I registered just to chime in here.

I could bore you with the details of my refund saga, but suffice it to say to Avianca owes me about $250 that they have not yet paid. I have spent HOURS and HOURS and HOURS trying to claw back my $250. Honestly, if it was $50, I probably would have given up by now. Which is why they do what they do.

It took me a while to realize that what was happening was not merely incompetence or confusion or delay, it was an active strategy to defraud people. And I don't say that lightly. Avianca at this point is more a criminal syndicate than an airline.

I live in Colombia six months out of the year and let me tell you, it's very hard not to use Avianca. But I don't and never will. And I tell everyone I come into contact with that you entrust money with Avianca at your own risk.