Just when I thought in-flight service in business class could not get worse, I flew Avianca. To say my flight was disappointing would be quite an understatement.
Avianca Airlines Business Class Review Summed Up In One Word: Bad
From the outset, I acknowledge Avianca is a financially-troubled airline. It is currently operating in bankruptcy protection (with plans to emerge soon) and there is genuine concern whether the carrier can survive.
Even so, I was expecting a little something more on a 5.5 hours flight departing at dinner time in business class, and I don’t just mean the meal.
Upon boarding my Airbus A319 from San Salvador (SAL) to Los Angeles (LAX), I noticed the cabin looked rather tattered and there were no individual screens.
Fine, I thought. At least there would be overhead video or streaming video, right? Wrong. There was no wi-fi, no streaming video, and no overhead video except for the pre-flight safety briefing. Power ports were broken.
The business class cabin boarded full, with an off-duty flight attendant seated next to me. We took off on time and the captain informed us our flight time would be 5 hours, 17 minutes and we’d be landing in Los Angeles on-time.
Shortly after takeoff, a flight attendant sprang into action. I had enjoyed some tortilla soup in the lounge prior to the flight, but was somewhat hungry.
That turned out to be a mistake on my part.
She appeared with a beverage cart and I noticed just about everyone was ordering Baileys Irish Cream. That’s odd, I thought. Is this a favorite drink in El Salvador?
Finally she reached me in the last row and offered me a choice of water, Coca-Cola, or Baileys. Yes, three drink choices in business class, including Baileys.
I had water.
I was also offered a box containing a chicken pita sandwich and plantain chips. This would be dinner on the 5+ hour international flight.
Well, better than nothing I suppose. But as I tried to open the sandwich, I found the bread had stuck to the wrapper and pulled apart as I tried to pull it out, emptying the lukewarm chicken all over the cardboard box it was served in.
Settling back in my seat, I tried to relax.
And the flight attendant must have as well, for I didn’t see her until just prior to landing. That’s right, not even more water, Coke, or Baileys during the rest of the flight.
Folks, don’t even bother with the smallest violin jokes. This blog is all about first world problems like meal service in business class. Sure I’m complaining, but I also hope you will take my experience into mind when choosing which airline to travel on to Central and South America.
CONCLUSION
I could have taken United back from San Salvador – Los Angeles and been home three hours early and enjoyed a full meal aboard with wi-fi, individual screens, and streaming entertainment. Let that sink in…
But while I do think Avianca’s cost-cutting is absurd, I was happy to try it…now you don’t have to. What a disappointment for a carrier that traditionally offered very tasty meals onboard.
Flew a tired UA 738 in Business at dinner time between Den and Missoula last week.
Had plain boring pretzel (<$1.00 a pop) and a biscoff (<$1.00 a pop) with a fake sparkling wine they call champagne. Asked for the sweet waffle but did not hav any. Not sure this is any better. PTV was old and worn. The seat pockets were not clean. The power outlets did work though.
I’d say a 2hr domestic flight is a bit different than a 5.5hr intl flight.
For the last 3 years AVIANCA Business Class has gotten worse…… NO service what-so-ever!!! Their ONLY saving grace is that they have a Non Stop flight, LAX–Bogota! All that you wrote about is true!!!
I agree with everything you’ve stated about this airline’s service.
I want everyone to know that they need to look for another airline to work with because it is so pathetic, makes United airlines look like a 5 star service.
I am on a flight now. Besides being in a sardine can they won’t let us go to the bathroom!!! We are on a flight that stopped to let some off and others on. We were standing waiting to use the bathroom and they made us sit down until they refuled. Then they said we could use the facilities. We were waiting in line again as they were also boarding more people so you can only imagine how easy that was to manipulate. I was the last one in line. They made me return to my seat and would not let me use the bathroom. I was advised not to use this airline. Should have listened.
Baileys? That is completely bizarre. Why? What genius thought of that as the one alcohol option? It’s like they realized they had a surplus of 50 cases of miniature Baileys sitting in a warehouse, left over from the 1990’s (about the last time Baileys was popular), and decided to throw it on whatever flights they can to get rid of it.
Wow, that is horrible, would be completely unacceptable even in Economy. Does anyone know whether that’s what they do on BOG flights too?
Same, even on flagship routes like BOG-LAX/JFK.
The only flights that get “real” food is BOG-MAD-BOG route.
That’s insane- BOG-JFK is 2500 miles!
Any idea if Avianca El Salvador’s service is representative of what’s coming out of Colombia?
Same service, sadly.
