As a frequent traveler to Latin America, I’ve flown Avianca Airlines a lot. I’ve had good experiences and not-so-good experiences. I’ve flown them across many borders, from the U.S. to El Salvador, from Colombia to Mexico, and more random trips in Latin America.

Consider this your Avianca Airlines survival guide.

My Quick Summary of Avianca: It’s Good Value For The Base Fare. It’s Not a Good Value For Extras. The Service and Amenities are fine.

Their base fare and service are good for the price. But, it has downsides and operates with a classic budget airline model (everything is extra).

• Good Value for Your Money: Especially if you’re traveling light. Their base fare is usually a great deal, and I’ve gotten some crazy deals before (like New York to San Salvador for $94.)
• Extensive Network: They offer direct flight options from many U.S. cities to even non-major Latin American cities. They even fly direct to Madrid from many LATAM cities. Layovers suck, and Avianca helps me avoid them.
• Everything Costs Extra: It’s not a good value if you check bags. And yes, you’ll have to buy that in-flight coffee. But the silver lining is the coffee is good. We’re talking café con leche that doesn’t taste like it was brewed in a sock.
• Customer Support: Since it’s a budget airline, they’re not super available or helpful. Changing stuff can suck and be expensive. But the on-board staff are friendly and helpful.
• Seating Situation: The seats are small, but hey, you’re flying budget. Overall, it’s still a decent in-flight experience that’s better than other budget airlines like Spirit and definitely better than other Latin American airlines like Viva Air.
• The Business Class isn’t Anything Fancy. I flew business class once thanks to credit card points. It was a good value for business, and a huge upgrade, but I wouldn’t say it was luxurious.

How Is Avianca So Affordable? What Am I Missing? Will I Die?

No, you will not die. Avianca isn’t cutting corners on safety. Airline regulations are among the strictist in the world.

What you might sacrifice, however, is the ability to fully extend your legs or swing your elbows without accidentally elbowing your seatmate. You will also miss out on snacks unless you wanna buy them. You’ll also get crushed if you have to change your flight or seat.

So, how does Avianca manage to keep their prices so low? Simple: everything is extra. This is common practice among budget airlines, as I discuss more in this article.

Avianca Airlines is a great deal if you just bring a backpack

I’ve seen base fares cost around $100, but then if you want a full-size carry-on, it’s $180. If you buy it after the fact, it’s even more. As expensive as $120.

Avianca is a great airline for those like me who travel light. Checking bags is against my travel philosophy anyway.

But if you don’t travel light, Avianca isn’t the airline for you.

Even Coffee Costs Extra

You’ll have to pay more if you want a full-size carry-on, or if you want to pick your seat, or if you want coffee and a snack. That’s the nature of the business model for budget airlines. I forego extra bags (savings of hundreds of dollars) but treat myself to an in-flight coffee.

Things I Like About Avianca

Despite its quirks, Avianca has some standout features that keep me coming back. Here’s what sets them apart from other budget airlines:

Really Good Base Fare

Avianca’s pricing structure makes it one of the most affordable ways to hop between the U.S. and Latin America.

I’ve scored flights for as little as $94 from New York to San Salvador. The key is to catch these deals, be flexible with your travel day, and travel light.

Lots of Destinations with Direct Flights

They offer direct flights from major U.S. cities to many destinations across Latin America.

It’s one of the only ways to get from the U.S. Northeast or West Coast to Latin America without a layover in Florida or Texas.

The ability to skip layovers is huge; it saves time, cuts down on travel fatigue, and reduces the risk of missed connections. It’s also much better for the environment, as I write in this article about why I’m cutting down on flying. I’m all about avoiding layovers, and Avianca makes it easy to get where I need to go without extra hassle. If you’re like me and hate the airport shuffle, this is a big win.

They Have a Chill Carry-On Policy, Especially for a Budget Airline

Unlike some other budget airlines that rigidly enforce strict carry-on limits, Avianca is generally more relaxed. One time, I boarded with both a backpack and a briefcase—technically against the rules—and a staff member simply asked, “That’ll all fit under the seat, right?” I nodded, and that was it. No fees, no fuss. As long as you can fit your bags within the available space, you’re good to go.

Reasonably Priced and Average Food and Drinks

Yes, you’ll have to buy food and drinks, but they’re not trying to gouge you. The quality is decent too; I’ve enjoyed their in-flight café con leche more than once, and it’s far better than the overpriced, subpar options I’ve had on U.S. airlines.

Plus, being able to choose what you want rather than accepting a substandard meal I prefer. Here’s a peak of their menu. It’s fine. 7/10.

I’ve Had One Delay, But They Made Up The Time

Avianca prides itself on being one of the most punctual airlines. That has help up for me. Part of this may be the pleasant climate I’ve gone to and from, though.

The In-Flight Experience

Flying with Avianca is a mixed bag when it comes to comfort and amenities, but overall, it’s a decent experience for a budget airline. Here’s what you can expect once you’re onboard:

Legroom and Comfort: Not Great, But Not The Worst

The seats are on the tighter side, but they’re manageable. If you’re used to flying budget, Avianca’s seating won’t surprise you. Don’t expect to stretch out, but it’s far from unbearable.

They do have upgraded seats, but they don’t have what’s a super spread out business or first class.

Tray Table: Better Than Many Budget Airlines

Avianca’s tray tables are a step above what you’d find on ultra-budget carriers like Spirit. They’re fairly standard in size and stability, which is more than you can ask for on some budget flights. It’s a small thing, but it makes a difference when you’re trying to get some work done or just enjoy a snack without it sliding off onto your lap.

No TVs, But They Have Free Entertainment on Your Phone

You can stream a decent selection of movies and TV shows directly to your device, no earbuds required.

