Helpful advise.
As massive crowds of anti-government protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square Friday to demand the immediate ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, the State Department warned fleeing Americans to "proceed to your local airport and secure commercial passage out of the country...further delay is not advisable." Meanwhile, tourists who'd already booked trips to Egypt are wondering whether they'll get their money back. Answers to some of the most common questions:
Q. I'm in Egypt now. How do I get out?
Tourists ride camels and horses in the desert near the pyramids in Giza, with the Cairo skyline seen behind, on Monday, Jan. 31, 2011. The pyramids are closed to tourists. A coalition of opposition groups called for a million people to take to Cairo's streets Tuesday to demand the removal of President Hosni Mubarak.By Emilio Morenatti, AP
A. The U.S. State Department has evacuated more than 2,000 Americans this week on charter flights from Cairo to "safe havens" in Europe, identified as Larnaca, Cyprus; Istanbul, Turkey; Frankfurt, Germany; and Athens, Greece. According to an updated State Department FAQ posted Friday, "if there is a U.S. Government evacuation flight on Saturday, proceed to Terminal 1, Hall 4 (Hajj Hall) as soon as possible on Saturday. Do not wait for a call from the U.S. Embassy."
The State Department warns that flights from and transport to the Cairo airport may continue to be disrupted by ongoing protests, and says the cost of the charter (typically that of a one-way commercial flight) must be reimbursed. Travelers in need of evacuation flights should send an email to EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov or call (202) 501-4444. Updates are also being posted via the State Department's Twitter feed.
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