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URGENT - Flights from Bogota to Cartagena!!!

Hi All,
As the subject of this post suggests, this is an urgent question. I am scheduled to leave for Bogota on Saturday (May 16). I am scheduled to arrive in Bogota that afternoon. I want to fly to Cartagena the next morning (May 17) and return to Bogota on the morning of May 19 since I have a late evening flight to Lima that day.

I have tried the following avenues for airline tickets:

a. The Avianca website - too expensive

b. Other online agents such as Momondo.com and Expedia.com - too expensive.

c. Despegar.com USA - too expensive

d. Despegar.com Colombia - very affordable BUT I do not know if I can purchase tickets from here and if I do, will those tickets be valid? This is my real question.

My only other alternative to option 'd' is going through a local travel agent. If any of you have used any reliable local travel agents in Bogota to book air travel, please do let me know. I do not want to spend more than $220 (with taxes) on a roundtrip ticket from Bogota to Cartagena. Any input will be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Pranav

By pranavc on May 9, 2009, 22:14 in Travel tips.

gimmedub says on May 9, 2009, 22:49:

try http://www.aires.aero/ or aerorepulibca - have fun!

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sloopskipper says on May 10, 2009, 01:03:

http://www.aerorepublica.com/

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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tabla says on May 10, 2009, 01:32:

Generally cheaper to buy tickets direct from airline office than from travel agent. I suggest that on arrival at Bogota airport you go to the Aires and Aerorepublica offices and buy your tickets from the cheapest. Not sure they are always cheaper than Avianca. Often identical. However, also possible to get from sites as above, or at least get prices. Let us know what you discover, please.

Where will you stay in Cartagena?

I also write for the archive.

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pranavc says on May 10, 2009, 17:28:

Hi All,
Thanks for the tips.

a. Checked out aires but they have no return flights for the date that I need to return to Bogota.

b. Aerorepublica requires a bank debit from a Colombia bank. It does not accept Visa card payments.

c. My last option at this point is buying from the Colombian section of the Avianca website. Will my ticket still be valid even though I am technically buying it from the US? Please do let me know.

Thank you.

Regards,

Pranav

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pranavc says on May 10, 2009, 18:54:

Thanks toneloc24...this is the response I have been secretly waiting to hear for a while. Thanks once again!!!

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on May 11, 2009, 01:17:

Areo Republica often drops the price by half if seats are available on the day of departure.

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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suizo says on May 11, 2009, 01:51:

Booking through Avianca.com is no problem, did that many times out of Switzerland.

There is also a booking machine on aviatur.com (one of Colombias largest travel agencies). I used it because I often found cheap prices; paying by credit card can be a hassle though since you need to send a copy of your cc and passport by email. You can also contact any Aviatur office by phone.

Crackheads suck!

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selvabgt says on May 11, 2009, 03:12:

if its a puente itll be difficult to get a good fare.

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pranavc says on May 12, 2009, 19:50:

Thanks a ton guys. Booking off the Avianca Colombia section worked out alright. I wish I had asked this question a month back on this forum. I asked it everywhere else and got no useful response. Thank you all. I really appreciate your help.

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