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home » insights » releases » avianca group makes ndc content available to sabre connected travel agents

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Avianca Group makes NDC content available to Sabre-connected travel agents

Avianca Group is the first LAC-based airline to distribute its NDC content through Sabre marketplace; Sabre has activated the group’s NDC offers in several countries

SOUTHLAKE, Texas   – Aug. 10, 2022 –   Sabre Corporation   (NASDAQ: SABR), a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today announced that Avianca Group’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) content is now available to travel agencies, travel buyers and developer partners in several countries.

Avianca Group – which includes Avianca Airlines as well as Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Ecuador and TACA International Airlines – is the first Latin American carrier to distribute its NDC offers through Sabre’s marketplace. The Colombia-based airline group plans to roll out its NDC content in two initial waves: The first one started on Aug. 1; the second is targeted for Aug. 15 and is expected to include more than 50 countries across the globe, including Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

“We are excited about this milestone. The experience and expertise of Sabre’s team has been crucial to make the implementation happen quickly,” said Catalina Nannig, vice president of Sales & Distribution at Avianca. “Joining Sabre’s  Beyond NDC  family has been a valuable experience, and we are looking forward to expanding the reach of our offers to better serve our customers across the globe.”

Sabre-connected agencies and developer partners can now shop, book and service NDC offers alongside other content using Sabre’s Offer and Order APIs, agency point-of-sale tool Sabre Red 360 as well as corporate online booking tool GetThere – all within a familiar booking environment. The roll-out of NDC offers follows a pilot phase with travel agencies in Brazil, El Salvador, and the United States.

“For us as travel retailers, it is essential to have access to the right air and ancillary content – and to be able to easily compare offers from various sources. Sabre’s end-to-end approach and appreciation of agency workflows helps us operate more efficiently,” said José Miguel Guzmán, owner, Leman’s Travel. “We are impressed by Sabre’s agility and flexibility and are happy to be able to offer Avianca Group’s NDC content to our customers going forward.”

Going Beyond NDC  is an area of focus for Sabre as an enabler of its vision to be the premier global technology platform in travel. Today, more than 3,000 agencies are shopping, booking, and servicing NDC content through the Sabre marketplace. Sabre is engaged with more than 25 airlines to distribute their NDC content through its GDS.

“Sabre has always been focused on providing a consistent distribution experience, regardless of the channel – and NDC is a part of that approach”, said Kathy Morgan, vice president, NDC and Airline Supply, Sabre Travel Solutions. “Integrating with Sabre’s marketplace will help enable Avianca Group to distribute its NDC content consistently and efficiently to third-party travel sellers. This will also help equip Avianca to meet the ever-changing needs of travelers, enjoy a more dynamic distribution environment, and open new revenue opportunities.”

About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world. For more information visit  www.sabre.com .

About Avianca Group AVIANCA GROUP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED includes Avianca -Star Alliance member-, LifeMiles and Avianca Cargo. In passenger transportation and with more than 102 years of continuous operation since 1919, Avianca is the leading airline in Colombia, Ecuador, Central America and has one of the largest airline operations in Latin America with 130 routes, 3,800 weekly flights and a fleet of more than 110 Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, connecting to around 65 destinations in the Americas and Europe. More than 10 million members and 450 allied brands are part of its loyalty program, LifeMiles, one of the largest in the region. In cargo transportation, Avianca Cargo is a leader in the region and is the main airline in different markets in the Americas. It serves more than 50 destinations with a fleet of Airbus A330 freighters, along with its operation of passenger aircraft bellies. Avianca successfully emerged from Chapter 11 at the end of 2021 and today, has a team of more than 12,000 people committed to providing safe, convenient, affordable and friendly service to its customers. More information is available at  www.avianca.com

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Avianca Group makes NDC content available to Sabre-connected travel agents

Avianca Group is the first LAC-based airline to distribute its NDC content through Sabre marketplace

Sabre has activated the group's NDC offers in several countries

SOUTHLAKE, Texas , Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabre Corporation   (NASDAQ: SABR), a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today announced that Avianca Group's New Distribution Capability (NDC) content is now available to travel agencies, travel buyers and developer partners in several countries.

Avianca Group – which includes Avianca Airlines as well as Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Ecuador and TACA International Airlines – is the first Latin American carrier to distribute its NDC offers through Sabre's marketplace. The Colombia -based airline group plans to roll out its NDC content in two initial waves: The first one started on Aug. 1 ; the second is targeted for Aug. 15 and is expected to include more than 50 countries across the globe, including Australia , Ecuador , Canada , Costa Rica , France , Guatemala , Honduras and Mexico .

