{"response": {"Key": "MDE-SFO", "orig": {"code": "MDE", "type": "airport", "city": "Medellín", "fullCity": "Medellín, Colombia", "airport": "Medellin Jose Maria Cordova"}, "dest": {"code": "SFO", "type": "airport", "city": "San Francisco", "fullCity": "San Francisco, California", "airport": "San Francisco Intl Airport"}, "faq": {"q0": {"question": "What is the typical flight duration from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "There is no scheduled nonstop service between Medellín (MDE) and San Francisco (SFO), so the route requires a connection. The distance is about 3,660 miles. A typical one-stop total journey time is approximately 11 to 14 hours, depending on the connecting city and layover.", "methodology": "Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.", "toolsUsed": ["flight_schedule"]}, "q1": {"question": "Are there any direct flights from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "There are no nonstop flights from Medellín to San Francisco. The most common one‑stop routing goes through Panama City (PTY) on Copa Airlines, with a total travel time around 13 hours — the layover in Panama is about 6 hours. American Airlines via Miami is another frequent option, typically taking a bit over 10 hours with a shorter connection.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold. Stop counts, connecting hubs, and per-airline prices are drawn from a large sample of the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. We group those fares by number of stops, by the hub airport a connection routes through, and by operating airline, and report each group's share of the sample alongside its lowest and median price.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines", "flight_schedule", "route_options"]}, "q3": {"question": "What are the ground transportation options in San Francisco?", "answer": "San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers several ground transportation options to the city center. BART rapid rail is the fastest and most-used public transit, connecting directly from the International Terminal to downtown San Francisco. Ride-share services like Lyft, Uber, and Wingz pick up on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage, while taxis are available outside Arrivals. Rental cars are accessible via the AirTrain Blue Line to the consolidated Rental Car Center. Autonomous rides with Waymo are also available for select passengers at the Rental Car Center.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://flysfo.com/passengers/ground-transportation", "title": "Ground Transportation | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-04-08T21:19:40Z"}, {"url": "https://flysfo.com/de/node/10188", "title": "Ground Transportation | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-04-08T21:19:40Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SFO", "title": "San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-27T05:13:36Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport", "title": "San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-18T07:52:09Z"}, {"url": "https://www.flysfo.com/pt-br", "title": "Home Page | San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q4": {"question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "The cheapest months to fly from Medellín to San Francisco are April, May, and September, with average fares around $602–$666. The most expensive months are December, March, and January, with averages climbing from $793 to $1,038.", "methodology": "This 'good deal' estimate shows a representative best price for each departure date across roughly a 12-month window (about 3 months back and 9 months forward). It is built from real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, accumulated into a price history for each departure date. Rather than weighting all of that history equally, we apply exponential time decay so recent prices dominate — a price seen yesterday counts almost in full, one from about a month ago roughly a third, and prices from a few months back very little — giving a figure that tracks today's market instead of a stale long-run average. Clear price outliers are removed before any calculation, departure dates with no observations are filled in from nearby dates, and the resulting curve is lightly smoothed so it reads as a clean seasonal trend rather than day-to-day noise. For this route, fares for the requested travel direction were unavailable, so the pattern shown is derived from the reverse direction, which shares the same seasonal demand cycle.", "toolsUsed": ["seasonal_prices"]}, "q5": {"question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "For the best fare from Medellín to San Francisco, aim to book 14 to 17 weeks ahead, when prices average around $721. Booking about 110 days out can score you the lowest fare around $713, while waiting until the last minute (0 days) pushes prices up to about $825. For summer or holiday travel, it's wise to lean toward the earlier end of that window or even a bit further out, since peak demand often drives prices higher.", "methodology": "This booking-window guidance is built from the same real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, re-grouped by how many days before departure each price was seen (from the departure day out to about 180 days ahead) across the route's price history. At each booking lead time we report the 25th-percentile price — the cheaper end of what travelers were quoted, rather than the rock-bottom minimum (which can be a fluke) or the average (which is pulled up by expensive last-minute fares). The buy-or-wait advice then applies a risk premium that grows as departure approaches, since seat availability shrinks and prices become less predictable; using that adjusted curve we flag windows where waiting is likely to save a meaningful amount (at least $20 or 5%) versus windows where booking now is the better call. Isolated single-day recommendations are filtered out, so the advice only reflects a window that holds for several days in a row. For this route, fares for the requested travel direction were unavailable, so the pattern shown is derived from the reverse direction, which shares the same seasonal demand cycle.", "toolsUsed": ["booking_timing"]}, "q6": {"question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "No overnight (red‑eye) flights operate from Medellín (MDE) to San Francisco (SFO) — there are no nonstop red‑eyes on this route, and no connecting itineraries with a red‑eye long leg were found.", "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": ["redeye_flights"]}, "q7": {"question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "There are no nonstop flights from Medellín to San Francisco. The most common one-stop routing is via Panama City on Copa Airlines, with about 15 daily connections. United Airlines also offers frequent connections through Houston, with around 6 daily flights, and American Airlines connects through Miami with about 4 daily options. Other less frequent one-stop patterns include United via Mexico City or Miami, and Avianca via San Salvador.