I flew Mia to Medellin in business and they gave me a roast beef sandwich with chips. I think there was beer, but that it. Water and coke. Avianca’s Soft product have been mediocre, but now is non existent
March 2018, flew 787-8 BOG to LAX. Great seats 1-2-1. Food and drinks were good and plentiful. BOG lounge was very nice.
there was no individual screens
Uhhh…there “were” no individual screens
I think let it go bankrupt than giving them money for porter potty products.
Flew round-trip from SFO to San Salvador first class and I couldn’t agree more with this article, their service is beyond bad, it seems like these people truly believe they are doing you a favor and you should be grateful they exist. I honestly don’t see this airline pulling out of bankruptcy. My trip was a nightmare from beginning to end, from long lines at the airport to crappie food and horrible service on board, to one of my bags taking over 1 hour to come off the carrousel upon arrival. And if by any chance you are trying to use a voucher from a previously canceled flight due to the pandemic, good luck. It took me over 2 weeks to get a hold of customer service in Colombia and had to do it at 3 am to be able to get a hold of someone. Bad, bad, bad all around.
I have use Avianca First class service round trip from SFO to San Salvador and on my last trip service is getting worse for a meal they gave me a very small burrito srambled eggs and a piece of a fry banana inside that the flavor was so bad that I could not eat anything at all.They offered me a drink once and they never returned for a second,
At the airport in SFO they wanted to charge me for my second suitcase and after a few minutes os going back and foward the attendant let my suitcase on the plane .I’m using first class because I have a lots of miles with them.
On my next flight I exchanged some miles to go to Salvador on first class and on the way back they put me on economy class telling me that Avianca will no longer have first class service from SFO to salvador.I was charged the miles to fly on first but Im coming back on economy paying for first.Call center is very bad,you are on hold for awhile and the the cut you off.One I finish my miles Im flying United bacuse they have a better service
You guys got lokie, I just flow from JFK to Cartagena, First class ……. i thought is going to be good as the travel all the time to Berlin from EWR, it was a very bad experince since they ofeer you nothing for free, any drink will be $3 USD paid by credit card or debit, Not sandwich at all for sale the fly attendent said tha USA customs dont let them to carry on any food, any way the worse fly ever got to south america…. it wasen’t cheap ticket for this treap.
I flew Avianca business class to South America via Bogota from JFK a couple of times pre-pandemic. It wasn’t as bad as this but still pretty bare bones. They didn’t provide an alternate lounge at JFK T4 when the LX lounge was under renovations and their flagship lounge at Bogota was so packed we ended up using priority pass lounges instead. That said, it was very cheap.
That was exactly my experience this September, San Francisco to San Salvador! Same food, same plane, at least you had Baily’s (ugh). No SF lounge. You nailed it! Misery loves company.
Avianca has really gone downhill over the years. This was an airline that well into the 2000’s was serving a hot meal in economy from MDE-BOG….
You’re better off on the domestic carriers to Central/South America these days, as sad as that sounds. When AA beats you on short-haul international business service, you know you’re doing something wrong…
I’m not criticizing you, but I am just curious. What kind of “business class experience” you were expecting from a carrier that represents a country where the average monthly income is about $330 US? Who would their customer be?
Perhaps back to pre-COVID levels? I used to find Avianca a great carrier.
I just flew Air France Business Class, SFO-CDG and it was “Pre-COVID” but I’d imagine the poorer or lower income countries and their carriers are just trying to survive and their a ways off from pre-COVID.
I would not consider Columbia a “poor” country where the management team of Avianca is. Despite the flight coming from El Salvador. I just flew Royal Air Maroc recently, a smaller airline in a developing country, and the service was excellent, the catering first rate, and the entire experience a good one. Even my connecting domestic flight of two hours to Dakhla offered a full meal on a 737.
If anything, you would argue that labor and operating costs would be cheaper in Central and South America, where they actually could offer a better product in comparison.
Colombia. No ‘u’.
It’s a bad habit from Living in DC. Thank you.
Royal Air Maroc is owned by Moroccan government, pointless comparison to a private airline Avianca group.
Your logic makes no sense. An airline is not a representation of the economic state of a country. Average income in Colombia is comparable to income of Turkey, yet why is Turkish Airlines able to offer a superior product?
Then how come you can experience good service on Garuda, Vietnam, Sri Lankan, etc?
Kevin, your looking at the average salary of 90% of the country. However, it is the other 20% of Colombians who do the flying.
Also factor into this, tourists, returning Ex Patriots, Foreign Businessman and of course transit passengers flying the carrier from North America or Europe to other parts of South America (Madrid to São Paulo example).
