Ebookers drops Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Ebookers drops Cuba

Sunday May 8, 2005
The Observer

Hundreds of British holiday makers have had their travel plans wrecked after Ebookers cancelled all its bookings to Cuba.
The travel agency group also owns Travelbag, Flightbookers and Bridge the World, all of which have cancelled every holiday or flight booking they hold to Cuba. The group was bought by Cendant, a large American corporation, in February, and has decided it must now comply with the US trade embargo prohibiting trade with or travel to Cuba.

'It seems utterly ridiculous,' said one traveller who was called by Ebookers last week and told it would no longer be taking him on his honeymoon to Cuba. 'The Iberia plane we were booked on is still flying to Cuba, but we're now having to re-book with another company. Ebookers didn't give any explanation - they just said it was something to do with their new owners.'

The man and his fiancée, who asked not to be named, are particularly angry because they booked at the start of April, well after the takeover had been finalised.

In a statement Ebookers said it had acted quickly as soon as the position regarding Cuba 'became clear'. The company is refunding its customers, offering a £100 voucher and 'considering all appropriate options for alleviating the inconvenience'. A spokesperson refused to say if this meant financial compensation would be available even though it may cost travellers significantly more to rebook their trips now than when they made the initial reservation. Around 400 people are understood to be affected.
(snip/...)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/travel/story/0,6903,1478916,00.html

[Missy M]

1. The US is ridiculous regarding Cuba...

...it is time to end the trade and travel embargo the US has against Cuba. Of course I know it won't end with any Bush in the White House.

[patricia92243]

2. We re "spreading Democracy" around Iraq. Can we spare a little for Cuba.

[Missy M]

3. I think the Cubans will take a pass on that!!

[Judi Lynn]

4. You betcha! They've already seen U.S. approved democracy

in the regime headed by U.S. puppet, brutal, corrupt dictator Fulgencio Batista: hence the revolution leading to a new government in 1959.

People who've been to Cuba multiple times say normal, non-bribed Cubans are dead set against being taken over by U.S. interests again.

[Missy M]

5. Good for the Cubans...

...they know with the US it is "Quid Pro Quo".

[murray hill farm]

7. Very, very true!!

Not only dead set against it, they have a great fear of it now...so, hopefully it will never happen to them again.

[patricia92243]

8. Actually, I stand corrected. I hadn't thought about how that sounded.

Spreading Democracy by Bush standards means to bomb the life out of people.

Sorry for posting without thinking. :(

[Railroader]

6. Sears Canada will book you on a trip to Cuba.

As far as I know, they're American owned.

Tried to find a link, but their vacation packages website is down at the moment.