travel opinions regarding my flight

phillyguy says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:17:

Normally, the airlines will check your bags through to the last destination, unless you ask them not to. On my last Barranquilla trip, (2 legs Delta, 1 leg Avianca), they checked my bag all the way through.

They will make exceptions if you ask. Once, I had a Newark-Bogota flight on Continental, with a connection the next day to Barranquilla on Avianca. The clerk was going to check the bag through to Baq, but when I asked her not to because of the layover, she said "no problem".

If I were you, I would take a carryon with everything you needed for the overnighter, and check your big suitcase through to Cali on the outbound flight. The exception, of course, is when you land in Miami coming back. You will have to claim your bag and clear customs.

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lpdiver says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:31:

Check with your carrier but I imagine you MUST reclaim your baggage for the Charlotte flight.

When my daughter flew from Moisant to Seattle she had a ten hour layover and HAD to reclaim her luggage.

ts

"cook some rice!"

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:33:

Mononoke28 says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:46:

If US Airways and Avianca are airlines where they can just transfer your bags from one plane to another, all you have to do is tell the person at the ticket counter at US Airways that your final destination is Cali, Colombia. They will then give you luggage stubs that you can show at Avianca when you check in with them but you won't have to deal with your bags until you pick them up in Cali.

On your way back though, you will have to claim your bags to go through customs at Miami, and then check them again at the American Airlines counter for your trip to Philadelphia.

And yes, that itinerary sucks major ass.

Diana

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 13:07:

ronaldo says on Nov 24, 2008, 13:50:

Omargue:

Pick-up or not pick-up your bag at any given airport usually is determined by the length of your lay-over. If your lay-over is more than 6 hours they want you to pick-up your bags. If the airline offers to check your bags straight through to Cali, just say "great".
Take Phillyguy's advice and pack a carry on for your lay-over necessities.
Enjoy beautiful Colombia.

Ronaldo

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 24, 2008, 13:55:

I also agree with phillyguy's recommendation. I always carry at least a change of clothes in my carry on bag when traveling. This is especially needed when your itinerary involves switching airlines.

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panthdave says on Nov 24, 2008, 14:53:

For that price...that's excellent..but wierd how you could not get a direct flight to FTL or MIA from Philly...with US Airways...at least FTL and then take a cab down to MIA>...or even fly Spirit into Bogota and take a local flight down to Cali..

Anyways that had to be a rough trip.....Damn me flying thru Panama with Copa is rough for me out of MIA>..into MDE...I fly now mostly Avianca's daily flight down to MDE From MIA>>

panthdave Miami

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casa_de_norte says on Nov 24, 2008, 15:40:

Yes, the itenerary sucks ass.. but damn!!! thats a good price! But I too am used to a suck ass iteneraries, between the US and Colombia, living in the Pacific Northwest, unless a guy is willing to pay a king's ransom, now days... We are going to COL after the first of the year.. and it requires a night's stay to get the tickets below $700 a piece

"Why cain't we all jus' git along?!?! "----- The great Rodney King

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omargue says on Nov 25, 2008, 17:16:

thanks everyone for your help. i prefer to pickup my bags in charlotte so they can stay with me, and the same in miami before i travel to cali. i will have 2 carry ons laptop and bag with necesities. can we bring toothpaste and deoderant in our carry on?

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 25, 2008, 20:01:

casa_de_norte says on Nov 25, 2008, 22:29:

It is a metaphysical fact that the wait times, between planes, is inversely proportional to the quantity of beer you drink in the airport lounge... (the limiting factor is too much, you don't get on the plane- Then it reverts to directly proportional.. Kind of a U shaped time space continuum curve)

"Why cain't we all jus' git along?!?! "----- The great Rodney King

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Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 25, 2008, 22:37: