Just to let u folks know the latest dramatic price increase of Air freight:

From Panama City, Panama
To Quito, Ecuador
Traveller Martin and Katja Wickert
Date Mai 2005
Cost (US $) 675 US Dollar for 1 bike
Shipped by Air
Shipper Company name: Girag Air
Shipper Web Page: www.giragcargo.com
Shipper Contact person name: Carmenza Clavijo Galvis
Shipper Contact person email : carmenzac@giragcargo.com
Shipper Girag Cargo
Shipment Web Page
Recommended Yes
Rating 3 (Average)
Details

Girag Air had the same price as Panavia. The prices increased dramatically and all airlines seem to have the same price. Girag seemed more reliable, we just felt better with them, but later we heard that Panavia has an office in Quito and GIrag just a partner office. I do not know if that matters, Ricardo Rocco prevers Panavia though.

Flight came thru Bogota. Unf. the flight was delayed due to problems on a plane but securely stored in Bogota. The only prep we had to do was roll the bikes into the warehouse. They asked how much gas we had in the tank and we said about a gallon and they said no problem. They asked that we just leave them on the floor and they would take care of the crating but we wanted to strap them down ourselves. In the end that didnt work out and they did it. No damage found to the bike after we received them.

On arrival in Quito they were no longer on the pallet. No damage no scratches. Getting them out of Customs in Quito would have been a major hassle without the broker so we used the agent lady recommended by Ricardo Rocco. She charges 50 Dollar per Bike and it takes her 2 hours instaed of the 2 days you need to do it yourself.

Additional costs in Quito: 28 Dollars for the paperwork of the aircompany (they charge fopr handing u the papers back) and about 25 Dollars depending on the weight of your bike (we had 300 kg) for bringing the bike from the airfield to the Aduana.

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Contact: Panavia Cargo. Tel. 238-4326, cell from Carmenza: 612-5832 They are at the cargo terminal which is from the passenger terminal following the fence around the airport. Easy to find.

Cost: 2 times $675 for 2 fully loaded Africa Twins (boxes and all luggage was still on the bike. $28 in Quito for Paperwork, $50 each for the broker and $28 for handling at Customs.

But: It was all relaxed and very easy. It is for the lazy and rich folks...;-)

Martin and Katja

__________________
Martin and Katja Wickert
www.twintraveller.com
mail@twintraveller.com

Martin, did you post this in the Shipping section: "Shipments by Travellers" - link on left?

I can't find it.

thanks, Grant

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

done.

__________________
Martin and Katja Wickert
www.twintraveller.com
mail@twintraveller.com

Thanks Martin and Katja,

hope you're having a great time! Are you going to make it to Viedma Argentina for the Travellers Meeting in december?

Grant

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I would recommend to fly to Bogota, Colombia!
US 350,- for the bike and 190,- for yourself!
Very easy to enter the country, tooked only 1 hour and there are nearly no cost´s at all! Think about that!
It´s very safe, the people are extremely friendly and the country is beautiful!
I travelled there last year for 6 weeks and i will be back again this year.

Chau Appie!

Hi, the price Panavia and Girag gave us on 22.Mai 2005 for flights to Bogoto was 475 US Dollar.

regards
Martin

__________________
Martin and Katja Wickert
www.twintraveller.com
mail@twintraveller.com

how do you get a hold of this amazing woman..?

these flight prices are incredibly useful. could you also answer two more things, please: how much did your flights for yourselves cost? and do you know how often girag flies?

thanks, i´m in guat. heading south..
alex