[SandyVictimNJ]

After 7 days of no power, heat, running water, or gasoline, there is no end in site to the disaster of Hurricane Sandy in NY and NJ. The power company says it can take 2 more weeks before power is restored. By pure coincidence, we had a vacation planned to visit relatives in the south via a flight to Atlanta on Nov 8th. Unfortunately, now there is a Nor'Easter planned to hit that day. So this evening, I called to move our flight one day earlier and was told it would cost $450 per ticket. The tickets were $365 each. I was willing to pay the $150 change fee per ticket (also highway robbery), but they told me I had to pay a higher fare because the flight was only 2 days away. PS...same flight just one day earlier.

I told them I was doing them a favor by filling seats on a plane, and avoided the risk that they cancel the Nov 8th flight and have to offer us a refund. I also told them that it would greatly help us to get out of the disaster area a day earlier, and not be trapped here for more days due to the coming storm. I don't feel we should have to pay the increased fare, given the circumstances.

And then there is this.... after explaining this to the manager, I was told that NJ wasn't the only place to experience disasters. The airline based their policies on disasters that occurred in other regions, because other regions suffer disasters too. She cited New Orleans and forest fires in Arizona. So to add insult to injury, I had to endure some pointless lecture from a heartless, insensitive woman who could care less about the victims of disaster, but would rather defend the policy of US Air to gauge travelers.

Hey US Air, you know what you can kiss ... I will tell everyone I know about your completely callous employees and senseless price gouging policies.