Transit in Cali
 

I searched the site but could find anything at all about the transit experience in Cali Airport in Colombia. I have a flight from MIA to MAD with a connection in Cali for about 2 hours. I would prefer to transfer in Bogota as it's AV's main hub but Cali has shorter connection time which suits me.

Just wondering if I can expect the same in Cali in terms of transit as in other major airports. I hope my bags will be automatically transferred and I don't have to clear Immigration and Customs. Any advice is much appreciated.

That is a very weird connection. I have gone to CLO many many times but always as my arrival or departure, never as a connection.

When I have arrived from an international flight, you immediate go through immigration. I don't recall a way to stay in transit (i.e. not entering Colombia). So be prepared for that. If you are checking luggage, I'm not sure if it will be transferred automatically, or if you have to pick it up in the baggage claim and go through customs.

Looks like you are *G, so you can check in to the CLO-MAD flight. Hopefully your flight is not delayed because 2 hours is really pushing it (going through immigration, getting luggage if you need to and then checking in). Be prepared for a long line in immigration again, plus security. Hopefully you will have time to head to the Avianca lounge which is decent. It is just right after security.

I would check with Avianca to see what the situation would be here.

Good luck! And please report back. I'm curious.

So Cali is not like Bogota? Now you have got me worried. Flights are not until June so hopefully someone here will be able to provide further information. I will be in Business so will be the first to disembark. Hopefully there won't be long queues even if I have to clear immigration and customs. From Google map it looks like a tiny airport. Just how bad can it get? Will definitely report back. Thanks.

I agree it's a weird route but don't see any problems, it is indeed a tiny airport, immigration was quick for me the one time I arrived there and the AV lounge is cute enough.

If you are on the same ticket then I would imagine that bags are interlined

Bags should be able to interline but I just don't want to assume that they will be transferred automatically and end up not having my bags when I arrive in MAD.

If there is no transit facility I guess I will have to clear immigration.

Just flew these flights. Transit in Cali was painless. There is no transit desk or any signage. As soon as you disembark, you will need to find an AV ground crew member and he/she will check your passport and mark your boarding pass. Then she will open the door to let you in the departure area directly. No security check. Bags were transferred automatically. There were a few people doing the same so I guess it's quite commom in Cali.

Awesome report! This is what makes FT great.

CLO is such an easy airport, while BOG is not. This sounds like a much better transfer experience. Plus you avoid those BOG ground delays.

Nice to know!! Thanks for the report