Avianca Business Class: What It’s Like and How to Fly for Less

Avianca is a Colombian-based carrier known for low-cost airfares throughout Latin America. Over the years, it has adapted successfully to changing passenger needs, and its business-class product is a perfect example. If you’re ready to explore all that Latin America has to offer, there’s a good chance you’ll do so with Avianca. 

As a full-time digital nomad who spends more than half of the year in South America, I’ve flown Avianca more times than I can count. I’m also a cardholder of the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Elite Card, and I am constantly redeeming my LifeMiles for flights throughout the Americas. 

Avianca is a member of the Star Alliance and currently flies to more than 108 destinations. That number increases to more than 191 countries and 1,300 airports once you factor in everywhere you can fly through partner airlines. Here’s what to know about Avianca’s business class and how to use points and miles for your next flight. 

What to know about flying Avianca business class 

Avianca offers several different business-class products depending on your route and aircraft. You’ll find a business class with lie-flat seats in the Americas when flying on the Boeing 787. Flights operated by the Airbus A320 will feature premium seats in the first three rows of the plane that offer a bit more space than an economy seat, but not much. 

On flights to/from Europe operated by the B787, you can experience a newly redesigned business class — INSIGNIA by Avianca. It features lie-flat seats with a mattress pad, blanket, and pillows for ultimate relaxation. Make sure you check which aircraft operates your route. The last thing you want is to board the plane expecting a lie-flat seat and be met with a standard reclining seat. 

The best routes to fly in business class on Avianca

As a Colombian-based carrier, most Avianca routes are within the Americas. However, Avianca also operates routes from Colombia to Europe. 

You can access business class on the A320 on 34 routes throughout the Americas: 

To/from Bogotá, Colombia

North America

• Washington
• New York
• Boston
• Miami
• Orlando
• Fort Lauderdale
• Chicago
• Toronto
• Montreal

Central and South America

• Mexico City, Mexico
• São Paulo, Brazil
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE and AEP)
• Santiago, Chile
• Asunción, Paraguay
• Georgetown, Guyana
• Lima, Peru
• Panama City, Panama

To/from Medellín, Colombia

• New York
• Lima
• Santiago de Chile
• Buenos Aires (Ezeiza)
• São Paulo

To/from San Salvador, El Salvador

• Bogotá
• Medellín
• Washington
• New York
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Panama City
• Mexico City
• Lima

You can access Avianca business class in the Boeing 787 on select flights between Bogotá and New York (JFK), Miami, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago de Chile.

INSIGNIA by Avianca is available on the following routes: 

• Between Bogotá and London, Paris, Madrid, and Barcelona
• Between Cali and Madrid
• Between Medellín and Madrid

What to expect when flying Avianca business class 

If you are flying business class on a long-haul international flight, you should expect a luxury experience from start to finish — comfortable seats, fine dining, lounge access, priority services, and more. 

Check-in and security clearance 

Business-class passengers will receive priority service at the check-in counter and boarding gate. If you are flying from Madrid, Barcelona, or London in business class, you can use the Fast Track lanes at security to quickly reach your gate (or lounge). 

Luggage allowance

If you tend to pack a lot, the upgrade to business can be worth it. Passengers receive a personal item, one carry-on, and two checked bags up to 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds) each. 

When flying economy, you can pick between a few different fare classes depending on your needs. All fares except basic allow you to bring a carry-on, while only classic and flex fares include a checked bag. Classic and flex tickets limit checked bags to 23 kilograms (about 50 pounds). Any fare will allow you to bring a personal item on board. 

Lounge access

Avianca business class passengers receive access to international Avianca lounges, but there are only four: two in Bogota, one in San Salvador, and a newly reopened lounge in Miami. I’ve visited the Avianca lounge in Bogota several times and have always had a pleasant experience. It’s pretty spacious with decent food. 

However, if you have a Priority Pass membership and are transiting through Bogota, I highly recommend the LATAM Lounge. The food is always impressive, and the lounge has a bit more space than the Avianca lounge. 

You can also visit lounges from Star Alliances partners when flying in business class. You can use the Star Alliance lounge finder for specific information after entering your departure airport. For instance, if you’re flying in business class on Avianca when departing from New York (JFK), you can access the Lufthansa Business Lounge or Turkish Airlines Lounge New York in Terminal 1 and the Air India Maharaja Lounge Business Class in Terminal 4. 

Seats

As mentioned earlier, there is a vast difference in business class seats on a single-aisle aircraft compared to a dual-aisle aircraft. 

Single-aisle aircraft

On single-aisle aircraft, like the Airbus A320, the “business class” is more of an “economy plus” seat. It’s located in the first three rows of the aircraft and features more recline, wide armrests, reserved space, and charging ports. The middle seat in the standard row of three is blocked off and used as an armrest. You’ll technically have more space than in economy, but it’s not a huge difference. 

On average, you’ll notice a seat width of about 19 inches, which is 1.5 inches more than a standard economy seat. You’ll also get 4 to 5 extra inches in pitch and 2 extra inches in recline. 

