Bolivian Airlines, also known as Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA), is the flag carrier of Bolivia and is fully owned by the Bolivian government. The airline operates 13 destinations along with Miami with 23 air fleets. BoA has been described as having an unreliable website, with some travellers reporting difficulties when trying to book online. However, it is possible to book tickets through multiple platforms, including the official website, mobile app, airport counter, and ticketing office. For travellers who are unsure about their trip, BoA allows tickets to be held for 24 hours without payment.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Reservation Methods | Online, Offline, Ticketing Office, Mobile App |
Reservation Contact | Reservation Telephone Number, Email ([email protected]) |
Reservation Time Limit | 12 hours before departure |
Payment Methods | Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal |
Customer Service | Available via Phone, Email, Head Office |
What You'll Learn
Booking online with Bolivian Airlines
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) is the government-owned national carrier of Bolivia. The airline is based at Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (VVI) and flies to more than 20 destinations across South America, North America, Central America, and Europe.
To book online with BoA, you can visit their website and search for your desired route. You can book in English through third-party sites like Alternative Airlines.
Check-in
You can check in online by visiting the Boliviana de Aviación online check-in page and clicking the 'web check-in' tab. Online check-in opens 48 hours before the scheduled flight departure time and closes one hour before.
Passengers can also check in at the airport by visiting one of the check-in agents at the airline check-in desk. Airport check-in closing times are as follows:
- 30 minutes before flight departure time on domestic flights
- 60 minutes before flight departure time on flights to Miami
- 75 minutes before departure time on international flights in South America
- 90 minutes before departure time on flights to Madrid
Payment
When booking online, BoA accepts payments made by credit or debit card. However, some customers have reported issues with credit card payments, receiving an error message stating that the pin is not matching. In such cases, it may be best to seek alternative payment methods or book through a third party.
Booking issues
Some customers have reported issues with the BoA website, including problems with inputting birth dates and selecting flight dates. In addition, the website may not always load properly, and there may be issues with the online check-in feature.
If you encounter any issues while trying to book online with BoA, you can try using a different web browser or device. You can also contact BoA directly for assistance. Their customer service team can be reached by email at [email protected].
Booking through a third party
If you prefer, you can book your BoA flight through a third-party site like Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, or Alternative Airlines. These sites may offer a more seamless booking experience and often provide additional benefits such as payment plans and WhatsApp support.
Booking through a travel agent
Another option is to book your BoA flight through a local travel agent. This may be especially useful if you are having difficulty booking online or need assistance with a group booking. You can find travel agents in Bolivia by searching online or asking for recommendations from friends or family in the area.
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Common issues with the Bolivian Airlines website
The Boliviana de Aviación website has been a source of frustration for many travellers over the years, with a range of issues being commonly reported. Here is a list of the most frequently encountered problems:
- Inability to input birth dates: Days of the month written in letters rather than numbers cannot be selected, resulting in an error message.
- Inability to book direct flights: Travellers have reported being unable to book direct flights from La Paz to Uyuni through the website.
- Website unavailability: Some users have reported being unable to access the website at all.
- Issues with online check-in: There have been reports of difficulties checking in online, with the website asking users to install Acrobat Reader despite it already being installed.
- Errors when booking flights: Some travellers have experienced errors when trying to book flights, with the website failing to load or giving an error message.
- Inability to find reservation: In some cases, users have been unable to locate their reservation on the website after booking.
- Issues with receiving electronic tickets: There have been instances where customers did not receive their electronic tickets via email after booking.
- Difficulty contacting customer support: The website's customer support phone number has been reported as non-working, making it challenging to resolve issues.
- Website language issues: The website has been known to default to Spanish, making it challenging for non-Spanish speakers to navigate.
- Inconsistent pricing: There have been reports of inconsistent pricing between the US and Argentinian versions of the website, with the latter sometimes offering lower fares.
- Schedule changes: Boliviana de Aviación has a reputation for last-minute schedule changes, which can affect connecting flights and travel plans.
- Lack of information: The website has been criticised for a lack of information on topics such as ticket cancellation or changes.
- Inability to pay for tickets: In some cases, users have encountered issues when trying to pay for their tickets online, with the payment process failing to complete.
These issues have been a source of frustration for travellers, impacting their ability to book flights, check-in online, and access necessary information. While Boliviana de Aviación has taken steps to address some of these issues, ongoing challenges with the website continue to affect the user experience.
