For the second segment of my Le Premier in the new La Premiere adventure, I flew Aviancas Boeing 787-8 business class on the 9hr35min flight from Bogota (BOG) to Paris (CDG).
Continue reading: Review: Avianca Business Class Boeing 787 (BOG-CDG)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
On the part of the creamer, do you still put it in if that's the only choice they offer or do you just drink your coffee black?
Those mini milk packs would be a better alternative but while it has a longer shelf life than your typical milk out of the fridge, it's still shorter than your powdered creamer.
@ Mike O. -- I just drink coffee black, because I find the powdered creamer to be vile.
How empty was the business class for you to sit at another seat for take off/landing? Or did you just move there for the whole flight?
Also, I think this needs correcting…
“By the time they got to my seat, the only option was the omelet…The breakfast itself was fine — it included blueberry pancakes with jam”
For some reason, the way you quoted back the quote marks around “arepa” was incredibly funny to me 😉
I actually have a lot of interest in trying this product with connection to Miami or Orlando. I like the idea of an intentionally long transatlantic to get a full night’s sleep (especially going east), and if you book a cash fare in January you get two years of Star Gold in just one return trip.
@ Aaron -- Whoops, fixed, thank you! Every seat on the plane was taken. I could look out the window by leaning forward quite a bit.
@ ChrisDD -- Hah, I put quotes around arepa because that is how it appeared on the menu, and I'm not sure what exactly it actually was. I'm not sure what differentiates an arepa from an "arepa."
@Ben, how much was the transfer Bonus? 94K lifemiles for an AV's flight seems rather steep. I flew NH's The Room last year for less 😀
The food looks better than what UA serve in their overhyped J cabin. They're definitely missing a trick by not doing pre-orders though.
I think that the logic for the abbreviated service is the same for all their long flights, or at least the overnight ones. And it makes sense to me- if you're arriving at 07:00, you will have a full day at the destination and many people will want to try and maximise their ability to stay awake until their normal bedtime.
I recently flew MAD-EZE departing just after noon. Serving lunch just after takeoff seemed wrong for a 12-hour flight that was going to land at 20:00. Besides having been snacking in the lounge, I definitely didn't want to have lunch at 09:00 BUE time.
@ hbilbao -- A 25% transfer bonus. Honestly, I booked just a few days before departure, so it was non-saver pricing. Factoring that in, I'd say it was quite a fair price.
@ Throwawayname -- I hear you, though for what it's worth, almost no one went to sleep right after the meal, given how early it still was. Furthermore, I'm not saying the meal has to be some elaborate affair, but it's nice to at least have a meal where you're offered a drink refill at some point. If the meal is so abbreviated that there's not even an option to get a second drink, it's too fast, in my opinion.
I don't disagree by any means, there's nothing stopping them from offering a choice between a full meal and an 'express' option.
Arepas are made of corn so they put in quotes to indicate a creative arepa-looking rice patty. That or, as in the case with pandebono, maybe because it's a word in a different language.
They ran out of some meal options but you were seated in the last row. I avoid the last row especially for that reason. And you mention that business class was full so you run that risk. That shrimp and rice looks delicious! And so do the pancakes! Though they should have told you about the starter. Agree about that sad-looking cheese plate but what they should have said was something like they will check if any desserts remain and get back to you. Don't understand the trauma about powdered coffee creamer; millions of people around the world like it. And you're being unfair: "The selection included roughly 100 movies and 40 TV shows, plus a selection of games...Given the fairly limited selection of entertainment..." Fairly limited? If you could not find three movies you'd like to watch amongst 100 options, that's on you.
This business class is so low effort. Looks kind of depressing. I don't understand why airlines like Avianca dont lean hard into their culture more as a differentiator. They'd have plenty to draw from. Put colorful accents in the cabin interior, make a big deal about your coffee service (a la austrian airlines), small piece of Colombian chocolate before landing, cocaine in the lavs (ok not that one lol). The customer impact would far exceed the cost.
I agree that they could improve certain things without expending a huge amount of effort, but I don't see it as depressing- a coherent low-effort approach is better than creating high expectations then failing to consistently meet them. There's no point e.g. serving high end champagne in the lounge when you have mice roaming around it. I would choose the no-frills Avianca business class product over the self-important Lufthansas and BAs any day of the week.
Just for the record, Avianca is no longer a ´Colombian´airline, but is owned by a UK-based Holding Company called the Abra Group.
Not surprising given how deplorable their regional services are, especially their regional economy class which is amongst the world’s worst. Their regional business glass to S. American destinations that are long flights (6-8 hours) is also bare bones and feels like a bad premium economy. Their premium economy is also awful with no adoro al leg room. All you get for the extra cost besides sitting g closer to the front is a power outlet and adjustable head rest.
They also have unscrupulous business practices such as falsifying the reasons their flights are cancelled and leaving customers in terrible binds. For example they have an evening flight from PTY-BOG that they cancel most days when it isn’t full due to “weather.”
I avoid them at all costs.
Insistening on adding dairy products to coffee is not unakin to demanding ketchup on your caviar!
Perhaps the toothbrush already had toothpaste on it, and just needed to be wet down? I remember getting those sorts in the economy amenities kit on Qantas in the 1990s.
It seems like for the review the product should have received 2 stars instead of 3
I flew them MEX-SJO in Y a few months ago, they were absolutely fine and happily honoured all the *G benefits. Definitely not a life-changing experience, but I was happy to have chosen them over business class on AM*, swapping the T2 chaos for a much calmer experience at T1.
*price of AV Y and AM C was about the same because I was travelling CUN-MEX-SJO and could choose between separate tickets on different carriers or an AM one that included a free stopover
Avianca flight from LAX to BOG (7 hours flight) was my worst experience business class flight. We boarded after economy class and the food was a box with an ugly sandwich inside. Beurk !
Every year or two I get stuck flying Avianca simply based on the schedule. Worst airline ever. I'd honestly rather take a bus.
For the price I give it an OK. I need some spending for card sign up bonus and some miles for requalifying star alliance so I bought cash ticket RT from lax to mad next year for only 2400 USD.