Thanks, these are very helpful comments. I may well go Copa to get the early pm arrival into LAX and return on AV for the convenient early arrival in BOG and thence to MDE. I was laughing telling someone the other day about my first long haul flight AKL to LAX via HNL as a graduate student going to the US in 1970. I had no knowledge of First Class but the food in Air New Zealand Economy would put most of today's Business Class meals to shame. So of course all I am really looking for is an on-time flight with a reasonably comfortable seat and I know plenty of good eating places prior to and after the flights. I am lifetime Star Alliance Gold and will ask here, has something changed with Star Alliance baggage rules?? Last flight in Business, BOG-LAX I had a lengthy argument with the check-in person and had to ask finally for a Supervisor, to get my third, supposedly allowed, 50 lb suitcase checked in without a charge. Living most of the year in Colombia, I was wondering if the rules had changed without my being aware of it?