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hello gemtlemen,

I am planning my first trip to cali in july.While I have been to Colombia many times,this is my first trip to Cali.
I am looking for referrals for travel agencies that specialize in cheap flights to cali.Your help is appreciated.

... in response to cali airfare, posted by roadken on May 14, 2003

Hey roadken,

As you are on the West coast you might give www.laxpresstravel.com a try.  Give them a call and ask for Aura, a Calena, and now living in the US.  She was very helpful in making travel plans for me recently and obtained much cheaper rates than what was advertised on the net, and I did a thorough search prior to using them.

Pablo

... in response to cali airfare, posted by roadken on May 14, 2003

Travel to Cali may be cheapened up by going to Medellin or Bogota (as you probably did in the past) and then picking up one of the local flights to Cali (not by Avianca). I flew Cali-Bogota for 85000 pesos ($35) one way. Flights are daily and quite frequent.

... in response to cali airfare, posted by roadken on May 14, 2003

Roadken,

I always fly American, SFO to Miami to Cali.  From the Bay, it's about as direct as you can get to Cali.  You'll leave at 6:30 am and get there about 8-8:30 pm Cali time with an hour and a half layover in Miami.  The layover will give you just enough time to grab a beer or pick up some last minute USA gifts for friends. I've gotten the same trip from $400 (1 week after 9/11) up to $1,200, it all depends on the time and airline logic.  If you hook up with a Calena, you'll be flying back and forth quite a bit, so make sure you join the AA advantage program.  You should qualify for a free round trip tic after 4 rt flights +/- a few miles.  Also sign up for their NetSaver specials, they have specials to Colombia every so often.  I split my time up between Cali and SF, so I like knowing exactly what to expect and what I can count on.  After travelling quite a bit on some "second tier" airlines, consistency and always having my luggage arrive with me are big plusses in my book.  Last thing, just keep checking on AA.com as prices change every couple of days.  My wife just flew back from Cali this past week, and I got it for $641 rt.  I'd advise against purchasing from Expedia or those type of sites, I can't speak for everyone, but in my experience I've found them to be a pain in the a#@ to change anything or reschedule plans.  I can usually get the same rate or better going through the AA web site; but don't call AA and book that way because the AA rep will not be able to get the lowest AA Web Fares.  Good Luck and enjoy the sights at Chipi!

... in response to Re: cali airfare, posted by thundernco on May 14, 2003

agree with thundernco, my hub is DFW but I basically have the same flight options.  Now lately, prices are up and that's normal as we're getting into summer vacation time.  Prices can change several times a day.  I used to use AA exclusively but now with all the security BS - my elite status doesn't carry as many perks so my loyality has faded.  Regardless, you have to recheck your bags when coming back in Miami.  So a combination of airlines is not that big of a deal (still risky if one is delayed).  You can use something like travel.yahoo.com to check options from SFO to MIA, and then MIA to CLO - often you can save several hundred bucks this way.  I use $200 as my cuttoff premium to either go with AA or use a combination ($200 goes a long way down there).  With all the taxes nowadays, anything under $700 would be pretty fair.

... in response to cali airfare, posted by roadken on May 14, 2003

That depends alot on from where in the country you are
starting out.

... in response to Re: cali airfare, posted by Celt on May 14, 2003

I am from the Oakland,california area.

... in response to Re: Re: cali airfare, posted by roadken on May 14, 2003

On the West Coast, there are three options: [1] the
awful, crowded but cheap all-nighter that hops from
LAX to Costa Rica to Bogota with LACSA. There is a
good chance they will lose your luggage for at least
a day, particularly between Bogota and Cali. They also
invent engine troubles in Costa Rica in order to fill
half-filled planes going on to Bogota. That is a sure
sign you will not see you bags in Cali. [2] Continental
from Houston to Bogota; [3] American to Miami and then
on to various points in Cali.

Either my wife or I have done all three from San Diego.
Pay a little extra to avoid [1] is the best advice I
can give you; [3] usually costs me $500-550 r/t, plus
the shuttle flight up to LAX. Since you are dealing
with SFO, you should get around the same price. I do
not endorse, but find these prices via Travelocity.com
for [3].

... in response to Re: Re: Re: cali airfare, posted by Celt on May 14, 2003

Option 2, Continental from Houston to Bogota is no longer viable... This is the flight I always take, until recently... Continental just doubled the rate, from around $640 to $1271... Yikes...

Now I take American to Miami, then on to Bogota...

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: cali airfare, posted by wizard on May 14, 2003

Thanks. My wife must have been one of the last to get the
flight at a reasonable price +- 600.00 2 1/2 months ago.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: cali airfare, posted by wizard on May 14, 2003

Try this website... www.flycheapol.com . I can get Houston to Bogota for 700-725, depending on the dates. I live in North Carolina and get RDU to BOG for 680.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: cali airfare, posted by pirate on May 14, 2003


Thanks pirate...

I just checked www.flycheapol.com and the direct IAH - BOG and the fare came out to $807... Just for curiousity, I checked the Continental site too... Guess what, $807...

At least that's better than the $1271 price I got from Continental three weeks ago when I needed to travel... For that trip I booked on AA for $620, but had to route though Miami...

It is worth a few extra bucks to not have to hassle with Miami, but not at twice the price...

I have to go back in a couple weeks, so I'll keep an eye on the website you mentioned...

Thanks again...

Mark

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: cali airfare, posted by wizard on May 14, 2003

As with all fares it depends on the dates you want to fly. I always try to book at least 7 days out and travel on a tuesday, wednesday or thursday.