IELTS HUB
Formal Complaint Letter #250
GT Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You missed a flight due to a problem at the airport.

Write a letter to the airline. In your letter,

  • describe what happened that caused you to miss the flight
  • explain how missing your flight affected you
  • make it clear what you would like the airline to do

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses at the top of your letter.

Begin your letter as follows: Dear ……………,

One box per bullet, then compare with Band 9.
224 words · 3 body paragraphs
Opening

I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the recent incident that caused me to miss my flight with your airline.

Bullet 1

describe what happened that caused you to miss the flight

Upon arriving at the airport well in advance, I encountered an unexpected problem at the security checkpoint. Due to a technical issue with the scanning machines, there was a significant delay in the security screening process, resulting in a long queue that I was unable to bypass. Despite my best efforts to explain the situation to the staff, I was unable to reach the departure gate on time.

Bullet 2

explain how missing your flight affected you

Missing the flight has had a significant impact on my travel plans and caused me considerable inconvenience. Not only did I miss an important meeting at my destination, but I also incurred additional expenses in rearranging my accommodation and transportation. Furthermore, the emotional stress and frustration of the situation have been overwhelming.

Bullet 3

make it clear what you would like the airline to do

I kindly request that the airline consider compensating me for the financial losses incurred as a result of missing the flight. Additionally, I would appreciate if you could provide me with a voucher or credit towards a future flight booking as a gesture of goodwill. I believe that these measures would help alleviate the negative effects of this unfortunate incident.

Closing

I trust that you will take my feedback into consideration and I look forward to a prompt and satisfactory resolution to this matter.

Go further with the books

General Task 1

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Writing Task 2

100 Essential IELTS Essays

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