Avianca A320 Business Class Review: Montreal to Bogotá

Flying Avianca A320 Business Class from Montreal to Bogotá wasn’t exactly what I’d call a premium experience, but it was a step up from my past flight with them nearly a decade ago. Back then, Avianca Airlines Business felt more like a glorified economy seat with a better meal. Things have changed—but not dramatically. With more modern interiors and slightly better amenities, it’s an OK option in the region. Still, when comparing Avianca Business Class to global standards, the differences are clear.

So, is Avianca Business Class worth it? That depends on your expectations. Here’s everything from my ground experience in Montreal to the onboard food, seat, and service.

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Ground Experience with Avianca Airlines Business Class

As part of my Aeroplan value find by getting creative with my return to Vancouver from Montreal, I booked this Avianca A320 Business Class ticket. It added a fun layer to my trip and allowed me to explore a less conventional routing home through South America, and at a great value. You can read all about how I booked this Aeroplan routing here.

Before this red-eye flight, I made a whole journey out of it, taking VIA Rail’s Ocean route with my mother from Halifax to Montreal (a story for another time – check out my post on riding VIA Rail’s Ocean route). We capped it off with a stay at the Marriott Chateau Champlain Hotel, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Since my Avianca Business Class flight didn’t depart until midnight, the hotel gave me a super generous 2:30PM late checkout, which allowed time to relax, hit their massive new gym for a workout and a shower, and enjoy a great coffee in their chic lobby café. That alone made my travel day smoother.

At the airport, since I travel carry-on only, I bypassed the check in counter and headed straight to security. I did note that it had a dedicated line for business class passengers.

I accessed the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, which was a highlight of the ground experience. I managed to snag a comfy seat just in time to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs lose another playoff series. At least there were smoked meat sandwiches, hot poutine, and some excellent Quebec craft beers to make up for it. (For a full look inside, check out my Montreal Maple Leaf Lounge review here and if you are flying domestic through Montreal, don’t miss the YUL Air Canada Cafe!)

Boarding for the Avianca flight was typical. No priority for business class outside of a roped-off lane, and gate announcements were a bit chaotic. Not the most premium boarding vibe.

Avianca Business Class A320 Seats & Comfort

The Avianca A320 business class features a true 2-2 configuration, unlike the European-style setup with a blocked middle seat. I chose the bulkhead row hoping for extra legroom, but that turned out to be a mistake.

Legroom was restricted due to the solid wall, and I couldn’t fully stretch out. Even worse, the fixed armrests on the bulkhead row made it tough to get comfortable. The seat was wide enough, which was nice, but sleep was elusive.

There were crumbs on the seat when I boarded—not exactly the welcome you hope for in business class. Standard power outlets and a single USB-C port were available, and each seat came with a pillow and blanket set in a rather unappealing yet practical package.

While I had a row to myself, I noticed one passenger upgrade to business after we hit cruising altitude. Avianca made an announcement offering these upgrades—likely at a discounted rate. Something worth considering for a future trip instead of booking business outright.

What I wasn’t expecting was the surprisingly well-designed amenity kit. It featured a beautiful indigenous South American-inspired pattern and included socks, an eye mask, ear plugs, a toothbrush, tissue, lip balm, and hand lotion. A small win for presentation.

Avianca A320 Business Class Inflight Entertainment & Wi-Fi

Here’s the improved and expanded version with your requested additions:

Here’s where Avianca still lags behind. Their A320s have no built-in entertainment screens—just an inflight app with a strangely curated mix of shows and movies, similar to what you’ll find on most budget carriers these days, like WestJet Premium Economy.

I streamed Hot Pursuit starring Sofia Vergara, which somehow felt fitting for a Colombian carrier. While it’s a step up from Avianca’s old wired remote-and-screen setup, it still feels like a downgrade in overall experience. There’s also no Wi-Fi onboard, so be sure to download content ahead of time.

I should also mention, don’t forget to set up an eSIM before departure. I purchased a Latin American package from GigSky for unlimited data the moment I landed. It kept me connected throughout my 7 days in Colombia, 2 days in Ecuador, and even during my short layover in Panama City on the way home.

Avianca Business Class Food & A320 Meals Review

No printed menus were offered. The flight attendant simply asked, “Chicken or pasta?” I picked the chicken, expecting disappointment based on my past experience flying Avianca Airlines business almost 10 years ago.

I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was a little dry, but the flavorful sauce and coconut rice side saved it. Dessert was a Colombian-style rice pudding, which added a nice local touch. I even had a coffee, breaking my no-caffeine-on-flights rule, thinking Colombian beans might deliver. Unfortunately, the powdered cream ruined the experience, but I knew I’d more than make up for it with far better coffee while visiting a farm outside Medellín.

Drink service included a basic choice of red or white wine. The Spanish red was fine, but I was surprised there weren’t any South American wines.

Avianca Business Class A320 Service & Amenities

Cabin crew were efficient and polite, though not overly warm. There were no pre-departure drinks, but they did hand out bottles of water before takeoff. The overall service felt more like premium economy than true business class.

The lavatories were identical to those in economy—nothing upgraded here—and featured a comically low-budget touch: an elastic band stretched across the soap dispenser to keep it in place.

It’s worth noting that on my later flight from Bogotá to Medellín, I paid to upgrade to seat 3K and found it far more spacious than the bulkhead. So if you fly Avianca business class A320 again, skip the front row.

Final Verdict: Is Avianca Business Class Worth It?

This Avianca Business Class review is best summed up with: good, not great. It’s not the most comfortable way to get to South America, but it’s better than it used to be.

If you’re aiming for true business class comfort with lie-flat seats, opt for one of Avianca’s 787 Dreamliner flights, such as those operating from Miami. The Airbus A320 simply doesn’t compare. Avianca’s narrow-body fleet includes 78 A320-200s, mostly used for short- and medium-haul routes with a more basic premium offering.

For a proper long-haul business class experience, Avianca’s 16 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners feature lie-flat seats, upgraded cabin comfort, and a far more refined onboard service. When comfort matters, the 787 is the clear choice.

READ MORE: Is Air Canada Premium Economy Worth It?

That said, for regional flights in Latin America, Avianca holds its own. They’re not far off from Star Alliance partner Copa Airlines business class in terms of value and experience.

Coming up, I’ll be sharing more from this trip, including flying Avianca premium economy through Central America, my relaxing stay at the Landmark Hotel in Medellín, and how I spent 48 hours in Quito, Ecuador. Don’t miss those posts.

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