I am colombian and had flown business class my whole life from mde to bog and from mde to jfk frequently, when the company was a flaship of the country was excellent, the service was impecable, but after was sold to a brazilian conglomerate things went south, my last flight was in November 2021, and it was despicable, the food was even worst than the one described here, the seat was a nightmare, tiney, no padding, the planes pre pandemic where nicer, now the company is going to be worst… btw, I came accross this article because I am booking a flight to NYC but I can’t find an airline with better service, any thoughts? for more than a thousand bucks, at least you expect a seat screen, and American doesn’t offer it… how is the service in Delta (latam) business class from mde to jfk?
LATAM will be better, even if you get the old 767. But if you fly via Lima, you should get the 787, which is quite comfortable.
Well everything is Relevant, I flew United and Delta business class a few years ago from Chicago to London with a transit I believe it was Boston. For many people standard yes the flight was better, the business class was decent. But I’m frequently travel Qatar airways from Chicago to Karachi with a transit to the Doha and the services I get on Qatar, make United and Delta business class feel like economy to be honest.
Same goes for Ettihad and emirates.
British airways and Lufthansa as well as Singapore airlines are very good too.
The airline you reviewed, how much were the tickets as compared to United and delta.
Obviously money talks.
Sad, I flew Avianca’s A330 business (JFK-BOG) in very comfortable flatbeds just before COVID. I guess YMMV on the US routes.
You flew Avianca Colombia, Matthew flew Avianca El Salvador, the operating airline is the difference. The article should have clarified this better.
You actually flew on TACA. Was the flight number TA or AV codeshare?
Avianca group has lots of airlines in south America. The original Avianca is based in Colombia.
Transportes Aereos del Continente Americano, (Air Transports of the American Continent, simply known as TACA), operating as Avianca El Salvador, is an airline owned by Kingsland Holdings based in El Salvador. As TACA, it is and still currently operates as the flag carrier of El Salvador. As Avianca El Salvador, it is one of the seven national lo branded airlines in the Avianca Holdings group of Latin American airlines, and has been in operation for 75 years.
Does all of that matter to me as a passenger? I don’t think so.
This was an ex-TACA aircraft and presumably crew, but Avianca ticket, Avianca paint, Avianca safety card, and Avianca branded food and cups. So any technicality does not change the fact that in 2021 this is Avianca.
Correct, you flew Avianca El salvador, aka Taca.
As if you were comparing IAG Spain flight to IAG UK flight, they only share the brand name. The readers are ought to be provided the distinction.
Quite the opposite. IAG UK is branded as British, and IAG Spain as Iberia – different brands for different airlines.
Avianca group members are all branded as Avianca, to suggest to the flier that they are one entity.
I think this is correct. Just like LATAM had several divisions, Avianca orders all flights under an AV flight number with AV livery and branding. Even if TACA is still operating in the background, it strikes me as something the consumer should not have to think about when deciding whether to fly Avianca.
Hi! My experience for a 3 and 1/2 hours flight from Panamá (PTY) to Ft Lauderdale (FLL) in COPA AIRLINES was even worst. Flying Business class in an 11:30 am flight, I expected some lunch, even if it was a charcuterie box. But NO, to my surprise I was offered an small bag of Tamara Premium Almonds and a bag of Pretzels!! Luckily with my favorite drink, Diet Coke! I could not believed it! Even in economy class, I will at least have the opportunity to buy something! Worst Business Class service ever!
Thanks for making my GOL flight in Brazil finally not seem as miserable as it was.
Just yuck.
As a colombian i always rely on avianca to shuttle me from the US-Colombia i’ve never had a bad experience until a few months ago when i had trouble getting a refund for a flight i couldn’t take during the pandemic. However i’ve never taken the central american avianca devision. And i’ve heard some pretty bad things. The equipment you where on was an ex-TACA airlines aircraft. I’m pretty surprised that it’s been a few years and they have yet to renew the aircraft. It’s going to be an interesting few months for avianca as they are in the process of transitioning to a low-cost modality in colombia. I’ve always loved avianca. been flying with them at least 13 times a year since 2008. But yes… this is deplorable.
Avianca is just a mess service-wise right now. In-flight is the least of its problems. Their phone center problems are legendary. Even if you are merited a refund, they deliberately drag it out as long as possible and hope you just give up. (Many do). It’s a shame, because it used to be a good — or at least not terrible — airline.
They’re going to a low-cost model (or at least an all-economy model) in Colombia, which I predict will be disastrous, as there are already low-cost carriers doing it much better. Why would anyone choose Avianca?
