Avianca Business Class: New INSIGNIA Suites and 787 Routes

Avianca has unveiled new INSIGNIA Business Class suites with privacy doors, with introduction beginning in 2027. Its September 8 announcement describes an upgrade to its Boeing 787 premium experience, which already serves Europe and New York.

I’ve flown Avianca’s previous 787 Business Class from Bogotá to Buenos Aires. This guide covers what is changing, where Avianca flies the 787, and how to find seats with miles in AwardFares.

As of September 11, 2026, Avianca has not announced the first flight with the new suites. You can search today’s INSIGNIA awards through Smiles and United MileagePlus, but a 787 Business Class ticket for 2027 does not yet confirm a suite with a door.

What’s New in Avianca INSIGNIA Business Class?

The announced suite adds a door and privacy divider, a large table, 4K entertainment and Bluetooth, alongside a fully flat bed. The wider service update includes Meridian headphones, Maaji pajamas and slippers, Mola Sasa amenity kits with Loto del Sur products, and menus by Álvaro Clavijo and Rafael Buitrago. Avianca also highlights dedicated INSIGNIA check in service in Bogotá and lounge access.

The biggest seat change is the door. INSIGNIA already has fully flat beds, so that feature alone will not help you identify the new cabin.

These promotional images illustrate the INSIGNIA experience, rather than a confirmed final 2027 suite layout.

INSIGNIA amenity kits and cabin service. Photo: Avianca.

INSIGNIA bedding and a reclining window seat. Photo: Avianca.

INSIGNIA entertainment and dining. Photo: Avianca.

Current INSIGNIA vs. the New Suites

Avianca distinguishes its regional and INSIGNIA products in its September 8 announcement. On a connecting trip to Europe, you may experience both products.

Avianca Boeing 787 Routes: Where to Look for INSIGNIA

Avianca’s 2026 transatlantic network announcement lists seven routes and specifies Boeing 787 operations to Europe. Its current INSIGNIA page also includes New York, where INSIGNIA applies specifically to 787 flights from August 4, 2026.

This table covers that published 2026 long distance INSIGNIA network, including the seasonal route. It is a planning reference checked September 11, not a live inventory of every 787 assignment or a promise that all eight routes operate on your dates. Links open Avianca Business Class searches with nonstop flights selected; choose your program and dates.

My starting point would be the four Bogotá to Europe routes. If Madrid is expensive on your dates, compare Barcelona, Paris, and London for more options. Add the cost and time of reaching your final destination; a cheaper award to another city only helps if the complete trip still works.

For someone based in Medellín or Cali, check the Madrid nonstop before building a connection through Bogotá. For San Salvador, establish that the seasonal service is scheduled for your travel period before searching for awards.

What About Buenos Aires and Other Routes Within the Americas?

The 787 can also appear on routes outside the published INSIGNIA network above. In the images below, we show how to find AV87 on a Boeing 787-8 from Bogotá to Buenos Aires, with Business Class results at 90,000 United miles on selected September and October dates. This is why checking your exact date is more useful than assuming a route always uses one aircraft. Use AwardFares Flight Schedules to investigate the assignment.

The Bogotá to Buenos Aires Timeline shows dates with Business Class results. The equipment label summarizes several selections; inspect the aircraft in each result.

Selected AV87 results show 90,000 United miles per person one way, with one or two Business Class seats.

Avianca’s premium product announcement distinguishes Business Class Americas from long distance INSIGNIA. A Business Class result within the region should not be taken as evidence of a 787, a flat bed, or a suite with a door.

Which Avianca Routes Have the New INSIGNIA Suites?

No inaugural flight has been identified in the announcements checked for this post. Avianca says installation of the new cabin will begin in 2027. None of the routes above can yet be labeled a confirmed route with the new suites on that basis alone.

In our American Airlines 777 Flagship Suites guide, the new Business Class layout with 70 seats gives us a clear way to identify the updated cabin. We don’t yet have a published seat count to use in the same way for Avianca. Once that information is available, the useful comparison will be the assigned seat map against the new configuration.