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines"]}, "q8": {"question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Medellín and San Francisco?", "answer": "Common layover cities include Miami, Panama City, Houston, and Dallas. Miami offers many onward flights to San Francisco and efficient connections for Colombian travelers. Panama City’s Tocumen Airport provides a central hub with smooth transfers and visa‑free transit for many nationalities. Houston and Dallas serve as major U.S. gateways with extensive domestic networks, keeping total travel time competitive."}, "q10": {"question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to San Francisco?", "answer": "September and October offer San Francisco's warmest, sunniest weather with fewer tourists than summer."}, "q11": {"question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "Bring a passport valid for at least six months beyond your stay, a valid U.S. visa or ESTA, proof of onward or return travel, and a payment method for baggage. Vaccination certificates are not required for entry to the U.S. as of now, but confirm current status."}, "q12": {"question": "Which airport should I use in San Francisco?", "answer": "San Francisco International is the region's primary airport, located about 13 miles south of downtown. It serves all major alliances and offers extensive domestic and international connections. For most travellers, SFO is the best choice."}, "q14": {"question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at San Francisco airport?", "answer": "San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has a Grand Hyatt hotel directly on-site, connected airside to all terminals via the AirTrain — no shuttle is required. Several other hotels, such as the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront and The Westin San Francisco Airport, are located nearby and offer complimentary shuttle service. Additionally, the airport provides lounges, showers, and hourly nap rooms in the International Terminal for those needing a quick rest.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/guides/san-francisco-airport-guide.htm", "title": "San Francisco Airport Guide (SFO) - Sleeping in Airports", "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png", "time_published": "2018-10-02T00:00:42Z"}, {"url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sfobg-san-francisco-airport-marriott-waterfront/overview/?EM=DNM_SANFRANCISCOAIRPORTMARRIOTT.COM", "title": "SFO Airport Hotel | San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront", "time_published": "2025-02-19T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sfowi-the-westin-san-francisco-airport/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0", "title": "The Westin San Francisco Airport (Official Site) - SFO Hotel", "time_published": "2025-02-19T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/shop-dine-relax?content_type=things_to_do&location=3&sort_by=random", "title": "Shop/Dine/Relax | San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2025-10-22T23:13:26Z"}, {"url": "https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/shop-dine-relax?content_type=All&gate_area=All&https://www.flysfo.com/passengers/shop-dine-relax?https://www_flysfo_com/passengers/shop-dine-relax?https://www_flysfo_com/passengers/shop-dine-relax?location=2&location=1659&security=All&service_tags=All&sort_by=random", "title": "Shop/Dine/Relax | San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2025-10-22T23:13:26Z"}, {"url": "http://www.flysfo.com/de/node/14691", "title": "Press Releases | San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2025-07-09T15:54:20Z"}]}, "q15": {"question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at San Francisco Intl Airport?", "answer": "San Francisco International Airport offers currency exchange services, quiet reflection and prayer spaces, and free Wi‑Fi. Currency exchange counters are available in the International Terminal, while a Reflection Room—which includes a prayer room—is located in the terminals for meditation and quiet reflection. Free Wi‑Fi is provided throughout the airport, and you can also find yoga rooms and a sensory room for additional relaxation.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://flysfo.com/passengers/shop-dine-relax", "title": "Shop/Dine/Relax | San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2026-03-12T16:15:43Z"}, {"url": "http://www.flysfo.com/welcome-terminal-3", "title": "Welcome to Terminal 3 | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "http://www.flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-05-08T21:34:33Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport", "title": "San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-18T07:52:09Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San%20Francisco%20International%20Airport", "title": "San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-28T21:12:40Z"}, {"url": "https://flysfo.com/passengers/services-amenities", "title": "Services & Amenities | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-03-03T22:32:54Z"}]}, "q16": {"question": "Are there accessible services or children's facilities at the Medellín and San Francisco airports?", "answer": "At José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Medellín, travelers with disabilities can request wheelchair and guided assistance through their airline, ideally at least 48 hours in advance; the airport also offers ramps and accessible facilities, though specific children’s play areas are not mentioned. