LatinPass: Who's Really Going?
Mar 16, 2000 | 8:58 am
#167
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Davis, California
Posts: 253
The Managua Intercontinental sits on a small hill with a nice view of the city and lake. It's a 30 minute shuttle ride to the hotel that highlights the less scenic areas of the city. We had a nice dinner at Antijitos, across the street from the hotel. Also, there's a mall nearby, with American fast food and good donuts.
It's a 40-60 minute white knuckle taxi ride to the Caracas Intercontinental. Traffic was incredibly busy, and the fumes were terrific. If your eyes aren't red from the travel, they will be when you exit that very long tunnel through the mountain. We ate at the hotel restaurants. Good food, but no bargains.
It's a 40-60 minute white knuckle taxi ride to the Caracas Intercontinental. Traffic was incredibly busy, and the fumes were terrific. If your eyes aren't red from the travel, they will be when you exit that very long tunnel through the mountain. We ate at the hotel restaurants. Good food, but no bargains.
Mar 16, 2000 | 1:46 pm
#169
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 411
It's booked! A similar routing to what others have:
MIA-SAL TA 311
SAL-GUA GU 960
GUA-SJO CM 317
SJO-UIO LR 661
UIO-BOG VX 520
BOG-MIA AV 6
Cost: about US$1170. My travel agent priced it at a much lower fare than I was able to get on Travelocity, itn, etc. As well, almost all the flights are in C business class. Everything is on this one ticket (much cheaper than booking separately), including my connecting flights to MIA on US Airways from BOS, for a total of $1297.
With regard to previous posts skeptical about Latinpass, I guess we'll have to see how it all turns out, but I did note on the Avianca website that it says that Latinpass was started at the iniative of airline. I think I feel more secure with a large, reputable airline like Avianca standing behind the program. Worst case scenario, one could always tranfer the miles to Avianca Plus or HHonors.
MIA-SAL TA 311
SAL-GUA GU 960
GUA-SJO CM 317
SJO-UIO LR 661
UIO-BOG VX 520
BOG-MIA AV 6
Cost: about US$1170. My travel agent priced it at a much lower fare than I was able to get on Travelocity, itn, etc. As well, almost all the flights are in C business class. Everything is on this one ticket (much cheaper than booking separately), including my connecting flights to MIA on US Airways from BOS, for a total of $1297.
With regard to previous posts skeptical about Latinpass, I guess we'll have to see how it all turns out, but I did note on the Avianca website that it says that Latinpass was started at the iniative of airline. I think I feel more secure with a large, reputable airline like Avianca standing behind the program. Worst case scenario, one could always tranfer the miles to Avianca Plus or HHonors.
Mar 16, 2000 | 1:52 pm
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,883
Leroy11
There are in fact two distinct flights, one on Taca and the other on Aviateca leaving at less than 1/2 hour between each other. Up to April 1st, the Taca flight leaves at 6.25pm and the Aviateca flight at 6.49pm. From April 2nd onwards, it is the other way around. You will only get credited for GU if you book the GU flight and mutatis mutandis for the TA flight. As far as I can gather, the TA flight is a continuation flight from MIA and MGA (flight TA514).
BJJ
AFAIK, there is only one Radisson group hotel in GUA. Its address, as per the Radisson website, is 1 AVE.12-46 ZONA 10 GUATEMALA CITY, 01010
This hotel offers web specials at weekends for USD65, bookable via the Radisson site, currently, the USD65 for the next two forthcoming weekends (Fri to Sun). It is possible (perhaps even likely) that a similar offer will be available for later weekends, closer to the date. However, in so far as this is a 'last minute' web-special, it can only be booked fairly close to the date and only via the Radisson website.
There are in fact two distinct flights, one on Taca and the other on Aviateca leaving at less than 1/2 hour between each other. Up to April 1st, the Taca flight leaves at 6.25pm and the Aviateca flight at 6.49pm. From April 2nd onwards, it is the other way around. You will only get credited for GU if you book the GU flight and mutatis mutandis for the TA flight. As far as I can gather, the TA flight is a continuation flight from MIA and MGA (flight TA514).
