RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 11306 times:
My complete trip is MIA - BOG and then BOG - MDE - BOG and returning BOG - MIA all in business class (Clase Ejecutiva).
This report starts with the leg 'MIA-BOG", which happened last week.
I booked the 4:00PM flight. Having used LAN in my recent trips to Bogota, I was really tired of the 3:00AM at the airport part; it was a good decision.
AVIANCA AIRLINES
Boeing 767-200
Registration: N985AN
Business Class
Miami - Bogota
February 2008
Load Factor: Aprox: 95%
Load Factor J: Aprox 95% (only one seat available)
AV counters were full due to several flights to Colombia besides mine.
Thank God for Business Class line:
After checking in really quickly, straight to the Club America to charge the computer and have a snack:
Airlines who use this VIP Room:
The lady at Avianca's desk told me that they are currently building a new VIP room after security in the J Concourse, which is ideal....My snack and my drink:
View of the boring room:
After charging my computer and finishing my drink, I went straight to security which had an express lane for business class passengers and I arrive at my gate J18:
Other flights on gates around:
Caribbean Airlines to Port of Prince:
Views of the ramp:
The nice concourse J:
TAM to Sao Paulo:
Lufthansa 747 to Frankfurt:
Back to my lady:
The call was made for business class passengers; I was the first to board:
AV's J cabin:
Rest of the cabin:
My seat:
Safety card:
Magazine:
Ad:
Info:
The traditional champagne while the plane gets loaded:
Seat pitch:
The F/A distribute the Beverage Menu:
Juan Valdez Cafe:
Even-though the seats are a bit old the reclining system is very good.
Safety Video: (My apologies for the quality, but it was made with my digital camera):
Leaving Miami behind:
The F/As distributing the DVD players and taking orders for the beverage:
Also, AVIANCA TV started:
I ordered a Baileys on the rocks and they offered peanuts or Colombian "Achiras" which I truly love:
Then they distributed the Menus (Full Lunch at 4:30PM, NOT A SNACK like they do in LAN... )
Service followed:
Entering Colombian air space:
After the movie ended, I worked in my computer on a video:
Arriving in BOG:
Immigration was packed but there were about 30 agents, so it moved pretty quickly; it took me less than 10 minutes.
Baggage claim:
This flight was a wonderful experience, I mean it, it was so pleasant, the service was amazing, punctuality a 100%, I have no doubts about Avianca's first class service, I can't imagine how it will be with the new planes... can't wait.
Next week my flight BOG - MDE also in business... I will make the TR next week...!!
I hope you enjoyed it. I apologize for the quality of some pictures but sometimes it was too dark and I always avoid the flash so nobody notice my pictures and sometimes pictures were not allowed and had to take them without looking the screen.
Turk223 From Barbados, joined Aug 2003, 238 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 11069 times:
Always a grat read! Thanks for giving us "Colombia-aviation nuts" our fun! Again, I have to say that AV is a good airline and is improving every year...
I try my best to not correct anyone's posting, but...
Caribbean Airlines flies to Port of Spain - the capital of the Rep. of Trinidad and Tobago. Port Au Prince is the capital city of Haiti... I'm sure it was just a typing mistake, but just in case! Please don't be offended...
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 4, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 10993 times:
Quoting Turk223 (Reply 2): Caribbean Airlines flies to Port of Spain - the capital of the Rep. of Trinidad and Tobago. Port Au Prince is the capital city of Haiti... I'm sure it was just a typing mistake, but just in case! Please don't be offended...
Not at all, thanks for correcting me, my memory failed..lol
Quoting Aerofan (Reply 3): I don't know about amazing as I wasn't there and different strokes for different folks, but it seems pretty basic to me.
Luv2fly From United States, joined May 2003, 11216 posts, RR: 56 Reply 5, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 10958 times:
The food and the cabin both looked very nice for the trip. Always surprised though when they serve the peanuts and such in the plastic packages, it would make a much nicer presentation to be served in a small bowl.
Mjlhou From United States, joined Sep 2006, 154 posts, RR: 9 Reply 6, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 10946 times:
GREAT TR! I really enjoyed seeing what the layout of Avianca's J class was, and it seems like their service is nice and just right for the length of flight.
MJLHOU
Don't worry about things you can't change or control
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2475 posts, RR: 22 Reply 7, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 10928 times:
Great report.
Interesting to know that Avianca is actually building their own Business Lounge in Miami. With 6 daily departures from Miami, it was about time!
I have no doubt that once Avianca launches their new Business product on the A330s to MIA, they'll be ages ahead in service and confort to their competitors in this route (American and LAN).
Quoting Aerofan (Reply 3): I don't know about amazing as I wasn't there and different strokes for different folks, but it seems pretty basic to me.
"Basic" is the product most American carriers offer on Business Class for a 3h15m flight.
Not even LAN, who are supposed to be the best in Latin America, offer a full meal on this exact same flight.
