Suggestions for an Inexpensive Way to Fly to Bogota?

[Osa]

As discussed on other threads, good chance I'll be flying to Colombia to be with my girl for her k-1 interview.


I have not yet decided whether to fly to Cali to meet her and go with her to Bogota, or for her to travel there solo and I fly and meet her in Bogota.


Anyway, can anyone offer suggestions or link to get the best price? This trip was sorta unplanned, so I need to cut costs where necessary.


Last year, I flew to Cali (round trip) for a little under $500.  of course, i had one layover on the way (in Panama city) and on the way back I had two layovers (in Bogota and Panama City).


Can I get an even better price? Should a trip strictly to Bogota be cheaper than one to Cali?  i don't mind a layover (or two).


Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[benjio]

Join the $9 Fare Club with Spirit Airlines. They have daily flights to Bogota from Ft. Lauderdale. You will not find tickets cheaper anywhere. Even though I had to pay for each piece of luggage I brought, I flew from Ft. Lauderdale to Bogota on Spirit a year ago for $250. Before that flight I took the Greyhound from Houston to Ft. Lauderdale for $60. I flew from Bogota to Barranquilla on Aires for $80. So even though it took me 26 hours, I got to Barranquilla from Houston for a total of about $390. The cheapest flight I've ever found from Houston to Barranquilla via Bogota on Continental was $620. 
 
This is bare bones traveling...which I usually don't do. But I was unemployed last year and I really wanted to see my ex-girlfriend. You would obviously have to find a way from Jersey to Florida, but flights won't be that expensive after the summer is over. You also might consider renting a car and driving or riding the bus to Florida if you really want to save some money. Although I don't prefer Greyhound, I've never been too proud to ride it when I wasn't doing well financially. You were talking about riding the bus from Cali to Bogota so I don't think you'd have a problem with taking the Greyhousd either. Once you get to Colombia flights from Bogota to any major city on Aires are dirt cheap.

[Osa]

thanks.  those are some options.


any other ideas?

[JimD]

If I were in your shoes I would most definatly go to Cali to accompany her to Bogota. I date caleñas too and I wouldn´t leave such an important trip open to the "variables" and light winds that often affect caleñas trajectories.

[Osa]

Hmmm.  Iunno.  Good thinkin, though she has been very dependable with things thus far.

[whitey]

It usually costs me between $450 and $600 return (depending on time of year) to fly from Detroit to Cartagena, Medellin, or Bogota on Spirit.  As far as I know, there is no cheaper airline that flies to Colombia than Spirit.

On one trip, I flew from Detroit to Medellin and my wife flew from Barranquilla to Medellin to meet me.  My wife handled all her travel arrangements and I just paid her back when we met in Medellin.  I think she flew on Aerorepublica and it cost around $125 return, but there are several domestic airlines to choose from.  We picked a schedule for both flights that was only about an hour and a half apart, so I just waited in the airport until she arrived.

Once you have selected YOUR best flight option, have your wife check into domestic flights that are cheap and arrive close to yours.  Then have her book the flight herself (I've heard it's much cheaper booking it online from within Colombia) and meet you in Bogota.  If she's a grown up, she shouldn't have any problem figuring out how to do it with your help.

[no comment]

Like others have said, Spirit Airlines is probably the cheapest airline.  They also fly to Armenia in addition to the cities that Whitey mentioned.  Check out their rates at Spirit.com.  They've got a calendar to compare travel dates for the lowest price. 


You're in Newark?  Spirit flies out of La Guardia in NYC.  You can get from Newark to La Guardia by mass transit.  Path Train to NYC, subway to Queens, bus to the airport.  Ironic that you would pass through a Colombian neighborhood in Queens on the way to the country.


Travel light and avoid the baggage fees.  Check out other airlines with Bookingbuddy.com or Hotwire.com.

[Traveler]

I never used Spirit because to get good fares it appears I would have to book FAR in advance.  Also their fares appear to be lower, but then they start adding huge fees for everything.  If you add those fees they charge, their fares will be as much or even higher than the competition. 
 
Although maybe NY market might somehow be miraculously different, I judge by the fare prices out of MIA.

[no comment]

I never used Spirit because to get good fares it appears I would have to book FAR in advance.  Also their fares appear to be lower, but then they start adding huge fees for everything.  If you add those fees they charge, their fares will be as much or even higher than the competition. 
 
Although maybe NY market might somehow be miraculously different, I judge by the fare prices out of MIA.

I just purchased a flight for my wife for next week.  I looked hard for a flight with another airline because Spirit's seats are small and their service can be bad, but their price was far lower than Taca, Lan, Avianca, Copa, Aeromexico and the others that do the SA routes.  Unfortunately they limit passengers to one carry on for the NYC/ Lima route.  The baggage prices aren't that bad, especially if you pay in adance.  Other airlines are charging high baggage fees, especially for the 2nd and 3rd bags.

[Osa]

I'll check out Spirit today.  Thanks for the tip!

[benjio]

I never used Spirit because to get good fares it appears I would have to book FAR in advance.  Also their fares appear to be lower, but then they start adding huge fees for everything.  If you add those fees they charge, their fares will be as much or even higher than the competition. 
 
Although maybe NY market might somehow be miraculously different, I judge by the fare prices out of MIA.

