Bogota Airport Passenger Reviews and Bogota Airport Traveller Reports   No Star Ranking Awarded         Add your Bogota Airport Review   Bogota Airport Ranking     Customer Review scoring : Bogota Airport   5.6 out of 10 31 reviews

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  8 May 2013 by David Stein    (USA)
	Rating : 8/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	My experience at Bogota's new airport was very pleasant. It is clean and modern, with many stores in the departure area. Check in and passport control are both efficient and quick.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  23 April 2013 by G Benussaf    (Colombia)
	Rating : 9/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	Bogota airport has become very good recently. There are still (minor) glitches - mostly, the taxi line is sometimes disorganized. But arriving to Bogotá, going through customs and waiting for luggage are all fast and well organized. Checking-in may be slow or fast depending on the airline. But once checked-in, there are various options for food and shopping. Of course, only one third of what will be the new airport has been completed so far. Eager to see it finished. If the rest of the airport is going to have the same quality, I will be very glad!

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  15 April 2013 by Cesar Figueroa    (USA)
	Rating : 10/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	I have been traveling back and forth from BOG for the last 7 years and recently landed in the new international terminal after being away for 1.5 years. Although, I agree the new international terminal has some minuses, mainly in its long-term capacity and some details here and there in terms of decoration and painting, the airport has improved greatly! It is much, much more user friendly, the lighting is great and is full with big windows and golden tiles. It has great shops and restaurants and the duty free is world-class at this point, nothing to compare to the few shops present at the old terminal. Also, and at least as of March, the immigration process took less than 5 minutes all together, not only for me but for everyone else who landed on my flight. The baggage claim area is large and bright and the system for baggage delivery is similar to big world airports such as JFK or LHR, so nothing to be envious about. I believe with time BOG will become a great connections centre for Latin America and I strongly recommend it for future travels.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  13 December 2012 by J Gutierrez    (Canada)
	Rating : 0/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	The airport was clean, even though construction was in progress. The staff at immigration were disrespectful, chatting with friends, eating behind the counter while people were waiting to be helped and playing on their cell phones. There were 5 ladies behind the counter and 4 of them left at once leaving one girl to fend the desk and the line up of people there. She continually left us to help other people and made us wait 1hr before she completed the papers we needed to catch our flight. We were boarded on our plane and ready to go only to be delayed 5 hours sitting on the plane while engine maintenance was performed. Everyone seemed to be running on "Colombian time" chatting away and not working. I was only too excited to get away from there.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  13 December 2012 by Richard Jenkins    (USA)
	Rating : 3/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	Recently completed an international round trip through El Dorado and another through its primarily domestic sibling (Terminal 1). The departures and at least part of the arrivals area for El Dorado appear to be in their new facility. The immigration formalities when quickly, perhaps because it was a light arrival without a lot of other concurrent flights. Even in the Green Lane, there is an obviously very perfunctory X-ray of luggage which mostly seemed to be a time consuming annoyance. The 'authorized' taxi queue is supposed to provide an estimated fare, but does not do so. International departures area is bright and without the din of TV monitors found in the domestic airport. Only two cafe type restaurants in the ticketing concourse (almost hidden at the far end away from the ticketing area), along with a more visible snack bar. The actual departure area beyond security has many shops and a phantom food court, which I was unable to find, although there was a bar and cafe in the main concourse for gates. Two big inconveniences: Departing flyers need to visit a stall to see if they have to pay departure tax (it may be included in the ticket price) - there is nothing to draw attention to this stall and I found out about the requirement only after queuing up for departure. Fortunately the airline (United) let me go and comeback without re-queuing. Foreigners are supposed to be able to receive a VAT rebate if purchases exceed a certain threshold, however, there is only one place to do this in the domestic terminal. Security in the new terminal is erratic. Domestic terminal oddly has many more food options in the pre-check-in area than the bigger international terminal, but nothing in the gate areas. Queuing for check-in is long and inefficient. The security protocol is very simple and there is no need to remove shoes, watches, etc. The 'gate' for my flight was in a bullpen in an airless, poorly non air-conditioned part of the airport on the second floor with only vending machines for refreshments. Announcements translated into English only for international flights and even locals had trouble following the ones in Spanish. Monitors not updated and I determined that my flight was boarding based on Avianca's website. I had to trek to the other side of the airport to board, no one was in any great hurry, so I assumed this was a typical protocol. On return, the baggage claim immediately spills into the taxi area. A nice new airport with limited facilities and ineptitude with tax issues along with an older domestic terminal that's great until you have to check-in.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  12 November 2012 by J Velasquez    (France)
	Rating : 10/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	Great airport. The new building has a spacious, bright and transparent architecture. Good selection of shops and facilities. Waiting rooms are comfortable and quiet. The immigration process has improved a lot as they've increased the number of counters. It was a very pleasant experience. The only bad point was the customs process which was a bit too long. They don't seem to be prepared to deal with an increasing number of tourists.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  7 November 2012 by Sam Hussein    (UK)
	Rating : 5/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	Landed and departed recently from the new International terminal at Bogota. Sadly Colombia missed a real opportunity here. To show the world what an upcoming destination it is. The design is boring and full of grey paint. It could be anywhere in the world. Nothing to show the vibrant colours and life that is Colombia.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  6 July 2012 by A Gumucio    (Mexico)
	Rating : 2/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	Two words: avoid it by all means. Take any other option until the new terminal building is operational. Until then, you will only find chaos, specially if you are taking a national connecting flight. When you arrive from an international destination, you will face very long lines in customs, even if your luggage has been transferred to the final destination. Then, you will have to wait for a bus which will only leave for the national terminal when it is completely packed. It will make one or two stops before you get to the national terminal, after riding through planes, cranes and trucks. Once at the national terminal there is no place to sit, every meter is crowded, then you walk and walk until you get to the plane, to the stairs, actually, because they don't have direct access through boarding bridges. Nobody understands why such a large capital city has not taken provisions much earlier and is only now doing what should have been done 20 years ago.

