One-way flight to BOG a problem?

pointofview says on Aug 1, 2004, 16:46:

Proof of Round Trip I would call your airline because there may be a requirement that they cannot put you on a flight to Bogota without a round trip ticket. I have run across this problem before and had to buy a return ticket but I don't remember the circumstances. Your airline or ticket agent should have that answer but why not just buy a R/T ticket and change it as the change fee is only $50 on COPA.

I think enforcement of the rule (if it exists) will come at the airline counter at check in rather than upon entry into Colombia because the airline would be responsible for any violation of the rule and probably fined. A Colombian flying to the USA for a visit must buy a R/T ticket before boarding the flight.

I am sure that a R/T ticket and $50 change fee will be cheaper in the end than two one-way tickets anyway. Avianca, AA and COPA all have special internet fares from time-to-time (certain weekends) are sometimes you can buy a R/T from Miami or San Juan, PR to Bogota or Medellin very cheap and just fly the one leg of the trip.

Bill1243 says on Aug 2, 2004, 04:11:

no Pointofviews information is incorrect or at least needs some clarification. The tickets you normally see and buy are only good for 60 days, sometimes less. Most people are not aware of this or have never faced this, but it is true. And change fees for international flights with these types of ticket are usually $150 per change. But in Goosekirk's case, it wouldn't apply, because, again, the ticket is only good for 60 days.

To get a longer ticket, he would have to buy one good for 6 months. Tickets purchased for more than 60 days rapidly rise in price. A six month one could be hundreds more than a standard ticket.

The best way around this is to use miles. If he doesn't have enough, I have some extra ones if he wants to contact me. With miles, he could get a ticket good for a WHOLE year....and changes are FREE. And the cost of the ticket would be less than the cost of a regular 60 day R/T ticket.

Bill
WGregg123 at aol.com

pointofview says on Aug 2, 2004, 04:33:

Different Experience Dear Bill:

I fly COPA between Medellin the USA, Central and South American several times a year and don't encounter change fees like you mention ($150.00). COPA used to charge nothing for a change if within the fare window (60 or 180 days) of the ticket purchased. If you fly business class there are no advance purchase requirements and no change fees but in Economy Class currently the change fee is only $50 (on COPA). You are correct in that the longer trip time ticket will cost substantially more money (180 vs. 60 days).

Using mileage for trips originating from the east coast might not make any sense as miles are worth .03/mile (or should be). Most times you are much better off saving your miles for an emergency or travel with no advance notice (high fares) than use them to replace low cost fares.

AA will redeem between 40,000 to 60,000 miles for a trip from the USA to south america and that might make sense from the west coast of the USA or Canada depending upon the cost of the alternative ticket.

How do you value your mileage ? If the value of mileage is in the 1.5 to 2 cents/mile range then I have to agree that it would be a better alternative and I would be a buyer there.

Bill1243 says on Aug 2, 2004, 05:02:

Hi I have no idea about what Copa's fees are. I know that most of the people who fly down there to Colombia are using Delta, American or Continental. And these airlines have high change fees. People usually book on sites like Travelocity, or call their agent, or call the airline. Check Travelocity and you will see that the tickets are good for only 60 days, and this includes Copa by the way. If you want to go out 180 days the rates go up astronomically.

And I guarantee, very few people on here are flying Business Class, and if they were and if they were flying on those same airlines above, there WOULD be a change fee, unless they buy the more less restricted and more expensive type of Business Class ticket.

As far as miles goes, I don't know where you get the idea that miles cost 3 cents a mile. That may be if you buy it from the airline...or even more. I am talking about buying them from private parties.

And while I agree miles should not be used for flying from places that are already cheap, such as Miami, they are effective for flying from just about every other city.

And no, it is generally not a good idea to plan on using them for trips with no advanced notice. They are not designed for this. In fact, airlines discourage this by charging extra fees for this. They do not want them used for business type travel, i.e., short notice travel. They are best used for booking pretty far in advance and with flexibility as to travel dates.

I do not know about AA, but most airlines require 35,000 to go to Colombia from the U.S. or Canada. I told you the price I generally value miles at. Some people go higher, sometimes much higher. Anyone can value them at whatever price they choose.

With mine, it is cheaper to fly from ANY city, except for people living in Miami.

And for the guy going down there for more than 60 days, there is NOTHING better than using miles. In other words, perfect for expats, but also good for people taking short trips like most of us do.

jmmyers says on Aug 2, 2004, 09:12:

continental I'm using 35,000 miles on continental to fly from cleveland to quito to bogota and back to cleveland the first week of september. I just bought the ticket and the quito-bog trip is in october with the bog - usa trip in mid december. It was otherwise a $1300 flight which works out to
about 3.7 cents / mile.

I'm actually going to medellin but since contineltal doesn't fly there im taking an aero republica flight one way ($95) and a bus the other ($12 from what I hear) for the scenery.

Deos anyone have pictures of the trip between bogota and medellin? I hear it's a pretty nauseating experience. Where do they stop? I would assume more than once since it's a 10 hour trip (from what I hear).

pointofview says on Aug 2, 2004, 10:17:

JMMeyers Check again with the Cont'l mileage desk and see if they don't have an arrangement with COPA Airlines. Cont'l owns 50% of COPA and they fly into Medellin. I have a Cont'l/COPA One Pass Mileage account where all the miles of both airlines are lumped together. It's seems like they should be able to put you right into Medellin for the same mileage. Maybe they have a partner desk.

I just called the Mileage desk (713-952-1630 Option#2)and they confirmed to me that with 35,000 Cont'l One Pass miles you can fly from Cleveland to Medellin using COPA for the last portion of the trip NO PROBLEM...No reason to fly to Bogota and commute back and forth to Medellin unless you want to spend the extra $$$ and see the country a little more.

Bill1243 says on Aug 2, 2004, 13:18:

also You can also do the same thing on Delta, taking their partner airline Avianca out of Miami. For 35,000 miles.

Bill Gregg
WGregg123 at aol.com

jmmyers says on Aug 3, 2004, 08:22:

delta Does delta fly to Ecuador?

I'm taking the copa flight which goes through panama city, which sucks but its better than taking a bus.

thanks pointofview for the advice.

by the way this flight will then be cleveland to houston to quito, then quito to panama city to medellin, then medellin to newark to cleveland.

Continental 35,000 miles.

Hunter says on Aug 3, 2004, 10:21:

goosekirk I would listen what pointofview has to say about the airline being required to make sure that you have a return ticket. They will do this at the check in desk at your place of departure, poeople won't notice them doing it unless you do not have a return ticket or a onward destination ticket.

If you don't have one of these tickets they will stop you boarding the plane unless you purchase a return ticket there.

For international flights it a set fee of $150 to change the ticket dates, for a 180 day return ticket you should expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars more than if the ticket was 60 days or less.

I have been booking 180 day return tickets to London for 3 years now, if I want 181 days or more I would have to pay another $200 or so.

Hunter

British Paisa says on Aug 13, 2004, 14:44:

don't know how old you r but if under 25 check out www.statravel.com there you can get discount fares that are open for a year and you can change the return date for free.