Avianca Instructions Please.

lokipbh says on Feb 26, 2005, 16:00:

have a good attitude get there a little early, 2 hrs maybe - but this can vary. Don't worry - It does no good. If you have valuables in your luggage have it wrapped at the airport. Listen carefully for the connection information as you arrive in Bogota, (if this is a connecting flight as I imagine), sometimes this little bus trip (connection nacional) at bogota airport must happen quickly. And they may not be interested at all in your declaration documents.
P.S. Avoid the cold fried chicken fingers on the miami to bogota flight, but definitely take the pollo on the return.

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juanalejo says on Feb 26, 2005, 16:12:

Direct Avianca has a direct flight between Miami and Cartagena so I would assume that dr is on that one, so no change of planes involved.

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miamimike says on Feb 26, 2005, 16:17:

Call the day before... Make sure your flight is still "ON". Get the names, dates, times of ANY one you speak to. Same for the return leg of the trip. I know its too late for you to cancel- I would have advised you to fly LanChile or American. Take your Rosary beads with you if you are Catholic.Good Luck.

"get there a little early, 2 hrs maybe - but this can vary. Don't worry - It does no good. If you have valuables"

Fact-I got there 4 hours early in Bogota and it did not help whatsoever. Valuables--carry 'em on--they have a lot of crooks in the baggage handling areas. Leave nothing to trust. Nothing. Not in Miami!

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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Bruce V. Shrader says on Feb 26, 2005, 18:00:

Go Early! 1) Get to the airport and check in with the airline at least 2 hours early. (I try to do this 3 hours early) Get your "Boarding Pass".
The Boarding pass will get you on the plane, not necessarily the ticket.

2) Get your Bagage thru Security and checked ASAP.

3) Then YOU get thru security and TO the gate ASAP.
(You can get something to drink or a snack in the secured area)

After you are on the plane, you'll have plenty of time to rest.

This has worked for about a dozen trips (I have made from Miami
and Atlanta to Colombia since April, 2000). It should work for all
airlines.

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Miguel says on Feb 26, 2005, 22:56:

Early Is Good There are just too many things that can delay you. Suerte con su viaje.

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dr75200 says on Feb 27, 2005, 08:46:

Darn We'll I appreciate the truth but you've scared the heck out of me. Why is Avianca so bad?

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Miguel says on Feb 27, 2005, 15:13:

Quick piece of advice If you already have a hard ticket, disregard this, but if you bought an e-ticket, make sure they have confirmed it via email, and you have that printed up. If not, call them and have the ticket overnighted to you ASAP.

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miamimike says on Feb 27, 2005, 17:31:

Do a search on PBH Avianca was discussed in depth a short while back-check out the past threads. If you ever get to the Airport in Miami, hang around the Avianca Manager's office right after an Incoming flight and you proably will see numerous "very unhappy campers" lining up to complain about their trip, missed connections, lost luggage, poor service, ect. Bring a folding chair and a lunch-you are in for a long and entertaining day.

On Sept 17, 2008: Senator John McCain said, as he had many times before, that he believed the fundamentals of the economy were "strong."Hours later he backpedaled, explaining that he had meant that American workers were Strong.

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Besorob says on Mar 5, 2005, 16:20:

No Problems I have flown on Avianca many times, both from Miami (to different cities), and within Colombia. I have never had any problem, except for a 1 hour delayed flight 1 time. The advice that Miguel gave about the e-ticket is good advice. Be sure to get the email confirmation and print it and take it with you. I was just in Colombia 2/10/05 - 2/20/05 and I booked a flight from Cali to Cartagena. Luckily I went to the interet cafe and printed the email confirmation, because it contained a part which was needed at the ticket counter.
Valuables - carry them with you is good advice.

Besorob

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praetorian says on Mar 8, 2005, 18:31:

Listen to Bruce...good advice Bruce, SPOT ON great advice, as a US DHS employee the advice you have about arriving early is golden. Do not think "today is not a busy travel day", in MIA this is too unpredictable, as the lines at the checkpoints can appear in matter of minutes. Carrying your valuables as well, do not give anyone the opportunity to access your valuables. Ladies and gents, I investigate and levy sanctions against passengers every day for their ignorance in traveling. PLEASE, check your bag before you pack it, you have no idea how may times I have heard, "I forgot that hunting knife was in there..or My husband must have left that loaded firearm in my bag". Common sense, however I swear something happens to people when they walk through those metal detectors, I think it pulls their brains out of their heads and inserts it elsewhere (cranial rectosis major). Also be advised, poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on the part of the screeners. If you arrive late be prepared to pay the piper. It is ill advised that you vent your wrath on a uniformed screener as they are US Federal Officers, unlike the pre 9/11 days with the contract companies whose employees could barely speak english. Obstucting, striking, or any action on your part which interrupts the formal passenger screening process is a punishable offense in US Code. For an international flight out of MIA, I would highly recommend at least 3 hours advance arrival, I know this places extra burden, however this is a major airport where the unexpected can and does happen. Now that I have run off at the mouth can some one tell me when the "off-season" is for Cartagena? I know I will still do well with the exchange rate but I am curious. It will be my first flight with Avianca as well, and as a side note Avianca is rated as a 3 star airline in the same company with American Airlines and Delta with regard to aircraft, safety, passenger problem resolution and compliance with local aviation directives. Any one very familiar with flying Avianca, please advise, if I am traveling American airlines from my home airport in Detroit, to Miami then going to Avianca, how much lead time do I need to schedule, I am thinking 4 hours in between once I land in MIA, but I dont want collect dust sitting in the gate area either. You Avianca frequent flyers please advise. THanks

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