The Broker

This is a story that happened to me in Caracas Airport and I would like to share with you to show you how this country works and in case any of you is planning to travel there(even with things like this is a beautiful and unique country)

I arrived from Los Roques to Caracas for my final destination: Canaima y El Salto del Angel.

I booked the tour with Bernal(sapitotours), very nice guy who even booked and paid my ticket to Ciudad Bolivar(the starting point of the tour). The only remaining thing was my return ticket after the tour back to Caracas. No problem I thought, I had plenty of time at the airport; not so fast Renato.

First problem: I had to return on Sunday and the Company which flies to C.Bolivar doesn't fly on Sundays!

Well, I managed to find another company that flew to from another city wich is only 40 minutes distance from C.Bolivar. The guy at the Airline desk told me that there was only one seat available. I needed to change some dollars into bolivares. I still had some local currency so I only changed 60$.

When I got back to the desk, the guy told me the ticket had been taken and there were no more left. I called inmediatelly the agency (Bernal) and explained the situation. They suggested another company and to put my name in the waiting list with the company that was fully booked:
a) the other company had the system down and they were unable to make reservations
b) there was no waiting list in initial company

Bus was not an option as I had to take an early flight the following day and the bus arrived afterwards.

Basically I was in serious trouble. I was going to get a flight to Canaima with no possible return. The only option seemed a 5 hours taxi!

I was chatting and explaining the situation to a couple I met the previous day in Los Roques when the guy who had changed me currency 10 minutes before aproached me again and asked me what was going on.

After I explained him the problem, he said he could get me the ticket if I paid him 150 Bolivares($35). I was surprised, at the airline desk I was told there were no tickets. I inmidiately understood: they made reservations until the flight is full and then they re-sell the tickets.

Then the Argentinian couple noticed and advert reading "Say NO to brokers", which confirmed how things works.

I was able to reduce the broker fee to 110 Bolivares saying I had no more money. The Broker made a phone call and gave me a reservation code. I could only laugh when he even asked me if I wanted window or aisle!

As soon as I got back to the airline desk, the guy who said there were no tickets smiled and let me know the ammount of the ticket without even asking for the reservation code or my name.

At the end I only paid $25 extra, but it could have been worst If I had changed more money with The Broker and he had known I had more money. I could have ended up paying $200 extra or more.

The Broker even congratulated himself with the Argentians about his efficiency!