Avianca - Los Angeles, Bog, Medellin

Gator says on Nov 8, 2007, 14:58:

Elk, call Avianca's customer service number at 1-800-284-2622. It's doable but close-Remember Avianca has like six flights a day from Bog to MDE so she should be in good shape.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

ColombianoGringo says on Nov 8, 2007, 15:11:

Once she is through immigration and customs, she will have to transfer to another terminal called "Puente Aereo" that is a few minute away by cab or bus.

msaucey says on Nov 8, 2007, 16:02:

She should be okay.... Our route is similar.... LAX to PEI... our luggage goes straight from LAX to PEI... No need to claim in BOG....

She just has to kind of not linger at El Dorado, because from El Dorado she has to go to Nacional.... But, I think the shuttle shows up every 15 minutes.... Overall, I think it's 30 minutes from the time she leaves El Dorado to Nacional....

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

elk says on Nov 8, 2007, 17:37:

Thanks for the information.

I just made contact with Avianca at 444-3434. They tell me there should be no problem making the connection. She has the option of clearing immigration in Bogota or Medellin and the baggage is transferred in Bogota to the Medellin flight without clearing customs. She will clear customs in Medellin.

She will however need to take the shuttle from the international terminal to the domestic terminal for the Medellin connection.

ColombianoGringo says on Nov 8, 2007, 18:09:

If she ends up pressed for time, have her get a cab.

This summer, I had to go from Puente Aereo(Avianca national terminal) to El Dorado, pick up tickets upstairs at Aviatur and get back to Puente Aereo within 20 minutes. $20.000 pesos and a cab got me there and back with a few minutes to spare.

GregYohn says on Nov 9, 2007, 11:30:

Hola!

Expect a problem! I had 45 minutes between my MIA - BOG flight and my BOG - Cali Flight! I missed it after having to go through customs. I spoke with the President of Avianca in person last month in Bogota and suggested transfer customers get expedited customs service, but I doubt it has happened yet.

When she misses her flight, have her demand 3 things at the domestic desk.

One, she gets to make a FREE phone call to her destination.

Second, expect to wait for her flight in the business lounge where she can have free food and drinks! I did it and they agreed, since normally people just suffer when missing the connection!

Third, if the flight was not late due to weather, then expect a free roundtrip domestic Avianca ticket.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

elk says on Nov 9, 2007, 13:15:

Thanks Greg, but according to Avianca she will not be required to clear customs in Bogota, but rather here in Medellin. Lets hope Avianca has some first hand information about airport transfers. Nothing would surprise me.

On the positive side there are several other flights to Medellin in the morning.

Gator says on Nov 9, 2007, 13:25:

Greg, how is Fabio?

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

GregYohn says on Nov 9, 2007, 18:36:

Hola!

Fabio was ok & greeted me at the business lounge at the door. He flew to JFK that night too. I told him about a problem I had and officially it was not Avianca's fault, but I said if I knew I needed to get to the security gate 20 minutes before my flight I would not have missed my flight. Security did not let me pass through. I suggested they tell customers to get there or they would miss their flight.

Jaime Londono was very helpful. He is the Director Aeropuertos BOG y HUB. I explained I still did not have my Avianca Plus card and now I was a Gold member after waiting 13 months for the Avianca Plus card to be mailed to me. He said for me to email him if its not mailed to me by the time of my next flight.

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg