General Info

[ColombianBob]

Both Visa and Mastercard are denying booking with Avianca. Even Orbitz denied it and I thought it would be okay being an American company (I assume). I called Avianca and they said I needed to go to a travel agency. Has anybody here had any success? The tickets are way cheaper than American or Copa but does it come with a price?

I have used Avianca with 0 problems for the past 20 years booking on the Colombian site for better prices. But since their BK filing during COVID my experience has been the polar opposite. In July 2021 I had a refundable ticket that I couldn't request a refund on the website. I had never had a problem before with a refund in the past. Max 2 weeks to get see. See. Refunded. The website denied me. I had to go in person to the office in Oviedo Mall in MDE to request the credit. 90 days later still pending. I had to dispute with AMEX and after proving up the ticket was refundable AMEX credited back the fare after inquiring with Avianca and not getting a response through a charge back.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. I had to purchase 2 tickets. One route NVA to BOG for my GF (Ticket 1) and one route BOG to PEI for both of us. (Ticket 2). I purchased Ticket 1 and purchase goes as expected. I purchase Ticket 2 and purchase goes as expected until 6 hours later I get an email from AV saying that the purchase did not go through due to irregularities with my payment type (CC). I follow up with AMEX as charge for Ticket 2 goes from Pending to Charged on CC.

Here is where it gets weird. After all tickets have been charged to my AMEX I check ticket status on Avianca.com. I check Ticket 2 which had a problem, and I can confirm this flight on the website. I check Ticket 1, which went through with no problem, and can't confirm flight on website. I call Avianca and through the representative that both tickets are confirmed and they send me a copy of the tickets to my email to prove confirmation. No explanation why Ticket 1 still can't confirm on the website. So, all tickets confirmed, but still a little nervous about having to confirm flights once I am in country.

My first thought was that because of the charge back though AMEX that this card was "banned" or something, but the charges all went through. Fortunately I will be able to confirm in country as I arrive before the dates of the flights for Ticket 1 and Ticket 2. Sharing my story to help others.

[LuvChicas]

Both Visa and Mastercard are denying booking with Avianca. Even Orbitz denied it and I thought it would be okay being an American company (I assume). I called Avianca and they said I needed to go to a travel agency. Has anybody here had any success? The tickets are way cheaper than American or Copa but does it come with a price?

I've also had booking issues with Avianca in the past, but for the past few months no issues. When the web site booking process asks you for a Colombia phone number I use my Col hotel phone number. But when you get to credit card portion of the booking process, there I don't fudge it as I pay with my US CC. The AV site asks for the country of issue and your billing address, and local telephone number. Haven't had any issues with any of my domestic Colombia purchases recently. Good luck, Luvchicas.

[Big Boss Man]

Both Visa and Mastercard are denying booking with Avianca. Even Orbitz denied it and I thought it would be okay being an American company (I assume). I called Avianca and they said I needed to go to a travel agency. Has anybody here had any success? The tickets are way cheaper than American or Copa but does it come with a price?

[Elvis 2008]

I noticed today that the Check-mig site and app will only allow completion of the form on the day of travel, even though their pop-up message says it can be completed up to 72 hours before the flight. Maybe it's just a temporary software glitch rather than a change of policy.

FL, no one asked for check MIG on my way in or out of Colombia. I was there in the beginning of February. I think it is being phased out.

[Mr Enternational]

I noticed today that the Check-mig site and app will only allow completion of the form on the day of travel, even though their pop-up message says it can be completed up to 72 hours before the flight. Maybe it's just a temporary software glitch rather than a change of policy.

The pop up that I get says from 48 hours until 1 hour before the flight. As of now the form can be filled out up to March 1. Dates after March 1 give an error message.

[Fun Luvr]

I noticed today that the Check-mig site and app will only allow completion of the form on the day of travel, even though their pop-up message says it can be completed up to 72 hours before the flight. Maybe it's just a temporary software glitch rather than a change of policy.

[Lou32]

Quite a few. I've bought the generic Lunesta, a sleep aid, antibiotics and prednisolone, a steroid used for breathing issues and joint pain. You can also get 800 MG ibuprofen. Except for most narcotics, you can many things without a prescription.

Thanks for the info. I am going to try to buy Simvastatin and Atorvastatin when I come back in a few weeks. I'll see how that goes at the Drogueria.

