Avianca, the flag carrier of Colombia, stands as a pivotal airline in connecting continents, particularly within the Star Alliance network. As a cornerstone member, Avianca plays a crucial role in bridging North America with the vibrant cultures and landscapes of Central and South America. But Where Does Avianca Fly exactly? This guide will take you through the extensive network of Avianca, exploring its destinations, key routes, and how you can leverage this airline to reach your desired locations.
Avianca, headquartered in Bogotá, operates with a diverse fleet of over 130 aircraft, reaching over 75 destinations across the globe. While its fleet is largely composed of narrow-body aircraft ideal for regional routes, Avianca also utilizes wide-body aircraft for longer haul flights. Its influence extends beyond Colombia with numerous subsidiaries like Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Ecuador, and Avianca El Salvador, solidifying its presence throughout the Americas.
Let’s delve deeper into the destinations Avianca serves, focusing particularly on its routes to and from the United States and the cabin classes you can expect on these flights.
Avianca’s Reach: Key Hubs and U.S. Gateways
Avianca strategically operates from two primary hubs:
- Bogotá (BOG), Colombia: Serving as Avianca’s main international gateway, El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá is a major connecting point for flights across the Americas and beyond.
- San Salvador (SAL), El Salvador: Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Salvador acts as a secondary hub, particularly vital for routes connecting the U.S. to Central America.
From these hubs, Avianca extends its reach to numerous cities in North, Central, and South America, and even some destinations beyond. For travelers in the United States, Avianca provides a significant number of direct and connecting flights, primarily utilizing the following aircraft for US routes:
- Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner: (Though less frequent on US routes now)
- Airbus A330-200:
- Airbus A320:
- Airbus A320neo:
While the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, once a more common sight on US routes, is now often deployed on other international demands, Avianca still maintains a robust network connecting the U.S. to Latin America. Let’s examine the specific routes.
Direct U.S. Routes Operated by Avianca
The following table outlines the nonstop routes Avianca operates to and from the United States, detailing flight numbers, aircraft type, cabin classes, and frequency.
| Avianca Route | Flight Number(s) | Aircraft | Cabin Classes | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) – Guatemala City (GUA) | AV 631 | A320 | Economy | 3x weekly |
| Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 441 | A320neo | Economy | 3x weekly |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Bogotá (BOG) | AV 37 | A320 | Economy | 3x weekly |
| Las Vegas (LAS) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 527 | A320neo | Economy | 3x weekly |
| Los Angeles (LAX) – Guatemala City (GUA) | AV 641, 733 | AV 641: A320 AV 733: A320neo | Economy | 3x weekly |
| Los Angeles (LAX) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 523, 525, 529, 621 | AV 523: A330-200 AV 525: A320 AV 529, 621: A320neo | Business, economy | Up to 4x daily |
| Miami (MIA) – Barranquilla (BAQ) | AV 3 | A320 | Economy | 3x weekly |
| Miami (MIA) – Bogotá (BOG) | AV 5, 7, 9, 127 | AV 5, 127: A320AV 9: A320neo AV 7: 787-8 | Business, economy | Up to 4x daily |
| Miami (MIA) – Cali (CLO) | AV 39, 99 | A320 | Economy | 4x weekly; 3x weekly |
| Miami (MIA) – Managua (MGA) | TA 397 | A320 | Economy | Daily |
| Miami (MIA) – Medellín (MDE) | AV 31, 135, 147 | AV 31: A320neo AV 135, 147: A320 | Economy | Daily |
| New York City (JFK) – Bogotá (BOG) | AV 21; 245 | A320neo or 787-8 | Business, economy | Daily |
| New York City (JFK) – Cali (CLO) | AV 63 | A320 | Economy | 3x weekly |
| New York City (JFK) – Cartagena (CTG) | AV 65 | A320 | Economy | 4x weekly |
| New York City (JFK) – Medellín (MDE) | AV 43, 145 | A320 or A320neo | Economy | Daily |
| New York City (JFK) – Pereira (PEI) | AV 207 | A320 | Economy | 4x weekly |
| New York City (JFK) – San Pedro de Sula (SAP) | AV 665 | A320 | Economy | 3x weekly |
| New York City (JFK) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 567, 571, 671 | A320 | Economy | Daily |
| Orlando (MCO) – Bogotá (BOG) | AV 29, 219 | A320neo | Economy | Daily |
| Orlando (MCO) – Medellín (MDE) | AV 203, 237 | A320 | Economy | 6x weekly |
| Orlando (MCO) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 423 | A320 | Economy | 4x weekly |
| San Francisco (SFO) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 559, 561, 563 | A320neo | Economy | Daily |
| Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Bogotá (BOG) | AV 247, 239 | A320 | Economy | Daily |
| Washington, D.C. (IAD) – San Jose (SJO) | AV 663 | A320 | A320 | 4x weekly |
| Washington, D.C. (IAD) – San Salvador (SAL) | AV 581, 583, 585, 591 | A320 | Economy | Daily |
This table demonstrates Avianca’s strong presence connecting major US cities like Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and Washington D.C. with key destinations in Central and South America. Notably, San Salvador and Bogotá act as frequent connecting points, but Avianca also offers direct flights to unique destinations such as Managua in Nicaragua, Medellín in Colombia, and Guatemala City.
Cabin Class Experience on Avianca Flights
Understanding the cabin classes available on Avianca flights is essential for planning your journey. While Avianca does not offer a First Class cabin, it provides Business Class and Economy Class options. Premium Economy is not currently available on Avianca flights.
