Avianca Fare Classes: A Complete Guide to Economy, Business, and Fare Rules 

Avianca categorizes their ticket booking into four classes of Economy tickets: Basic, Light, Classic, and Flex, in addition to their Business class. The selection of a flight ticket at Avianca involves picking from a range of various fares, and selecting the wrong fare type may result in unexpected costs such as baggage, seat selection and change fees. 

Learning about Avianca Fares will save you from these costs and ensure that you only pay for what you really need. This article provides you with all the information on each fare in economy and business classes offered by Avianca. As well as explains fare rules regarding changes and refund and whether it's worthwhile to pay extra for business class.

What Are Avianca Fare Classes?

Fare Classes of Avianca are different types of tickets available from Avianca in terms of two different classes, which include Economy and Business. Both Economy and Business classes have different combinations of luggage, seats, mileage and also ticket change and refund. Avianca does not provide the same fare rate for all types of tickets; rather, the passenger can choose their own comfort and flexibility level according to their requirements.

Knowing all of the above fare options right from the start will make it easier for one to compare the costs wisely rather than blindly considering each cheap flight as being cheap after the cost of checked baggage and the seat is added up.

Another thing it is essential to remember when it comes to knowing which fare options are available, is that not all of them are present in every route. The basic fare option is usually only applicable to the domestic flights while the light fare option plays the same role in international flights. Business Classic and Flex are more common in the regional flights in the Americas while Insignia fare options are applicable only to long haul flights on Avianca’s Boeing 787s.

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Avianca Economy Fare Classes Explained 

Avianca's economy cabin is split into four fare types, and the differences between them come down almost entirely to baggage, seat selection, and how many miles you earn per dollar spent. 

Basic fares are mostly provided for domestic flights, but Light fares provide the same minimalist service on international flights, including a carry-on luggage allowance, which Basic doesn't offer. As soon as you upgrade to Classic, checked luggage and seat allocation come with the package, and Flex provides complete flexibility along with all that is included in Classic.

Basic fare is the least feature-loaded economy fare offered by Avianca. It is designed with customers who are willing to travel with an extremely light load and do not mind having no leeway in travel dates.

What Is Included in the Avianca Basic Fare?

One piece of hand luggage that is allowed as carry-on and can fit under the seat in front of you (e.g., backpack or purse). Mileage accrual at a rate of 3 LifeMiles per each dollar spent on the fare. Check-in only at the airport, not at home or via mobile application.

The things which are NOT provided in Basic fare are probably as important as the benefits of the Basic fare.

• Carry-on luggage allowance
• Checked luggage allowance
• Seat selection service
• Changes or refund ability.

For some passengers, the absence of the latter features makes the Basic fare very cost-effective. However, for those who would like to check a bag, have a particular seat selected or change a flight, this fare may become much more expensive due to additional fees.

Avianca Business Fare Classes Explained

The Avianca Business Cabin is categorized into two separate products depending upon the type of plane and route, both of which have a Classic and Flex variation, similar to that in Economy.

It is not only about Classic vs. Flex, but rather about the type of seat you will get. Business Classic and Business Flex in regional Americas flights come with the recliner-style seats, while Insignia comes with a true lie-flat seat in addition to a much higher level of dining.

Does Avianca Have Business Class Seats?

Yes, Avianca offers business class seating in both its regional and long haul fleet; however, there is a great difference between the two based on which type of airplane and route you are taking.

• Regional Business Class (Recliner): Regional business class seat can be found on narrow body airplanes flying within the Americas and offers an extra wide recliner seat, meals and priority services but no lie flat seat.
• Insignia Business Class (Lie-Flat): Insignia business class seat can be found on Avianca’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft for long haul flights and offers the true lie-flat seat.

Since there is no first class in Avianca whatsoever, Business is the highest cabin offered by the company and, more specifically, its Insignia product in flights with long distances. If one plans to fly on a long-distance flight across the Atlantic or other long haul and wants a bed, then it is a good idea to check the aircraft because not all business seats offer the Insignia product.

What Is the Fare Rules on Avianca Airlines?

