Giving up on Avianca!!

santiBOG says on Nov 28, 2004, 15:49:

I hear ya Even though Avianca has a convenient flight from Ft Lauderdale, I always use American from Miami even if it means I have to drive further. The few times that I've been forced to use Avianca, their service is consistently mediocre and their attitude dismissive at best. They're not service oriented. I hate Avianca, they're disrespectful to passengers.

Also, they keep trying to sell you stuff (cologne, gifts, etc) during the flight... I say to myself What is this, sanandresito?? the flea market? For some reason, everytime I board an Avianca plane I feel like I am in a dirt-cheap inter-municipal bus, a flota, which would be OK had I not paid over 500 bucks for the ride.

Now, about your credit card charges, I say dispute the charges directly with your bank... you should not have to drive to their offices. Go with LanChile or AA, it'll be a better ride for sure.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mad_lion says on Nov 28, 2004, 15:59:

really? I thought I was the only one that hated that! On my last trip to Colombia last month, I also traveled Business class both ways on Avianca. Not only was I given a very dirty look from the flight attendant when she asked me to look at the duy free book, and I said "Not interested" (Politely) - I had to get up several times to ask her to bring me something to drink..and this is Business class for CRYING OUT LOUD!

They paid more attention to some guy in biz class (who knows who the hell he was)...but all attendants including the male ones talked to this guy during the whole trip, while I was ignored!

This is definitely the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I now officially dislike Avianca and will never travel with them.

Tinto, if Avianca is now 75% owned by a Brazilian company, I hope that it's TAM Airlines. They are great, and will hopefully clean-up Avianca to meet their standards of service!

Yeah, I will disupte this with my credit card company!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

viewpoint says on Nov 28, 2004, 16:12:

Mad Lion I know that COPA has no direct flights from Florida to BOG as all flights are routed through Panama City but I fly them regular all the time to Medellin and Panama City business class and coach. They have great service and upgrades if you fly at least 25,000 miles which gives you Elite Class status. I gave up on Avianca 4 1/2 years ago returning only in an emergency when there are no other alternatives.

COPA was also trying to acquire Avianca but ended up in second place. I expect them to provide direct service from Florida to Bogota in the near future as they are acquiring more equipment are expanding consistantly. Cont'l and the Motto family out of Panama own COPA so they are well capitalized.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel says on Nov 28, 2004, 17:16:

Avinunca Glad to see your comments; I never have had a bad experience with Avianca and have had demasiado con AA. Hopefully the new ownership will restore some cred to this company.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Sam Salmon says on Nov 28, 2004, 22:08:

Los Cabrones de Avianca I've had a number of bad experiences with those cabrones and so slag them every opportunity that comes.

Sorry for swearing I know Colombians don't swear much but Avianca deserves swear words and more.



' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

calipro says on Nov 28, 2004, 22:38:

I like Avianca...... because I like the azafatas.

Show me another airline that has all colombian stewardesses and I'll fly them to.

They are so laid back. The azafatas are so nice and friendly that I could care less about the service. Hell, if you don't like who you are sitting next to just get up and start talking with the stewardesses.

Try doing that on AA. They'll tell you to shut up and get back to your seat.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

brad216 says on Nov 29, 2004, 07:03:

avianca I have flown to Cali twice on American and twice on Avianca. Except for the fact that I speak no Spanish and no one on Avianca speaks english...I have not noticed any differences between the 2 airlines. Maybe I have just been very lucky but i'd rather pay the $300 for Avianca instead of the $500 on American. The only time I plan on flying American going forward is when they have a weekend super saver.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Nov 29, 2004, 07:50:

If I Can't Fly COPA... then I will take Avianca. After almost 20 years of flying to Colombis I have hadmore trouble/problem with American and LACSA (Especially LACSA) than Avianca. I will grant you, however, Avianca does tend to have a Cavalier attitude at times.

A la orden

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

vanwely says on Nov 29, 2004, 11:53:

30 and 0 I have now flown Avianca 30 times and never had a problem. Mi aerolina preferido.



Colombia - Tierra Querida

Colombia - Tierra Querida

0 funny, 0 helpful.

expatriate says on Nov 29, 2004, 12:49:

Careful with internet tickets and Avianca I ordered a ticket on the internet for a friend from MIA to CLO on back on Avianca. For some reason, Avianca requires a paper ticket, so $25 was added to the ticket price to be delivered on Friday. Once again, the ticket was ordered Wednesday for a Sunday flight, and naturally the ticket arrives at my friend's house the next Monday. Avianca refused to let her fly on Sunday with just the confirmation number, they needed that paper ticket. She was allowed to fly Monday night for a $100 penalty :)

In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

SHBLatin says on Nov 29, 2004, 15:47:

Just got back from Bogota I just got back yesterday from Bogota and flew Avaianca both way and found there service to be Excellent. I had not problems what so ever and my lack of spanish was also not a problem.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

toneloc24 says on Dec 2, 2004, 15:15:

I have flown Avianca 3 times BOG-BAQ now, and not experienced any problem, other than a 30 minute delay once due to weather.

The service of the flight attendants have been uneven, at times good, at times, non-existent. I will say that this past trip, my sexy flight attendant earned her keep in my books, as there was a very nervous little girl flying alone, and of course, sitting next to me. The flight attendant was extremely nurturing to this young girl (maybe 5 or 6 yrs old), and helped her through her experience. It made what could have been catastrophic to me into a wonderful experience. I ended up treating the little girl as one of my nieces, while the flight attendant attended to her duties around the cabin. Thought of asking the flight attendant out for dinner, but left the experience as it was. Plus, I was fully booked in BAQ & CTG.

Just wanted to share a positive Avianca experience. Sorry to hear of the negatives.

"PBH is dead!!!!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.