	BOGOTA AIRPORT customer review :  22 March 2012 by M Reid    (Canada)
	Rating : 3/10 Queuing Cleanliness Facilities Recommended	We had to take our luggage on an overcrowded bus from the domestic to international terminal. No one was controlling the number of people on the bus and people just kept getting on until the doors would not close. There was a complicated set of security and immigration checks and we were just tourists leaving the country. Pieces of paper picked up and stamped, passport stamped multiple times for no apparent reason. We were jammed into a departure lounge with no washrooms or facilities of any kind. Long queues for everything and top dollar prices for everything.

Bogota Airport customer review :  19 September 2011 by Dimitris van Leusden   (Curacao)

Customer Rating :  5/5

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Facilities

We visited in September 2011. I had read various comments about the queues and so on and was prepared for the worst. To our surprise, the immigration queue went so fast that we didn't stand still at all (plane arrived 19.30). In fact, there were more that 20 counters with immigration employees making the process amazingly fast. The immigration officer we met was very friendly. As for baggage collection I have no opinion since we had only carry-on baggage. The customs queue was a little bit slower but not slow enough. And the customs officer didn't lose time making useless questions. All in all within 5-10 minutes (literally) we has landed and were out of the airport. As for cleanliness, everything looked good. The ceiling seemed a little bit old, but that's all. It seems that the airport was recently painted and/or renewed.

Bogota Airport customer review :  31 May 2011 by G Fairburn   (Australia)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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You know you have arrived in South America upon arrival at Bogota. Flew AA from Miami. The first thing is the aged appearance of the airport with low ceilings and a dank feel. Chaotic arrivals area that can make it hard to find who you are looking for. Departures area is extremely busy at time of AA morning flight to Miami. Remember to go to the tax office line prior to the airline queue - this process seems archaic. The same staff who check you in will perform the final security check and will then be your flight attendants so the Bogota shift is certainly labour intensive! Duty free is cheap but staffed by extremely surly employees. Purchase if you dare. Certainly very dated and can only look forward to when the adjacent new terminal construction is completed.

