8 Initial Thoughts On Avianca Business Class

Completely agree on every point!

The Avianca business class seats were also pretty nice...and IFE was decent but needs a bigger selection of movies.

Ben, in Lan ( now Latam), the always pull the shades up during landing, and also they dont let use the blanket during takeoff or landing. Maybe its a latinoamerica regulation?

But what did you expect " douche bag" given its a third world airline as you have so kindly put it!

I cannot understand people clapping on landing, what's the point? I have only encountered it on tourist inter Europe flights.

@Paul Rowland-
It's mostly ethnic travelers who are returning to their homeland or to where their relatives live. It's very common on any route that's dominated by ethnic travelers. Try a NYC-Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic flight and you'll experience the same thing. I'd imagine there's a large portion of people on BOG-MAD flights who are this same type of traveler. These are people who DONT travel often and for whom a trip like this to visit family probably was something they saved for for a long time and represented a tremendous sacrifice to achieve. It wasn't just a hastily-arranged pleasure trip or an opportunity to try a new service, but for most (and not all, there's definitely some business travel too on MAD-BOG) it's a rare event. Theyre happy to be there and they've achieved something for themselves. So, yes, it is a big deal for them.

People clap as a big thank you to the pilot's for not killing them en route.

I'm a very frequent flyer with Avianca, and swear by them. The greatest benefit is that Lifemiles Diamond members get guaranteed upgrades to business class on all flights if there is a seat, with exception to the Bogota-London and Bogota-Madrid route. It's truly fantastic. Having said that, many of your comments ring true. On the service, it's generally good but the last time i was on the LAX-BOG route it was truly terrible, so maybe there is a pattern. On the food, Avianca differentiates between "regional" flights (within Western hemisphere) and transatlantic flights. They recently contracted Jorge Rausch, a renowned celebrity Colombian chef (presenting Master Chef at the moment on national TV), to design the transatlantic business class menu, and i must say it has been a great improvement and generally for me i have found very tasty. But the regional flights are pretty mediocre. However, if you originate Avianca in Lima, the food is spectacular (inheritance from the merge with TACA). Having said all that, try the economy food! Anthony Bourdain's eyes would burn even upon looking at it.

There are times when clapping on landing can be appropriate because it was not certain that you would actually make it to your destination.

I've had one where Alaska/Horizon IRROPS had us board and deplane 3 times across 2 days before we made it to Seattle.

On another one, freezing fog caused low visibility at the destination. The flight was delayed multiple hours. It was Thanksgiving day so the airports were shutting down early. When we did take off they told us there was only a small chance that we would actually get to land at our destination and most likely would have to divert to an airport that was a 3-hour drive away. So when we did get to land at our destination, clapping ensued.

I would have clapped on landing if I was on Lucky's RJ flight from hell.

"That’s the first daytime flight I’ve taken where the main meal wasn’t served after takeoff. I wish I had planned accordingly, since I was busy in the morning and boarded rather hungry."

Did you ask anyone about this???

OMG! No gin? I would never fly on an airline that had no gin. This is a huge deal. How will I rise after brushing my teeth? The only way to be an informed consumer is to read this blog.

rinse, not "rise".

I flew Avianca frequently LHR BOG and the business class catering they had out of London was superb. Other routes seemed more hit and miss, but between that and the hard product I'd easily choose them over BA for South America!

@Paul Rowland: aren't most people who fly tourists at least on one leg? get off your high horse.

I've flown numerous times to/from Manila, Philippines and passengers always clap when landing. I thought it was weird the first few times but I've gotten used to it. I think the passengers (including me but no clapping here) just want to express their appreciation for making it to the destination safely. Nothing wrong with that.

I frequently fly Avianca on the MIA-LIM route on their A330 Business Class given their extremely competitive pricing vs LAN and AA. On this 5 1/2 hour flight they have a pre-departure (non-alcoholic) beverage, drink service with the lunch (so I've learned to ask for a cocktail and a glass of wine) and then 90 mins before landing a bag of yes, potato chips as the 'snack' service. The F/A's then disappear--No refills on drinks (unless you make your way up to the galley, and then be prepared for blank stares). Your comments on the food and drinks are spot on!

"flight attendants were extremely disinterested"

They weren't taking bribes? Or perhaps they were uninterested.

Dr. Ryan Ryerson here. Medically speaking, stress becomes concentrated in the palms of the hand, especially at high altitude. People thus have an intuition to clap their hands to relieve said physical stress due to flying and also emotional stress when they see douchebags like Ben Schlapigg.

Disinterested means impartial, not uninterested. I know there is a movement to accept the "uninterested" version because so many people trying to sound smart use it, wrongly.

I've only flown Avianca departing from Lima, and though it wasn't that bad. Slightly below LAN standard but still decent enough. Took a TAM flight departing Montevideo two months ago, now that was bad....

The seats look very similar to the new Finnair A350 seats? Those turned out not be very popular, once the initial wow had worn off.

On ELAL flights there is clapping at every landing

Why are people such angry trolls? "Let me read the article and then bash every observation made about his travels" Hasn't experienced clapping in years - documenting his experience. No gin on one leg - making an observation about the difference in service based on TRAVEL direction on his TRAVEL BLOG. I hate everyone

First, I asked for gin, and they looked at me like I was crazy.
The business seats are not long enough to lie flat if you are over 5 ' 8"

@Guyguyguy: Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Full Definition of disinterested

1
a : not having the mind or feelings engaged : not interested b : no longer interested

2
: free from selfish motive or interest : unbiased

Then, for kickers, I'd criticize your use of "wrongly" in place of "incorrectly."

I was on Avianca between 2/26-3/8/2017... 10 flights..... Service and meals were excellent..... planes were clean.. in fact, spotless!! The crew was very attentive and the food was great. No clapping.. Shades up....Unrelated to Avianca... that airport in Pierera, Colombia needs to be BULLDOZED.... that makes LaGuardia look like Dubai..........in any event.... I find Avianca superior to AA, UA and Delta.....

ANY South America Airline is better than AA o Delta ir United (which doesn’t even have TVs in domestic flights...