Anyone have advice on finding inexpensive airline tickets from the U.S. To Colombia in May

Medellin Traveler says on Jan 3, 2008, 19:13:

Check the internet.

I have discovered one of the greates schemes regarding the procurement of cheap tickets. Sorry, but I can't share the info at this time. If I did it may put an end to my discover brought forth by my simple curiousity.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

lpdiver says on Jan 3, 2008, 19:14:

From where to where?

t

"cook some rice!"

chris932 says on Jan 4, 2008, 13:42:

Check out this colombia flights advice for a rundown of al the options for flights to and within Colombia.

chris932 says on Jan 4, 2008, 13:42:

here - http://www.paisatours.com/colombia_flights.htm

El Piloto says on Jan 4, 2008, 19:11:

Traveler can you at least drop us a cryptic clue about your scheme for finding cheap tickets?

Medellin Traveler says on Jan 4, 2008, 20:24:

It's not finding cheap tickets, per se. It's more like purchasing full fare tickets with a twists on the miles program. I looked into it and will try it on my next trip. I am traveling on a voucher for my next trip to Medellin. Total cost to me, $39.70 this trip.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

b bruce says on Jan 5, 2008, 00:54:

Spirit Airlines out of Fort Lauderdale, will begin air service to Panama City, Panama and Cartagena within the next few months!

MitchAlvarez says on Jan 5, 2008, 01:55:

mt man u gotta share bro!!! jajaj

i always fly avianca but if you have some good deals man we are def going to have to meet. jaja

panthdave says on Jan 5, 2008, 04:45:

I use the mileage program to the max but its real game you need to play with the airlines..and cross your fingers...I always grab once I see a ticket at 450.00 including all taxes but with oil at 100.00. Airlines are going to be alittle careful on discounts..

panthdave Miami

Medellin Traveler says on Jan 5, 2008, 05:35:

The average ticket from Chicago - Maimi - Medellin is about $639.70 with taxes included.

MitchAlvarez - as soon as I try it and if it works like I image it to work, mmmmmmmmm.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

panthdave says on Jan 5, 2008, 06:41:

MT where did you get that price..from Chicago.....Shit from MIA american wants the same exact price...I guess American now does not care what city it is..even from MIA will be the same price..maybe there guessing there going to get that price anyways from people outside MIA>>and probably Avianca too with connections with Delta from other cities..Copa has the cheapest right for me out of MIA going at 506.00 including taxes for January February and March...Damn I need Satena to fly to MIA>>>>and let me take a prop plane out of Miami and hope I make it to the coast of Colombia..

panthdave Miami

Medellin Traveler says on Jan 5, 2008, 13:25:

I'm flying with AA on this trip. The best deal I got out of Chicago was $506 last March.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

Conchale Vale!! says on Jan 5, 2008, 14:56:

Another way to save on miles at least with american. Get a citicard...platinum is best. Through citicard they offer milage reductions. In off season you can get a round trip from Chicago to Bogota for 25,000 sometimes as low as 22 with a gold card it is I think 27,500. The locations change by quarter.
They will list central america and south. I know for this quarter there is somewhere in colombia on the list but not Bogota so did not work for me this time. But since is already low season I got my ticket for 30,000.

houstongal says on Jan 5, 2008, 15:09:

Panthdave, Miami is a hub city for American so not surprising that the price is the same as Chicago. I also live in a hub city (Houston) and sometimes find cheaper flights if I drove to San Antonio or Austin and connect through Houston.

Culture is language and language is culture - Dr. Annamaria Napolitano

msaucey says on Jan 5, 2008, 16:09:

It really is just a matter of checking the various internet websites and your timing... I do the same thing HG, I live between LAX and LAS, so, depending on where I'm going or the departure time, I've flown out of LAS a few times...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

panthdave says on Jan 5, 2008, 19:23:

Well flying next week with 35,000 miles with Copa MIA-Panama-MDE and back and Flying American on 30,000 miles two weeks after in February because I could not find my price which I usually pay 335.00 to 446.00 from MIA to MDE roundtrip..including taxes maybe because of fuel but tickets are high right now..for Jan-Feb-Mar..Probably going to book Copa for my next flight after American for 506.00 but trying to hold on here to see if I get lucky...out of MIA>>>>in the end of Feb....I am greedy and fight for those good priced boletos...

panthdave Miami

Medellin Traveler says on Jan 6, 2008, 11:16:

I find it best to find the average best rate you can for a particular destination and whenever a fare is set at that price, jump on it. Who cares if it goes down $50 next day, it could always go the other way. It used to happend to me in the past when I kept waiting, waiting, and then I got screwed. This is especailly important if you have fixed travel dates.

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

durito says on Jan 6, 2008, 13:05:

I can never get American to come up with Denver-Miami-Medellin RT for less than $800, whereas Copa/Continental is always $650 (except this week when i actually need to fly and its $1500)

I found a one way on copa Los Angeles-PTY-Medellin for $300 tomorrow night at 1am . $75 to LA one way on frontier from denver.

El Piloto says on Jan 7, 2008, 09:26:

Hmm, so the scheme potentially involves loopholes on non-airline mileage cards (i.e. Citi PremierPass)??? There were some creative ways to game non-airline-cobranded cards involving full-fare tickets but I thought most of those loopholes had been closed.

My best advice is to always build flexibility in your travel plans so you can be an oversale volunteer: try and score a denied boarding voucher. Oversold flights are your best friend!

I love traveling for "free" using miles but traveling for free on oversale vouchers is even better because these tickets are treated as normal revenue tickets that earn more miles! So far I have scored a career total of $1800 in OS vouchers between AA and DL.

joetexan says on Jan 7, 2008, 11:44:

How to do purchase oversale vouchers? I've never heard of them.

I used to get my tickets at skyauction.com. You bid, obviously, but be sure to check all the fine print. I was getting tickets from Austin to Bogota for around $500.00, but then they added a surcharge from Austin of $250.00. Also, some times the routes are horrible. I got one ticket and then discovered the route was Austin, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Bogota.

ColombianoGringo says on Jan 7, 2008, 12:14:

I sometimes buy a miles ticket from my brother on AA. He has a million miles from his consulting days. The nice thing I found out about AA miles tickets is that there is no charge to change your flights. I had to extend my trip last month in Colombia and I simply called the call center in Bogota and changed it. It took less than five minutes.

I have also gotten a free ticket on Continental to Bogota using miles I earned with my Chase debit card.