Air fares to Colombia

[Pete E]

My travel agent just told me American airlines dropped their fares for July.They had already done this for June,we were waiting for the July drop.I guess they don't want to offer the low fares too far out.
My wife is going to Cali and back,leaving in July,returning early August.The fare is $767.50 with tax out of San Francisco.It would have been $50 less if she traveled on a week day both ways but she departs on a weekend.This is for the only flight that will get you there the same day out of the San Francisco area.Other flights require stayovers somewhere,usually Miami.It leaves San Francisco at 6.35 and gets to Cali at 7.40 AM.Coming back it leaves Cali at 7.00AM and gets to San Francisco at 4.00PM.I told her about not gertting food Miami to cali and back in December.She said there is a dinner and breakfast service,the airlines were just all srewed up from 9/11 for awhile.
Of course San Francisco is more than about any place else in the US(Going through Miami)Its $359 out of Miami,$499 out of New York.
My travel agent is Barbara Houplin Garcia at all around travel,Bellview Washington.800-433-2423.She is married to a Colombian and knows the Colombia situation well.She new all about the trouble you can have getting kids out,as I posted below.Nobody,Travel agent,Colombian Attorney,US embassy warned me about that untill I got surprised with it at the airport.My former travel agent out of Miami would probably know if you asked him,but he didn't bother to warn us.He was a pain to deal with also.I would consider him more of a ticket seller than travel agent.Anything out of the ordinary he didn't want to deal with.I got screwed by some Colombian travel agents on things he didn't want to deal with.(flights in the country)Guess it didn't pay much.
Barbara has a direct link in to the AA computer,not just an internet link.She booked a ticket for a friend (going to Bogota for mothers funeral)from home last Sunday because she knew the flight numbers by heart.
Its nice to deal with someone who is helpfull and doesn't just sell you the ticket and try to get rid of you.

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to Air fares to Colombia, posted by Pete E on Jun 20, 2002

The San Franciso flight leaves at 6.35AM and gets to Cali at 7.40 PM,a direct flight to Miami and a direct flight to Cali.

Pete

[bogota vet]

... in response to Re: correction, posted by Pete E on Jun 20, 2002

I leave my office at 3:30 pm on Friday afternoon, arrive in Bogota or Cali 7:30 pm !!!!!

Return:
Leave Bogota or Cali at 7:30 am , get into work after lunchtime around 1:00 pm !!!  (Had a dentist appointment in morning , is a normal excuse)

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: correction, posted by bogota vet on Jun 20, 2002

You must live in Miami or Houston.Its twice the trip and cost out of the west coast.
My wife would love to live in Florida,one benefit is Cali in 3 3/4 hours for $359.
California does have its benefits,I'm not ready to move.But if I was trully retired I probably would.I have a government pension I could live on most places in the world.Here I need to work.I am in Real Estate.The prices hence commisions are high plus I really know the area.
Also we went to a beautifull new park here near  the mountains the other day.I am saying to myself they don't have this in Florida.But I love warm weather and its too cold in Northern California 6 months out of the year for me,probably 8 months for my wife.
Maybe some day.

Pete

[Pete E]

... in response to Air fares to Colombia, posted by Pete E on Jun 20, 2002

AA frequent flyer miles get us a free trip to Colombia with 35,000 miles.Its 12,000 miles round trip so every forth trip is free,plus you can rack up miles other ways also.
I never stayed with one airline enough to get rewards before,but these long trips really add up.

Pete

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: also every 4th trip is free, posted by Pete E on Jun 20, 2002

Thanks for reminding me to recheck it but the last time I looked AA only required 30k for the free trip to SA. My next trip will be out of Toronto which is super high priced. Jeez twelve thousand miles? You're a long way from Colombia! I just got the AA Citi MasterCard. It costs $50 a year and you earn a mile for each dollar you charge. At .02 cents per mile you've paid that fee after charging $2500 in goods or services. I'm supposed to have gotten 5000 miles for signing up which would pay for the first two years. Wendel told me how to play the long distence phone service switcheroo to get more free miles.