Flying through BOG on the way to MDE
I'm going to ask what may seem to be a dumb question yet for the the forums I'm about to ask this on (so you'll which names I use on which forums) several monger sites.
I've RTFF and I've neevr seen this asked/answered, so here goes.
I live in Toronto and I've always flown to MDE by way of SJO, I did this because it breaks up my flight and Toronto to SJO is pretty cheap and a direct flight.
What I'm now considering is the more conventional approach and that's to fly Air Canada direct to BOG then on a codeshare you take Avaianaca to MDE. Here's what concerns me and hence the reason for my question. I understand that BOG airport recently underwent a much needed expansion and have added another terminal. My flight from Toronto arrives at one terminal, yet I fly to MDE out of another. I have no idea if these terminals are right beside each other nor do I know if you have to clear customs after you pick up your bags, and I don't know if you have to re-check in.
So my questions are:
1) Can anyone tell me about their experiences taking this Air Canada/Avianaca code share?
2) Are the terminals in Bogota right beside each other?
3) Will I have enough time in 2 hours to de-plane from Air Canada, get my bags and re-check in at the other terminal for the Avianaca leg?
4) Do I need to clear customs and have my bags searched, I ask again because of time constraints
5) Am I better off saying fuck it, fly into BOG, get a hotel and some companionship and fly to MDE the next day.
First person to tell me to RTFF gets mooned. I've tried to look for many of these answers in the past and I'm ready to book a February flight while it's selling cheap now.
Gracias
Air Canada Bogota connection
The Toronto-Bogota-Medellin route is better than flying through USA, CR you only have to deal with the immigration for Colombia. I Know many people that make the connecting flights and I know a few people who have missed it, an 8pm arrival is tight for a 9:40 flight. I go to Cartagena but I prefer to spend the night in Bogota because there's LOTs to do. I usually buy my ticket from travelocity and I always have a hard time getting a connecting flight first thing in the morning it usually only allows me a 5pm next day flight to Ctg so when I arrive in Bogota I go to the avianca counter and change it to first thing in the morning always seats available, so if you miss the connection getting on the next morning flight won't be a problem.
Guaranteed the flight will have tons of Paisas on it who are making the exact same connection just follow them they'll be the ones rushing past you in the passport control line at el dorado for people with connecting flights once you pass passport then you get your bag right there at the bag carrousel there'll be avianca people waving you over to get your boarding pass for national connections, once you get the boarding pass you'll board a bus that runs across the tarmak to the Puerto Aereo National Terminal and catch your MDE flight there. The one downside to this is that frequently your luggage doesn't make the tight connection you may have to go back to the MDE airport the next day to get it.
Even with this little hassle it still beats any other route because overnighting in San Jose, Mexico City or Miami ain't gonna offer the FUN that Bogota can.
Remember, we're all in this together.
Tom Power
Buying an apartment in Medellin
I am interested in buying an apartment in medellin. I understand there is some paperwork that should be done so if I ever sell the apartment I can send the money back to the USA. Is anyone familiar with this?
Thanks,
Mel