BJJ
AFAIK, there is only one Radisson group hotel in GUA. Its address, as per the Radisson website, is 1 AVE.12-46 ZONA 10 GUATEMALA CITY, 01010
This hotel offers web specials at weekends for USD65, bookable via the Radisson site, currently, the USD65 for the next two forthcoming weekends (Fri to Sun). It is possible (perhaps even likely) that a similar offer will be available for later weekends, closer to the date. However, in so far as this is a 'last minute' web-special, it can only be booked fairly close to the date and only via the Radisson website.
Mar 16, 2000 | 2:03 pm
#171
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton G, Delta G, UA 1k, AA G
Posts: 239
Well I am back. I did the full million run in one fell swoop along with my sister. I don't know how I missed pudding Guy in Lima. I was at the holdiay Inn and the Airport for three days. Glad you can do the turn around in CUZ I would not recommend it for IQT. They told us the flight was closed and did not want to let us board we finally did get a seat. They did upgrade us to business class on the way to IQT. I think SAETA is flying again at leaast the had a flight posted in Lima yesterday. I agree that Quito is very nice. We went to the equator and visted a museum and got a room at the Hotel Quito very nice for $35. I just got back to Philly today so USAir is out of the way I have a car rental next week and I am done. I will post more later. Good to see flyertalkers along the way and good luck to those who are now planning
Mar 16, 2000 | 4:29 pm
#172
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL Lifetime Diamond/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,150
Freeflyer,
When I look up UIO - BOG VX 520, I show that it gets into BOG @ 10:15 which is the same time that AV 6 departs for MIA.
Are you sure about that?
I would love to find an itinerary that would let me spend a day in Quito
When I look up UIO - BOG VX 520, I show that it gets into BOG @ 10:15 which is the same time that AV 6 departs for MIA.
Are you sure about that?
I would love to find an itinerary that would let me spend a day in Quito
Mar 16, 2000 | 6:26 pm
#173
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 411
Tomphot,
It was cheaper to go VX UIO-BOG & AV BOG-MIA than the other way around, and I want to spend a couple of days in BOG. In any case, there's no other way to do it. Looking at the schedules, it would seem that one could fly AV in the morning UIO-BOG (arrive at 9:00am) and then VX BOG-MIA which departs at 9:45, but this is not a legal connection, especially given the lengthy security checks.
AV 8 BOG-MIA leaves at 4:20 pm, but only on Wed., Fri., and Sat. and gets in to MIA too late for me (8:00pm). But I suppose this might be an option for those who don't want to stay in Colombia.
[This message has been edited by freeflyer (edited 03-16-2000).]
It was cheaper to go VX UIO-BOG & AV BOG-MIA than the other way around, and I want to spend a couple of days in BOG. In any case, there's no other way to do it. Looking at the schedules, it would seem that one could fly AV in the morning UIO-BOG (arrive at 9:00am) and then VX BOG-MIA which departs at 9:45, but this is not a legal connection, especially given the lengthy security checks.
AV 8 BOG-MIA leaves at 4:20 pm, but only on Wed., Fri., and Sat. and gets in to MIA too late for me (8:00pm). But I suppose this might be an option for those who don't want to stay in Colombia.
[This message has been edited by freeflyer (edited 03-16-2000).]
Mar 18, 2000 | 8:11 am
#174
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL Lifetime Diamond/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,150
BOOKED
3/30 - Taca # 311 MIA - SAL 4:05 - 5:51
3/30 - Avieteca # 960 SAL - GUA 6:49 - 7:39
Spend night in GUA
3/31 - Copa # 317 GUA - SJO 7:15 - 9:20
3/31 - Lacsa # 661 SJO - UIO 10:30 - 1:30
Spend day and night in Quito - I made the trip longer because of the reviews on this city. What about that Steak House?
4/1 - Aces # 520 UIO - BOG 8:55 - 10:15
4/1 - Avianca # 8 BOG - MIA 4:20 - 8:00
This 6 hour layover in BOG is the only thing I really don't like. The only other flight back to MIA on Avianca leaves at the same time my flight from Quito gets in. I'm not sure if we're going to leave the airport in Bogata. Is there anything worth doing?
