Avianca To Launch A-La-Carte Fares On Flights To Europe

Only the Extra Large travel scheme offers access to Avianca Lounges and seats in business class.

Avianca has introduced a new customization offer on flights to Europe, making available four different types of travel schemes, ranging from Small –no checked-in luggage– to Extra Large, which includes access to Avianca Lounges and a seat in business class.

Introducing four new travel schemes

Last year, Avianca introduced four new travel schemes for travel in the Americas. With these travel schemes –very similar to the ones offered by low-cost carriers globally– passengers would only have to pay for what they needed, Avianca said at the time. Now, this customization has also been launched in flights to Europe (the carrier flies from Bogota El Dorado International to Madrid Barajas International, Barcelona El Prat, and London Heathrow).

Manuel Ambriz, Chief Commercial Officer at Avianca, said that this adjustment is intended to make it easier to purchase, providing more clarity to Avianca’s product and better differentiation in the Extra Large option, which has the most benefits.

“We know that you, our customers, want the power to customize your trip, and we are doing everything so that you can do it quickly and with the necessary information to choose the option that best suits you,” Ambriz added.

What is Avianca offering per travel scheme?

Avianca now provides four travel schemes on flights to and from Europe: S, M, L, and XXL. This is what each of these schemes offers:

1. Small or S: a personal item, a piece of hand luggage of up to ten kilograms, check-in through the web, app, or airport kiosks, and earning miles.
2. Medium or M: a personal item, a piece of hand luggage of up to ten kilograms, a piece of checked luggage of up to 23 kilograms, check-in through the web, app, airport kiosks or counters, earning miles, and seat selection in economy.
3. Large or L: a personal item, a piece of hand luggage of up to ten kilograms, a piece of checked luggage of up to 23 kilograms, check-in through the web, app, airport kiosks or counters, flight changes, reimburses prior to the flight, priority boarding, earning miles, seat selection in economy plus and emergency exit seats.
4. Extra large or XL: a personal item, a piece of hand luggage of up to ten kilograms, a piece of checked luggage of up to 23 kilograms, check-in through the web, app, airport kiosks or counters, flight changes, reimburses prior to the flight, priority boarding, earning miles, access to Avianca lounges, and business class seats.

What do we think of this?

Since emerging from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, Avianca has slowly been introducing many low-cost-like features. This a-la-carte product is the latest of Avianca’s innovations. In the past, the Colombian airline has densified its Airbus A320 narrowbody jets, adding more seats, introducing travel schemes in regional trips, introducing a new in-flight sales program, and has launched many point-to-point routes such as Cartagena-Sao Paulo.

Many long-time Avianca passengers have not been happy with the airline’s recent changes. Prior to the pandemic, Avianca was a full-service carrier. Nonetheless, the recent crisis and the boom of low-cost rivals in Latin America have forced Avianca to change its business model and adapt to a brand-new day.

What do you think about the a-la-carte travel schemes introduced by Avianca? Let us know in the comments below.

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  Avianca

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AV/AVA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  El Dorado International Airport, El Salvador International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1919

  Alliance:

  Star Alliance

  Airline Group:

  Avianca Group

  CEO:

  Adrian Neuhauser

  Country:

  Colombia