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Transfers and Terminal Layout at Bogotá Airport
El Dorado Airport has a modern and spacious Terminal 1 and a smaller Terminal 2, which is used exclusively by the small airlines Clic and Satena.
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Terminal 1
The main terminal is very spacious, modern and well-equipped with facilities.
Queues for immigration on arrival range from 20 to 45 minutes. Queues for security checks before departure are usually between 5 and 15 minutes.
Terminal 1 is used by all airlines except Clic, Jetsmart and Satena.
The public area is shared by all departures. There are two security checkpoints at the airport: one leads to international departure gates A and B, and the other to domestic departure gates C and D.
As Terminal 1 is large, we recommend arriving at least 2 hours before your flight.
Terminal 2
This small, old building is situated approximately 500 metres from Terminal 1 and is used exclusively by the regional airlines Clic, Jetsmart and Satena.
The terminal is rather cramped, but check-in is quick here and you only need to arrive 75–90 minutes before departure.
Connecting flights
Connecting flights are very straightforward and well organised. Below, we describe the situation where you have booked your flights as a single reservation and the connection is guaranteed by the airline, or where you are travelling with hand luggage only and already have a boarding pass for your connecting flight.
The information below applies to transfers within Terminal 1.
If you need to move between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, you must always collect your luggage, leave the building and make your way to the other terminal.
If you need to travel from the main Terminal 1 to the smaller Terminal 2, please use the free shuttle bus service. There are several stops on the ground floor of each terminal; the bus is marked ‘Eldorado Shuttle Bus’. It runs free of charge approximately every 20 minutes (5.00 to 23.00) and the journey takes around 20 minutes.
International <-> International
When transferring between international flights (e.g. Madrid – Bogotá – Panama), you do not need to go through immigration. Follow the ‘Connecting Flights’ signs, which will guide you through the security checkpoint reserved exclusively for transfer passengers.
This process is usually quick, with queues typically taking no more than 5–10 minutes. After that, you’ll find yourself in the departure gates area.
The actual transfer time ranges from 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the location of your departure gate.
- Luggage: will be transferred automatically
- Immigration control: no
- Security check: yes
International → Domestic
If you arrive in Colombia on an international flight and are continuing on a domestic flight to a destination within Colombia, you must go through immigration and customs in Bogotá.
Upon arrival, proceed to passport control and head towards the exit. After passing through immigration and customs, you will exit the transit area, take the escalator to the first floor and pass through security to enter the domestic transit area.
You do not need to collect your luggage; you will collect it at your final destination.
The net transfer time varies between 45 and 90 minutes, depending on passport control.
- Luggage: will be transferred automatically
- Immigration control: yes
- Security check: yes
Domestic -> International
When travelling from a Colombian city via Bogotá to a destination abroad, the procedure is very similar to that for the reverse journey.
Upon arrival, head for the exit, go out into the public area and make your way to the first floor. Here, you will go through security and passport control to reach the international transit area.
Queues for passport control on departure are shorter than on arrival, so the actual transfer time is between 35 and 75 minutes.
- Luggage: will be transferred automatically
- Immigration control: yes
- Security check: yes
Domestic <-> Domestic
The easiest connection is when travelling from a city in Colombia to another destination in Colombia.
Upon arrival, you’ll proceed straight to the departure gates, where you simply locate your connecting flight.
The actual transfer time ranges from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the distance to the next departure gate.
- Baggage: will be transferred automatically
- Immigration control: no
- Security check: no
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Any questions left?
If you have any questions or comments about the article...
8 comments
Pernille Stjerne Klinkvort
Hi, we have a flight from Santa Marta via Bogota to Amsterdam. First flight is Avianca and second is KLM, booked in same booking. Avianca will not book the checket baggage all the way to Amsterdam, and both say that we cant book checked baggage online for the BOG AMS flight, only the flight with Avianca. Anyone has heard of that before? We have 2 hours in BOG, is that enough when we have to pay for and check the luggage in?
math.dekoninck
Translated from cestee.fr
Hello, thank you for this detailed information. I have a 1h10 stopover in Bogotá between my flight from Medellín and my flight to Paris, all on a single ticket with Avianca. This seems to me to be a fairly short connection time. Is it enough to complete the necessary formalities and reach my flight without difficulty?
Thank you in advance for your feedback.
alexander beer
Translated from cestee.de
Thanks for the information! My question: We fly from lima via bogota to curacao with avianca av074 and d onwards with avuanca av092. Departure in Lina at 2:55, arrival Bogota 6:05, onward flight 7:05. One hour for transfer. Baggage will be forwarded. Is one hour enough? Thanks in advance! Alexander
Kryštof Hájek
Translated from cestee.cz
Any connecting time the airline sells is sufficient ;)
An hour isn't much, but Bogota airport is well organized and can be made without any problems.
Avianca flies the Bogota-Curacao route twice a day, so even if there's a big delay on the flight from Lima, you'd probably still get to your destination that day.
alexander beer
Translated from cestee.de
Thank you very much!
Jakub Langer
Translated from cestee.cz
Das Foto sieht als Riva am Gardasee bei Nacht aus.
alexander beer
Translated from cestee.de
Exactly. It was at midnight on New Year's Eve!
jpmabille
Translated from cestee.fr
are jetsmart and latam leaving terminal 1?
Kryštof Hájek
Translated from cestee.cz
Latam flies from Terminal 1, Jetsmart uses Terminal 2.
jpmabille
Translated from cestee.fr
Hi, I arrive in Bogota with Iberia at 4.20 am, then I take a flight from Bogota to Perieira via terminal 2 (jetsmart) departing at 8.20 am, how do I proceed? I only have cabin baggage, do I have to go through immigration? and is 8.20 am enough time or is it risky enough? thank you.
gksn rslr
Hello,
Thanks for the article. I have a question. I have 3 hours layover in Bogota between my two international flights. They are not connecting flights as I had to book them separately. I do not have any checked luggage. Do i still need to exit and go through immigration check? Thank you for the reply in advance.
David Eiselt
Translated from cestee.cz
You don't have to go to immigration. Just follow the Connecting flights sign. You will need a boarding pass for the next flight to make a smooth transfer, for example, you can get one at online check-in.
Thayná Rodrigues
Translated from cestee.pt
Hello, I have a question. My final destination is San Salvador. But I'm flying from São Paulo and making a stopover in Bogotá and then Medellin. I bought everything at once through avianca. Would I have to go through immigration? Or just follow the connection?
Kryštof Hájek
Translated from cestee.cz
Hello, yes, in this case you will have to go through immigration control as the Bogota - Medellín flight is domestic.
However, your luggage should be automatically transferred.
Hello, I have a flight Lima-Bogota-Montreal in july. My step over at Bogota is 18 hours. If a want to go out and explore Bogota do I need a visa. I'm canadian. I'm flying with avianca
Canadians do not need a visa to visit Colombia as a tourist. At passport control, you just get a standard stamp for free with a stay of up to 90 days. So feel free to explore Bogotá during your layover.