Bogota Airport customer review :  18 April 2011 by C Choi   (Norway)

Customer Rating :  1/5

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You get processed fairly quickly, but that's about the only thing positive I can say about our experience there. An embarrassingly small selection of low-quality, overpriced (by Colombian standards) food and duty free stores staffed by the MOST arrogant, rude, lazy and generally useless people we have met in Colombia, which was quite a shock after all the simply wonderful and friendly people we have met throughout our travels there. Left a rather sour taste in our mouths, really. Can't recommend anything other than just checking in, waiting, and getting out of there ASAP. Overall, the worst airport we've ever had the misfortune of using.

Bogota Airport customer review :  27 August 2010 by Uwe Bode   (Colombia)

Customer Rating :  3/5

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Bogota wants to attract more international traffic, without improving the bottlenecks that are causing a lot of congestion. As of 31st of October LH is going to be back in BOG, with departure and arrival times precisely at the peak hours late evening and arrival around 8pm- ish. More chaos programmed! Premium passengers will be shocked to see no fast track lane, waiting for at least 30 minutes at immigration. As I live in BOG, I do not have to change from El Dorado to Puente Aereo, but I always can see upon arrival that it is a horror for those who have to. The saving grace are the fast track immigration lines for families with children, and the good shops once passing emigration process. As far as Avianca check-in for premium passengers is concerned, there are long lines, too, especially when leaving at the before mentioned peak hours. Same refers to the Avianca lounge, it is unbearable between 7:30pm and 9:30pm, only around mid-day it is worth spending time there. But it is true, F&B offer is ridiculous, the few snacks available have to be put on napkins as there are not even plates!

Bogota Airport customer review : 24 August 2010 : by Richard Winger

Customer Rating : 1/5

BOG is turning into a total disaster under the twin pressures of increasing passenger loads and a long overdue, incredibly slow renovation. Inbound, immigration is often understaffed and the wait can be upwards of an hour. Domestic connections on the main local airline, Avianca, require another long wait for a long ride to their domestic terminal. Because the buses don't run frequently enough, they are always packed and uncomfortable. Outbound, if you are a premium passenger, check in at Avianca is efficient. If you are just a normal person, count an hour to get to the check in desk. Security and outbound immigration have improved and are now mostly quick. Avianca's international lounge, renovated only two years ago, is already run down with minimum food and beverage offerings but blaring TV sets all over the place. The second security check on US bound flights is a free for all. Surprisingly, Avianca, the main carrier at the airport, has, except for check in, no fast track for premium passengers so regardless of how much you pay for your ticket or what elite status you have, you stand in line with everybody else. Very democratic, certainly, but not very effective if the carrier wants to position Bogota as a hub for business travel into South America.

Bogota Airport customer review : 8 June 2010 : by B Rowan

Customer Rating : 2/5

Landing at this airport is chaotic and getting a taxi can be trying. I flew Jet Blue and we existed on the tarmac and then walked outside then into the airport for immigration, baggage, and customs. After existing you need to go upstairs in order to find an ATM as there are none on the level where you exit. There is only one money exchange place which is a rip off. Departing: The lines at this airport are extensive. I flew Jet Blue to Orlando, and would recommend getting there at least 3 hours early. You have to pay your departure tax at one line, get in line for jet blue where they ask you about your trip and check the size of your carry-on baggage, then you get in line to get your boarding pass and check your bags, then you get in line for security, then you get in line for immigration, then you get in line at the departure gate where they hand search every single passenger's luggage and you get a pat down, then you are allowed to board. There are few food options but a few places to buy souvenirs. It's nothing fancy, but the lines are ridiculous. I understand that the airport is undergoing massive construction, which is necessary, everything is very outdated.

BOGOTA AIRPORT review : 15 September 2009 : by J Faubert

Customer Rating : 4/5

Since Delta's flight from ATL was early we hoped everything was going to be pretty well throughout. Very first line was long, but it was fair fast, staff provided us information about customs-forms and connecting flights (not good signs at all). Immigration was Ok, baggage was awkward and a little messy, as there were about eight flights claiming and rebooking luggage for connections. Finally a Customs-check where there's a huge line for passing through a redlight/greenlight device. It seemed every people who get redlight must stay for a final baggage-checkpoint. Departing was far messier than arrival. Prepare to pass through 4 security checkpoints. staff seemed to do it as best as they could; is a very small airport for handling all those pax, specially in the morning.

