Hiya from Bogota, as I’ve simply kicked off my fast, particular journey to Paris. For the primary section of this journey, I flew Avianca’s Airbus A320 enterprise class on the three-hour flight from Miami (MIA) to Bogota (BOG). The airline markets this in several methods — initially it was branded as “Premium,” and now it’s marketed as “Enterprise Class Americas,” so I’m simply going to name it enterprise class from hereon out.
How would I rank the Avianca slender physique enterprise class expertise? This product kind of has a bizarre place out there. Consider it like a typical Latin American enterprise class mushy product, however with a less-nice seat. I’d say that is higher than flying in economic system, however apart from that, it will be amongst my final decisions in the case of enterprise class.
On this put up, I need to share my preliminary impressions of the flight, after which quickly I’ll have a full journey report.
Avianca’s A320 enterprise class seats are uncommon
Avianca’s A320 enterprise class is a product that I’ve by no means in any other case skilled earlier than. It consists of a complete of 12 seats, unfold throughout three rows, in a 2-2 configuration. In actuality, these are economic system seats in a 3-3 configuration, however Avianca has retrofitted them in a artistic method.
The middle seat has mainly been transformed into an enormous tray. In contrast to enterprise class on intra-Europe flights, the airline really makes the seats wider. That’s as a result of the standard armrests are eliminated, and the middle seat turns into a part of the aisle and window seats.
Every seat has an AC and USB-A plug beneath the armrest.
The seat is completely snug by way of width, however the difficulty is the pitch. The seats have simply 33″ of pitch, which isn’t nice for enterprise class, particularly when the individual in entrance of you reclines (and particularly when the individual within the aisle seat refuses to rise up so as to use the lavatory, which I handled on this flight).
So by way of arduous product, I’d say that is weaker than simply about every other enterprise class product on the market, although the artistic middle tray makes this significantly extra snug than intra-Europe enterprise class.
To Avianca’s credit score, the airline solely just lately restored enterprise class on flights throughout the Americas, after eliminating it years again. The airline was clearly in search of a price efficient method to do this, and I believe this did the trick. Additionally to Avianca’s credit score, another airways in Latin American (like LATAM) simply have premium economic system on regional flights, which is economic system with a blocked center.
Relating to getting snug, Avianca does supply a pillow and blanket to enterprise class passengers, which is a step up from another airways within the area.
Avianca’s enterprise class meals & service are positive
Relating to the mushy product, I’d say Avianca’s A320 enterprise class expertise is common, or maybe just a bit beneath common.
I used to be on a breakfast flight, and the alternatives have been both an omelet or pancakes. I ordered the omelet, which was relatively tacky and oily, and got here with a aspect of fruit, plus a range from the bread basket.
There was a full collection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, however as is persistently the case in Latin America, Avianca participates within the warfare on milk. They solely have powdered creamer, and nothing liquid to place in espresso. That’s widespread on airways in Latin America, and I simply don’t get it — is loading tiny packages of milk actually an excessive amount of of an expense, or…?
So far as service goes, the crew was pleasant sufficient. They weren’t impolite in any method, but additionally went via the motions. After the preliminary meal service, they didn’t cross via the cabin as soon as to supply drinks (in fact I may have pushed the decision button, however you’d assume they may cross via a few instances).
Avianca’s A320s have streaming leisure
Sadly Avianca doesn’t have Wi-Fi on its Airbus A320s. Or at a minimal, my flight didn’t have it. I do know the airline plans on introducing it, although I’m unsure the present standing of that being rolled out, and finest I can inform, not a lot progress has been made.
Whereas there’s no Wi-Fi, the airline does supply streaming leisure to your personal system. The choice wasn’t large, however was higher than nothing — we’re speaking round 40 motion pictures, 25 TV reveals (some with a number of episodes), video games, and many others. I’d suggest bringing your personal leisure, if potential.
Would I fly Avianca’s A320 enterprise class once more?
It’s all the time arduous to say for positive whether or not I’d fly a product once more, because it all is dependent upon the worth, schedule, route, alternate options, and many others. I believe the best way I’d describe Avianca’s A320 enterprise class is that it’s one of many weakest enterprise class merchandise within the Americas, however I additionally wouldn’t exit of my strategy to keep away from it.
I imply, if flying between Miami and Bogota, would I relatively fly Emirates top notch or Avianca enterprise class? I’ll allow you to determine. 😉 But when Avianca had one of the best value or schedule by a large margin, I wouldn’t hesitate to fly this product once more. It’s snug sufficient, actually way more snug than economic system.
In a phrase, I’d describe the expertise as forgettable. That’s not nice, nevertheless it’s additionally not a horrible factor (in any case, there are some airways I’ve flown which might be memorable, however not in a great way). Avianca’s pricing is far and wide, and if this have been an excellent worth, I’d completely fly it once more. Nonetheless, in most conditions, I don’t really discover Avianca’s enterprise class pricing to be that nice, which is why I’d relatively fly one other airline.
In lots of markets, Avianca competes with Copa (by way of pricing and one-stop connectivity), and if flying a slender physique, I’d completely choose Copa over Avianca, whether or not flying on one of many service’s 737s with commonplace enterprise class seats, or 737s with flat beds. The 2 airways have comparable mushy merchandise, however Copa’s arduous product wins by a protracted shot.
Backside line
I’m blissful I lastly had the prospect to fly Avianca’s distinctive Airbus A320 enterprise class. The airline has an uncommon arduous product, the place the center seat is blocked, however in a extra snug method than you’ll discover inside Europe. Past that, the mushy product is roughly what you’d count on for regional enterprise class on a Latin American service, with an okay meal, respectable service, and many others. It’s like Copa, however a bit much less snug.
What’s your tackle Avianca’s A320 enterprise class?
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