BOGOTA Visa Office 2012 applicants

[ccunnington]

Thanks ccunnington, are you going to purchase one way ticket or round trip. i see they are only a couple of 100 dollars different.

Once my wife gets her visa, we will just purchase 1 way tickets. I'm living in Colombia with her.

 

[doorsopen]

AC is the only carrier that flies direct. I've looked myself at other options since westjet flies all over the caribbean, but connecting flights either with LAN, Avianca, Copa, Taca, Aires, are all expensive, and only connect in the capitals, such as Mexico City, Panama City...so its at least 2 connections to get to a city where westjet flies into. COPA is starting a direct Cartagena/Toronto route, but not until June or July. I know AC sucks and they are expensive, but its still the cheapest and most direct way to get back into Canada from Colombia. And connecting through the US is a pain in the ass as you'll require a US transit visa

I've flown all those routes from Vancouver! Mexico City, Panama, LA, Miami. I have points with American so am flying via Dallas, Miami and Bogota soon. It takes me 3 days to get to my final destination in Colombia, but the flight is essentially free and I always have a great night out in Bogota with a friend.

If you live in the East of Canada then AC is definitely your best option. Real easy. If you live in the West then it is a little trickier. As mentioned, flying through the US for a Colombian is a pain due to the transit visa requirement.

Trip number 10 coming up for me....

 

[ccunnington]

I've flown all those routes from Vancouver! Mexico City, Panama, LA, Miami. I have points with American so am flying via Dallas, Miami and Bogota soon. It takes me 3 days to get to my final destination in Colombia, but the flight is essentially free and I always have a great night out in Bogota with a friend.

If you live in the East of Canada then AC is definitely your best option. Real easy. If you live in the West then it is a little trickier. As mentioned, flying through the US for a Colombian is a pain due to the transit visa requirement.

Trip number 10 coming up for me....

I fly out of Calgary...if I buy the round trip ticket through AC...Calgary/Toronto/Bogota/Cartagena....its actually not so bad. I flew down using that route 3 times, and never paid more than 1300 return.

 

[C_O]

Congratulations everyone that has been receiving good news from the embassy! I get so excited reading everyone's news ! Im still waiting to receive an AOR from bogota..and nothing! Its been almost 4 months since i received the AOR from mississauga. Hopefully soon. Its annoying to see nothing changes on ecas. Good news is ill be going back to colombia in march so at least ill get to see my husband soon!

Congrats once again everyone and Keep on sharing good news! Me da esperanzas

Oh and if someone is travelling to toronto, i recommend copa airlines! You dont have to wait long in panama and is cheap (i personally love using copa)

 

[Ibague]

I fly out of Calgary...if I buy the round trip ticket through AC...Calgary/Toronto/Bogota/Cartagena....its actually not so bad. I flew down using that route 3 times, and never paid more than 1300 return.

last time I drove to Great Falls Montana and flew from there. then Denver/ Houston/ Bogota. it was a long trip though it was cheap $986. Now i just want to fly from Calgary/Toronto/Bogota. no hassles with US visa and only one connection. Do you live in Calgary? I am in Lethbridge, so i am close to Great Falls Montana. I will check Copa airlines too but it looks like i will end up flying our national Carrier AC

 

[C_O]

Soo i decides to check my husbands email and there i see an email from immigration! Its the AOR from bogota! The application was received on august 6th . So happy! At least im seeing some progress!!

 

[ccunnington]

Soo i decides to check my husbands email and there i see an email from immigration! Its the AOR from bogota! The application was received on august 6th . So happy! At least im seeing some progress!!

Congrats! Thats good news!

 

[ccunnington]

last time I drove to Great Falls Montana and flew from there. then Denver/ Houston/ Bogota. it was a long trip though it was cheap $986. Now i just want to fly from Calgary/Toronto/Bogota. no hassles with US visa and only one connection. Do you live in Calgary? I am in Lethbridge, so i am close to Great Falls Montana. I will check Copa airlines too but it looks like i will end up flying our national Carrier AC

I live in BC, in the East Kootenays. Its about a 4 hour drive to Calgary. It would be nice if Copa has started their direct route from Cartagena to Toronto this spring! Save going to Bogota!

 

[ccunnington]

Oh ya...I should tell all of you, especially if you're planning to come down to Colombia really soon. The new terminal is open in Bogota, and even though its nice, apparently there are big delays. The old terminal 1 is history! Apparently the delays are due to a lack of gates at the new building. Why they would build a big new terminal with less gates than the old one is beyond me!

 

[doorsopen]

I fly out of Calgary...if I buy the round trip ticket through AC...Calgary/Toronto/Bogota/Cartagena....its actually not so bad. I flew down using that route 3 times, and never paid more than 1300 return.

Yes that's the best route, and the one I would have taken if I didn't have points with AA.

 

[doorsopen]

Oh ya...I should tell all of you, especially if you're planning to come down to Colombia really soon. The new terminal is open in Bogota, and even though its nice, apparently there are big delays. The old terminal 1 is history! Apparently the delays are due to a lack of gates at the new building. Why they would build a big new terminal with less gates than the old one is beyond me!

Thanks. I'll look forward to it when I arrive on Saturday.

 

[sabril27]

Oh ya...I should tell all of you, especially if you're planning to come down to Colombia really soon. The new terminal is open in Bogota, and even though its nice, apparently there are big delays. The old terminal 1 is history! Apparently the delays are due to a lack of gates at the new building. Why they would build a big new terminal with less gates than the old one is beyond me!

great.. ... can't wait to see all this when i'm there on christmas eve!!! fingers crossed no delays to cali!!

 

[doorsopen]

great.. ... can't wait to see all this when i'm there on christmas eve!!! fingers crossed no delays to cali!!

American Airlines fly direct to Cali (from Miami). I've done that route a few times.

You'll be there for La Feria. I was there 2 years ago and it was a blast. I then headed to the Carnaval de Negros y Blancos in Pasto afterwards. Quite a crazy 2 weeks.

 

[ccunnington]

American Airlines fly direct to Cali (from Miami). I've done that route a few times.

You'll be there for La Feria. I was there 2 years ago and it was a blast. I then headed to the Carnaval de Negros y Blancos in Pasto afterwards. Quite a crazy 2 weeks.

I've been sending Westjet emails of the last couple of years to start a direct flight into Cartagena, especially now that COPA has announced an new Toronto/Cartagena route starting next spring...but of course, i haven't had any response!

 

[p.angie]

Hey guys... Does anyone know roughly how long it takes for the passports to reach the receiver once the status changes to "decision made" my husband lives in Cartagena and we want to get his ticket soon for the 23 but I don't know if he'll have the visa in time to fly. His staus officially changed to "decision made" yesterday, although on Wednesday we got an email saying the visa was printed and would be sent out shortly.