Dual-aisle aircraft

Dual-aisle aircraft have the classic business-class feel, with a lie-flat seat and on-board entertainment system. You’ll find this on aircraft like the Boeing 787, and it’s only available on select flights within the Americas.  These seats typically have about 20 inches in width, which is three inches more than in economy. 

Food and drink

On-board dining depends on the length of your flight. For flights within the Americas that are less than three hours long, business-class passengers will receive packaged snacks and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. For flights over three hours, passengers will receive breakfast, lunch, or dinner, all beverages, and comfort items. 

On select flights, the menu is designed by Álvaro Clavijo, the chef behind El Chato. The Bogota restaurant was voted the 25th best restaurant in the world in 2024 by The World’s 50 Best. I’ve eaten at EL Chato and am very confident that anything Chef Clavijo creates for the land or the skies will be fantastic. 

When flying to or from Europe in Avianca’s INSIGNIA business class cabin, you’ll receive a welcome drink when you board, a menu with a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, and drinks. Chef Clavijo exclusively designs the menu for flights from Madrid and Barcelona to Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, bringing local flavors and fine dining to the skies. 

On flights from Bogota to Europe, Clavijo works with Jennifer Rodríguez, owner of the restaurant Mestizo Cocina de Origen in Cundinamarca, Colombia. If you’re looking for a unique experience when flying, a long-haul Avianca flight could be just what you need. 

Service, amenities, and in-flight entertainment

On round-trip flights longer than four hours, you’ll receive a Colombian-inspired amenity kit in collaboration with Mola Sasa and Loto del Sur. The pouch by Mola Sasa is made from recycled PET bottle fabric and designed with the help of women from the Gunadule community. Inside are products from Loto del Sur. 

In-flight entertainment is only available on dual-aisle aircraft. On single-aisle aircraft, you can connect to the on-board Wi-Fi to watch in-flight entertainment on your own device. Note that the Wi-Fi only works for Avianca entertainment, and you cannot access the internet or messaging while in the air. 

How much it costs to fly Avianca business class

In my experience, Avianca flights are very reasonably priced. It’s not the most luxurious airline I’ve ever flown, but it gets the job done and has fantastic connectivity to Latin America. Here’s how much you can expect to pay to fly Avianca business class. 

When paying in cash

The cost of flying Avianca business class will vary depending on your route, aircraft, and time of year. You can fly nonstop from New York (JFK) to Bogota (BOG) in business class for $753 each way in the summer. When booking, make sure you look at the seat map. Although this flight is operated by the Boeing 787, it has a different configuration, so the recline is reduced. 

The A320 flight from Miami (MIA) to Bogota might cost $663 each way during the summer. However, this route doesn’t offer a flatbed seat, so it’s pretty expensive. A full-fare economy ticket on the same flight would cost just $243.

When paying via points in a credit card portal

If you book your flights using points through your credit card’s travel portal, you’ll receive a fixed value from your points. Most of the time, you’ll get a value of 1 cent per point, but some cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve, give a value of 1.25 and 1.5 cents per point, respectively. This means that a $600 flight would cost 40,000 to 48,000 points. 

Fortunately, Avianca is a transfer partner of several major credit cards, which means you can get outsized value from your points by booking directly through Lifemiles. 

When booking using LifeMiles 

Avianca uses dynamic pricing and doesn’t publish an award chart, so there will be some variation in award pricing. A business class ticket from New York (JFK) to Medellin (MDE) on the A320 this summer might cost 59,170 Lifemiles, plus $48.50 in taxes and fees. The same flight would cost $778 when paying cash, so you’re receiving a decent valuation from your points. 

However, a full-fare economy ticket would cost just 13,020 Lifemiles, plus the same taxes and fees. 

When booking via partner airlines 

Avianca is a member of the Star Alliance, so you can often book Avianca-operated flights through partner programs. ANA publishes a distance-based award chart for all partner airline flights, including Avianca. When flying between North America (Zone 6) and Central and South America (Zone 9), you’ll spend 96,000 points round-trip for Avianca business class.

If you’re flying in business class, you might save a few miles on your trip. For example, a round-trip, business-class flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Salvador (SAL) might cost an eye-watering 170,000 Lifemiles. Or, it would cost just 96,000 points when booking through ANA. 

How much it costs to upgrade to business class on Avianca 

You have a couple of options if you want to upgrade to business class on a flight operated by Avianca. You can request an upgrade to business class using your miles, up to 24 hours before departure, by contacting the call center and finding availability. Upgrades start at 16,700 miles for flights within the Americas and 64,750 for flights to/from Europe. 

Upgrades are only available if you’ve booked classic and flex fares. In other words, basic economy tickets aren’t eligible for an upgrade. 

If you have elite status, you will automatically be upgraded to business class two days before your flight (subject to availability) as long as you meet the following criteria:

• You purchased a classic or flex fare​
• You have a maximum of one companion on the same reservation
• You have the required balance of benefits
• You bought your ticket at least 48 hours before your flight

The balance of benefits refers to the number of upgrades allotted based on your elite status. For instance, Avianca credit cardholders receive Silver elite status, which grants six upgrades to business class in the Americas (none to INSIGNIA by Avianca to/from Europe). 