Total cost in business and full coach $1390 booked with my travel agent.
3/30 - Taca # 311 MIA - SAL 4:05 - 5:51
3/30 - Avieteca # 960 SAL - GUA 6:49 - 7:39
Spend night in GUA
3/31 - Copa # 317 GUA - SJO 7:15 - 9:20
3/31 - Lacsa # 661 SJO - UIO 10:30 - 1:30
Spend day and night in Quito - I made the trip longer because of the reviews on this city. What about that Steak House?
4/1 - Aces # 520 UIO - BOG 8:55 - 10:15
4/1 - Avianca # 8 BOG - MIA 4:20 - 8:00
This 6 hour layover in BOG is the only thing I really don't like. The only other flight back to MIA on Avianca leaves at the same time my flight from Quito gets in. I'm not sure if we're going to leave the airport in Bogata. Is there anything worth doing?
Total cost in business and full coach $1390 booked with my travel agent.
Mar 18, 2000 | 11:27 am
#175
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,527
Tomphot - I'll drop my friend an e-mail about that steakhouse - probably won't get a reply 'til Monday!
Quito's a great town - ENJOY!!
[This message has been edited by leroy11 (edited 03-18-2000).]
Quito's a great town - ENJOY!!
[This message has been edited by leroy11 (edited 03-18-2000).]
Mar 18, 2000 | 12:14 pm
#176
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: tel aviv israel
Posts: 14
Originally posted by student:
Well I am back. I did the full million run in one fell swoop along with my sister. I don't know how I missed pudding Guy in Lima. I was at the holdiay Inn and the Airport for three days. Glad you can do the turn around in CUZ I would not recommend it for IQT. They told us the flight was closed and did not want to let us board we finally did get a seat. They did upgrade us to business class on the way to IQT. I think SAETA is flying again at leaast the had a flight posted in Lima yesterday. I agree that Quito is very nice. We went to the equator and visted a museum and got a room at the Hotel Quito very nice for $35. I just got back to Philly today so USAir is out of the way I have a car rental next week and I am done. I will post more later. Good to see flyertalkers along the way and good luck to those who are now planning
Well I am back. I did the full million run in one fell swoop along with my sister. I don't know how I missed pudding Guy in Lima. I was at the holdiay Inn and the Airport for three days. Glad you can do the turn around in CUZ I would not recommend it for IQT. They told us the flight was closed and did not want to let us board we finally did get a seat. They did upgrade us to business class on the way to IQT. I think SAETA is flying again at leaast the had a flight posted in Lima yesterday. I agree that Quito is very nice. We went to the equator and visted a museum and got a room at the Hotel Quito very nice for $35. I just got back to Philly today so USAir is out of the way I have a car rental next week and I am done. I will post more later. Good to see flyertalkers along the way and good luck to those who are now planning
Mar 18, 2000 | 1:34 pm
#177
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: tel aviv israel
Posts: 14
Originally posted by fabsco:
Just got back to LAX from my 500k run. Almost all of my flights were very timely, and most connections can be made rather rapidly. Here are my flights and my impressions of the airports.
LAX->GUA Lacsa in Business Flight left about 20 minutes late and arrived 15 minutes early. Sat in row 3 would recommend rows 1 or 2 as 3 does not recline all the way. The crew was great and food was good. Guatamala airport is small and allows for quick connections. You could connect in 15 minutes easy, you do not need to go through customs if you are connecting.
GUA->SAL Aviateca. Business. Very short flight. Flight time is about 30 minutes. Arrived 15 minutes early. Americans who are going to leave the airport need a tourist card. You just buy it at immigration it cost $10. Most other nationalities do not need it (ie Europe).
SAL->MGA TACA Plane was small and hot! MGA is Another place to make quick connections. Make sure to tell someone if you do the same connection that we did which is to a COPA flight because it is a strange combination. This is because the copa flight that we got on originated in SAL, ie we could have stayed on the same plane (in their eyes). I'd say 15-20 minutes to connect. Flight was on time.
