Flying from UK to Bogota with DELTA

Ctg Bound says on Aug 16, 2006, 15:03:

Delta I flew with them twice with no problems to Atlanta, I picked up the luggage in Atlanta, took it to the security guy, who asked a couple of simple questions, then deposited the luggage where directed 30 yards after the security guy, by some x-ray machines. Then headed for the departure gate.

Transit time, less than a hour.

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el flaco says on Aug 17, 2006, 02:32:

The problem with going via the USA is the huge amount of time required to get through immigration, there is no transit facility. One tip is to be in the line/queue next to the one for US citizens, you may be waved over if they have no one to process. At Miami there was an official asking about flights before you hit the queues, I think he would put you in front if you were running out of time.

Your luggage should be put on the next plane for you, this will be explained to you when you check in.

I’m not sure that you have enough time to change planes.

Please let us know what you paid and where you are flying from.

Buen suerte

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ixent (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 17, 2006, 06:54:

Ctg Bound says on Aug 17, 2006, 07:55:

ixent I had four bags and the US security went through all four and left little love notes in there for me.

el flaco, have you flown through at Atlanta before?

Other Cities in the US I have transited to have been a minor pain, but I found Atlanta VERY easy and quick.

The above system in place I describe in the previouse post was from a year ago, so things could have changed.

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Juanes says on Aug 17, 2006, 12:14:

delta suck well i used this airline a afew years back and had major problems going from new orleans to atlanta and then back to blighty. we ended up staying 1 nite in atalanta airport cos pf problems and had to pay our own hotel room - what a cheek !

but the major part of why i think they stink is the airhostess that they have working the planes and serving/selling ya stuff -what a bunhc of mingers. i have travelled all over to 6 continents and never had such old, ugly, unfriendly, bunch of pensioners, in my life. please delta change ur recruitment policy and at least give the jobs to a couple of fit young latinas in the US so us passengers have something decent to look at during our international and domestic flights in the US. mind you, i dont suppose that would work to weel in the states at present with all those immigrant workers going on labour day strikes cos there being exploited there.

juanes en londres

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 17, 2006, 22:15:

Juanes........ I hear you. It should be obvious to anyone who has flown the Latin American airlines, (just pick:Avaince, Copa, Mexicana, Lacsa)....that their young hot flight attendants are just that....young, sexy and very plesant.

But this is the US, where liberals set the agenda, by enacting all kinds of laws that allow a older and fatter flight attendant to sue the hell out of an airlines if they even think of sending her into retirement against her will. They actually come out better $$ wise than if they would have worked. They get their back pay, legal fees, and are awarded punititve damages that are absurd. Hence, don't look for Delta to change their policy any time soon. If you want to see young sexy latinas, stick with the Latin American airlines.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 18, 2006, 00:52:

I flew with Delta to Atlanta and the service was great, the checking at heathrow was really fast.
I found their service good but not as good as Continental though. But I would'nt mind to fly with them next time.

Atlanta Emigration can be very busy, it's a very busy airport, when I arrived there I nearly miss my next plane because of the queues, I had to jump ahead make my cutes face to some japanesse guys that were in front of the queue and explained them my situacion and they let me go firts.:)

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el flaco says on Aug 18, 2006, 01:38:

I haven't been to Atlanta only Miami (for onwards travel) where there were huge queues.

By next plane I mean that I assume that you change planes and fly to Colombia in a diferent plane. If you use the same plane (which I doubt) then you stay in the plane and don't enter the US.

Everybody returns to Colombia for Christmas hence the hike in the fares, same again for July and August to a lesser extent. So I think you got a bargain, for such a long haul you may want to stay overnight, however I guess you can't change the ticket. Colombians can't go via the US because of visa problems hence the fare.

I have flown Delta and have no complaints.

Christmas is unbelievable there, I had a wonderful time.

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Juanes says on Aug 18, 2006, 01:59:

cheers gomez ill make sure when i tour latin america in 5 weeks i will take internal flights with those airlines u suggested.

i think this will be more likely within brasil & argentina though cos they are massive countries and i have a lot of places to take in.

have you heard about a latin american or brasilian airline called VARIG - i hear they are in financial difficulties and are not offering flights at present.

anyone calrify the position ?

cheers

juanes en londres

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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juanalejo says on Aug 18, 2006, 07:26:

Kat Delta does not fly to Heathrow, you must mean Gatwick?

Atlanta is a nice aiport to transit through, anything to avoid Miami.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 18, 2006, 08:59:

you right Juanalejo it was Gatwick, sometimes I get confuse which airport I am leaving from. jeje I am glad I know where I am landing.. Uhmm I hope so
Atlanta is a nice airport but very busy too.

But hence that I was not travelling to Colombia from Atlanta I was travelling to Lexington, Kentucky.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 18, 2006, 11:05:

Juanes....stay away from Varig.... I think they have some serious financial problems and I also don't think they are flying at this time either.