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Contacting Bolivian Airlines
Bolivian Airlines, also known as Boliviana de Aviación, offers several ways to get in touch with their customer support team. The airline is committed to providing excellent customer service and offers multiple contact options 24/7.
Phone Support
Boliviana de Aviación has different customer support numbers for different countries. Here are some of the contact numbers:
- 1-800-584-4099 (Toll-Free)
- 901-10-50-10
- (+55) (11) 3138-5600
- +591 235 40168/7146000
The average waiting time when calling Boliviana de Aviación is around 2 to 4 hours, and the reply duration depends on the agents' availability.
Email Support
If you prefer to contact them via email, you can reach out to the following email addresses:
- USA: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
- Bolivia: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The airline usually responds to emails within 24 hours, but there may be delays due to various reasons.
Social Media Support
Boliviana de Aviación is also active on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. You can connect with them on these platforms to ask questions, share experiences, and receive prompt responses to your inquiries.
Live Chat
Additionally, the airline's website features a live chat option, allowing you to chat with customer support representatives in real time and get quick assistance.
Other Options
If you are unable to reach the airline through the above methods, you can also try contacting them through a travel agent or a third-party booking website, as suggested by some travellers.
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Buying tickets offline
If you would prefer to book your flight with Bolivia Airlines (BoA) in person, there are several ways to do this.
Firstly, you can book your ticket at the airport. One source recommends this as a solution to issues with booking online, but notes that you will need to pay in cash.
You can also book your ticket at a BoA office. However, it is worth noting that one source encountered issues when trying to book at the Cochabamba office.
If you are unable to book your ticket at a physical location, you could try contacting a local travel agent. One source details how they booked their domestic BoA flights through a travel agent based in La Paz. To do this, they had to call and email the agent, and pay with a US Visa card.
Another option is to use a third-party website, such as Skyscanner or Kiwi.com, to book your flight.
Finally, you can try contacting BoA via email at [email protected]. However, this method may not be suitable if you wish to book your ticket offline.
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Online payment issues
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) is the government-owned national carrier of Bolivia. The airline is based at Jorge Wilstermann International Airport (VVI) and flies to more than 20 destinations across South America, North America, Central America, and Europe.
When booking a flight with BoA, you can do so online or at the airport. However, BoA's website has been a source of frustration for many travellers, with several reports of issues with online payments.
There are several issues that can occur when trying to book a flight with BoA online. One common problem is the website's inability to process online payments. Travellers have reported that after filling out all the necessary information, they receive an error message stating that the PIN does not match, even when they have entered the correct information. This issue has been reported with various types of credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard.
In some cases, BoA has requested that customers send pictures of their credit cards (front and back) and scan their IDs, which is not a secure way to transmit sensitive information. It is recommended that you do not send such sensitive information via the internet.
If you encounter issues with online payments, there are a few alternative options to consider:
- Use a third-party website: Travellers have reported success using third-party websites, such as Skyscanner or Kiwi.com, to book their flights. These websites may offer a more seamless booking experience.
- Contact a local travel agent: If you are unable to book online, you can try contacting a local travel agent in Bolivia to assist with your booking. This may involve a more traditional booking process, including calling, emailing, and paying with a US Visa.
- Book at the airport: Another option is to wait until you arrive in Bolivia and book your domestic flights at the airport. However, keep in mind that you may need to pay in cash, and there may be longer wait times or limited availability.
- Try a different airline: If you are unable to resolve the online payment issues with BoA, you may consider booking with an alternative airline, such as Amaszonas, which offers flights within Bolivia.
It is important to note that these issues with online payments may be temporary, and BoA may improve their website functionality over time. However, if you are experiencing difficulties, the above alternatives can help ensure you are still able to book your desired flights.
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Frequently asked questions
You can book your tickets by calling the Bolivia Airlines reservation team or by using the official website, mobile app, airport counter, or ticketing office.
Yes, you can hold tickets for 24 hours without payment if you are unsure about your trip.
Bolivia Airlines has a toll-free number for passengers in the USA: +1-866-603-0557.
You can pay for your tickets using a debit card, credit card, or PayPal.
You can reserve your seat by calling the Bolivia Airlines reservation team or by visiting a ticketing office.