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) provides extensive accessibility services including wheelchair assistance arranged via the airline, a sensory room for neurodivergent travelers, companion care restrooms with adult changing tables, and visual paging, plus TSA Cares support if requested 72 hours ahead. Neither airport advertises dedicated children’s play areas, but SFO’s sensory room can serve as a calming space for young travelers.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_María_Córdova_International_Airport", "title": "José María Córdova International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-19T12:06:25Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1356775606&title=Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_C%C3%B3rdova_International_Airport", "title": "José María Córdova International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2004-08-17T15:27:57Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9%20Mar%C3%ADa%20C%C3%B3rdova%20International%20Airport", "title": "José María Córdova International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-28T11:50:41Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?id=1356775606&page=Jos%C3%A9_Mar%C3%ADa_C%C3%B3rdova_International_Airport&title=Special:CiteThisPage&wpFormIdentifier=titleform", "title": "Cite This Page", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medellín_Airport", "title": "Medellín Airport", "time_published": "2019-12-29T10:16:27Z"}, {"url": "https://flysfo.com/passengers/services-amenities/accessibility", "title": "Accessibility | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-07-15T18:51:14Z"}, {"url": "https://www.flysfo.com/about/contact-sfo", "title": "Contact SFO | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://www.flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-04-15T15:55:46Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SFO", "title": "San Francisco International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-27T05:13:36Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport", "title": "San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-18T07:52:09Z"}, {"url": "https://flysfo.com/passengers/services-amenities/accessibility/at-sfo", "title": "At SFO | San Francisco International Airport", "favicon": "https://flysfo.com/themes/custom/blueskies/favicon.ico", "time_published": "2026-05-21T22:27:23Z"}]}, "q17": {"question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "There is no nonstop service from Medellín (MDE) to San Francisco (SFO). On one-stop itineraries the long leg is most often a Boeing 737 MAX 9 (especially via Panama City on Copa) or a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (via Houston or Miami on United and American). Other types that appear include the Airbus A320-200 Neo, A319, A320-100, and A321-200 Neo, though the exact aircraft can vary by day and airline. Wi‑Fi and seatback entertainment are widely available on these modern narrowbody jets, but specific offerings depend on the carrier and the particular aircraft assigned.", "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": ["route_aircraft"]}, "q18": {"question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "Flights from Medellín (MDE) to San Francisco (SFO) have no nonstop service. On one-stop itineraries, Copa Airlines (via Panama City) is a Star Alliance member, United Airlines (via Houston, Mexico City, Miami, or Orlando) is also Star Alliance, and American Airlines (via Miami) belongs to Oneworld. Avianca, which appears as the operator on some United-marketed connections, is itself a Star Alliance carrier. No SkyTeam or unaligned major carriers appear in the typical connecting patterns.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines"]}, "q20": {"question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Medellín?", "answer": "At José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Medellín, the main lounges are The Lounge Medellin in both the domestic and international terminals, plus Harmony Lounge Nacional and Harmony Lounge Internacional. The Lounge Medellin International is open 24 hours and offers premium food, a full bar, showers, and conference rooms, with access via Priority Pass, LoungeKey, or day pass. The domestic version is also 24 hours and includes complimentary day beds, premium food, and drinks. Harmony Lounges operate from 6am to 9pm and are well-rated, though specific eligibility may vary. All lounges are past security, so they're only available for departing passengers.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/MDE/The-Lounge-Medellin-Domestic-Terminal-KQlpb8y4sO", "title": "The Lounge Medellin at José María Córdova International Airport | Amex US", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"}, {"url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/MDE/The-Lounge-Medellin-International-International-Terminal-BYzRp1Irxl", "title": "The Lounge Medellin International at José María Córdova International Airport | Amex US", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"}, {"url": "https://prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/colombia/jose-maria-cordova-international", "title": "José María Córdova International Airport MDE Lounges - MDE Airport Guide and lounges.  | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_María_Córdova_International_Airport", "title": "José María Córdova International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-19T12:06:25Z"}, {"url": "https://my.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/colombia/jose-maria-cordova-international", "title": "José María Córdova International Airport MDE Lounges - MDE Airport Guide and lounges. | Priority Pass", "favicon": "https://my.prioritypass.com/icon.png?a4ff481221414a5c", "time_published": "2024-11-05T16:20:09Z"}]}, "q21": {"question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "On Medellín–San Francisco flights, Basic Economy fares may exclude checked baggage. Standard international economy typically includes one checked bag and a carry‑on, while premium cabins offer more generous allowances."}, "q22": {"question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Medellín to San Francisco?", "answer": "Flights from Medellín to San Francisco typically offer Economy and flat-bed Business class, with Premium Economy available on some connecting itineraries."}, "q23": {"question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?", "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and premium cabin tickets often allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy rarely does."}}}}