MGA->PTY Copa. Business. Good flight. Landed on time. PTY needs a little more time for connections while OAG says 1:30 that is way to long. If you are chaning from copa to avianca (or another Copa) 30 minutes is good I'd say 45 minutes for most other airlines.
PTY->BOG SAM(avianca) The only flight that we had that was late. The 6:50 flight from PTY apparantly never leaves on time. We left at 8:00pm. We stayed in Bogota. Not a bad place to stay at all. I would recommend staying at the Travelodge, close to the airport. The locals know it as "el capital" we paid $84 and they have a free shuttle. The bogota Airport is the most modern of the Airports that we went to. They go through your luggage throughly, If you stay in Bogota you should get there 2 hours early for the flight.
Bog->Miami Aces. Aces is ecomony only. The meals were very good for economy. We had a choice between Veal and Trout, both good.
Anyway i'm back home in less then 48 hours.
[This message has been edited by fabsco (edited 03-13-2000).]
Just got back to LAX from my 500k run. Almost all of my flights were very timely, and most connections can be made rather rapidly. Here are my flights and my impressions of the airports.
LAX->GUA Lacsa in Business Flight left about 20 minutes late and arrived 15 minutes early. Sat in row 3 would recommend rows 1 or 2 as 3 does not recline all the way. The crew was great and food was good. Guatamala airport is small and allows for quick connections. You could connect in 15 minutes easy, you do not need to go through customs if you are connecting.
GUA->SAL Aviateca. Business. Very short flight. Flight time is about 30 minutes. Arrived 15 minutes early. Americans who are going to leave the airport need a tourist card. You just buy it at immigration it cost $10. Most other nationalities do not need it (ie Europe).
SAL->MGA TACA Plane was small and hot! MGA is Another place to make quick connections. Make sure to tell someone if you do the same connection that we did which is to a COPA flight because it is a strange combination. This is because the copa flight that we got on originated in SAL, ie we could have stayed on the same plane (in their eyes). I'd say 15-20 minutes to connect. Flight was on time.
MGA->PTY Copa. Business. Good flight. Landed on time. PTY needs a little more time for connections while OAG says 1:30 that is way to long. If you are chaning from copa to avianca (or another Copa) 30 minutes is good I'd say 45 minutes for most other airlines.
PTY->BOG SAM(avianca) The only flight that we had that was late. The 6:50 flight from PTY apparantly never leaves on time. We left at 8:00pm. We stayed in Bogota. Not a bad place to stay at all. I would recommend staying at the Travelodge, close to the airport. The locals know it as "el capital" we paid $84 and they have a free shuttle. The bogota Airport is the most modern of the Airports that we went to. They go through your luggage throughly, If you stay in Bogota you should get there 2 hours early for the flight.
Bog->Miami Aces. Aces is ecomony only. The meals were very good for economy. We had a choice between Veal and Trout, both good.
Anyway i'm back home in less then 48 hours.
[This message has been edited by fabsco (edited 03-13-2000).]
Mar 18, 2000 | 9:11 pm
#178
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Howell, Michigan, USA
Programs: DL 2+Million Miler, Delta Platinum(by choice), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 649
I know this question has probably been answered in the past, but I just recently decided to try and get in the fun: How do you get credit for the hotels, car rentals, and partner airline segments? Do you have to give your LatinPass number each time you check in or can you send in receipts later for credit? Thanks for the help.
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Mar 20, 2000 | 3:02 pm
#180
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: ATL - DL Lifetime Diamond/3MM - HH Lifetime Diamond - Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 3,150
NickB,
Are you staying at the Radisson in GUA?
If so we can share a cab.
I'll be traveling with a friend who has a beard and I'm 6'6" so we should be easy to spot.
Hope to see you in SAL
Are you staying at the Radisson in GUA?
If so we can share a cab.
I'll be traveling with a friend who has a beard and I'm 6'6" so we should be easy to spot.
Hope to see you in SAL