Suggestions for an Inexpensive Way to Fly to Bogota?

[Colgando]

Hey man ... thanks for the welcome wagon. I never really died but anyway ... I'll catch up with you soon!

Cool man, sometimes you gotta take a break from the board, glad to hear from you and happy to hear things are still going good with Glory.

[Gato4Astrid]

Osa


I do not know WHEN you are going there, but I have checked with Continental Airlines, and selected the date 12-26 September


1
Newark - Bogota and return:  $497.00  FOR YOU  +  Cali-Bogota-Cali with Avianca for HER  $250,000 COP which is about $140 US
Total flight spending: c. $635




2
Newark - Cali (via Bogota)  and return:  $567.00
Cali-Bogota-Cali  with Avianca for 2 person $250,000 x 2 = $500,000 (about $280)
Total flight spending: c. $850





3
Newark - Cali (via Bogota)  and return:  $567.00
Cali-Bogota-Cali  with BUS for 2 person ($60,000 per way x 2 both ways) x 2 person  = $240,000 (about $140)
Total flight spending: c. $700


Bus with: http://www.bolivariano.com.co    (but I haven't looked at other buses)






If you decide on Option 1 but she travels by bus in both ways, deducted $70 (from option 3) which gives you: approximately $565




This is just an example of what I have been researching, but of course, it depends on what dates and how long.   Extra for hotels too!!






 

[whitey]

Ditto. I can't say I've flown with Spirit, but I've read enough bad opinions and reviews to know that it's worth paying the extra fare to keep from being nickel-and-dimed with carry on fees and other crap that mis-managed airlines hit you up with. Avianca all the way!

It's true that it's cramped, the cabins have been dirty a few times (not recently for me), and the flight attendants can be pretty surly (not too bad from Florida but but nasty in Detroit) ... but the airline seems to be run pretty efficiently.

I don't really understand the complaining about the "extra" fees.  Most of the other airlines charge them now, and if they don't, their ticket prices including all of Spirit's extra fees have always been at LEAST a couple hundred bucks more.

Avianca is definitely better ... I guess I'm tacano ... I'd rather spend the money in Colombia than for a seat on a plane with my head buried in a book.

[euforia51]

It's true that it's cramped, the cabins have been dirty a few times (not recently for me), and the flight attendants can be pretty surly (not too bad from Florida but but nasty in Detroit) ... but the airline seems to be run pretty efficiently.

I don't really understand the complaining about the "extra" fees.  Most of the other airlines charge them now, and if they don't, their ticket prices including all of Spirit's extra fees have always been at LEAST a couple hundred bucks more.

Avianca is definitely better ... I guess I'm tacano ... I'd rather spend the money in Colombia than for a seat on a plane with my head buried in a book.

To fly on Spirt would be a 4 hour drive to Hotlanta ... so that's not worth the effort in my case. Doing the connection to Miami and then onto Medellin, I can still check a bag and pay nothing because it's International; and I also don't pay the aeropuerto tax flying out of Medellin because that's been included in the ticket price. I guess the baggage freebie will change sooner or later. But having to pay extra for carry-ons, a drink, and using the toilet is where I draw the line. Enough yackin' ... this gentleman asked a question and I'm not being of any help.

[whitey]

I wasn't ragging on you Euforia ... glad to see you posting again ... just putting it out there for other readers ...

[JimD]

Not about flights but about hotels: If you are a foreigner staying in a hotel in Colombia you are not required to pay IVA which is a 16% tax Colombians pay on just about everything. Be sure and mention this to the desk clerk when you register because many are unaware of this exclusion and others simply don´t want to bother with the slight additional paperwork.

[whitey]

Didn't know that Jim - thanks!

Pretty sure I've been paying it ...

[euforia51]

I wasn't ragging on you Euforia ... glad to see you posting again ... just putting it out there for other readers ...

Not taken that way, whitey. Thanks for the welcome. Looks like you and Nazly are still doing well. Although, I was sad to read in another post that she still isn't with you yet. Hopefully that will change soon...

[cantinflas]

Has anyone ever used or been successful with Priceline or Hotwire ?
I have had good results with rental cars and hotels but never airfares.

[utopiacowboy]

Has anyone ever used or been successful with Priceline or Hotwire ?
I have had good results with rental cars and hotels but never airfares.

The only time I have had good luck with Priceline was when I was buying a ticket for the very next day. I guess when it looks like they are not going to be able to sell the seats they dump them at the last second. In fact when my mother died last year and I needed to go to Canada in a hurry, I was surprised to find that the airline did not offer bereavement fares - the woman told me to use Priceline and she was right. Other than that it's never worked.

I did get a heckuva fare when we went up to Billings, Montana a few weeks ago from Austin, TX - $322 round trip on Frontier.

[notgoingtofindithere]

I'm looking to go down to medellin during the last 2 weeks of December.. All the deals on line are over 1000 dollars from phoenix.. alot depends on when you go too.. I like trying kayak and bookingbuddy.

[Gato4Astrid]

I'm looking to go down to medellin during the last 2 weeks of December.. All the deals on line are over 1000 dollars from phoenix.. alot depends on when you go too.. I like trying kayak and bookingbuddy.

Very expensive for the time of the year!!   Try to book it as early as possible to avoid prices rising

[notgoingtofindithere]

I met a girl through a friend that lives down there. So, I want more time talking and developing things before I buy a ticket. I am looking at buying the ticket in October. At least it is 2 months in advance. But, that is the only time I can travel there until next summer.