American Airlines causes problems for T&T Rugby team

Thursday 16 October 08-Port-Of-Spain-   The Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) faced with American visa challenges and cautious of potential travel problems via Caracas opted to send the T&T rugby team to Brazil in two groups one via Caracas and the other via Miami on American Airlines. The Miami route was thought to be less taxing on the players.   The 14 members who traveled via Caracas with team manager Curtis Nero have arrived in Brazil and will have a light training session later today.   Coach Rhett Cheeping and 11 other members encountered problems with American Airlines and in a determined effort to ensure that his group reached Brazil on time for Saturday's crucial second leg 2011  Rugby World Cup encounter with Brazil. Cheeping took a Spirit Air Charter to Ft.Lauderdale so that his  group could make a midday connection flight to Sao Paulo where they will arrive at 9pm tonight .   Originally scheduled to arrive in Brazil this morning . TTRFU officials said Cheeping and his group got to the Piarco Airport at 11am yesterday(Wednesday) for a 2pm flight, they were in the Airport up to  midnight last night. The scheduled  American Airline flight had  problems. In light of this the group took a Spirit Air Charter to Ft. Lauderdale in an effort to get on a mid day Miami/ Sao Paulo connection that will arrive at 9pm tonight.   Meanwhile Nero said that those team members already in Brazil have settled in at the team hotel-Comfort Inn in Sao Jose de Campos.   "The situation with American Airlines is unfortunate but it is just another challenge  to overcome. The good news is that we will have a full team here in time for the game.The players already here will have a light work out later today .The priority with the others arriving late tonight is by the time they get settled in we may need to allow them to rest for most of Friday ."said Nero.    For team related information-Curtis Nero at Comfort Inn in Sao Jose de Campos. The number is (12) 39477666 .             The Caracas group got in as scheduled today and did not see the Miami group at the airport as expected.  We enquired from AA and found out that there were problems out of Trinidad.  The email below explains the rest.   I called Rhett before I saw this email and explained that we planned to have a run out session today to give the guys a blow out.   I left the cheque book with Colin Peters.  I am not sure what the balance was after the bills, but Colin can sort out.   Caracas turned out o.k.  The only challenge was that we were made to leave and check back in and therefore incurred an airport tax charge of US$53 per person (14 persons). The was no intransit arrangement at the airport because of the length of the layover. Other than that, things went smoothly.   We are staying in Comfort Inn in Sao Jose de campos. The number is (12) 39477666.  I am in room 708.   Regards,   curtis     ----- Original Message ---- From: Brian Lewis <briaclew@yahoo.com> To: jose.nivet@ansamcal.com; Leslie Figaro <figa9489@wasa.gov.tt>; Lisa Williams <lisa@williams.co.tt>; Anthony Laurence <alaurence@trinpet-its.com>; Derek Cumming <derekcumming@hotmail.com>; Curtis Nero <nero9@yahoo.com>; Colin Peters <colpetrugby@yahoo.com> Cc: TTRFU <contact@ttrfu.com> Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 9:28:06 AM Subject: Re: FLIGHT PROBLEMS Derek, Thanks for the update. I will inform the travel agent used for the travel arrangements so that they can contact AA.   TTRFU may not be able to make a refund today.But as has happened in the past in short term negative cash flow situations we find benefactors to cover until cash situation improves.I will discuss with the TTRFU VP.   BL   --- On Thu, 10/16/08, Derek Cumming <derekcumming@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Derek Cumming <derekcumming@hotmail.com> Subject: FLIGHT PROBLEMS To: jose.nivet@ansamcal.com, "'Leslie Figaro'" <figa9489@wasa.gov.tt>, "'Lisa Williams'" <lisa@williams.co.tt>, "'Anthony Loregnard'" <anthony.loregnard@tt.rbtt.com>, briaclew@yahoo.com, alaurence@trinpet-its.com, rgittens_2000@yahoo.co.uk, b.wallace@bouygues-construction.com, "'Colin Peters'" <colpetrugby@yahoo.com>, kencita-csas@mail.tt, "Chee Ping, Rhett" <rcheeping@gordongrant.com> Date: Thursday, October 16, 2008, 9:43 AM I have been in touch with Rhett since last night, the group travelling through Miami have been made to suffer. The group got to the Airport at 11am yesterday for a 2pm flight, they were in the Airport still at midnight last night, apparently there was engine problems followed by the flight crew time expiring. In light of this Rhett took a decision to take a Spirit Air charter to Ft. Lauderdale for USD165. a person which he paid for personally. If he had not done this he would not have caught the mid day Sao Paulo connection today. As it stands they got to Ft. Lauderdale and traveled to Miami they have checked in on the Sao Paulo flight and will get there at approx. 9pm tonight. Couple things: TTRFU need to follow up with AA for compensation for the inconvenience, etc. Rhett should be refunded today so i can get his credit card paid in case of any other emergency (USD165. x 12) Please let me know if a cheque can be prepared so i can sort this part out in the case of any further chaos. I hope Figgy receives this so he is aware of their situation