The fare rules of Avianca have a certain consistency throughout both cabins; the cheaper the fare is, the higher chances are that the passenger will pay the change fee and there will be no refunds.

There are a few other things you might want to keep in mind while booking. If you buy any additional services, like extra baggage allowance or an upgrade for a seat, you will only be able to get a refund. If your base fare is Flex or Business Flex or if the service was not provided due to an airline error. What is more important, you have to fly in the order specified on your ticket and according to the dates it indicates, so missing a leg of the multi-city route could impact the rest of your flight. Due to the fact that the rules could change slightly depending on the route and promotions, it would be better to check the specific fare rules shown during the checkout process before buying the ticket.

Is Avianca Business Class Worth It?

Avianca's business class might be worth the price difference or not depending on the route you are flying and your personal preferences.

It's likely worth it if: 

• You're traveling on the Boeing 787 and would like to experience the Insignia lie-flat seat for overnight flights.
• You find free checked baggage included as a major advantage, especially when two bags weighing 32kg are offered, which is far more than the economy allowance.
• You prefer lounges and other priority services which will make your journey at the airport significantly easier.
• You have flexible plans and could use the Business Flex option to change or get a refund without charge before departure.

It's likely not worth it if:

• You're flying regionally on the Boeing 787, where you'd only get a reclining seat instead of a flatbed, as the difference from the economy Flex is smaller in this case.
• Your budget is limited and you could rather pay the difference in fare in order to enjoy baggage and seat allocation with Classic or Flex economy options.
• You do not utilize the lounges yourself or do not see priority boarding and check-in as important.

Where it is possible for international long-haul travel that the Insignia flatbed products are available, business class offers an actual improvement over economy class in terms of comfort, especially during overnight flights when the actual ability to recline fully flat and sleep becomes important. However, if the flight is a regional one, this becomes much less relevant, and a carefully chosen economy Flex option might be enough.

How to Choose the Right Avianca Fare Class?

Answering a few questions before booking can prevent overspending on flexibility that you don’t require or spending less but ending up paying in extra fees later.

• Are you carrying checked luggage? If so, Basic and Light do not cover your checked luggage, and the additional charge of a separate checked baggage versus choosing Classic and Flex directly would need to be considered.
• Will you want to choose your seat? Classic and above include seat selection options; Basic and Light do not have seat selection, meaning that a random seat will be allocated without additional charge.
• What is the likelihood of changes to your travel plan? The risk of changing or canceling your trip should be assessed, and if such changes could take place, Flex or Business Flex will eliminate the hassle and fee of the last-minute change fee.
• Do you travel during the night in a long-distance flight? If that is the case, and the destination has a Boeing 787 operation, the choice of Insignia Business Class and its flat bed seat would be an excellent solution for the comfort of a night flight.
• How much importance do you place on LifeMiles accumulation? Higher fare classes provide significantly greater LifeMiles earnings per dollar spent.

LifeMiles Elite Benefits Across Fare Classes

Travelers with LifeMiles Elite or Star Alliance Gold status benefit from additional privileges that are provided in addition to what is already offered with your ticket class, and that is something that should be considered in light of the fact that you fly Avianca.

• Elite mile bonus will earn you additional miles in addition to the base earning rate of your fare, where the bonus level is determined by your elite level. So that your earnings accelerate much faster than you might expect based on the base earning rate.
• Priority services, such as check-in, boarding, and baggage claim services, are available to elite travelers irrespective of the ticket class booked, and not only to travelers in Business Class.
• Additional allowance of luggage may also be offered in addition to the base allowance of your fare class, based on your elite status. So that a lower-class economy fare may become much more attractive for you because of this.

If you frequently fly Avianca and are building up your elite status, then these compounding privileges can tip the balance in favor of a different fare class.

Final Words

Now you know everything there is to know; what you get in each fare class, change policies and refund possibilities, and whether or not business class is justified for your destination. You don’t have to wonder anymore about what you are paying for.

The next time you book a flight with Avianca, make sure that you take into account your needs like extra luggage, a certain seat, or ability to change plans and choose the right fare class accordingly.