My Avianca 787 Business Class Review: Bogotá to Buenos Aires

My flight in Avianca’s previous 787 Business Class was part of a one way redemption from Miami to Buenos Aires via Bogotá. It was my very last redemption with EuroBonus points: 54,000 points plus approximately USD 52 in taxes for the complete Miami to Buenos Aires ticket.

I was skeptical before the trip. I’d seen plenty of bad reviews and heard stories about Avianca, so I didn’t know what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised by the attention I received and the service onboard. For what I paid, it was worth it.

This is the price I paid for that past trip. In the AwardFares examples above, Bogotá to Buenos Aires alone costs 90,000 United MileagePlus miles one way in Business Class. Those results show AV87 on a Boeing 787-8, while I flew AV217. My 54,000 EuroBonus points covered the complete journey from Miami, which helps explain why I was happy with that booking.

EuroBonus points and United miles have different values. The United example also excludes taxes, so compare the full cost before choosing a program.

The Seat and Cabin I Flew

Two views of the seat on my Bogotá to Buenos Aires flight, before the new suites.

The previous cabin and the welcome screen at my seat, 4A.

Seat controls and storage, alongside the contents of the amenity kit from that flight.

Bedding and Onboard Dining

The bedding bag and its pillow and blanket.

My meal and a pineapple snack during the flight. These photos document the service on that trip.

I filmed the Bogotá to Buenos Aires flight for AirLapse. The video shows the previous cabin I actually flew; I’ll be able to compare it with the new suite once I’ve tried that too.

That is why I would begin a new booking with the aircraft and seat map. A past 787 review can show you what the experience was like, but it can’t tell you what Avianca will assign to the same route on your dates. For a connection from Argentina to Europe, check Ezeiza to Bogotá and Bogotá to Europe separately before judging the premium cabin for the whole trip.

How to Book Avianca INSIGNIA Business Class With Points or Miles

Use these steps to find Avianca 787 Business Class seats, compare prices, and check the aircraft before booking. Gold and Diamond include live searches and the airline and cabin filters used below.

1. Choose Smiles or United MileagePlus

Open AwardFares and select the program holding your miles:

Keep Avianca (AV) selected in the airline filter. MileagePlus is the currency you use to book; Avianca is the airline you want to fly. The same distinction applies to Smiles.

AwardFares lists Avianca among the airlines searchable through Smiles Argentina and United MileagePlus. Search each program you can actually use: a result in one does not prove another can book it.

If your miles are in Smiles Argentina, select that program, even when flying from Colombia or Europe. A Brazilian Smiles quote is not a quote for your Argentine account. Our Smiles Argentina guide covers the local program; the Brazil guide covers the Brazilian edition.

2. Enter the Route, Cabin, and Passenger Count

Start with the long flight you want to experience. These links select Avianca, Business Class, and nonstop flights; add your own dates and passenger count:

Select Business under Cabins, then use Stops to show only nonstop flights. Set Passengers to everyone traveling: a trip for two requires two available seats. Choose dates within the program’s booking calendar; our award release dates guide explains those search windows.

Start with your route and filters. This example includes Smiles Argentina and a second program, with Business Class and nonstop flights selected.

3. Filter for the 787 and Compare Dates

Open Equipment and select the Boeing 787 option matching the aircraft you want. This is especially useful for New York, where INSIGNIA depends on the aircraft. If filtering leaves no results, remove the equipment filter and inspect the flights individually before concluding there are no suitable awards.

Open Timeline to explore nearby dates, then search or refresh the days you can travel. Existing results are a starting point; refresh before making a booking decision. The AwardFares search overview explains date searches and price filters.

Switch to MileagePlus to inspect its results. This view has no equipment filter selected, so check the aircraft in the flight list.

Keep the route, cabin, and passenger count the same when comparing programs. Use Price to narrow the results to your budget, or sort the list by Business Class price.

Don’t choose purely by the smallest mileage number. Compare the taxes, cash charges, cost of any missing miles, and cancellation terms in your account. Smiles and United miles are different currencies, so 100,000 of one is not automatically equivalent to 100,000 of the other.

4. Check the Aircraft and Business Class Seat

Open a candidate itinerary and note its date, flight number, and aircraft. If no award appears, use AwardFares Flight Schedules to investigate the route and date separately. A scheduled flight can exist even when your mileage program has no award seats. Then open AwardFares Seat Maps and look up that flight in Business Class.

