummingbird Airway. But they are all small, fly infrequently, and with low-capacity craft. In the future we will try to use them, not LIAT.
There have recently been unpleasant news stories about thefts and robberies, and even assaults and rapes in Dominica. We all know that those stories at least give prospective tourists pause about visiting the Nature Island, and either won’t come, or having come decide to never return – and warn others away. This harms Dominica’s economy. And LIAT makes it worse because people are learning that LIAT may very well rob you coming and/or going!
But for now, Dominica and people are being rudely mistreated by LIAT. This must stop!
By: Dan Tanner
Calibishie, Dominica
Woo-Hoo! My wife is returning to Dominica and using Seaborn — which is US$112 cheaper than LIAT! It turns out that Seaborn has picked up the American Eagle contract.
Something I left out: LIAT’s web site is not up to standard for an operating airline. Other airline web sites show you seats available when you book. LIAT simply takes the booking without showing the number or locations of seats available.
LIAT is great at whining and asking for patience, but not at doing its job.
Can I suggest a good lawyer? Legal action by long suffering travellers from Dominica, may get the government and Liat to start listening. Good luck!
A lawyer would cost more than we are seeking in redress. Can you suggest one who would take the case on a fee-contingent basis and sue demanding that LIAT pay both us and his fees?
Given the sheer number of complaints against the airline, perhaps there’s grounds for a class action suit?
I sympathise with you. I had an experience in 2010 which took 12 months, lots of energy, constant emailing. I contacted the CEO at the time, I found his home number, his office number, personal address. I hassled them with emails weekly. I also did some damage to their office in Roseau in order to get attention because I was left to feel that I should “accept” the situation. Perhaps if more people took a militant approach things would change
Can you e-mail me the CEO’s home and office phone numbers and his e-mail address please? Send it to LIATmustdoright@dan-ruth-tanner.com or even better, post it in a reply for all to use. Thanks.
i wish virgin airlines buys liat or starts something called virgin Caribbean this is injustice
That is dreadful. LIAT shame on you!!!! Shame on you!!!
You overbook with no regard of the consequences!
You load the craft and takeoff whenever you please!
You blatantly mislead your most valuable customers!
You provide terrible customer relations and don’t seem to give a flying hoot!
You hide from the public! You are ashamed!
You don’t seem to think you should be helf accountable for you way below average service!
The employees of LIAT seem to reflect their poor leadership!
We are Dominica.
We care and we will take a stand!
We demand better from you LIAT!
We demand better service for our people and our visitors!
Mr. Warrington and Mr. Cools Latigue, we hope you can do better than the sorry company you work with. The company depends on people like you to save it. Take care of the people and the people will thank you for it. Mr. Tanner deserves an apology and helpful assistance toward a speedy solutionnon. This matter should be an easy resolve.