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Juanes says on Aug 19, 2006, 10:18:

gracias senor gomez thanks for your tip with VARIG gomez...i will deinfately take an air pass with someone else in brasil and i think along with argentina thats the only two countries ill need one for...the rest of the time will be like buses, trains and automobiles....a bit like a cross between that movie with steve martin but crossed with the motorcycle diaries - in searh of Che........

juanes en londres

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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juanalejo says on Aug 19, 2006, 15:17:

Varig Actually Varig was finally sold and they are operating "normally" the few flights that were finally left in their network. Try GOL which is Brazil´s low cost carrier, I have heard lots of very good commentaries on them. If not fly TAM, they are a wonderful airline.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 19, 2006, 15:40:

Juanalejo......you amaze me Sometimes Juan has it right. (which is more than he has ever been able to say about me) and sometimes Juan is clueless. A quick check of Varig's own web site will tell all. By the way, I trust Varig's own words more than Juan's.

http://portal.varig.com.br/us/varig/index_html

You need not have to read anything more than the following:

"VARIG has suspended its flight operations until further notice. If you are traveling during this period, please contact our Reservations department to re-arrange your travel plans. In North America, please call 800 - 468 - 2744."

I think the above is fairly simple to understand. Isn't it Juan?

OK, let's assue that Juan is right, and Varig just has not gotten to updating such crucial information (doubtfull) but I a always trying to give Juan an out. If such is the case, and they are flying, is there anyone worth a peso or two that would fly an airline that is in a situation such as Varig....just to save a little money?

Sorry Juan.....Varig is still out, and you once again are wrong.

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 19, 2006, 16:01:

I agree qith Juanalejo I I agree with Juanalejo I heard that Varig was sold to an American- Brazilian group for about 20 million Euros

creo que ahora se llama Variglog or it's operated by Variglog and they have reduce the number of flights specially locals


Varig lost the local markets for its competitors like TAM and Gol,

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juanalejo says on Aug 19, 2006, 16:20:

Mr.G First of all you have to stop being so cocky and arrogant, second you have to stop trying to prove me wrong, get a better and more fruitful dream.

Varig is operating "normally" a much smaller network than they use to do. The site you visited as Varig USA and that site is probably out date since Varig is not operating to the USA for the time being. They probably fired everybody there. On the other hand Varig does operate normally a few of their flights in Brazil, if you do not believe me sorry for you.

If you want further proof you can call Varig and ask, if you get no answer in the USA I can provide the phone of the office in Bogota.

You know what, do yourself a favor call 57 (Colombia) 1 (Bogota) 4138459 Varig Aiport office in Bogota. Maybe they may tell you better and bring down to earth.

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Gomezman5 says on Aug 19, 2006, 19:49:

Earth to Juanalejo ....Earth to Juanalejo "you have to stop being so cocky and arrogant"

Look who is calling the kettle black. Juan, come on, it's been weeks since I have had a chance to get a rise out of you. PM me, send me your email, and when I get to Bogota, you'll see the other side of the Gman. The invite is still on.........

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adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 19, 2006, 20:15:

Juanes says on Aug 20, 2006, 06:21:

JUAN Y GOMEZ - like fire & water you guys make me laugh. its good not to read normal, informative posts sometimes and read people getting sidetracked by their emotions and what they believe to be right on a subject.

keep it lively and interesting boys or maybe you two need to share some colombiana mota/maria along with a few classes of the old fire water.

juanes en londres

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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Ctg Bound says on Aug 20, 2006, 07:58:

Varig A Article from a month ago.......

COMPANIES THE AMERICAS: Former cargo unit buys Varig's assets
By: By Elizabeth Johnson in Sao Paulo, Financial Times
Published: Jul 21, 2006

The operational assets of Varig, Brazil's flag-carrier, were yesterday sold for US$24m to VarigLog, the airline's former cargo transport subsidiary, in an auction held in Rio de Janeiro.

VarigLog, sold six months ago to a consortium backed by Matlin Patterson, a US private equity firm, was the sole bidder in the auction. As part of the restructuring plan, VarigLog has also agreed to invest US$485m in the company.

Under the terms of the sale, VarigLog will assume control of most of the airline's domestic and international routes and will honour all of the tickets already issued by the airline as well as its mileage programme.

The airline's debt, estimated to be at least R$8bn (US$3.7bn), will remain with the so-called Old-Varig, which will receive a 5 per cent share of the new company along with a single aircraft.

The old company will receive bonds worth US$100m. It will also have the right to receive the proceeds from suits filed against the government for losses that resulted from previous economic plans as well as rent payments fromVarigLog for use of its facilities.

VarigLog has been making daily payments to keep the airline operating, albeit on a significantly reduced schedule. Analysts expect the new buyer to face a series of legal challenges from creditors, including the airline's 10,000 employees, the majority of whom are expected to lose their jobs as a result of the sale.

The sale was made under a provision of the law that states that labour and tax credits cannot reach the buyer of the operational assets of a bankrupt company.

However, because Brazil's bankruptcy law has been in effect for just over one year, the constitutionality of the law has yet to be tested.

Other airlines, claiming that VarigLog's ownership structure breaches a limit of 20 per cent on foreign ownership of aviation companies, have already petitioned federal aviation authorities to reverse the sale.

The court ruling that made the sale possible raises serious questions about whether a secondary market for credits in bankruptcy can exist under the new law.

This week, the judge managing the case nullified the votes of creditors who had acquired rights from GE Capital, the aircraft leasing company.

The company is flying only 13 aircraft, down from 58 in December.

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