BOGOTA AIRPORT review : 3 August 2009 : by M Kattan

Customer Rating : 4/5

The airport is clean and tidy. It takes a long time to get through if you are travelling international flights. The Bag searches are done all the way upto the plane which can feel a bit over the top but for all the right reasons! Allow 3 hours at least! Staff are nice and polite. You can get out of paying for the tax if you smile and ask nicely! check in staff can wave the fee if they want too!

BOGOTA AIRPORT review : 26 March 2009 : by C Ford

Customer Rating : 4/5

Allow 2.5 to 3 hours for international travel. Departing pax are selected for extensive baggage search, I was one of them, polite but thorough. If connecting with a domestic flight, the domestic airport is about a 10 minute ride from the main airport, use either a taxi, or free bus service supplied by Avianca. Only buy immediate currency needs at the airport, better rates are in town, using ATM's. First time travelers using taxi service should go to the little office at the exit from customs to the right of the exit, and get a suggested taxi rate to your destination in the city on a ticket supplied by this office. No wonder US Customs never bothers you on your return, as I believe this is the most cautious airport that I have ever traveled thru. All airport personnel were polite. They are proactive, not like us, reactive.

Bogota Airport by Harold Bush

12 April 2008   Customer Rating :

I travelled to Bogotá from Miami (AA) and Madrid (IB). The airport has improved enormously and is being extended. Immigration is still slow on arrival but it is better. Nice that the officers now smile and welcome visitors to the country. On departure allow an extra 30 minutes if travelling in the early mornings or mid-afternoons. To avoid queuing on the day of travel to get exemption from paying the extra tax, get the stamp on arrival at the desk located next to the toilet in the baggage hall (sadly, very rarely there is someone there; very strange; even at 2-7 pm when most flights arrive from Europe and the Americas). You cannot take baggage trolleys outside the terminal but there are plenty of porters to help. Apparently this is a way to help them. No problem with that except that they are always in a hurry and will leave you for another customer if your baggage do not arrive quickly.

Bogota Airport by Simon Smith

4 February 2008   Customer Rating :

I used this airport flying Iberia to/from Madrid. The arrival service was fast, efficient and pleasant - no queues, baggage delivered quickly, and the immigration officer even welcomed me to Colombia! Departure was another matter. At about 3pm, when most of the flights to Europe are checking in, the departure hall was so full it was almost impossible to move. When I checked in with Iberia, they explained that I had already paid the airport tax on my ticket, but I'd have to get an exemption stamp from the airport tax office. This meant another queue for at least 30 minutes; but if I was willing to pay the tax for a second time, I could have done so immediately. This just seemed to be a way of extracting extra cash from people willing to pay not to stand in another long queue! Once I had finally checked in, things improved, and there was little queue at immigration or security. However, shopping and catering options are limited and be warned that once through security there are hardly any shops or cafes.

Bogota Airport by Tony Villegas

23 October 2007   Customer Rating :

Eldorado international terminal too crowded in the morning and afternoon hours, and the check-in area is too small to handle passenger numbers. Parking in front of the terminal: more than 100 meters away, is a tragedy when you travel with lots of bags. You find security everywhere what is good, but which reflects the dangerous situation of this beautiful country. In the second floor you get some good snack bars and coffee shops. Immigration officers unfriendly, terrible and lots of hand baggage and personal security checks. Hard to breath at the gate area - too low ceiling. Its 1970s facilities need urgent updates.

Bogota Airport by Jacqueline Struss

13 July 2007   Customer Rating :

The airport is clean, security everywhere, but my experience leaving the country to get back the USA was terrible. I went through 4 baggage searches within yards of each other. While sitting waiting to board a worker comes up to me and no one else and demands to take my carry on baggage away because he claimed it would not fit in the overhead. I argued with him and did not let him take my baggage (everyone staring at this time). He finally backed off and left. Went to no one else, questioned no one else, attempted to take no one else's bag. He was an employee. I believe he was trying to take and steal my bag. In talking to others it may have been he was trying to do that. I loved the country but the airport experience was not pleasant!

