Does Colombia have priority security? If not, how long to clear? BOG/MDE/SMR/CTG
Sep 20, 2021, 8:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Does Colombia have priority security? If not, how long to clear? BOG/MDE/SMR/CTG
Do BOG/MDE/CTG/SMR airports have priority security for J pax/status pax? Or any other pax? If not, wondering how long it takes at these airports to clear during peak times...
Thank you!
Thank you!
Sep 21, 2021, 9:57 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: OZ Diamond, QR Gold, HH Gold, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 674
I only know about BOG domestic and BAQ international but neither offered it to me.
BOG security was quick.
But when I flew out of BAQ it was a peak time and the security, which was done by Securitas, was quick too.
However, after security you encounter customs/anti-narcotics police/Longport Aviation Security. On the day I flew all male passengers aged 18-60ish were hauled aside and had hand baggage searched. We were then all put through a body scanner.
It was poorly organised and took about an hour! There were also periods of time when we were left unsupervised after the bag search and before the body scan when anyone carrying contraband could have transferred it from their body to their bag!
BOG security was quick.
But when I flew out of BAQ it was a peak time and the security, which was done by Securitas, was quick too.
However, after security you encounter customs/anti-narcotics police/Longport Aviation Security. On the day I flew all male passengers aged 18-60ish were hauled aside and had hand baggage searched. We were then all put through a body scanner.
It was poorly organised and took about an hour! There were also periods of time when we were left unsupervised after the bag search and before the body scan when anyone carrying contraband could have transferred it from their body to their bag!
Sep 22, 2021, 6:03 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA
Posts: 606
MDE doesn't have priority security lines. Passengers go through typical x-ray security, then often a secondary check by military or police (which can be anything from questioning to a quick bag search), then immigration. Whole process is typically 10 minutes, maybe 30 minutes at worst. The choke point typically is immigration, where they only assign the minimum number of agents such that the process is always 10+ minutes.
Jan 8, 2022, 4:19 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: QF, LM
Posts: 250
I know this is old advice, and the thread is dead, but some things never change...
MDE is a smallish airport, but quite competent in managing international screening. My experiences there range from the courteous "wave through" through to being hauled aside and placed on an ancient body scan that probably has stopped me ever having children again
As other posters have said, it does not take long. maybe tops ten minutes or so, and I say that after many experiences. I think I have done MDE exit internationally about a hundred times in the last decade. Far quicker and pain-free than Bog.
To the OP, the times are negligible. There is no priority security, but it just runs quickly.
MDE is a smallish airport, but quite competent in managing international screening. My experiences there range from the courteous "wave through" through to being hauled aside and placed on an ancient body scan that probably has stopped me ever having children again
As other posters have said, it does not take long. maybe tops ten minutes or so, and I say that after many experiences. I think I have done MDE exit internationally about a hundred times in the last decade. Far quicker and pain-free than Bog. To the OP, the times are negligible. There is no priority security, but it just runs quickly.