Flying with VivaColombia

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Flying with VivaColombia, I tell you that it was a very good experience. I don't know if it was luck or what, but the flight was very good in service, attention, almost perfect punctuality, plane in perfect condition, etc. I mention luck since in recent months the airline has been involved in some problems and criticism for not fulfilling itineraries or canceling flights, even some fines and lawsuits have come.

That day, after spending a morning at Cerro Monserrate as I told HERE, after having arrived from Quito with Wing as I reported HERE ;), It was time to continue the trip through Colombia, this time flying to the Caribbean Island of San Andrés. For this, Taking advantage of the fact that Colombia is lucky to have two low-cost airlines, I made the relevant quote and VivaColombia was by far the best option for price and schedule. (the schedule allowed us to win the morning in Bogotá).

For ONLY USD106 for two people we were able to travel to San Andrés, a really crazy price for us, since in Ecuador we would never find a flight to Galapagos, equivalent in flight time and distance, for USD53 per person (normally to Galapagos costs minimum USD300). So, credit card inside and travel with VivaColombia.

Now, just like reporting with Wingo, let's go step by step with Viva:

PASSAGE PURCHASE

The purchase of the two tickets in VivaColombia was made very easily with an international credit card from Ecuador. The system is friendly, the screens could be a little clearer in fonts and color, but for the price, who really cares.

The purchase system is very standard to any airline in the region and allows you to select additional services in a very clear way., which we will mention below. The means of payment allowed are credit cards, Debit (point to live), cash payment in Carulla, Success and Surtimax only for Colombia, Baloto points and others. These points also allow cash payment for additional services.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

As in a low cost that is respected and as is one of the slogans of VivaColombia, you pay only for what you need, That is why they offer the following additional services, some very interesting and different:

• Secure your rate, you liked the price you saw, but you are not sure yet whether to buy, you can save it for only 7.000 Colombian pesos and continue shopping after.
• Assign your chair, otherwise, the system will assign you anywhere on the plane and not necessarily with your fellow travelers.
• Check-in at the airport.
• cabin baggage, by nature of all rates, with Viva you can only carry one personal item up to 6 kilos, a suitcase or purse as an example, so this service is useful if you need more weight.
• Luggage in hold, more than clear, I personally used it both ways to and from San Andres. Thank you alive 😉
• fast queue
• Pets
• musical and sports instrument
• Travel Assistance
• Cancel Quiet, you pay a little more and if you cancel, they refund your fee. With VivaColombia your ticket is not refundable.
• Tour plan, they are packages, together with the Executive, that for an additional value include a one-time suitcase in the cabin, express boarding and preferential seat assignment.
• Executive Plan

BAGGAGE, VERY IMPORTANT

As I indicated in Wingo's post, whenever you fly with a low cost you have to read the terms and conditions of the fare very well, since the main difference for the traveler versus a traditional airline is in the luggage. VivaColombia allows you to take with you only one piece of up to 6 kilos and maximum sizes of 40x35x25 linear cm.

If you need more space, you can pay extra for carry-on luggage in the cabin. 12 kilos from COP 44.000 for domestic routes up to USD37 for international flights. Checked baggage starts at COP 39.000 and you can be even 20 kilos.

More information on additional bags, overweight and more on his website about Luggage.

CHECK-IN

It is important not to forget to check-in through the website of 72 a 2 hours before your domestic flight with VivaColombia, otherwise you will have to pay for the service at the airport. if this happens to you, you will spend more and it is not the idea if you travel in a low cost ;).

Remember, what if you check-in, You will no longer be able to make changes to the reservation or add services through the web, only at the airport.

AIRPORT AND BOARDING

VivaColombia customer service is normal to any other airline in the region. I walked up to the counters to drop off 2 suitcases and the attention was very fast. The Viva en El Dorado counters are in the area of ​​the 150 al 158, together with Easyfly and Satena, at the end of the airport. Bogotá's signage has never seemed the best, so he had to ask to be able to reach them. To buy the San Andrés Tourism Card, all very fast and clear. They stood out this time for being on their anniversary #5, por lo que había globos y el personal tenían gorras con frases como «Fanta5ticos».

Boarding in Viva is done by groups, trying to make this a more agile and efficient process. According to the seat position the group is assigned, the further back you are located, you will board first. Thanks to VivaColombia I was in the second row, so we were the last to board both on the way out and on the way back.

ON BOARD

There is no service on board included in any rate, so VivaColombia has a letter for the service on board, VivaMenu, ranging from chips to sandwiches, being a domestic flight, they only accepted pesos and these started in the COP 4.000.

By the hour I got hungry and thirsty, were the 16 hours, so I ordered a lemon Margarita fries for COP 4.000 and a still water for COP 5.000, a little more than USD3, what seems good to me, the same at the airport would have cost almost double.

If they can hold on a bit, they do not buy anything and eat when they arrive at their destination. no complementary water.

IN FLIGHT

 

We just flew the day that the airline was celebrating its anniversary number 5 In colombia, so during the flight some announcements were made, as in which it was indicated that VivaColombia is now the second airline in market share behind Avianca and ticket raffles were held, caps and others.

Varias veces durante el vuelo la tripulación repitió la frase «Cultura Viva», which has the objective that passengers help the airline in cleaning the plane, for example taking any remaining rubbish with them or leaving the seat belts crossed, something interesting that was also repeated in Wingo, but of course, in another version.

CONCLUSION

A NORMAL experience. There's nothing to be scared of, flying with VivaColombia or any low cost is not a bad experience and it doesn't have to be. You must read and understand the terms and conditions, more to know well that you must comply with the sizes and weights of your allowed and contracted luggage.

delays, cancellations, bad service? That can happen to you on any airline and any day. You have to understand that airlines are managed by human beings and they are not perfect. Airplanes are like cars and can be damaged any time you least expect it. Safety is always guaranteed by high industry standards and local regulations, not because they are low cost they do not maintain their planes, that is fundamental and basic throughout the industry, so concerns like these are beside the point, even more so when flying in state-of-the-art aircraft by highly qualified crews.

Recommend flying low cost, you travel well and save money.

Additional Information

For all passengers traveling to San Andrés, they must pay the TOURISM TAX of $104.692 COP (Colombian pesos) and that is paid only in cash at the airport of origin. It is mandatory, unless the stay is less than 24 hours the smallest to 7 year old. This tax is intended to protect the island's marine and coral ecosystem., very similar to the INGALA that is paid to enter Galapagos.

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