Buying Avianca tickets online for travel within Colombia?

Crazy4Cali says on Apr 12, 2006, 16:56:

Been there, done that... ...and it worked just fine. Just be sure to use the "colombia" portion of the site to get the best prices.

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DoninLasVegas says on Apr 12, 2006, 18:00:

Been there had "problems" I tried to purchase tickets on the Avianca site for my finacee's flight from Barranquilla to Bogota about 2 months ago. I went to the "colombia" portion of the web-site & got a great price & tried to pay with my credit card (VISA). I received a message that I would receive an e-mail to confirm my credit card had been charged & the seat had been reserved. Instead of getting an e-mail I received a phone call that the price would be different if I used my VISA -- almost double the price quoted in pesos. I was told that to receive the lower price that someone in Colombia would have to go to an Avianca office in person & pay in pesos. I sent my fiancee the pesos & she paid in person in Barranquilla.

The moral of the story is that there are two prices. One for those who pay with credit cards from outside Colombia and a second for someone who can pay with cash in Colombia.

Don (in Las Vegas)

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Crazy4Cali says on Apr 12, 2006, 22:05:

Maybe... Maybe the difference is I bought a ticket for me, instead of someone else.

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rocinante says on Apr 12, 2006, 22:40:

Avianca's website The gringo gets the shaft.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 12, 2006, 23:06:

My experiences have been exactly like DoninLasVegas... its easier to send the money and purchase it there...with a credit card you pay the american price......because they know americans will whine and pout, but still pay....



Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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dave_travels says on Apr 13, 2006, 18:29:

It went well for me I purchased a Colombian domestic ticket in Feb. for myself online while still in Canada. I paid in pesos with my credit card. I jumped through the hoops online, and then printed out the boarding pass at an internet cafe in Bogota the night before I left. All the Avianca people looked at my boarding pass with a surprised look, but they all accepted it. I did the same for the return trip too. If you book 7 days in advance, you get a cheaper price. They state all there rules & regs. in the fine print.

I have not attempted to purchase a ticket for another person yet.

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b bruce says on Apr 13, 2006, 21:30:

I suggest you call Avianca Airlines reservations direct! When you go by way of on line reservations you are not always dealing with Avianca Airlines direct. Which means you can't change your travel plans at all! I call Avianca direct in Miami. When you make reservations with a credit card they e-mail you a E-Ticket confirmation. Twice while dealing direct with Avianca I had to change my travel dates. The first time there was not a problem and no charge for changing my travel dates. The second time for this up coming trip in two weeks they charged me a $100.00 fee to change the dates of travel.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 13, 2006, 22:10:

If you purchased a ticket for someone in Colombia online or .... direct for a domestic flight they used to allow the guest ticket to be picked up at the ticket counter of where the guest is located, originally for free, then later a $25 charge was added. I have never been able to use the Colombian side of the internet to purchase domestic flight for either myself or a friend. i have always had to call Avianca to make the reservations, obviously at the US price...now, as soon as i arrive in Colombia, i go to the Avianca ticket counter at the airport to purchase my in-country flight at the peso price. One other option is to book the Avianca Discover Colombia prepaid segment flight if you fly into Colombia only with Avianca.....

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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rocinante says on Apr 14, 2006, 06:30:

in general... If your flight is from the US to CO and back it is still considered a gringo flight and the only way to get the CO price from AVianca (and it's still a longshot) is if the person ordering the tickets does so from CO, over the phone and pays with a CC that has a CO billing address and the ticket is in the name of the buyers mother (OK I made that mother thing up). Or the buyer in CO goes to AV in person and pays in cash.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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toneloc24 says on Apr 15, 2006, 13:45:

Just confirmed this with Avianca today Avianca changed their process one month ago. This information is coming directly from the Sales CSR at the 1-800-284-2622 number.

The online price only applies to paying in Colombia with Colombian pesos or a Colombian credit card. International credit cards will not be processed at that online rate.

The reason I needed to call Avianca is because I had booked a flight from Bogota to Barranquilla for myself online, as I had always done before. I would then need to call the 1-800-284-2622 to complete the payment part of the transaction with my VISA card from the USA.

This time, I went through the same process. However, while the reserved price stated COP450.720 (approx. $196USD). The Avianca sales guy stated that with an international credit card, it would cost me $321USD. I could only pay the COP450.720 in person with Colombian pesos. Or yoiu cvan send the money to someone in Colombia, and they can pay for the reservation for you. Just give them the reservation number for Avianca.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 16, 2006, 15:09:

Sounds like i need to obtain a Colombian Credit Card.... Christ, like i dont have enough of the US versions already!!!

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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Disco_Stu says on Apr 16, 2006, 16:35:

What about from Venezuela? If you buy a ticket from Caracas to Bogota or Cartagena will you get a good price or is it just from outside the country you get high prices?

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Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 17, 2006, 19:09:

I believe if you are using the english version of the Avianca website you get the higher US prices....the cheaper online peso price is the spanish side of the website, but you will have difficulty paying with a USA credit card....cheapest prices for you if you are in Venezuela may be the airport ticket counter for Avianca....

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo...faltan 75 días.....

"Ignorance is a Weapon of Mass Destruction..."

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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