How to save on Avianca business class tickets

Avianca flight offers

Avianca has a page dedicated to flight offers. Although these aren’t exclusive to business class tickets, you can find great deals. Select your departure city to see available options and complete your booking. At the time of writing, you could fly business class on the A320 from New York to Georgetown, Guyana, with a layover in Bogota for $521 one-way. 

If you want to save on a business-class ticket using the flight offers, it’s helpful to reference the list of routes that offer business class so you don’t waste time endlessly searching. 

Upgrading

It might be more cost-effective to upgrade your seat to business class after booking an economy ticket, especially if you have elite status. Although you run the risk of business class being fully booked, Avianca has very affordable economy fares. With elite status, you’re automatically upgraded, so you can score a seat in business class while paying for a low-cost ticket. 

Even if you don’t have elite status, you could request an upgrade, starting at just 16,700 miles in the Americas. This could still be a great option, depending on how much you paid for your economy ticket. 

Some routes operated by the A320 might not offer the “business class experience,” but will still offer more spacious seats at the front of the plane. For instance, I’m flying from Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) to Quito, Ecuador (QIO) at the end of May. I redeemed an economy flex fare for 8,550 Lifemiles plus $76.40 in taxes and fees. Then, I paid an additional $90 to select seat 2A for more space during my six-hour flight. Although my ticket still says “economy,” the seat map shows the first three rows of the plane as premium seating. 

Using points and miles

If you want to save the most money on a business-class flight, you can use points and miles. Then, you’ll only pay taxes and fees. Fortunately, there are many ways to book your flight using points and miles.

How to book Avianca business class with points 

How to book Avianca business class using your credit card portal 

You could book your flight using points through a credit card travel portal, like Chase Travel or Capital One Travel. However, you’ll receive a fixed valuation from your points — typically 1 to 1.5 cents per point, depending on the card you have. 

Lifemiles often offers a much better valuation, and you can transfer points from most major credit card point currencies to the Lifemiles program at a 1:1 ratio. 

Which credit card points transfer to LifeMiles? 

You can transfer points from several credit card programs to Lifemiles at a 1:1 ratio, including: 

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Capital One Miles
• Citi ThankYou points
• Bilt Rewards
• Wells Fargo Rewards

How to book Avianca business class using LifeMiles 

If you want the best value from your points, you’ll probably want to book through Lifemiles. 

The process for booking an award flight on Avianca differs slightly from that of some U.S.-based carriers. You must go to a different website, lifemiles.com, and log in. Then, go to the “travel” tab. 

From there, you can enter your travel dates, departure and arrival airports, and search for your flight. You can also search for upgrades, lounges, hotels, cars, and cruises on the same page. 

Then, you can select your flight. The prices shown are for an economy ticket. If you’re a cardholder of the Avianca Lifemiles American Express Elite card, you’ll receive a 10-25% discount. Select the business class option, then continue to checkout. This nonstop flight from New York (JFK) to Bogota (BOG) would cost 55,880 Lifemiles, plus $48.50 in taxes and fees in business class. 

Booking directly through Lifemiles will typically give you the best value for your points, especially if you’re a Lifemiles+ subscriber. You can often find shockingly good fares for both economy and business class through the site, and Avianca regularly runs promotions for even greater savings.

What other loyalty programs can you use to book Avianca business class? 

Avianca is a member of the Star Team Alliance, which includes the following airlines: 

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• ANA
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca
• Brussels Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• EGYPTAIR
• Ethiopian Airlines
• EVA Air
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Swiss
• TAP Air Portugal
• Thai Airways International
• Turkish Airlines
• United

You can book an Avianca-operated business class flight through several of these partners.

How to book Avianca business class using points from a partner airline

To book through a partner like ANA, search for an award redemption to find out your options. You won’t be able to book every flight operated by Avianca through a partner airline, so you might need to be flexible on your dates. 

You can then transfer Membership Rewards points from an American Express credit card at a 1:1 ratio. Once the points are in your account, you can book your flight as you typically would. 

Tips for finding business class award availability on Avianca 

The Lifemiles website isn’t always easy to use. It can be glitchy, so you’ll want to be patient. However, award fares typically open up around 360 days prior to departure. In my experience, searching for availability nine months out is difficult, but it’s not impossible. 

Remember, even when you select “business or first” when performing a search, the prices shown are often for an economy ticket. If you set aside time to learn the Lifemiles website, you’ll become an expert in Avianca award redemptions in no time. 

Business class offerings in the Americas are still relatively new. In July 2024, Avianca introduced 11 routes with business class, which was expanded to 34 routes in December 2024. Finding the perfect routes for your next trip might take some time. 

Should you book Avianca business class? 

If you want to explore Latin America, flying Avianca business class on a dual-aisle aircraft can be a comfortable way to get there. If you’re already in Latin America and want to head to Europe, INSIGNIA by Avianca is worth the upgrade for the dining alone. With so many great deals on business class fares through Lifemiles, even budget-conscious travelers can justify flying in luxury.