"We are excited about this milestone. The experience and expertise of Sabre's team has been crucial to make the implementation happen quickly," said Catalina Nannig, vice president of Sales & Distribution at Avianca. "Joining Sabre's  Beyond NDC  family has been a valuable experience, and we are looking forward to expanding the reach of our offers to better serve our customers across the globe."

Sabre-connected agencies and developer partners can now shop, book and service NDC offers alongside other content using Sabre's Offer and Order APIs, agency point-of-sale tool Sabre Red 360 as well as corporate online booking tool GetThere – all within a familiar booking environment. The roll-out of NDC offers follows a pilot phase with travel agencies in Brazil , El Salvador , and the United States .

"For us as travel retailers, it is essential to have access to the right air and ancillary content – and to be able to easily compare offers from various sources. Sabre's end-to-end approach and appreciation of agency workflows helps us operate more efficiently," said José Miguel Guzmán, owner, Leman's Travel. "We are impressed by Sabre's agility and flexibility and are happy to be able to offer Avianca Group's NDC content to our customers going forward."

Going Beyond NDC  is an area of focus for Sabre as an enabler of its vision to be the premier global technology platform in travel. Today, more than 3,000 agencies are shopping, booking, and servicing NDC content through the Sabre marketplace. Sabre is engaged with more than 25 airlines to distribute their NDC content through its GDS.

"Sabre has always been focused on providing a consistent distribution experience, regardless of the channel – and NDC is a part of that approach", said Kathy Morgan , vice president, NDC and Airline Supply, Sabre Travel Solutions. "Integrating with Sabre's marketplace will help enable Avianca Group to distribute its NDC content consistently and efficiently to third-party travel sellers. This will also help equip Avianca to meet the ever-changing needs of travelers, enjoy a more dynamic distribution environment, and open new revenue opportunities."

Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre's technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas , USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world. For more information visit  www.sabre.com .

AVIANCA GROUP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED includes Avianca - Star Alliance member-, LifeMiles and Avianca Cargo. In passenger transportation and with more than 102 years of continuous operation since 1919, Avianca is the leading airline in Colombia , Ecuador , Central America and has one of the largest airline operations in Latin America with 130 routes, 3,800 weekly flights and a fleet of more than 110 Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, connecting to around 65 destinations in the Americas and Europe . More than 10 million members and 450 allied brands are part of its loyalty program, LifeMiles, one of the largest in the region. In cargo transportation, Avianca Cargo is a leader in the region and is the main airline in different markets in the Americas. It serves more than 50 destinations with a fleet of Airbus A330 freighters, along with its operation of passenger aircraft bellies. Avianca successfully emerged from Chapter 11 at the end of 2021 and today, has a team of more than 12,000 people committed to providing safe, convenient, affordable and friendly service to its customers. More information is available at  www.avianca.com

Sabre Contacts:

Media Kristin Hays [email protected]

Heidi Castle [email protected]

Investors Kevin Crissey [email protected] [email protected]     

SOURCE Sabre Corporation

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The Definitive Guide to Avianca’s Direct Routes From the U.S. [Plane Types and Seat Options]

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Table of Contents

Cabin classes by aircraft type, best points to earn to fly avianca, avianca first class, avianca business class, avianca premium economy class, avianca economy class, final thoughts.

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Avianca is Colombia’s flag carrier and is part of Avianca Holdings, which owns many other regional subsidiaries in South and Central America.

Headquartered in Bogotá, this Star Alliance partner is instrumental in the global connectivity Star Alliance offers. As the airline chiefly responsible for connecting Star Alliance passengers to Central and South America, Avianca fills an important role.

Avianca’s fleet consists primarily of narrow-body, single-aisle aircraft, though it also has a few wide-body aircraft. Its subsidiaries include Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Ecuador, Avianca El Salvador, Avianca Guatemala, Avianca Honduras, Avianca Peru, and more. The company has over 130 aircraft in its fleet and flies to more than 75 destinations worldwide.

Let’s take a look at what portion of its fleet is dedicated to connecting the U.S. to Central and South America.

Although we mentioned that Avianca has its hub operations in Bogotá (BOG), Colombia, the airline also maintains a secondary hub at San Salvador (SAL) in El Salvador. As you’ll find out, there are tons of flights to San Salvador from the U.S.