The library includes a mix of new releases and classic films, so there’s usually something worth watching. It’s a great way to pass the time without relying on your own downloads.

You can put your phone up too.

Not Reliable Wifi

Some flights have wifi and other flights don’t.

The ones that do, you have to purchase for around $5. The one time I did this it was spotty at best. However, it’s good enough for basic tasks like checking emails or jotting down some notes. Don’t count on it for much else.

Yes to Outlets: USB and USB-C

This has been consistent for me across all Avianca flights since 2022.

Bring Your Own Snacks

While Avianca does offer food, it’s always a good idea to bring your own snacks, since you’ll have to buy the food.

The Food Is Decent and Not That Expensive, But It’s Still Airplane Food:

You won’t be blown away by the meal options, but they’re reasonable for the price. The sandwiches and snacks are decent enough, but it’s still airplane food at the end of the day. Manage your expectations.

Bring a Travel Pillow If You Plan on Sleeping:

Avianca’s seats don’t offer much in the way of headrests or reclining features, so if you’re planning on sleeping, a travel pillow is essential. It’s a small investment that makes a big difference in your comfort level, especially on longer flights.

I had a red eye once on Avianca and I didn’t sleep well. But if I didn’t have my travel pillow it would’ve been worse.

The Airport Experience: Automated, In a Good Way

Navigating the airport with Avianca is generally smooth, thanks to their efficient use of automation. Here’s what to expect before you even step on the plane:

Check-In is Streamlined (Especially at Major Airports)

Your experience may vary depending on the airport, but at larger hubs like JFK, Avianca has embraced automation in all the right ways. Even San Salvador’s airport had this.

Friendly, Completely Bilingual Staff

Whether you’re checking in, boarding, or need assistance with something else, Avianca’s airport staff is generally helpful and friendly. I’ve always felt like they’re approachable and willing to assist.

However, if you want to change your seat or something, they don’t budge on the steep upgrade prices. One time I asked out of curiosity how much for an exit row, as some airlines you can talk your way into a cheap upgrade. Avianca gave me nothing.

The Online Booking Experience: Clunky

The website feels clunky, with occasional glitches that make booking a hassle. The app isn’t much better—slow load times, awkward interfaces, and a general lack of user-friendliness don’t help.

For instance, during one booking, it wouldn’t let me put in my TSA Pre-Check number, so I had to do it at the kiosk at the airport.

It’s a Budget Airline; I Can Live With It

At the end of the day, these inconveniences are part of the budget airline experience. The trade-off for those low fares often comes in the form of a lackluster digital experience.

It’s not like other airlines are that much better.

Avianca Destination Guides

A few times after Avianca flights I’ve stayed awhile. You can check out my guide on being a digital nomad in Medellín and my guide on being a digital nomad in El Salvador. So check those out, if the spirit moves you.

My Experience on Avianca’s Business Class

Everything above applies to their economy flights. After many Avianca flights and so many credit card points, I decided to give business class a try in February 2026.

Booking Business Class Flights With LifeMiles

My business class flight from San Francisco to San Salvador cost less than 23,000 points plus $30. If you’ve booked flights on points before, you know that’s a good deal. The cost on the site was $469, so that means I got around 2 cents per point.

I have a Bilt credit card, which has a 1:1 transfer with Avianca LifeMiles.

You Book on the “LifeMiles” Website, Not Avianca

What’s sort of confusing is that you don’t book flights with miles on Avianca’s main site. You go to Life Miles.

From there, you follow the steps. The business class option is kind of hidden. But it’s there.

Once you’re booked, you’ll receive emails from Avianca about your upcoming flight as it gets closer, just like any other flight.

Lounge Access: You Can Go in Star Alliance Lounge

With a business class ticket, you do get lounge access, but it’s not that straightforward. Avianca only has lounges in their main airports, like Bogotá and San Salvador. You can look for that list.

At airports where Avianca has no lounge, you can go into Star Alliance lounges. This includes United lounges.

However, and here’s where I got screwed, that lounge has to be in the same terminal as your flight. I flew business from SFO, and the United Lounge was in the other international terminal.

So at the airport, the only advantage I got was the service at check-in. The Avianca staff member took my passport, cut the whole line, did the international check-in, and handed me my priority ticket and passport back in about two minutes. Whether business or economy, I have nothing but good things to say about Avianca’s airport or on-flight staff.

In-Flight Business Class Seats: Good, But Won’t Blow You Away

I’m sure it varies by flight, but here was my experience. I felt like it was sort of in-between what might be called “Premium Economy” and a true luxury Business Class experience on a legacy U.S. or European airline.

But for only 23,000 points, even this was comparatively less.

Comfort: Good Legroom, No Middle Seat

Manspreading in economy is not cool. But on Avianca business class, you can manspread.

There’s no middle seat, and instead a smaller divider between you and another business class seat. It’s pretty spacious. That divider has your outlet and an extra storage cubby underneath as well.

The legroom is a lot more as well. Plenty, really.

Pillow, Blanket, Sleeping Kit

They give you a pillow, blanket, a kit that includes an eye mask, earplugs, and stuff like that.

In-Flight Business Class Food + Service

The service was excellent. You have all the coffee, wine, beer, tea, and snacks you want.

The food was decent. I had chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli.

Verdict: Worth it With Points

I depends on what kind of mood I’m in. I don’t mind rocking it with economy. But, business class flights are usually the best redemption of credit card points. So it’s a way to get that experience for the best value possible.

There’s no doubt you’ll be more comfortable with Avianca business class. It’s up to you if that’s worth it.

The best part, honestly, was being first in line to go through customs. I was out of the airport in less than ten minutes.

I would not pay for business class with cash, personally.