Avianca Review: AV229 from Paris to Bogota in Economy

On September 9, 2024, we flew with Avianca from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport to El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia. It was our first time flying with Avianca and our first experience traveling to South America.

We booked our tickets on August 2, 2024, which cost £453.00/$591.00 per person for a one-way Economy Classic ticket. This price included one checked bag (23 kg), one carry-on bag (10 kg), one personal item, airport check-in, and seat selection. We opted for seats on row 30, located in the rear section of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating the route.

That morning, our flight was operated using Avianca’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered N795AV. This aircraft was already parked at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and was towed to the departure gate when it was time to board.

Checking in and boarding

Arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle’s Terminal 1, we were greeted by automated check-in kiosks. However, we opted to head to the check-in counter to go through the process there. When that wasn’t possible, we used one of the check-in kiosks to get our baggage tags and boarding passes before heading back to drop our bags. Overall, it was a straightforward process.

Afterward, we headed towards security, passing through without any issues, before finding our gate. When we arrived at our gate, there was no Avianca plane in sight. Checking FlightRadar24, it showed that the incoming aircraft from Bogota was over three hours late. Was this the aircraft being used for our service? There was no mention of any delays anywhere. Thankfully, there was already an Avianca Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner parked at the airport.

Once the aircraft pulled up, it took some time before boarding commenced. Nevertheless, once it did get underway, it was a seamless process and we took our seats ready for departure.

Onboard on AV229

It was immediately noticeable how clean and fresh the aircraft was. There was plenty of room around the seat, so we anticipated a comfortable flight. We took off over an hour late, departing west towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Most of the flight was flown over the enormous ocean, but unfortunately, it was difficult to see a clear picture of the happenings going on outside as the crew locked the Dreamliner’s dimmable windows to a darker shade for the duration of the journey.

Shortly after reaching cruising altitude, we were served the first meal of the flight. It should be noted that Avianca only provides meals on long-haul flights between Europe and Colombia. Sadly, there was only one option for breakfast, and it was scrambled eggs and spinach with tomato sauce. Very basic and not filling at all. The meal was accompanied by bread and a small container of fruit.

The meal service included a drink, but the most striking aspect of the entire service was the lack of drinks being offered throughout the flight. On many long-haul economy flights we’ve taken in the past, the crew regularly offers drinks during the journey. Given that this was nearly a 10-hour flight, we expected a few dedicated drink services. However, drinks were only provided with the first and second meal services. While passengers could go and request drinks – many did – the crew being more proactive in offering them would have made a significant difference.

Once the first meal service had concluded, we took the opportunity to explore our seats a bit further, which featured USB charging ports and a plug socket. The entertainment system was very good, offering a variety of movies, TV shows, games and, our personal favourite, the interactive map to track our progress. The seat, which came with a pillow and blanket, was comfortable for the duration of the flight. Headphones were also given out just after takeoff.

Halfway through the journey, somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean, the second meal service was brought out. Typically, this would be served towards the end of the flight, so this had us thinking there might have been something offered before we landed in Bogota, but that wasn’t the case. Regardless, the second meal was a lot better than the first, with options of chicken curry or pasta. The meals came with a starter, dessert, bread, and a drink. Given the situation with the lack of drinks being offered, we asked for two drinks on this occasion.

After a further uneventful few hours, our descent began over the Colombian town of Socorro. Just under 30 minutes later, and following a few bumps through the clouds, we landed at El Dorado International Airport.

Overall thoughts

Apart from the lack of drinks offered to keep everyone hydrated, the flight was absolutely fine. The seats were comfortable and spacious, the aircraft was clean and roomy, there was plenty of entertainment available on the IFE system, the food was good, and the cabin crew were pleasant whenever we saw them. We would definitely choose to fly with Avianca again, especially for a long-haul route like this one. We were thoroughly impressed and look forward to flying with them again in the future.

Flight Summary

This article was updated on September 23, 2024.

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