Avianca
May 13, 2002 | 10:04 am
#1
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
Avianca
Just got back from UIO, a few things that I found out.
1) BOG-UIO is now on 757s that have only 12 seats. The recline is the same as on a 767 almost completly flat as a bed. Wasn't bad at all, so if you find that AV is using a 757 it will be OK in 1st, but keep in mind that they have only 12 seats.
2)Now that AV merged with Aces they are going to be changing who will fly where over the next month or so.ex AV wont be flying to LIM it'll be Aces, and only AV from MIA.(for the record as of 5/5 Aces flew ONLY to CCS, UIO, and MIA on int'l flights.) the difference is till now ACES had only coach seats, dont know if that will be changing so keep in mind that your destination might only have coach seats.
3)At JFK AV made me pay an extra $58.30 for depature taxes over the $14.10 that LP charged me. I was lucky that I said I didnt have the cash and they took my CC. Called LP when I got back last Fri and they asked that I fax them my receipts and that they will take it up with AV since all I needed to pay was $14.10, and that in LPs opinion AV should refund the $58.30, if that doesn;t work then Ill simply dispute it with my CC.
The crews were GREAT on all flights, much better service etc than the flights Ive taken on Taca, and Lacsa. Also since JFK was fogged in on Thurs night we were diverted to MIA, where AV put us up for the night the only prob was that they explained everything in Spanish and nothing in English but between another Yank in 1st and a couple of crew members everything went OK. The only problem was although my bag was tagged 'priority' it was one of the last bags to come out both in MIA and JFK the next day, wasting alot of my time for no reason.Yet w/o a flinch Id fly AV again and again. So much so, Im planing a trip to CTG(Cartegena?) in June using AV.
[This message has been edited by craz (edited 05-13-2002).]
1) BOG-UIO is now on 757s that have only 12 seats. The recline is the same as on a 767 almost completly flat as a bed. Wasn't bad at all, so if you find that AV is using a 757 it will be OK in 1st, but keep in mind that they have only 12 seats.
2)Now that AV merged with Aces they are going to be changing who will fly where over the next month or so.ex AV wont be flying to LIM it'll be Aces, and only AV from MIA.(for the record as of 5/5 Aces flew ONLY to CCS, UIO, and MIA on int'l flights.) the difference is till now ACES had only coach seats, dont know if that will be changing so keep in mind that your destination might only have coach seats.
3)At JFK AV made me pay an extra $58.30 for depature taxes over the $14.10 that LP charged me. I was lucky that I said I didnt have the cash and they took my CC. Called LP when I got back last Fri and they asked that I fax them my receipts and that they will take it up with AV since all I needed to pay was $14.10, and that in LPs opinion AV should refund the $58.30, if that doesn;t work then Ill simply dispute it with my CC.
The crews were GREAT on all flights, much better service etc than the flights Ive taken on Taca, and Lacsa. Also since JFK was fogged in on Thurs night we were diverted to MIA, where AV put us up for the night the only prob was that they explained everything in Spanish and nothing in English but between another Yank in 1st and a couple of crew members everything went OK. The only problem was although my bag was tagged 'priority' it was one of the last bags to come out both in MIA and JFK the next day, wasting alot of my time for no reason.Yet w/o a flinch Id fly AV again and again. So much so, Im planing a trip to CTG(Cartegena?) in June using AV.
[This message has been edited by craz (edited 05-13-2002).]
May 13, 2002 | 4:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: BOS, SEA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, DL Gold, LP ex-Millionaire!
Posts: 565
Craz,
Thanks for all the info about Avianca. I received my tickets to EZE today and leave tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the trip as I've never been to Argentina. And from what you say about Avianca I should have a very comfortable trip.
Did you enjoy your trip to Quito? Did you have time to do everything your fellow FTer's recommended!?
Thanks for all the info about Avianca. I received my tickets to EZE today and leave tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the trip as I've never been to Argentina. And from what you say about Avianca I should have a very comfortable trip.
Did you enjoy your trip to Quito? Did you have time to do everything your fellow FTer's recommended!?
May 14, 2002 | 9:50 am
#3
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
firstly Stephlac, Im happy to hear that it all worked out for you and hopefully you'll forget about the hassels cause of the good time you'll have.
Yes Quito was fun, but was told to go to Santiago, Chile to get a better taste of the Spanish influence in buildings. However, I just booked another trip with AV to Cartegana,Columbia for June, got another point strecther deal with Hilton.
Not only was I able to get all the things that were recommended to do but that was all done with trying to get use to the altitude, Cuzco is higher up and I had no problems there.Just had to walk slower and keep out of the gym. sleeping was a little difficult since I went down with a slight cold that made it harder to sleep.
I hope you got 1st class since coach is usually full and the ONLY thing that the people back there don't have are chickens under their arms.1st is usually over 1/2 empty and the FAs due take care of you.
Yes Quito was fun, but was told to go to Santiago, Chile to get a better taste of the Spanish influence in buildings. However, I just booked another trip with AV to Cartegana,Columbia for June, got another point strecther deal with Hilton.
Not only was I able to get all the things that were recommended to do but that was all done with trying to get use to the altitude, Cuzco is higher up and I had no problems there.Just had to walk slower and keep out of the gym. sleeping was a little difficult since I went down with a slight cold that made it harder to sleep.
I hope you got 1st class since coach is usually full and the ONLY thing that the people back there don't have are chickens under their arms.1st is usually over 1/2 empty and the FAs due take care of you.
May 16, 2002 | 9:07 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: BOS, SEA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, DL Gold, LP ex-Millionaire!
Posts: 565
craz,
Thanks for the good wishes. I'm really enjoying Buenos Aires. I've already forgotten my cliffhanger experience waiting for my tickets to arrive (with no days to spare)! I'm glad you had a good trip to Ecuador. I look forward to going back and spending more time. I think I have to go to the Galapogos.
My trip down on Avianca was great. Very comfortable and excellent service. The flight to Bogota was pretty full in First but the flight to BA was only about half full. They served full meals on both flights. If I'd eaten both I would have burst! It was quite good but I skipped the second meal and slept most of the way. The connection in BOG was much easier than I remembered from my LP run. You can bypass immigration, customs and security and go straight to your connecting gate.
By the way, I was hit with the same extra taxes and fees in MIA. They gave me a receipt that details all of the fees. I have to say they sound reasonable to me. I can't believe LP thinks we don't have to pay them. I don't remember exactly but about $35 is for the new security fees. If they don't charge the traveler who would absorb these fees?
Thanks for the good wishes. I'm really enjoying Buenos Aires. I've already forgotten my cliffhanger experience waiting for my tickets to arrive (with no days to spare)! I'm glad you had a good trip to Ecuador. I look forward to going back and spending more time. I think I have to go to the Galapogos.
My trip down on Avianca was great. Very comfortable and excellent service. The flight to Bogota was pretty full in First but the flight to BA was only about half full. They served full meals on both flights. If I'd eaten both I would have burst! It was quite good but I skipped the second meal and slept most of the way. The connection in BOG was much easier than I remembered from my LP run. You can bypass immigration, customs and security and go straight to your connecting gate.
By the way, I was hit with the same extra taxes and fees in MIA. They gave me a receipt that details all of the fees. I have to say they sound reasonable to me. I can't believe LP thinks we don't have to pay them. I don't remember exactly but about $35 is for the new security fees. If they don't charge the traveler who would absorb these fees?