I flew the sister flight that lands at ONT and flew them on Economy with a similar A319. Though we got lucky that we had the newer A319 with back screens. However the experience was about the same with the inflight dining, with the difference we didn’t get Bailey’s offered that my aunt who hates flying would have taken it. Having flown Delta exclusively for years i was indeed disappointed with the flight service. Though, living in the area near ONT than LAX this ONT flight is attractive. Besides that, if Avianca folds at least I can go back to Delta even though dragging myself back to LAX.
Were you served the same sandwich in economy class?
You all make me laugh. What do you expect for $300 Dollars?
You remind me when people buy a 10 dollars T-shirt and they expect the best quality….jajaja.
If an airline is offering a “business-class” product, regardless of price, one expects it at least approximate actual business-class.
Everybody knows that Central America and USA have different (lower) standards than flights between South America and Europe. Unfurtonally, these flights of less than 6hours are no longer considered international…they are more like domestic flights and that’s why there are multiple flights per day. It is not like those days of one weekly flight to USA, now you will get something like Walmart standard, but I remember how good was the food in a mall in the ’60s. That’s over! What is important now is the flexibility of the flight, legroom, and schedule of the flight. However I agree, the food presentation is really bad, sometimes knowing what they will offer I rather just to eat in the lounge or in any fast-food resto in the terminal and just have a drink on the plane or even a Baileys, what’s wrong with Baileys? Even United or American Airlines in these short flights are offering a basic service, or even not offering anything when flying within USA in a 4 or 5 hours flight cost to coset, the people demand low prices as the ticket you bought and Baileys!
I stopped flying with Avianca after I was charged for a 50 lbs bag because I was over 3 lbs
I’m fly often to El.Salvador but I rather use United over Avianca. The food they serve you in business class is way better than Avianca. For the high price Avianca charges, the service, the meal should definitely be better.
I would say you are right on par. As someone who was on the ‘inside’ for many years, I can tell you that what you received during service comes with instructions from Avianca’s head office. While you were on a sister airline, the sister airline’s meal service plans and interior makeover/no makeover is directed by the head office in Colombia.
Many Colombians will argue that Avianca is the best but they have never experienced other airlines. Most will say they have never had an issue, but because they have accepted poor service as the new norm. Flying in Avianca’s business class nowadays is to sit up front, that’s it.
Avianca used to be somewhere between “decent” and “good” prior to the pandemic. Used to fly >60.000+ miles / year with them prior to March 2020, both within Latin America and between Europe/North America and Latin America.
Traveled with them again a few days ago after 1.5 years and… I was just shocked. Service was absolutely horrible and the food – as you have also stated – was a total joke, especially taking into account the price of $1,300 per ticket that my wife and I paid for our economy class ticket with no seat reservation included.
(Did not have too many choices there due to the US travel ban on Schengen area residents and me personally never wanting to fly with Iberia gain)
Just kind of glad we did not travel in business class this time or the disappointment would have been even worse.
Avianca is about to transform itself into the worst of both worlds of low cost airlines and legacy carriers:
– Prices of a legacy carrier
– Old airplanes
– Horrible service
– No food & drinks or horrible food and drinks
The way they are treating their LifeMiles Gold & Diamond members is also appalling:
– No more priority phone/chat support (officially there is… but once your assistant has to spend 1 hour in line to be attended, you know what’s up)
– No priority boarding at Bogotá El Dorado
– No priority check-in at Bogotá El Dorado (also sucks if you have bought a business class ticket)
– Lounges are worse than ever or are no longer available (as is the case in Madrid, for example)
Thanks for nothing, I guess?
It should be noted that Avianca is no longer even selling these seats as “business class/ J” simply referring to them as “XL” and “XXL” I’d compare the larger seat more like Spirit Air big front seat then a real business class product. Also they’re still boarding last to first most of the time meaning if you are flying this psuedo-J product you’ll probably be the very person to board.
I flew Lima to Rio pre-covid in 2019 it was also super super bare bones and this was still when they were marketing it as a real “J” product. No wifi, no entertainment, they passed by once to give us some hot mediocre sandwich.
I agree Avianca will probably not survive in its current state, at a minimum they will probably drop all US routes and simply focus on Colombia domestic and intra-latin america flights. They get away with this kind of bad service because on many routes people simply have no other choice or the other choice is a discount airline like Viva that is even more uncomfortable. Avianca is the only airline offering these larger seats on intra-Colombian and Col-Ecuador flights, so people do pay up.
That’s an interesting point, as United sold me the product as business class.
It was probably sold as business class by UAL because back then, Avianca still sold the product as business class. Nowadays, if I go to book a flight on United, the flights that involve a connection with AVA (operated by TAI) will either say economy or <>.
