Reporter’s Diary
Welcome on board Liat airline
Hours before leaving for the West Indies, I met Mashrafee bin Murtaza at the Bangladesh Cricket Board headquarters in Mirpur. Mashrafee had just returned from the Caribbean after completing the one-day international series, naturally I wanted some tips from him about my tour. The talismanic paceman issued just one warning- ‘Beware Liat Airlines, they have a record of 16 hours delay.’
It did not come as any surprise as I heard lot of stories about Liat from the journalists who had covered cricket in West Indies in the past. Liat is the only airline operates throughout the Caribbean region, so everybody had to accept their hospitality. Some people call their hospitality Liat trouble, some say it Liat disease. Never knew I would be introduced to it on the very first day of my trip to the Caribbean.
My flight was confirmed up to St Lucia on September 4, so I had to find a way to make it to St. Vincent next morning so that I can see the Bangladesh-West Indies first Test from the very first ball. At St. Lucia airport, the immigration officials offered help and I had no reason to disappoint them. One officer took my passport and went to Liat desk only to return with shocking news – ‘They are full today, so you have to stay here tonight. I booked your flight for the next morning.’ When I explained that I have to go to St Vincent anyway, she just smiled.
My gut feelings told me that I can find a way. So I decided to take a chance and moved to the domestic terminal, which is 27km away on the other side of the island. When I reached the domestic airport, the check in for the St. Vincent flight already started. I went to check in desk and asked for help without any serious hope. I was pleasantly surprised when the lady at the check in desk gave me a smile and told that they have two seats still vacant and I can buy one. ‘The flight will go though Barbados and all you can do is change the aircraft there,’ she said. A colleague from the daily Kalerkantha was coming through Barbados, so I asked her if he is also taking the same flight. The lady checked the passengers’ list and left me surprised again. ‘Yes, your friend has just booked the other seat.’ My impression about Liat changed in a flash.
Everything was going perfectly until I reached Barbados. At the Barbados airport I saw my Kalerkantha colleague Masud Pervez was speaking to former cricketer Athar Ali Khan, who is supposed to take the same flight to join the commentary team for the first Test. After more than 25 hours in the sky, onboard four different flights from three separate airlines, this was a welcome relief for me. But little did I know it was also the beginning of a nightmare. When I was about to join Masud and Athar, who were also looking at me from the other side of the glass, a Liat official stopped me along with eight other passengers. ‘Gentlemen, for some reasons we had to downsize the flight, so you cannot fly this evening, we will arrange a flight next morning,’ he said. It was a bolt from blue, something unbelievable, as we all had the boarding passes. A co-passenger from Romania thought the man was joking, but soon we realised he is serious. I explained that I have come here for cricket, which will start next morning and I have to be there from the beginning. But he was not ready to help. He offered us to take to hotel and bring to the airport next morning. Masud and Athar were puzzled without knowing what had been happening. When they finally came out of terminal, I could just say them bye, otherwise I risked missing the hotel facilities too.
I thanked my luck because Liat paid for the taxis, hotel and dinner. In 2010 when I visited UAE to cover the Port-city Cricket League, I faced similar problem with Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Biman offloaded all passengers, who included some national cricketers, because they discovered a technical glitch just before flying. We were made to wait 11 hours at the airport without any care. Despite all the myth regarding its poor hospitality, Liat at least did not do that. They kept their promise and took us to the St. Vincent next morning. The only problem was by the time I reached the Arons Vale, 20 overs of the first day have already been bowled.
-With New Age input
