My vacation nightmare.. part one of my trip to Cuba

the car that ended up taking us to the airport to  - the car that ended up taking us to the airport to go home
United States
August 17, 2007 8:51am CST
Well I did get to go to Cuba and meet my inlaws. I will be starting other discussions about the wonderful trip, my in laws and all the good stuff. I am going to start though with my horrible travel experience. I need some advice please. My husband and I have planned our trip to Cuba for quite some time now. We paid for everything and planned everything very carefully. The part that gets me is the Travel Agency we bought our plane tickets to Cuba with. These people are supposed to be Christians. Even use the word Christian in their name... HA. We bought and paid $2000 USD for our tickets in April. Our trip was July 26th. We got down to Florida and found out we needed a Visa that had not come in yet. Up until the day before our trip, we did not have it. Well we finally got the visa, but guess what? We had tickets for a flight but our names did not appear on the flight manifest. The travel agency's excuse?? Sometimes agencies book flights at the same time and they didn't know. How is it possible to hand me tickets for a flight, but not know my name is not registered with the airline on their flight manifest? These people had sold my tickets out from under me. Tickets to Cuba are a very hot commodity in South Florida. They did not however expect someone like me on the rear ends. After leaving the guy a nasty message, he showed up at the airport. Only 1 hour before the flight was to leave, I saw him slip some guy some money. Within 10 minutes we were on a flight. Oh, but it doesn't end there. My return date was now 2 days later. So now I lost my connection flight back to Chicago. I called my sister and this "guy" from the agency while in Cuba to try to get my flight changed. The guy did nothing. My sister arranged another flight for me. I had to turn my rental car in 2 days early in Cuba and pay someone to take us to the airport. Our flight from Cuba to Miami was delayed leaving, so once again I lost my connection flight. The airline wanted $1500 USD for new tickets. We decided to rent a van for half the cost and drive from South Florida to Northern Illinois. Now I am 2 days late for work and having to shell out gas money, etc. Here is my question. I know these people do dirty dealings and do not apply by US laws for Cuba Travel. I know this because we have family that is close to people that work there. I want these people to pay me for my lost wages, car rentals, gas, etc. Should I A) go to an attorney first or B) write the agency a letter with all the costs I feel they should pay me and give them a time limit to pay me or I will go to an attorney and the US Treasury Dept. It's not even all about money. I just don't want other people that are desperate to see their family to be denied, swindled or otherwise taken advantage of. I want these people to learn their lesson so to speak. So what do you think? What should we do?
2 people like this
7 responses
@Mirita (2668)
• United States
17 Aug 07
Maybe you can complain about the agency in Miami ,but you can't do anything in regards to Cuba because communist people have no morale or ethics and they don't follow any laws imposed by the U.S.
• United States
17 Aug 07
If it was Cuba, I would just eat it. The fact is that these people are in the US. They are not even a Cuban Agency. They are just a travel agency that is able to sell Cuba vacations to families. Remember the name I sent you... DO NOT USE THEM... .lol.
1 person likes this
@Mirita (2668)
• United States
18 Aug 07
Well, go ahead and consult a lawyer because you don't want this happening to other people. In my opinion they are corrupted and for the kind of money they charge ,they should be able to provide a better service. People like this should not be in business.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 07
you would think so right.. It makes me so sick that they take advantage of people that are desperate to see their families and then claim to be Christian in the same breath !!
1 person likes this
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
18 Aug 07
it is the right thing to do, to go to the attorney.i will support you from behind. it is your right.anyway, im sorry about the trip. perhaps you want to visit bali sometimes? all here is cheap. and you can see our beautiful beach.and gets tan.
2 people like this
• United States
18 Aug 07
thanks for the support. I would love to visit Bali, however I do not get tan, I just burn and peel. Very sensitive skin :)
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
20 Aug 07
hi michele, this is horrible indeed!! i am glad that you are back with atleast good memories from the in laws. i am sure as to how it works there but i guess, going to the attorney is a better idea, keeping aside the expense of it all. don't you have some kind of grievance cell where you can put in your written complaints with effect? whatever you choose , michelle, you should do someting to teach them a good lesson . they just cannot afford to this anymore. cheers...
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
21 Aug 07
do keep us updated. you take care.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Aug 07
we do plan on doing something. It is so horrible when people prey on those in need or those who just want to do the right thing.
• United States
21 Aug 07
thank you, I will do just that.
@sreevasu (2717)
• India
18 Aug 07
I think you should go and consult with a lawyer first and seek help to file a suite for compensation. But it is sad that these kind of people are everywhere in the world. We have to lose not only money but time and energy as well. Anyway I'm sure that this will not happen again with any of your next trips.
• United States
18 Aug 07
oh no it won't. Next time I will be more aware. Thanks Vasu, your input is greatly appreciated as always !!
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
19 Aug 07
Hi misheleen, glad to see that you are back from Cuba. I can understand how you would have been felt because of the disgusting behaviour og the travel agent. You are in the police and hence must have a clear vision about how to handle the situation. Consult some coworkers who are much aware of the legal procedure. If it was here in India we could take the case before the consumer grievences redressal forum, which has judicial capacity to look into such cases and pass verdict allowing compensation. I think there in the US you will get excellent legal coverage for such sufferings from the hands of a money crazy travell agent.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 07
Abroji, I see you have changed your avatar. Thanks so much for your thoughts and support. We are still deciding which route we are going to take.
1 person likes this
@abroji (3247)
• India
19 Aug 07
I wish misheleen, you will get justice in the matter. Yes, I have changed my avtar. Actually it is a beautifully animated image, but the animation does not work in the discussion page. Please visit my profile page and you can see the elegance of that animated image. I know that it can be made workable by reducing the size of the picture, but I am technically a dummy.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Aug 07
Thanks again Abroji. I did see your beautiful avatar running across the page. To be seen on every page the size must be 60x60 or smaller. :)
@Rickrocks8 (1751)
• United States
23 Aug 07
Oh Mish I am so sorry! That is just crazy. I wish I could help you but the last time ti went out of the US it was on a shop so I have no idea about the airlines. I think if you go back you should book your own flights not use an aganecy. Those people are giving Christians a bad name...I'm not like that at all!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Aug 07
I know what you mean about them giving Christians a bad name. I cannot book flight tickets myself as it is Cuba. The US has the embargo against Cuba, so no airline will book a flight unless you go through an agency. They are supposed to make sure you have all you need to legally travel. I had no choice, but next time you can bet it won't be THAT agency.
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
20 Aug 07
so sorry to hear about that. this sounds like a horrible agency. they are an agency in the US? If that's the case, then I'm sure you have recourse to sue the pants off them. it all sounds very shady. I'm not so familiar with the legal process in the US but I'll make a consumer complaint first to whichever consumer agency there is, and then to the travel association, and then to the small claims tribunal. hope you get your money back. and of course you could go to a travel forum and publicise their name so that people are more wary in future.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Aug 07
thank you so much. We just want to let them know that they can not keep doing this to people. It really is awful. People who just want to see their family, taken advantage of.