General Info

[Lima Busy]

This is the first time I've heard this. I took a minitower on my last trip without problems (apart from the damage the TSA did anyway)

I assume you did not declare it on your immigration form and customs did not search your luggage!
LB

[MiamiHeatLuver]

Hey just felt like venting, $910 r/t MIA to MDE/CLO/CTG or BQA on AA? AVIANCA was MORE!!! Like $950? Dec 23-Jan4. I mean WTF? What really bugs me is that my friends from NY ALWAYS seem to pay less than me and this time is no DIFFERENT, LOL I know its a peak holliday season, but it almost feels like price gouging and they do it just because they can. B.S! ahh the price I/We gotta pay to see our ladies. Whether it be Novia or P4P.. Peace "Chino"

[AddictedToWomen]

CT,
Unless you are a permanent resident you can not bring in a desktop. I assume you will be in Colombia on a tourist visa. Go to the Colombia govt. website to see other restrictions on tourist or business visa's.
LB

This is the first time I've heard this. I took a minitower on my last trip without problems (apart from the damage the TSA did anyway)

[Q Bert]

CT,
Unless you are a permanent resident you can not bring in a desktop. I assume you will be in Colombia on a tourist visa. Go to the Colombia govt. website to see other restrictions on tourist or business visa's.

Scooby posted a web address for another website, that I think has a forum that covers this.

Desktops, like a Dell are just assembled parts with a logo stamped on. Once in Colombia find a person who can build one to your specs. I have also known guys who brought all the internals in there luggage and just bought the case,power supply and monitor once they arrived.

LB

I will be on a special visa because I own a business in Columbia now. This might be a good question for my lawyer.

Thanks for the help though!

CT

[Hoof Hunter]

At El Dorado they have a separate line for people making connections within Colombia, so they can make their connecting flights on time. You make a right turn right before getting to the regular immigration line.

If I'm correct, I believe that line that you're referring to is for international connections, not domestic. For instance, if you're flying Avianca from NYC or Miami with a connection flight from Bogota into Caracas, Sao Paolo, Lima, etc. I think that there are signs saying as much.

Missed a connecting flight to BAQ last year trying that. Flight was late in arriving. LOL!!!

[Bango Cheito]

At El Dorado they have a separate line for people making connections within Colombia, so they can make their connecting flights on time. You make a right turn right before getting to the regular immigration line.

[Hoof Hunter]

Thanks for the help with my question. I am curious, is 1 hour and 20 minutes enough time to go through BOG customs and make the connecting flight to CTG? I've heard BOG isn't the greatest airport to make connections. Also, Hoof, I don't have to walk my bag through customs?

Bogota isn't the best place to make a connection to a domestic flight from an international one. Problem is, if the international airlines delay at all in departing on-time, you run the risk of missing the last domestic flights out, to CTG, BAQ, Medellin and Cali, all of which depart between 9:15 and 9:45 pm. And of any Avianca flights, those late flights are usually the ones that leave on time, and they do not wait for connection passengers at all.

No, you do not walk your bags through customs. After collecting your bags, as you hand in your customs declaration form, you may be subject to a random search by the military police who secure the airport. Depends on whether you're unlucky enough to get the red light when you push the button.

1 hour and 20 minutes should be plenty of time to make the connection, IF your flight leaves Atlanta and arrives on time. Figure about 30 mins in customs, if you haul ass once the plane doors open. That line in Bogota for customs gets longggg, esp. when 2-3 planes often land at the same time. Also, figure 20 mins in baggage claim, even after the customs wait. Then there's the bus shuttle to the other airport (Puente Aereo) where your flight to CTG departs, figure another 10 mins for that.

My advice, do as I do and only use carry-on luggage. You'll make your flight, if you land on time. The baggage claim in Bogota, after customs, is a zoo. Just buy your toiletries (liquids) in CTG, and pack light clothes. You can have your laundry done, and folded, in Laguito for about $3-5/full load. Take them in the morning and get them back that night.

Hope that helps.

[FI4451]

Thanks for the help with my question. I am curious, is 1 hour and 20 minutes enough time to go through BOG customs and make the connecting flight to CTG? I've heard BOG isn't the greatest airport to make connections. Also, Hoof, I don't have to walk my bag through customs?

[Lima Busy]

Hello everyone,

I wanting to ship a desk top computer into Bogota to my apartment from the US. Does anyone know the best way to do this?

Many thanks!

Brian

CT,
Unless you are a permanent resident you can not bring in a desktop. I assume you will be in Colombia on a tourist visa. Go to the Colombia govt. website to see other restrictions on tourist or business visa's.

Scooby posted a web address for another website, that I think has a forum that covers this.

Desktops, like a Dell are just assembled parts with a logo stamped on. Once in Colombia find a person who can build one to your specs. I have also known guys who brought all the internals in there luggage and just bought the case,power supply and monitor once they arrived.

LB

[Dogman2]

Flying into Colombia from the USA. I fly from Atlanta, to Bogota, to Cartagena- do I clear customs at Bogota or Cartagena or both. Any help would be appreciated. (Destination is Cartagena).

I was surprised to find that you clear customs in Bogota without your luggage. It is checked to your ongoing flight without handling it in Bogota. The arrival in Cartagena is a domestic flight, so there is no customs involved.

[Hoof Hunter]

Flying into Colombia from the USA. I fly from Atlanta, to Bogota, to Cartagena- do I clear customs at Bogota or Cartagena or both. Any help would be appreciated. (Destination is Cartagena).

Only in Bogota, where you enter the country (Colombia). And in Bogota also, when you're leaving the country (Colombia).

When you return to the USA, you deal with them in Atlanta (entry in the country). You don't deal with customs/immigration leaving the country, as US airlines are supposed to perform security checks on their passengers.

Hope that helps.

[FI4451]

Flying into Colombia from the USA. I fly from Atlanta, to Bogota, to Cartagena- do I clear customs at Bogota or Cartagena or both. Any help would be appreciated. (Destination is Cartagena).

[Cachorro]

Hello everyone,

I wanting to ship a desk top computer into Bogota to my apartment from the US. Does anyone know the best way to do this?

Many thanks!

Brian

The best way to do it is probably not to attempt it at all.

I have heard a few sad stories of things getting held up in customs for many months, or not coming back at all.

An alternative is just to ship the hard drives down via Servientrega or something similar. You would then buy a new computer in Colombia and copy the data across. Even easier, set your computer up back in the US so that you can connect to it via internet, then download off it or use remote desktop to operate it.

[MJG Dogs]

Hello everyone,

I wanting to ship a desk top computer into Bogota to my apartment from the US. Does anyone know the best way to do this?

Many thanks!

Brian

Why not buy a computer in Bogota and not worry about the duties, inspections etc...

Too bad you guys cannot make extra points, even though that was the best game on the TV yesterday. The Ohio State game was a yawner, except for Matthew Mc Coughnagy making a fool out of himself....

[Taser]

Pay a little more and bring it with you on a flight from the USA, or ship with Servientrega. http://www.servientregaww.com.