Bogotá El Dorado Airport (BOG) Flights & Information

Bogotá El Dorado International Airport is the main international gateway to Colombia and South America's busiest airport, measured in flight departures and second busiest by passenger numbers. Over 35 million people travel through El Dorado each year.

BOG has two connected terminals. It has invested in making air travel pleasant and efficient and has won several awards, ranking among the world’s best.

Overall, I find the airport named after a mythical city of gold is a treasure. It is relatively easy to navigate for an airport its size and offers an excellent passenger experience.

Airlines flying to Bogotá El Dorado International Airport

BOG is a hub for the national flagship Avianca, the government-owned airline SATENA, and the Colombian regional carrier Clic Air. It is also a base for LATAM Colombia. Other Latin American carriers that serve Bogotá include Aeroméxico, Arajet, Copa, Gol Linheas Aéreas, Viva Aerobus and Volaris.

International carriers that fly to BOG include Air Canada, Air France, Emirates, Iberia and Turkish Airlines. US majors flying to Bogotá include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.

The 2 terminals at BOG

BOG airport has two terminal buildings. Terminal 1 is a large, modern terminal in the shape of a lowercase ‘h’ with two concourses. Terminal 2 is the smaller, older former Puente Aereo, primarily serving regional flights by SATENA and Clic Air. The two terminals are connected by a complimentary shuttle bus, which takes around 20 minutes.

While the international terminal at BOG is almost always bustling, it is very efficient, so long lines go down quickly. You can usually get from curbside to your gate and vice versa in around 20 minutes. The domestic terminal is also easy to get through, though it offers more limited amenities.

Arrivals at Bogotá El Dorado International Airport

Arriving at BOG is a breeze. You may find a long line at immigration, but it is well staffed so you won’t be standing in line for hours. At worst, you might expect a 45 minute wait.

Once you clear immigration, you’ll pass a Duty-Free zone before arriving at the vast baggage claim area. Monitors will show which luggage carousel will have the baggage from your flight. After you collect your bag and clear customs, you’ll exit to the landside of the arrivals zone where you will find some nice shops and cafés in case you need something.

Connecting flights at BOG

You may require a transit visa to connect to another international flight in Colombia. You should check whether you will need one before departing. When arriving on an international flight and connecting to another international flight, you should not go through immigration.

Follow the signs to the transit terminal. You will need to go through a security screening process, but it shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes. After clearing security, you can proceed to the gate for your next flight.

The transit area is open overnight and offers lots of seating so you can sleep there if you arrive late and have an early morning departure. Bogotá’s main terminal has many shops, restaurants, and lounges to enjoy between connections.

If you are connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight, you must first clear immigration. If your baggage is checked through to your next flight and your flight takes off from Terminal 1, you can take the escalator up to the domestic security screening lane and proceed to your gate.

If you are connecting to a domestic flight operated by an airline in Terminal 2, then you should collect your luggage and proceed to the Bus Satélite Shuttle Bus, which runs a circuit through the airport buildings. outside through Door 2 of international arrivals. The first stop is at Terminal 2.

Getting from your gate in Terminal 1 to your gate in Terminal 2 (and vice-versa) shouldn’t take much longer than an hour. Still, I recommend leaving yourself some extra time between flights so you’re not rushed in case your first flight is delayed in arriving.

Local currency at BOG

There are currency exchange services at BOG, but I don’t recommend using them because the exchange rates are poor. You’ll find plenty of ATMs at the airport where you can get pesos for less. Don’t take out too much cash, though. Most places in Colombia accept Visa and MasterCard and many also accept American Express.

Transportation at SJO

Authorized yellow taxis are available just outside the airport. Though you may be approached by people offering independent taxi and ride services, but I don’t recommend you accept these offers.

There is also TransMilenio bus service available. You must have a Tullave card to board the bus, which you can recharge with funds as needed. It’s available for sale at a kiosk on the 1st floor of Terminal 1, in front of door 8. The down side of traveling by bus is that you may need to make a lot of connections to get to your end destination. Still, you can research your route online through the TransMilenio website.

You can also take an Uber in Colombia although, from the airport, a taxi really is your best bet. Alternatively, check whether your hotel offers shuttle service at the airport as a number of popular hotel chains do.

Car rentals

There are several car rental companies at Bogotá airport, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National. They have desks landside in the Public Hall at the international terminal.

Be warned that driving in Colombia is a bit of a thrill ride, with the rules of the road adhered to only casually. Traffic in Bogotá can be heavy throughout the city and finding parking can also be challenge. A small car is your best bet in the city. If you’re venturing into the countryside, I recommend renting an SUV.

Hotels near Bogotá International Airport

If you have an overnight connection and don’t like the idea of sleeping in the transit zone, you can find some hotels nearby that offer shuttle service at the airport. Try the Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn or Aloft Bogotá Airport.

Departures at BOG

Take account of traffic conditions in Bogotá and leave time to get to the airport at least 3 hours before an international flight from Terminal 1, 2 hours before a domestic flight out of Terminal 1, and 1 hour before a domestic flight out of Terminal 2. Check with your airline as they may have specific check-in requirements. Once you’re there, the process of clearing security and getting to your gate will be pretty smooth.

You’ll find airline check-in desks on the second floor of Terminal 1. Check-in at Terminal 2 is on the ground floor.

In Terminal 1, there are two separate security checkpoints: one for domestic flights and another for international flights.

Shopping and dining at BOG

Think of Bogotá airport as a mall—I find it similar to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Singapore Changi International Airport in this regard. There is an overabundance of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars available at BOG, both in the public hall, before clearing security, where there is also a food court on the third floor, and near the gates past security.

There are fewer but still a decent number of food, beverage and shopping options at the domestic Terminal 2.

Lounges at BOG

Bogotá’s Terminal 1 has 6 lounges where you can relax or catch up with work, while enjoying a snack and a beverage. You’ll find The Lounge Bogotá VIP in the domestic departures concourse D, past security. It is open to Priority Pass members and also sells day passes bookable through the lounge’s website.

Avianca offers two VIP lounges, one at the international departures on concourse B next to the food court on the 3rd floor. The other is by domestic departures in concourse D, past security.

Copa offers its passengers a lounge in the international concourse A. It’s located in the mezzanine near gate A7, and accessible through escalators. LATAM’s VIP lounge is also in international departures concourse A, located on the third floor, with an entrance across from gate A1.

If flying with another carrier, ask the agent when you check-in whether you can access any of these lounges through their alliance partnership or a concession.

The El Dorado Lounge is located in international departures Concourse A, across from gate A8. It offers a variety of ways to spend your time, including a cinema, spa and shower services, and children’s entertainment zone. It is accessible to Priority Pass members.

Wi-Fi at Bogotá International Airport

BOG offers free Wi-Fi after filling in a brief survey on the portal. It is available in 30-minute intervals, though you can renew it as often as you need to. Look for the Aeropuerto_El_Dorado network. I find the free service is usually fine. If you have more intensive work to do, you can also buy faster Wi-Fi with various time increments ranging from 1 hour to a day for a fee. The airport’s lounges also offer free Wi-Fi.