it and being asked to pay for it.

Pensioner Raymond Moore booked a $1,298 Miami flight with Delta Air Lines via Atlanta in September, but last week he was told it would now cost $1,799 because it was a holiday week ending with the approach to 2000.

Mr. Moore is a seasoned air traveller, having logged numerous miles both during his working career as an accountant in Hong Kong and since retiring as boss of Jardine Matheson in Bermuda.

A disgusted Mr. Moore, 71, told The Royal Gazette : "I have never been treated like this before. This is no reason at all.

"We are not even flying over the Y2K date. We are back on the 30th. It's not like it was the Gulf War or something like that affecting the air schedules.

"Fortunately I have been able to change airlines and accomplish the same flights via Philadelphia on US Air at the original price.'' One travel agent, who refused to be named, said: "I think this sucks. "There are some passengers who are really not happy about it. They normally do the same route but they are having to pay much more because of this holiday.'' She said Delta, US Airways and Continental were all selling only non-refundable flights for both economy and first class over the festive period.

However, she said Delta had been the only carrier to bump up fares.

Mr. Moore said: "This is one of the most unwarranted and unprincipled exercises in gouging I have ever encountered and I intend to use all means at my disposal to bring Delta to book.

"They are abusing a monopoly situation on the Atlanta route and it makes a mockery of their consumer advertising.'' He added that he had a hard time trying to complain about the sting.

"It is interesting that there is no phone or fax number for the consumer affairs department on Delta's web site nor any on the Sky Miles literature,'' he said.

"I had to telephone flight information to get the fax number and even they did not know the number.'' A spokesman for Delta blamed the travel agent Adventure Travel for quoting the wrong price.

He said: "The second price he was given was what the fare has been since September. It just appears he has been given the wrong quote.'' However, he was at a loss to explain why his airline was still charging $500 more than US Airways for the same flight.

He said: "I don't have an answer to that. Pricing is a complicated issue.

Some carriers have lower fares than others for competitive reasons.'' However, a spokeswoman for Adventure Travel denied they had misquoted the air fare.

She said: "I don't know why they are saying that -- Mr. Moore travels frequently by Delta.''