Traveler is right and I mentioned that in my first post. Spirit starts throwing all kinds of fees on top of the actual airfare when purchasing a ticket. But from my experience, they've still been drastically cheaper than the competition when I was flying down every couple of months.
 
No Comment is also correct. The service is horrible. And I don't care where you're flying or how long it takes...don't expect any kind of free meal or snack. You have to pay for everything but using the bathroom on the plane. It's the K-Mart of Airlines. If bad service and no amenties don't bother you though, you can save a ton of cash.

[Gato4Astrid]

I'll check out Spirit today.  Thanks for the tip!

I looked at your profile, and it says you are from New Jersey?   Is Newark your nearest airport?   If so, check out Air Connitectuit, because I flew to Bogota via Newark from London.  Just check the price....  and good luck

[no comment]

Spirit uses more seats on their planes, so their seats are smaller.  More seats with a cheaper per seat price.  Do a cost analysis... is it worth 5 hours of discomfort to save $100 or whatever amount?  If you want more leg room purchase a seat in the aisle over the wing.

[Quixote9]

hmmm, I think if you use Kayak.com you can book multi-destination plane tickets, like Houston-Botoga-Cali roundtrip. So then you just have to adjust your layover in Bogota on the way back to be long enough to go to the embassy with your novia.  This cuts out the added airport fees (like 300+ dollars) that are added onto the ticket price if you bought 2 seperate tickets i.e. Houston-Cali roundtrip (+$300 airport tax) and Cali-Bogota ticket( an additional $300 airport tax).


I did this when I would travel to Barranquilla and fly thru Bogota or San Juan, Costa Rica or Panama City, Panama. I would adjust the layover time to give me a few extra days in that city .  But you have to be careful you don't book that extra long layover on both your return trip and your arrival flight (unless you want to do that).

[Dan Las Vegas]

I've flown spirit exactly one time and would never do it again, the airplane was filthy, fee's for every thing possible, I'd rather pay more money and have some room in my seat and a reasonably clean airplane.  I really wonder what the maintenence  is like when they don't seem to care about the inside of the aircraft!
Just my humble opinion
 
Dan LV

[Quixote9]

Here is a trick to earn frequent flyer miles on your credit card.


Go  to the US mint government web page.  Buy $1000 in presidential dollar coins for $1000 on your credit card.   Postage is free to have the coins delivered.  Exchange dollar coins for regular money.  Deposit regular money back in your bank account along with remaining dollar coins you could not exhange.  Repeat previous steps every few weeks. You will earn frequent flier miles on your card (if your card earn miles that is) and it will cost you nothing.


It is a good way to upgrade your flight to 1st class.

[fathertime]

Here is a trick to earn frequent flyer miles on your credit card.


Go  to the US mint government web page.  Buy $1000 in presidential dollar coins for $1000 on your credit card.   Postage is free to have the coins delivered.  Exchange dollar coins for regular money.  Deposit regular money back in your bank account along with remaining dollar coins you could not exhange.  Repeat previous steps every few weeks. You will earn frequent flier miles on your card (if your card earn miles that is) and it will cost you nothing.


It is a good way to upgrade your flight to 1st class.

quixote9,
I love when somebody figures out how to scam the system!  Good call quixote!  How many free tickets have you earned and how many times have you been able to pull off the 1k purchase? 


Fathertime!

[cantinflas]

I cannot sit on the sidelines with a closed mouth any longer. THIS pious travesty has to be addressed and I will say what others are thinking yet are too polite or hesistant to post.  Mate, you are in way over your head here.
So I propose that we start a collection for your ill fated trip to Bogota,
Let me begin by offfering my 2 cents as I just did.
 
Oh yes, how do you date a woman for a year and a half when you have not seen said woman for almost a year and a half.?
IF YOU BRING HER WAIT TILL THE SUMMER MATE - 

[Osa]

Please go away.


I met my girlfriend online dec 2009


spent time with her march 2010.


we have stayed in daily touch since.


not sure what the big deal is.


and the last thing I need is a handout from you.


Now go away.


@everyone else: So far I'm not finding Spirit's rates that cheap.  I mean, last year, I flew to Cali for $483 roundtrip with Continental/Copa, and it was fairly comfortable.

[cantinflas]

So you have been "dating" a year and a half?
You forgot to add "VIRTUAL"
NOT "REAL" DATES - ie., The FACE to FACE KIND.
Good luck at the interview - yo will need it!
 

[Osa]

thank you.

[whitey]

@everyone else: So far I'm not finding Spirit's rates that cheap.  I mean, last year, I flew to Cali for $483 roundtrip with Continental/Copa, and it was fairly comfortable.

A year and a half ago when oil was less than $80 barrel?  Rates are also more expensive now until the end of August when they get a little cheaper.  Still, if you can find cheaper than Spirit (I never have), go for it!

[euforia51]

I've flown spirit exactly one time and would never do it again, the airplane was filthy, fee's for every thing possible, I'd rather pay more money and have some room in my seat and a reasonably clean airplane.  I really wonder what the maintenence  is like when they don't seem to care about the inside of the aircraft!
Just my humble opinion
 
Dan LV

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!

[Colgando]

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 the resurrection of Euforia, he's back! Jejejejeje, good to see you post again. What's happening?

[euforia51]

It's the resurrection of Euforia, he's back! Jejejejeje, good to see you post again. What's happening?

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