Outbreak has travelers weighing options

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - People who've already scheduled trips to Mexico in the coming weeks are now weighing their options.

Federal health officials have advised U.S. citizens against traveling to Mexico because of the swine flu virus. But a local travel agent said if you've made travel plans for that country, you probably aren't completely out of luck -- even if you've already paid for your airline ticket and hotel.

For travelers who made plans before the swine flu scare to spend vacation time south of the border, travel agents say, at this point, the airlines are being flexible.

"Almost all of the airlines that would travel, fly at all to anywhere in Mexico, are allowing you to rebook if you were due to travel between now and May 6. So you can change your reservation, you can change your destination," said Suzanne DeCellis of the AAA Hoosier Motor Club.

AAA said Hoosiers with vacation plans in Mexico have been calling, wondering whether to go ahead with their plans. The agents are offering advice.

"Watch the news. If it changes, you'll have options. And so yes, we are receiving some of those calls, but we're not inundated with those types of calls," said DeCellis.

The bottom line, DeCellis said, is that -- especially during these tough economic times -- the airlines are looking to make money by making passengers happy.

"The airlines want the people to travel so they're going to try to work with them, even though it's each airline's rule and decision," said DeCellis.

DeCellis said most hotels in Mexico are also willing to work with people who've paid for rooms in advance.