The Chronicle culled the views of visiting Guyanese who were at the Caribbean Airlines’ office either purchasing tickets or confirming flights to leave Guyana. We asked them specifically about their experience regarding airfare and service, and received the following responses:

* Leera (only name given) – “This sector in Guyana is not moving forward, it’s moving backward. My mum and I, we were sitting in the office for two hours just to confirm a flight. The system is really bad. We are not sure when we will be travelling back to Guyana. We are also praying that we don’t have any emergency.”
Leera and her mum had paid US$1400 each for a one-week stay in Guyana.

* Andrew Harris – “Caribbean Airlines is exploiting their customers and people that are (desirous of using) their service. They need a bigger office (and) more staff to accommodate the customers.
“(Customers are) coming and sitting for hours and the prices are high. Guyana needs more carriers coming to Guyana. The Government of Guyana should take all risks…to bring new carriers to the Guyana market, so that citizens can have more options.”

* Amanda Bagot – “Our luggage didn’t arrive with us, and we were not given any explanation as to why, but our baggage was left back. The company has us on the royal run- around from the airport to the office. When we were en route to Guyana from Trinidad, the plane was delayed for one hour; again, no explanation.”
The Bagots had paid US$1100 each for a two-week stay in Guyana.

* Kassey Howel – “Prices! They have no competition in the country at the moment, that’s why the prices are high. The service is not too bad. We paid over US$1200 each for one week stay from New York.” 

* Mr. Williams – “I was at the office since in the morning. My number is 71, and at 14:45 they were only at number 41. They do not even have any coffee that they can give to their customers. Service (is) very horrible. Their prices are very hot indeed. Competition is very much needed in the airline sector.”
Mr. Williams paid US$550 for a one-way ticket to Guyana from New York.

* Mr. Lawrence – “The service sucks! (I) cannot even get any refreshments. (You) have to spend long hours just to make sure that your flight is confirmed, and they want to treat you any-how. And if you talk for your rights, they want to put you out of the office.”
Lawrence said the airline is presently charging a two-year-old child coming from New York the sum of US$1400 for two weeks’ stay in Guyana. He also said that when he was at the Piarco International Airport, the airline had no forms for Guyanese to fill up, but there were forms available for Trinidadians.

* Sherwin (Only name given) –“Prices ridiculous! The food on the plane is terrible also! And most times passengers only take juice. If they have the flag carrier status, they should have top-class service. Instead, the service and airfare (are) ridiculous!
“The airline does not have any competition, and, of course, they know that; but it does not mean that they have to take advantage on the Guyanese public.
“I (am) hoping that they will improve their service soon, because they cannot continue like this.” 

* Mavis Seetan – “The prices aren’t so bad over here. Their prices in New York are very terrible! But then, at the said time, you have to pay tax here.
In America, you don’t have to pay tax. “The service is not bad, but I am hearing persons complaining a lot about the airline.”

* Paul Burnette – “I have found that the flights booked online are not valid for the 24 hours they have specified, and you’re at a disadvantage, since you are placed on a first-come first-served basis now. The online booking (is) not valid, and it is making us lose vacation time.
“The Government of Guyana needs to make every effort to bring new carriers on the Guyana market, because this issue is affecting citizens very badly.”