Another thing to note is that these TAI flights are really inconsistent in terms of the cabin. You either get one of the older TAI A319s like the one in the video (did you get N520TA? I got N520TA and my seat’s recline broke), a slightly newer TAI A320 family plane with A/V, the 2018-2021 interior that AVA was using (you basically strike gold if you get one of these like I did, N769AV), or the new pathetic low cost product. However, as time passes on, the new low-cost cabin will become more common as the older planes get retrofitted, even the ones with the 2018-2021 interior from what I heard.
Thanks, good coverage, exactly the information I needed for planning SFO-Costa Rica.
At least you weren’t stuck with the 6 inch tray tables they have on the newer A320s
I recently flew Avianca on Business class from Bogotá to San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 2h30m international flight. The food on board was a joke. Beverage choices were bottled water (that had a pre printed price of 1000 pesos = 25 cents), Coke and instant coffee (the worst that I have tasted, shamefully coming from the national airline of the world’s largest coffee producing country – Colombia)
No wine or beer available. The food – a cardboard box containing an empanada (costs about 75 cents) and muggy potato chips in a wax paper bag.
Baggage was tagged as priority, and came LAST on the carrousel.
The price definitely does not match the quality of the service. I paid in excess of 600 dollars for a wider seat, and for a priority lane for check-in at the airport. The airline does nothing to make you feel a valued customer.
Good Morning,
Just noticed this post and have to comment. I just sent a “scorcher” down to Bogota about Avianca’s lack of almost everything on their long haul flights. Booked on a Bogota-Buenos Aires leg in April, 2022 on an A-330. Daylight flight, so no blanket, no pillow, a “boxed” meal and nothing mentioned about wine. Flight time is almost seven hours. If they don’t get their act together soon they’ll go right back into bankruptcy. Star-Alliance has no complaint site, but directs you to the individual carrier. This is a flying disaster.
You were lucky. I flew business in July 2021 SAL-MIA and the only thing we got was a mini bottle of Cristal water. No food, not even the candy they used to give out. No entertainment was available. Getting off before everyone else is not worth the money.
Flying business class tomorrow SJO – JFK. We’ll see how things go.
How did it go? Looking at the same route next month!
How did it go? Looking at flying this route next month.
This review Is 100% accurate. Flew Business Class from
JFK to Cartagena last week. It was a 4:40am flight. Was in seat 3A. The seating area was filthy and not properly cleaned. There were crumbs by the all over the remote control insert area. By the window to the left was also very filthy. There was no drink service, if you can call it that, that was different from what was served in economy. The food was served in a box which was a nasty cold sandwich, which was the same food passed in economy. There was no alcoholic beverage served. The only drink offered was basically coffee. juice, or water. The flight attendants were not very friendly, and did not pass back through to offer refills. It seemed like they immediately wanted to disappear and not do their job. There was no amenity kit handed out to anyone in business class on my flight, and no explanation. Also no pillow or blankets. Avianca should be ashamed and embarrassed that this is the product they are delivering. Do yourself a favor and pick another carrier.
O how I wish that I had read this blog before booking my flight. These isn’t enough room to type the horrible experience I had using this airline. The highlight of my vacation to Bolivia was one day before I’m scheduled to leave I get an email saying that my flight has been cancelled. WOW!!! I called my agent looking for a reason why, he had NO explanation, just that it was because of the airline. I was had him search for another flight home and was about to find another one the next day. My covid test was ONLY good for 24 hours and they only let you take one every 15 days, so I had to get another one from a private clinic at an addition cost. Besides the major inconvenience and the day I lost from work, is it appropriate to ask for some sort of compensation? If so, who should I direct my questions?
Flew JFK-Bog and Bog-SaoPaulo on Avianca XXL…the worse « Business class » ever !
All the previous comments are accurate :
– non existent service
-dirty Seats
– pseudo sandwich in a box
I unfortunately have to come back the same way . ..
I just flew Avianca round trip from Orlando to Cali Colombia in Business class, worst flight ever. Everyone lined up in the terminal and stood there for around 20 minutes then boarded all together. The dinner going down was a sandwich wrapped in plastic and a bottle of water, the return flight was a half of a sandwich. The lounges at Cali and Orlando were closed to Avianca customers. The video screen didn’t work on the flight down and the audio didn’t work on the flight back. I ended up paying twice as much as economy class and the only perk you received was a seat that was a few inches wider.
Worst airline period-I have been in the hospitality business for over 40 years-travel agent , cruises, hotels-I have never had service like this-will never fly them again-beware to the uneducated-a total hot mess
One word to describe Avianca’s business class: AWFUL!!!! Do not waste your money