Avianca operates a total of 4 aircraft on flights to and from the U.S.:

In the past, Avianca has offered many flights using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. However, the Dreamliner flights have since been shifted to meet the demands of flights elsewhere around the world. Let’s take a look at all of Avianca’s nonstop U.S. routes, along with the flight numbers, operating aircraft type, cabin classes available, and frequency.

Overall, you can take many different flights to and from the U.S. However, most of these involve connecting in San Salvador (SAL) or Bogotá (BOG). Still, there are some unique flights you can take outside of these 2 cities, such as Managua (MGA) in Nicaragua, Medellín (MDE) in Colombia, and even Guatemala City (GUA) in Guatemala.

As mentioned, Avianca is a Star Alliance partner, which naturally means you can redeem miles from Star Alliance airlines for flights on Avianca and all its subsidiaries. LifeMiles employs a variable award pricing structure when you fly on Avianca, meaning you can redeem LifeMiles for a cheaper price if available.

You can also book Avianca flights using any transferable rewards program. Here are the main transferable currencies, along with the most popular and applicable mileage partners:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards : Singapore KrisFlyer or United MileagePlus
• American Express Membership Rewards : Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, and Singapore KrisFlyer
• Citi ThankYou Rewards : Avianca LifeMiles, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Singapore KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Capital One Miles : Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Marriott Bonvoy : Aegean Airlines Miles+Bonus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air New Zealand Airpoints, All Nippon Airways Mileage Club, Asiana Club, Avianca LifeMiles, Copa Airlines ConnectMiles, Singapore KrisFlyer, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and United MileagePlus

If you wanted to fly between the U.S. and Central America, you could redeem according to the following award table:

Here’s the award table to follow for flights between the U.S. and South America:

As you can see, the redemption costs across all the major airlines vary dramatically. This is thanks to a variation in regional categorization , where 1 frequent flyer program may consider a certain country to be in a different region than another frequent flyer program.

Unfortunately, Avianca doesn’t currently offer a first-class product on its flights.

Avianca’s business class is one of the best ways to fly to South America or Central America . It remains one of the top ways to reliably get award availability without worrying about the scarce availability on LATAM or American Airlines.

Instead, Avianca releases lots of business class award seats, and its product is comfortable enough for a long-haul flight. Avianca is surprisingly well-equipped with its soft product. You receive an amenity kit, tasty food and drink programs, and a comfortable seat. Let’s get into the business class options to and from the U.S.

Avianca 787-8 Business Class

Avianca’s best business class seat is aboard the 787-8. Known as the flagship of the fleet, this aircraft is deployed on Avianca’s most premium long-haul routes. Unfortunately, this doesn’t usually include U.S. routes, easily serviced by lower-capacity aircraft.

If you can fly this aircraft, you’ll find reverse-herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration — notice that all of these seats become lie-flat, have direct aisle access and have a lot of privacy.

In this cabin, you find a total of 7 rows of business class seats, each with 21 inches of width and 72 inches of seat pitch. Five rows of business class seats are in the front cabin, and another 2 rows of business class seats are in the minicabin, which is separated from the larger business class cabin by an inflight bar.

Here’s what the seat map looks like:

The most private seats are near the rear of the plane, away from the 2 lavatories and galleys at the front. Because of the absence of foot traffic near these seats, we recommend choosing 6A or 6K for solo travelers. For couples traveling together, you can choose either 6D and 6E or 7D and 7E to maximize your privacy and seclusion from the rest of the business class cabin.

Avoid 5A and 5K, because these seats have 1 less window and are directly next to the inflight bar.

Here are the U.S. routes on which Avianca’s 787-8 can sometimes be found:

• New York City (JFK) – Bogota (BOG)
• Miami (MIA) – Bogotá (BOG)
• New York City (JFK) – Medellin (MDE) sometimes

Hot Tip: Check out one of our writers’ less-than-excellent experience on an Avianca 787-8 Dreamliner from Miami to Bogotá .

Avianca A330-200 Business Class

Avianca wet-leases A330-200 jets from Wamos Air, a European charter airline.

On this aircraft’s sole U.S. route, Avianca offers lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, which is a significant upgrade in comfort and privacy.

The Avianca A330-200 is currently being flown on these nonstop routes to and from the U.S.:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – San Salvador (SAL)

Avianca A320 and A320neo and Business Class

Besides the sole wide-body plane that Avianca flies to the U.S., there are 2 aircraft on the remaining routes: the A320 and A320neo . These planes are  single-aisle , and the business class seats are the same throughout.