Bogota Airport by Luis F Mejia

24 July 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

Eldorado Airport is conveniently located and immigration-customs procedures are as quick as they can be. Cabs are just steps away and you get a ticket stating the amount to pay to whatever final destination within the city you are going to. Cab drivers info is clearly visible when stepping in and you just sit and enjoy the ride through this magnificent city !

Bogota Airport by Marc Schwartz

17 May 2005

Recently visited Bogota (via Miami on AA). This airport compares favorably to others I've been to in central and South America. The airport is conveniently located. Processing at all steps was efficient and friendly. I felt safe and secure. (AA does have a secondary security screening at the gate.) The airport does have an "old" feel, but it is not run-down. I would warn that on the return to Miami, I did feel that the flight got 'special attention' at immigration and customs. Miami (via Bogota) is where to expect the extra delays, etc.

Bogota Airport by R Weber

10 August 2004

Funny, that all bad comments have been posted by Colombians. Nothing new as Colombians tend to be ashamed of the place where they have been born as soon as they live in a foreign country. Bogotá Airport is certainly not comparable to airports in Europe like Munich, Frankfurt or Heathrow, but certainly much better than CDG or Barajas. It's clean, people are extremely friendly and the security measures are stronger than in some European airport.

Bogota Airport by Jean-Louis Vergaert

9 July 2004

El Dorado Airport shows its age, and there can be some long walking due to lack of walkways, but it is relatively efficient. Before passing through passport controls, you can enjoy good food and natural fruit juices at very reasonable prices. Security is usually fast, and I always enjoy being questioned the friendly military (always mention your Colombian girl-friend!). Taxi's are cheap and very well organized, providing good security in a country with such a bad reputation! But the great warning sign is the confusion between the terminals - you are better to be sure of which one you must go to, because there is no indication and many exceptions to the common rule of the Avianca Puerto Aereo.

Bogota Airport by Bernardo Löwenstein

8 April 2004

Bogotá´s airport is having a revival. It's a nice airport to use, friendly staff, tight security controls. The buildings are very clean, there are plenty of shops and fast food restaurants are cheap and very good (try Oma or El Corral). The transfer service offered by Avianca (Alianza Summa) to the domestic terminal (Puente Aéreo) is efficient and quick. Duty free is a bit expensive, restrooms should be cleaner but in all it is very much above Latin American average and more user friendly that many other US airport.

Bogota Airport by K.Jütten

14 February 2004

I have been used the Bogota airport around 8 times during the last two years and I thinks this is one of the best in America. It's clean, clear, safe and people is very friendly and courteous. The duty free shops are very good and fast food restaurants are cheap and well served. Taxi counter is organized and service is safe and cheap.

Bogota Airport by Mario Almeida

4 February 2004

A surprisingly good airport. Good shops and souvenirs, a very efficient taxi stand and friendly and helpful Colombians.

Bogota Airport by M Bregenz

25 October 2003

I arrived in Bogota from Munich. I was impressed with El Dorado Airport. I have only positive, good things to say about it. People are courteous, friendly, and helpful. The airport is very clean, good fast food restaurants, and excellent duty free shops. Security is very good and I felt safe there. Overall, compared to New York's Kennedy or Paris Airport, I have to say El Dorado Airport is less confusing and more efficient.

Bogota Airport by Harold Bush

15 August 2003

I fly into Bogotá-ElDorado about three times a year from London. Immigration control and customs officers are friendly to foreigners; they are rude to Colombians. They are from Colombia's secret police DAS and one has the impression that they assume all Colombians passing through the airport are drug dealers or criminals. If you are Colombian with a second passport, use it on entering or leaving the country because it will be much easier. Be prepared to be searched more than three times before boarding. This is good. Security is extreme and queues tend to be very long. Check-in can be a real nightmare. It tend to be very slow. Duty free is very expensive. In fact, some goods are cheaper in downtown Bogotá. Trolleys in arrivals hall cannot be taken outside; a really stupid thing. Why put them there in the first place? It is a good airport by international standard with plenty of fast food restaurants and nice shops to purchase great coffee (but before duty free).