PARROT MOM

The State Dept. of the U.S. has warned Americans not to go to Venezuela..which is very dangerous as you all may know and in the middle of a revolution...... our friend who is now a U.S. citizen has tickets for the 16th to visit family in Merida wants to change the date of his tickets and American Airlines wants to c harge him $150.00 more for each ticket. Does he have an arguement or any recourse..

Suzy

Tell your friend to keep calling the airlines until he gets the answer he wants. I have found that if i keep trying i will get someone who is willing to help me. Under the circumstance it's Hard to believe that AA is being such jerks.<BR> Things sound very grim for the VZ people. Have you heard from Ana?<BR>P.S. did your friend buy from a TA? If so they should help.

Nancy

Usually, if you don't get travel insurance, the airlines will charge you to change tickets. However, since travel is way down, I would raise a little hell, nicely though, until you get what you want. A friend of mine had a problem recently with USAIR and he complained, nicely, so much that they upgraded him to First Class and gave him vouchers for a future trip just to get rid of him! You do get more with sugar than vinegar and make sure your friend speaks to a Supervisor.

ParrotMom

Yes Suzy, I hear from Ana several times a day... she has moved to an apt. in the mountains as of last night I actually called her on her cell phone yesterday morning as she was shopping for necessities.., This morning she wrote and said she had a decent nights sleep...something she hasn't had for weeks.. She has water, electricity and beds. She has been out marching every night among other things. She told me of the sharp shooters that were spotted on top of the buildings the other day...three were shot and many injured.. I've been sending her articles from our newspaper and she says they are &quot;right on&quot;...She sends us pictures and stories of the marches where there are more than 10,000 people, tear gas and another group that has destroyed a tv station.. Don't know if she will have internet service the next few days.. For more info on Ana please write me off the forum.

sandra

~<BR>http://www.cnn.com/2002/TRAVEL/12/20/venezuela.travel.ap/index.html<BR><BR>With the State Dept's travel warning, one would thinkg that American would be more amenable to changing tix without the $150 charge; unfortunately with the current climate belt tightening at all airlines, they may not be as flexible.<BR>

Parrot Mom

Just to update you American Airlines has been cancelling and combining flights. My friend not only was credited, but was not charged the $150.00 fee. There was no guarantee that he could get on the next flight which was on the 20th.. and no guarantee that he could be booked on a flight back. My friend said there was no hassle with them and they were quite understanding. As it is now if you've kept up with the info gas is in short supply and there are long lines at the stations. Ana continues to march and protest.

cd

Parrot Mom<BR>Can you tell us who Ana is? An some of the background?

john

Hi there, I am a journalist about to travel to Venezuela and was wondering if anyone using this post has been there recently?<BR><BR>Thanks<BR>John

ana

I live here, and if you're a journalist, you might want to bring for your personal use, a gas mask, bullet proof vest and helmet, that is if you want to cover the news properly at this time. Journalists are usually targets for the violent circles of terror (government civil militia) that prey on the common people.

Parrot Mom

Who is Ana? Well, Ana was a contributor to this board when people asked about Venezuela..I've called her myself personally..she and her family are protesting the Chavez regime. She sends me pictures and reports and I send her the reports that are in the local newspaper...she says they are right on.. I know what her as well as her husbands profession are... if that isn't enough our friend who has family in VZ is sending the same information..Ana had lived in Caracas until recently. When I last spoke to her she was buying water and groceries to have for her family. She knows something is going to happen on the 23rd of January...but doesn't know what yet. John if you are going be aware that you will be targeted, press or not it doesn't matter anymore.