777jaah From Colombia, joined Jan 2006, 854 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 10822 times:
Thanks for the TR.
Quoting Aerofan (Reply 3): I don't know about amazing as I wasn't there and different strokes for different folks, but it seems pretty basic to me.
For a 3 !/2 hrs flight?? I guess you haven't been lately on a legacy carrier... or have you?? You canot compare MIA-BOG with JFK-BXB or JFK-LHR, by any means....
Looking at the seat config on your plane, I have to mention that on "Colombia es Pasion" J class was 2-2-1, which seemed a bit odd for me.
Will be wainting for the return to MIA TR.
JAAH
"He can't fly!!! Those wings are made of plastic" Woody on Buzz Lightyear's wings.
XA744 From Mexico, joined Mar 2004, 634 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 10784 times:
Oh, Ricardo, you back in Bogotá... How much I envy you bro ! ! ! ...
Hey, the beverage menu at AV now features " Café Helado " ( Iced Coffee )... This is new to me... I guess will have to fly Avianca again in the very near future in order to get acquainted with all the new goodies the airline has to offer...
Best regards
No matter how you fly...just never get your wings clipped !
Seriously, your reports are great - especially for those of us interested in Colombian avaiation....
By the way, the few people who "know me" here on a.net know that I am a Colombian by heart and was supposed to be relocating to Medellín... Well, it turns out we are moving to Miami - definitely - in April. So, your MIA and AV reports are doubly good for me!
Looking forward to being able to get to Colombia more easily from MIA in the future...
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 12, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 10566 times:
Quoting Turk223 (Reply 11):
Seriously, your reports are great - especially for those of us interested in Colombian avaiation....
By the way, the few people who "know me" here on a.net know that I am a Colombian by heart and was supposed to be relocating to Medellín... Well, it turns out we are moving to Miami - definitely - in April. So, your MIA and AV reports are doubly good for me!
Looking forward to being able to get to Colombia more easily from MIA in the future...
Saludos desde Boston...
That is great Turk, we might meet in Miami some day....
You will have my report and also a couple of reports of MDE...
Bw415 From Trinidad And Tobago, joined Sep 2007, 151 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 10380 times:
Great trip report buddy.. just wanted to point out that Caribbean Airlines is not based in Port au Prince.. but rather.. Port of Spain which is in Trinidad..
CF-CPI From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 615 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9977 times:
Ricariza, this was a fun report on an airline that is not often reported on, and has a great updated color scheme.
I might ask, what did you think of the seat comfort? The seats look nice, but the 'wings' at shoulder height on the seat sides look like they might be intrusive when the seat is upright. I believe these are an Italian design from Avia.
Nice to see all the champagne flowing too - just like in brochures from the old days!
B747forever From United States, joined May 2007, 14252 posts, RR: 12 Reply 16, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 9971 times:
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 17, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 9892 times:
Quoting Bw415 (Reply 14): Great trip report buddy.. just wanted to point out that Caribbean Airlines is not based in Port au Prince.. but rather.. Port of Spain which is in Trinidad..
Yeah, Turk pointed that out too, I actually thought it was going to Haiti.. my bad.
Quoting CF-CPI (Reply 15): I might ask, what did you think of the seat comfort? The seats look nice, but the 'wings' at shoulder height on the seat sides look like they might be intrusive when the seat is upright. I believe these are an Italian design from Avia.
As you all know AV is renewing its fleet and that also means new Business cabin with the new seats and let me tell you, I will miss the comfort of these "old" seats, they are like a big very comfy couch, I almost fell sleep once I sat down.. and even-though they are old, the reclining system is pretty good. Those "pads" that you mentioned are not intrusive at all, believe me... very comfortable seat.
Quoting CF-CPI (Reply 15): Nice to see all the champagne flowing too
And it was really flowing, also the bread, the cheeses and the wine. Really I never asked for a refill...
Quoting AR385 (Reply 13): I would like to know what are "Achiras." I have nevre heard them before.
Achiras are one of the most traditional snacks in the south west of Colombia specially from the State of Huila. I will describe them as cheese biscuits, very tasty. Avianca offers them as an option to nuts, I obviously chose the Achiras, I can eat nuts in any place...
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 18, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 9889 times:
Quoting Luv2fly (Reply 5): Always surprised though when they serve the peanuts and such in the plastic packages, it would make a much nicer presentation to be served in a small bowl.
They do with the nuts, the thing with "Achiras" is that they have to keep them packaged to maintain freshness and crunchiness; they are made with eggs, flour and fresh cheese, but I guess they can take them out of the package before serving them to you, that I agree with you.