The recliner seats resemble those found in domestic U.S. first-class flights. The business class section on all of these aircraft consists of the first rows of seats in a 2-2 configuration. These seats recline slightly more than ordinary economy seats, and the cushions are slightly thicker.

Avianca’s A320 and A320neo fleet serve the bulk of its operations between the U.S. and Central and South America.

Avianca doesn’t offer a premium economy class product aboard its flights.

If you’re looking for cheap airfare to South America or Central America, you’ll find that Avianca consistently offers the most budget-friendly options . Sometimes, these cheap tickets involve an “inconvenient” layover in San Salvador (SAL) before heading to your final destination in South America. However, if you’re sensitive to prices, it makes sense to save several hundred dollars by flying on a 1-stop itinerary.

Avianca’s economy-class product is relatively no-frills. It is intended to get you from point A to point B as economically as possible, which is why the ticket prices beat the competition. Still, though, Avianca is considered a full-service airline, so you’ll be able to enjoy some comforts, such as inflight entertainment and a meal.

Let’s take a look at the best economy options you can take to and from the U.S.:

Avianca A330-200 Economy Class

Generally, the experience on wide-body aircraft tends to be better than that on narrow-body aircraft. This is because of the installation of inflight entertainment, the amenities aboard the aircraft, and even the ability to enjoy a full meal service .

The obvious drawback is that wide-body aircraft have more seats, so there will be more people on the plane with you. Still, it’s easy to relax on the A330-200 from Avianca. There are a total of 222 economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, tapering to 2-3-2 at the rear of the plane. Each of these seats is around 17-19 inches wide and 31-32 inches in pitch.

The best part of the 2-4-2 configuration is that couples traveling together can have a whole row to themselves .

Here’s what the A330-200 seat map looks like:

The best seats for solo travelers are 7C and 7J, which give extra legroom and are near the front of the plane. If you’re traveling with a companion, you’ll do well to reserve seat pairs 7A and 7C, 7J and 7K, 23A and 23C, 22J and 22K, and even 2 of the seats in row 22. All of these seats have extra legroom, which is a massive benefit for economy flights.

Here are the routes on which the A330-200 can be found:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Bogotá (BOG)
• New York City (JFK) – Bogotá (BOG)

Avianca 787-8 Economy Class

The very last economy seat is Avianca’s 787-8. The reason why it’s ranked so low is that its seats are generally the most cramped, narrow, and crowded.

Avianca’s 787-8 has 222 economy seats arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration, shown here:

The seats are each 17 inches wide and 31-36 inches in pitch, depending on which seats you reserve.

We’d recommend you reserve seats in row 8 for the extra legroom from the bulkhead. You should avoid rows 21, 22, 24, 33, and 35 when possible because of the proximity to the lavatories.

Here are the U.S. routes on which Avianca offers the 787-8:

• New York City (JFK) – Medellín (MDE) sometimes

As you can see, Avianca’s fleet isn’t necessarily anything to write home about. In the past, Avianca operated Dreamliner flights with a true business class product on various routes around the world, but it’s pretty rare on U.S. routes nowadays.

You might find them on flights from New York City (JFK) to Medellín (MDE) sometimes. Other than that, the other available business class product that isn’t just a recliner seat is the A330-200 with angled-flat 2-2-2 seats.

The other aircraft offerings are similar to domestic flights with recliner seats, so there’s not much to get excited about.

In addition to expected flights to San Salvador (SAL) and Bogotá (BOG), there are tons of unique options to far-flung places, such as Barranquilla (BAQ), Guatemala City (GUA), and even Managua (MAG). You’re definitely going to want to add this guide to your trip-planning portfolio when contemplating flying Avianca to Central and South America.

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Most U.S.-based points and miles collectors may know Avianca because of its generous LifeMiles program, but the airline can also be a top choice if you're flying to Central or South America.

Since Avianca doesn't have a first-class product, Avianca's business class is the best way to fly Colombia's flag carrier. We'll show you how to score the best food, service, seats and lounges that Avianca has to offer.

What to expect flying Avianca business class

Avianca business class reviews vary. Many travelers are pleasantly surprised by the quality of the business class seats; however, service from the crew and the food options can be hit-or-miss. Avianca business class may provide a very different onboard experience depending on the aircraft type and route.