Avianca Business Class: Comfort and Service
Avianca’s Business Class provides a superior travel experience, especially valuable for long-haul flights to South and Central America. It’s often recognized as a reliable option for award availability, contrasting with the potentially limited availability on other airlines in the region.
Avianca 787-8 Business Class
Avianca 787-8 business class
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner features Avianca’s flagship Business Class product. Although less common on U.S. routes now, you might occasionally find it on routes like New York City (JFK) to Bogotá (BOG) or Miami (MIA) to Bogotá (BOG). This aircraft offers reverse-herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring lie-flat comfort, direct aisle access, and enhanced privacy.
The Business Class cabin on the 787-8 is divided into two sections, featuring a total of 30 seats with a generous 21 inches of width and 72 inches of pitch. Solo travelers may prefer seats 6A or 6K for maximum privacy, while couples might opt for 6D/6E or 7D/7E. Seats 5A and 5K are less desirable due to a missing window and proximity to the inflight bar.
Avianca A330-200 Business Class
Wamos Air
Avianca utilizes Airbus A330-200 aircraft, wet-leased from Wamos Air, on select routes, including the Los Angeles (LAX) to San Salvador (SAL) route. This wide-body aircraft also features lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration in Business Class, representing a significant upgrade in comfort and privacy compared to narrow-body options.
Avianca A320 and A320neo Business Class
Avianca A320 premium seat
For the majority of its U.S. routes, Avianca employs Airbus A320 and A320neo aircraft. Business Class on these single-aisle planes features recliner seats in a 2-2 configuration, similar to domestic first-class within the U.S. These seats offer enhanced recline and slightly thicker cushioning compared to Economy, providing a more comfortable experience for shorter to medium-haul flights.
Avianca Economy Class: Budget-Friendly Travel
Avianca is well-known for offering competitive and budget-friendly fares to Central and South America. While the Economy Class experience is no-frills, it provides a cost-effective way to reach your destination, often with convenient connections through San Salvador (SAL) or Bogotá (BOG). As a full-service carrier, even in Economy, passengers can expect inflight entertainment and meal service on many routes.
Avianca A330-200 Economy Class
Avianca A330 200 economy
The Airbus A330-200 offers a more comfortable Economy Class experience due to its wide-body configuration and amenities. With 222 Economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout (tapering to 2-3-2 at the rear), couples can often secure a row to themselves. Seats are approximately 17-19 inches wide with a 31-32 inch pitch. Routes utilizing the A330-200 include Los Angeles (LAX) – Bogotá (BOG), Miami (MIA) – Bogotá (BOG), and New York City (JFK) – Bogotá (BOG). Seats 7C and 7J are recommended for solo travelers for extra legroom, while pairs of seats in row 7 and row 22/23 offer enhanced legroom for those traveling together.
Avianca 787-8 Economy Class
Avianca 787-8 economy
While the 787-8 Dreamliner is appreciated for its Business Class, its Economy Class is considered more cramped. It features 222 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, with each seat being around 17 inches wide and offering a 31-36 inch pitch depending on location. Row 8 is recommended for extra legroom due to the bulkhead, while rows near lavatories (21, 22, 24, 33, 35) are best avoided. The 787-8 is sometimes found on the New York City (JFK) – Medellín (MDE) route.
Leveraging Points and Miles to Fly Avianca
As a Star Alliance member, Avianca flights can be booked using miles from various Star Alliance partner programs. Avianca’s own LifeMiles program is also a popular option.
Best Points Currencies for Avianca Flights:
- Air Canada Aeroplan: Often offers some of the most competitive redemption rates for flights to Central and South America on Star Alliance partners like Avianca.
- Avianca LifeMiles: Utilizes variable award pricing, potentially offering cheaper redemptions on Avianca flights.
- United MileagePlus: Another solid Star Alliance option for booking Avianca flights.
- Aegean Airlines Miles+Bonus, Asiana Club, Lufthansa Miles & More, Singapore KrisFlyer, Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus: These and other Star Alliance programs can also be utilized, each with varying redemption rates and sweet spots.
Example Redemption Costs (One-Way, US to Central America):
| Airline Miles Type | One-Way Economy Cost | One-Way Business Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 6,000 to 10,000 | 20,000 to 25,000 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 14,000 to 17,500 | 25,000 to 37,000 |
| Asiana Club | 17,500 | 27,500 |
| United MileagePlus | 19,300 | 33,000 |
Example Redemption Costs (One-Way, US to South America):
| Airline Miles Type | One-Way Economy Cost | One-Way Business Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Asiana Club | 17,500 | 27,500 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 15,000 to 17,000 | 30,000 to 35,000 |
| Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus | 17,500 | 32,500 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 30,000 | 50,000 |
| United MileagePlus | 22,000 | 38,500 |
Redemption costs can vary significantly based on the frequent flyer program used, primarily due to differing regional categorizations. It’s wise to compare redemption rates across programs to find the most advantageous option for your desired route.
Final Thoughts: Exploring the Americas with Avianca
Avianca provides a comprehensive network for travelers looking to explore Central and South America. While its fleet and cabin offerings may vary, Avianca consistently offers competitive fares and a wide range of destinations. Beyond the major hubs of Bogotá and San Salvador, Avianca opens doors to unique locations, offering diverse travel experiences. Whether you prioritize budget travel in Economy or seek a more comfortable journey in Business Class, understanding where Avianca flies and how to leverage points and miles can significantly enhance your travel planning when venturing south. Consider Avianca as your gateway to the rich cultures and stunning landscapes of Latin America.