Aerofan From United States, joined Aug 2004, 1480 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 9814 times:
I meant to say that the use of amazing is a bit over the top! Amazing is a word I would use for a flight that took off on time, landed on time, no turbulence, had AVOD, 5- 7 course meal with every course being amazing in presentation and taste. where flight attendants were top notched, where seats convert to a comfortable flat bed, where there was an amenity bag containing more that sock and eye shade and where every pax in J and F were given lounge suits to change in.
But different strokes for different folks...
The last time I flew a US legacy was DL to Berlin 2 years ago in J. I do nonrev to Barbados every two weeks or so, but this is done on a LCC - AA.
I do my real flying to Europe, Asia and Australasia and never on a US carrier if I can help it. (Only on a us carrier if redeeming miles), so in some respects I guess you are right in that there's no comparison.
RICARIZA From Colombia, joined Apr 2005, 2191 posts, RR: 36 Reply 20, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 9739 times:
Quoting Aerofan (Reply 19): I meant to say that the use of amazing is a bit over the top! Amazing is a word I would use for a flight that took off on time, landed on time, no turbulence, had AVOD, 5- 7 course meal with every course being amazing in presentation and taste. where flight attendants were top notched, where seats convert to a comfortable flat bed, where there was an amenity bag containing more that sock and eye shade and where every pax in J and F were given lounge suits to change in.
But different strokes for different folks...
If you check again, I said that the service was amazing, the quality of the flight attendants, the constant checking of your status, drinks, food, pillows, etc... this was a US$ 700 in business class on a legacy carrier on a 3.5 hours flight, believe me, I have done the same flight in LAN and American in J and I can´t compare them even with the new seats from the competition....
AA767LOVER From Guatemala, joined Aug 2007, 395 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 9484 times:
I was very impressed by your fotos of Avianca. Looks really good! The seats look comfortable. However, does remind me of the sleeper seats on King Quality bus from Guatemala to El Salvador because of the plush seats. Good job on your TR!
Keep up the good work!
J.I. Tsui, American Advantage Member, CO OnePass Silver Elite
777jaah From Colombia, joined Jan 2006, 854 posts, RR: 2 Reply 22, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 9442 times:
Quoting Aerofan (Reply 19): meant to say that the use of amazing is a bit over the top! Amazing is a word I would use for a flight that took off on time, landed on time, no turbulence, had AVOD, 5- 7 course meal with every course being amazing in presentation and taste. where flight attendants were top notched, where seats convert to a comfortable flat bed, where there was an amenity bag containing more that sock and eye shade and where every pax in J and F were given lounge suits to change in.
You just described a F product. remember that AV offers a charges for a J product.....so I guess this is a real difference. You get what you paid, and if it is over what you expected, I would described as amazing, specially if you can compare it to similar products in siilar flights, like RICARIZA did in the smae route in LA and AA (You should check his previous TR's). And if seats and AVOD are the big problem, well, this will be solved before 2009 with the brand new 330s.
Quoting Aerofan (Reply 19): But different strokes for different folks...
Secret of democracy and respect for tohers opinions and believes. Thank you very mucho for posting your differences in a such respectful manner.
You might get some flame sfor this from many users in this site for that, but trust me, not from me.
Quoting RICARIZA (Reply 20): If you check again, I said that the service was amazing, the quality of the flight attendants, the constant checking of your status, drinks, food, pillows, etc... this was a US$ 700 in business class on a legacy carrier on a 3.5 hours flight, believe me, I have done the same flight in LAN and American in J and I can´t compare them even with the new seats from the competition....
Even in Y, difference for me are huge, for both LA and AA, compared to AA.
Cheers
JAAH
"He can't fly!!! Those wings are made of plastic" Woody on Buzz Lightyear's wings.
Cybergus From Venezuela, joined Mar 2006, 349 posts, RR: 10 Reply 23, posted (1 year 9 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 9390 times:
Ricardo excelent T.R.
Avianca seems a very nice way to travel. Their Business class looks really good, and the meals looked awesome. The pictures of concourse J are really good. I was there on October when i traveled in LAN from MIA-CCS and by that time the vip lounge was closed and the terminal was a little bit empty (I had to walk from the J to the H for a Starbucks).
27 ClassicLover: Thoroughly enjoyed the report! I'm planning to go to CTG for 6 months in a couple of years time if I can - to learn some decent Spanish. Looks like I
28 BA319-131: Nice report and photo's, many thanks, made for a good read. AV Business looks pretty good, yes the seats are old, but that's not that much of a big de
30 RCS763AV: Well, Cartagena is a nice city, but if you want to learn decent spanish, not the best idea. If you want to learn DECENT Spanish, go to Bogotá or San
34 ThereAndBack: The service and cabin of Avianca plane looks much better than AA's product in your trip report from Miami to Medellin. Great report and nice pictures
35 RICARIZA: Thank you.. and you are right, AV interior is much better...!
36 SKY1: Felicidades por este Trip Report, Ricardo! Do you know if this 767-200ER was waiting to leave for MAD after its arrival in BOG? I'm curious: why do yo
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