These are some standard aspects that will be the same no matter which route or Avianca business class product you fly:

Baggage allowance: Avianca business class fares include two checked bags of up to 70 pounds each, one carry-on bag of 22 pounds plus a personal item. You may be entitled to more free checked bags through elite status. To check the exact checked baggage allowance, enter the route, fare type and LifeMiles status level in Avianca's Baggage Calculator .

Boarding: Avianca business class passengers get to board in Group A, the first boarding group after preboarding. If you'd rather maximize time at the lounge, make sure to get to the gate before boarding closes 15 minutes before departure.

Seats: Avianca uses a variety of aircraft types on flights between the U.S. and Central America. The recliner seats in Avianca business class on narrow body aircraft are similar to flying in domestic first class on a U.S. airline. However, there are lie-flat seats in business class on Avianca's Boeing 787 and some Airbus A330 aircraft.

Lounges: Avianca offers over a dozen VIP lounges in airports in Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Spain and North America. And passengers have access to all of them when flying in Avianca business class. Due to COVID-19, some lounges or amenities may not be available. Check with Avianca for the latest updates.

Meals and drinks: Food and drink service depends on the length of the flight and the route. You may get a complimentary drink only on short domestic flights within Central America. Meanwhile, Avianca business class passengers can enjoy a full meal service on longer international flights. Note that service may vary due to the pandemic.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Finding Avianca business class award availability

To book Avianca business class, search and book on Avianca's U.S. website . Enter routes, dates and select business class under the "Who is traveling" section.

However, if your dates or routes are flexible, we recommend using an online search tool, such as the Google Flights Explore Map , to find inexpensive routes and destinations. When searching, options can be limited to a particular airline such as Avianca. For example, here are the cheapest Avianca business class options from New York City over the next six months:

After selecting a route, Google Flights shows the options. Then, click through to Avianca's website or an online travel agency to book the flight.

How to get good value for your Avianca business class ticket

Book a route with lie-flat seats.

To get the best Avianca business class experience, you'll want to fly on a route that uses Airbus A330 or Boeing 787-8 aircraft. These aircraft have lie-flat business class seats rather than recliner seats. You can often find these aircraft on routes between Bogota and New York-JFK or Los Angeles-LAX.

Use LifeMiles to book Avianca business class awards

You can use LifeMiles — Avianca's mileage program — to book Avianca awards. Award rates vary based on the date and route. For example, an Avianca business class flight from Miami to San Salvador can cost 25,000 LifeMiles each way.

Meanwhile, New York-JFK to Bogota might cost 40,000 LifeMiles one-way.

If you don't already have LifeMiles, you can transfer points to LifeMiles from:

American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio).

Capital One Miles (4:3 transfer ratio).

Citi ThankYou Points (1:1 transfer ratio).

Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 transfer ratio).

Book Avianca business class through partner programs

Since LifeMiles uses a variable-pricing method, you might be able to pay fewer miles by booking Avianca business class through a partner mileage program. Avianca is a member of the Star Alliance . This means you can use miles from any Star Alliance partner to book Avianca award flights; however, the rate will vary between programs.

For example, you can pay 38,500 United MileagePlus miles each way for Avianca business class. Plus, availability is generally wide open:

But you'll have to use 57,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles to book the same route in Avianca business class:

Upgrade to Avianca business class using LifeMiles

If you booked an Avianca flight in economy, you aren't stuck flying in economy: Use LifeMiles to upgrade the ticket to Avianca business class. To do so, contact Avianca's Call Center (800-284-2622), select option No. 3 and tell the agent that you want to use LifeMiles to upgrade. The mileage cost to upgrade depends on the route you're flying:

The bottom line

Avianca is a convenient option for flying between the U.S. and Central America and for connections onward to South America. Although Avianca doesn't have a first class product, its business class can be competitive with U.S.-based airlines operating on the same routes.

When flying Avianca business class, some aspects — like baggage allowance and lounge access — will be the same regardless of the route. However, food, drinks and the type of seat will vary based on the route and length of the flight. Make sure to check these details carefully when booking to maximize your experience.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

• Information and help
• Travel requirements

Before traveling, be prepared

Check in advance the necessary documentation for your trip and avoid unforeseen events

Don't forget to take with you the key information before flying, such as the address of your destination and a contact number in case of emergency. If you're flying to San Andrés Island, keep in mind that all tourists over 7 years old must pay the tourist card. Request it at the boarding gate.

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