[JjBee62]

Any other common drugs that may be prescription only in the States available OTC in Colombia?

Quite a few. I've bought the generic Lunesta, a sleep aid, antibiotics and prednisolone, a steroid used for breathing issues and joint pain. You can also get 800 MG ibuprofen. Except for most narcotics, you can many things without a prescription.

[Lou32]

You can get Viagra, or the generic, sildenafilo, at any pharmacy. No prescription is needed. It is available in 50 and 100 MG doses. You can also get Cialis, generic tadalafilo. Prices vary widely.

Any other common drugs that may be prescription only in the States available OTC in Colombia?

[LatinaLover#1]

Booked a flight US to Medellin. I had to cancelled it in less 24 hours. I called their costumer service and was told that for refund to my credit card I must email VivaAir. Sent the email, received ticket number, but no response in 2 week. It takes up to 15 business days for them to respond according to the website. Does anyone has any experience with refund with VivaAir? I believe it is their policy to fully refund if flight is from US and cancelled in less than 24 hrs after booking. Thanks guys.

I once booked a flight to SAI for four of us, we got there alright but what a shitty airline. I Once booked a flight from Bog to Ctg. For my girl when you could only get to the USA out of Ctg. But things changed and because the flight was only like $40 USD I just blew it off, not worth the time or effort to get it back. It's been my experience, trying to get a refund or return something is next to impossible anywhere in South / Latin America.

[Mr Enternational]

Border agents sometimes look at social media and it makes me uncomfortable to realise how easy it would for them to link me to others in the mongering community, especially as not all are law-abiding.

If you have not committed any crimes, what is your worry? You think they are not off fucking hookers on their off days and vacation? They are normal people with a job to catch criminals. The job is not the person. Do you know how many law enforcement people are in the groups that I am in and that I have met that are even board members here? Even my own brother is a police officer and gets away from his wife to monger as often as he can. You are not doing anything top secret that was invented yesterday.

[LeyenLouvain]

I was taken aback at the "members in common" feature on Facebook when you are part of an eg. Expat group.

My friends list is private (because there are many hookers in there), but Facebook makes it easy to see which guys who have same hookers as friends, so presumably others can also see that I have hookers as friends.

Border agents sometimes look at social media and it makes me uncomfortable to realise how easy it would for them to link me to others in the mongering community, especially as not all are law-abiding.

[Mr Enternational]

Price of a 32 page Colombian passport is 172,000 pesos. Price of a 48 page Colombian passport is 262,000 pesos. Both are valid for 10 years.

"El pasaporte tiene un costo de 172.000 pesos, si es regular y de 262.000 pesos si es ejecutivo. La diferencia entre los dos tipos de pasaporte radica en que el ordinario tiene 32 páginas y el ejecutivo cuenta con 48. En ambos casos el documento tiene una vigencia 10 años."

https://www.eltiempo.com/economia/se...citarlo-649656

[DonMedellin]

Booked a flight US to Medellin. I had to cancelled it in less 24 hours. I called their costumer service and was told that for refund to my credit card I must email VivaAir. Sent the email, received ticket number, but no response in 2 week. It takes up to 15 business days for them to respond according to the website. Does anyone has any experience with refund with VivaAir? I believe it is their policy to fully refund if flight is from US and cancelled in less than 24 hrs after booking. Thanks guys.

[LatinaLover#1]

I can also confirm this information as I recently visited Colombia via Houston on an United airlines flight. I'm thinking that this new protocol was ushered in with the new year because this form was not handed out on my previous trip to Colombia last July.

A couple things I found strange with The new form was a question that asked exactly how much cash you had on you. If you answered previously that you were not carrying more than 10 k USD, why would there be a follow up question about your cash? Another strange question was asking passengers to describe their luggage brands as well as the cost and color of their baggage. I'm sorry but this is pointless question! Do you really want to now how much I paid for my luggage?

Fwiw, The migration officer who stamped me did not ask to see the form and neither did the officer who questioned me after I gathered my luggage. I was simply asked if I had anything to declare, by which I answered no. The folded up form never left my pocket.

They are test questions to see if you are a mule and taking luggage that's not yours, given to you by someone else. Looking to catch you in a lie.