Avianca announced positive changes to their award chart for domestic United States awards with some variability, It is a perfect model for how US airlines, like American, can avoid throwing out award charts but still adding value to both...
Avianca Brasil Files For Strategic Bankruptcy
Citing fear of aircraft repossession, Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy protection in São Paulo on Monday. Earlier this week I wrote about the issues facing Avianca Brasil…and how it might indirectly impact United Airlines. After a Brazilian court ordered...
As Court Orders Airline To Surrender 20% Of Fleet, United Watches From Afar
A Brazilian court has ordered Avianca Brasil to surrender 20% of fleet to lessors. Meanwhile, the carrier downplays the ruling as unnecessary. Even so, investor United Airlines is watching carefully. BOC Aviation and Constitution Aircraft leases aircraft, mostly Airbus A320,...
Competition For Lufthansa First Class Heats Up
If you read my blog regularly, you know that one of my favorite mileage redemptions is for Lufthansa First Class. It’s not that Lufthansa offers the best first class product in the world (though I love it). Rather, Lufthansa...
Avianca Considers European Expansion
Bogota-based Avianca will soon launch flights to Munich and is considering an even greater European expansion. Starting on November 16, 2018, Avianca will commence five weekly flights between Bogota (BOG) and Munich (MUC) utilizing a 787-8 aircraft. Day Origin...
Lifemiles Award Chart Changes Good & Bad
Avianca sent out an email this week announcing upcoming award chart changes. While Avianca is a smaller airline, they frequently sell their points inexpensively and many readers hold Lifemiles as part of their point portfolio. The changes included many...
Horrifying Vegetarian Meal or Impressive Domestic Meal Service?
Context is always key. Outrage is often feigned. Ignorance is strength. A tweet of an airline meal has gone viral. It is purportedly an economy class “vegetarian” meal on Avianca, the Colombian flag carrier and member of Star Alliance....
The Best Program to Credit Cheap United Airlines Flights
Where you credit your miles is like a game of chess. Singapore Airlines has cut earnings on discount economy class fares on United Airlines. Fares that used to earn 100% of miles flown will now earn as little as...
US Bank Lifemiles Visa Shut Down
US Bank previously offered the Lifemiles Visa card but has since shut it down (it’s been re-offered by Banco Popular). For previous customers, they offered a replacement card an attractive bonus to stay with US Bank. If you are considering booking...
LifeMiles Mixed Cabin Redemptions Now Possible
In a surprising move that suddenly makes Avianca LifeMiles much more valuable, mixed cabin awards are now bookable! First, business, and economy class can now be mixed on a single itinerary, with the highest cabin establishing the price of...
3:1 Avianca Lifemiles Today Only
A targeted e-mail went out to Avianca Lifemiles members this morning with a 3:1 mileage purchase offer: buy 1,000 miles and get 2,000 free, today only. 1,000 miles costs $30 + tax, so you’re getting miles for one cent, pre-tax....
Avianca, TACA and Copa Join Star Alliance
Star Alliance has grown again today, with the addition of Avianca/TACA and Copa to the alliance. With TAM’s future in the alliance in question, Star has ensured that it maintains a vital presence in the growing Central and South...
My Thoughts on Avianca-TACA and Copa Joining Star Alliance
As Fozz reported, in a ceremony in Miami earlier today, Star Alliance announced that Avianca-TACA and Copa will join Star Alliance by mid-2012. Avianca and TACA merged last year, though the two airlines still operate separately and are not formally...
Day 5: Cusco to Lima on LAN Peru + Lima + Lima to Bogota on Avianca
Day 0: Introduction: My quest for Machu Picchu and why I chose Mexicana + Avianca + LAN Peru Day 1: Los Angeles to Bogota via Mexico City on Mexicana + Bogota to Lima on Avianca Day 2: Lima to...
Day 1: Los Angeles to Bogota via Mexico City on Mexicana, Bogota to Lima on Avianca
Day 0: Introduction: My quest for Machu Picchu and why I chose Mexicana + Avianca + LAN Peru Day 1: Los Angeles to Bogota via Mexico City on Mexicana + Bogota to Lima on Avianca Day 2: Lima to...
Day 0: Introduction -> My Quest for Machu Picchu and why I chose Mexicana + Avianca + LAN Peru
Day 0: Introduction -> My quest for Machu Picchu and why I chose Mexicana + Avianca + LAN Peru Day 1: Los Angeles to Bogota via Mexico City on Mexicana + Bogota to Lima on Avianca Day 2: Lima...
Denied Exit Row on Avianca Airlines
Ironically, Avianca really impressed me yesterday when they refused to seat me in the exit row on my flight from Lima to Bogota. During check-in with Latin airlines, I can usually use my *very* limited Spanish to state my name, where I...
Off to South America for the Week!
In a few hours, I will be returning to LAX for another long day of travel. Today I will be flying from LAX to Bogota, Colombia via Mexico City on Mexicana, than from BOG to Lima on Avianca. After...
Superior Customer Service from Mexicana and Avianca
I’m finalizing the plans for a trip to South America next month and had to contact both Mexicana and Avianca today via telephone. I was very impressed with the high level of service for a "no status" flyer like...
