Flying into Colombia

mikelowri

Hello,
I have a few questions regarding into Colombia.

So far the cheapest I have found are with Iberia, flying from Madrid.
Does anyone know of any cheaper options? I do not mind stopovers.

Also, if entering on a tourist visa, you must have proof of a return or onward ticket. Does any one know of cheap onward flights or ways around this?

Thanks

jobless

i went he same route and it was the cheapest at the time..... wasnt asked at any point for onward/return journey proof.... in any country i visited i south america....

Civilian_Target

Try Delta through JFK.

A visa to another south american country will usually suffice as proof of onwards travel. Bit dumb to go without it, could be an expensive 1 day trip!

terencemc

aer lingus to orlando and spirit airlines to bogota/medellin

mikelowri

Thanks for the advice guys.

@terencemc - that's a great price and can always get the return ticket to Florida is $100 dollars more expensive than one way so it works out much cheaper than flying through Madrid, although Madrid would be handy if I can't find work and need to go home.

@jobless - Some people dont get asked but some airlines flying into the country insist on it. If I an find a cheap option I will probably go with it.


@Civilian_Target - It would indeed be dumb to go without out, probably not worth the risk so looking for the cheaper options. Regarding the visa, my plan was to get a visa for Argentina but I can't seem to get that without a return or onward flight either. I also have no idea when I would be entering Argentina.

Any thoughts?

Basically I hope to go to South America to teach English, probably in Colombia, but was considering getting a work visa for Argentina before I go to increase my options if Colombia doesn't work out. Argentine visa will only cost me €50.00 but need proof of holiday insurance, flights, and credit card limits which I don't have sorted.

Thanks again for the replies!

cailinoBAC

I didn't think you needed a visa to just visit Colombia. You didn't 2 years ago. Of course, teaching would be a different matter.

Meathlass

I was in Colombia about 5 years ago when Irish citizens needed visas and supposedly had to have proof of onward travel.

I had a rtn flight out of Rio booked from about 9 months later but just in case that wasn't sufficient I went online and 'booked' a one way ticket out of Bogota. Basically go online, select a flight and fill in all the details. Just before you go to put in your card details to pay you can review your flight times, names etc - I just printed out this page and used that when I was asked. But I've never met anyone else who was ever asked to provide proof of onward travel. Think the border guard was just bored as it was so late.

themacman

I think its very unlikely that you will be asked.

FWIW I very recently flew to Peru with Iberia on a one way ticket.

Hockney

I flew into Bogota with Iberia, via Madrid, this time last year without any onward ticket.

I never got asked. If you're going to get done it'll be by the airline at check-in rather than by DAS immigration officials when you land.

I asked around lots of people when I landed if they had any hassle, the only airline I heard giving hassle were Spirit (low cost US carrier) on rock bottom flights from Florida to Bogota. I think they used it as a ploy to squeeze more money out of you.

My advice would be just chance it, bring your credit card and buy a fully refundable onward ticket in the airport in Madrid if you're asked.

Another thing to consider is staying overnight in Madrid if you're not pushed for time. I saved over E100 on the ticket doing this, and Iberia put me up in a hotel beside the airport for free. Broke up the journey nicely!

FYI I booked through trailfinders in Dublin, they were bang on and just as cheap as online. Iberia also give you the option of changing your return flight within a year of leaving should you want to for about E125, I did it twice! At my time of booking Air France didn't allow this.

You may also want to look into a relatively new route between Frankfurt and Bogota run by Lufthansa, it was the next cheapest I could find last year.

mikelowri

Thanks for the replies guys,

Hockney, sent you a pm there