Once Avianca publishes the new cabin layout, compare the assigned map with that reference. Until then, don’t infer doors from an empty seat, a bed symbol, or the aircraft name. An unassigned seat on a map also does not establish award availability.

If the suite is the reason for your trip, wait for confirmation about your exact flight before booking. Recheck the assignment before departure, since aircraft can change.

5. Add Your Connection From Argentina or Elsewhere in Latin America

For a trip from Buenos Aires to Madrid via Bogotá, search Bogotá to Madrid first, then the complete Ezeiza (EZE) to Madrid (MAD) journey with connections allowed. You can start that search with Smiles Argentina.

Inspect each segment. A Business Class result can include a flight in Economy, and a premium seat on the connecting flight does not establish the cabin on the overnight crossing. Pay particular attention to the Bogotá to Madrid segment, connection time, and whether the program offers the whole trip on one ticket.

Don’t add two separate award results together and assume they will price or ticket as one itinerary. Search the full journey before considering separate tickets.

What If Your Search Finds No Suitable Seats?

Which Miles Should You Use to Book Avianca INSIGNIA?

Compare programs before buying miles. Start with the miles you already have, then check the cost of any additional miles and the ticket fees. For this guide, we use two examples of existing 787 Business Class awards: 60,500 United miles from Bogotá to New York and 90,000 miles from Bogotá to Buenos Aires, per person one way. Check taxes with United before booking.

AwardFares supports these searches through Smiles Argentina, Smiles Brazil, and United MileagePlus. Compare the same flight and date first, then widen the dates or destinations. That tells you whether the difference comes from the booking program or from choosing a different trip.

Turkish Miles&Smiles and Air Canada Aeroplan

You can also book Avianca partner awards with Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles or Air Canada Aeroplan, subject to the seats each program can access. Include both in your comparison if you have their miles or points.

Turkish Miles&Smiles is supported by AwardFares. Select that program and filter for Avianca, then confirm the result and complete the booking with Turkish. Our Miles&Smiles guide explains partner awards and the program’s booking process.

Aeroplan is not yet supported by AwardFares. Search Avianca awards directly through Air Canada Aeroplan and compare the points, taxes, fees, and ticket conditions there. Our Aeroplan guide covers the program. A seat found through United or Turkish does not guarantee Aeroplan can book it.

We use Smiles and MileagePlus for the searches illustrated in this guide. Whichever program you choose, confirm the aircraft and cabin separately before booking for the new suite.

What About Avianca LifeMiles?

LifeMiles is another option to compare directly, particularly if you already have a balance. Avianca confirms that members can redeem LifeMiles for its flights. Search the same flight on LifeMiles and compare the total miles, cash, and ticket conditions with your Smiles or United quote.

Buenos Aires and Santiago to Europe via Bogotá: Cash Fares and Miles

For travelers in southern South America, including Buenos Aires and Santiago, Avianca via Bogotá is an option to compare with nonstop flights to Europe. Buenos Aires to Madrid is one of the most popular searches we see in AwardFares among Smiles Argentina users.

The connection adds travel time, but the fare can make it worth considering. In our fare searches, we’ve seen Business Class examples around USD 2,000 one way and USD 3,500 round trip, while other quotes have approached USD 7,000. Prices vary considerably by date and connection.

Compare the Price With the Connection Time

In the images below, we compare cash fares and connection times. The USD 1,977 option comes with a 20 hour 15 minute layover in Bogotá and 36 hours 10 minutes of total travel. A shorter option costs USD 2,762, with a 1 hour 35 minute connection and 17 hours 45 minutes of total travel. Include any hotel, meals, and time in Bogotá when deciding whether the lower fare works for you.

We also include a detailed itinerary at USD 1,894 one way in Business Class for October 11 to show how to check both aircraft: AV88 from Ezeiza to Bogotá and AV46 from Bogotá to Madrid, both listed as Boeing 787 flights. Check both aircraft on your dates, especially if you are departing from Santiago instead.

Cash fare examples and a detailed itinerary with a Boeing 787 listed on both segments. The displayed prices are separate quotes.

Compare Smiles Argentina, Smiles Brazil, and MileagePlus

Search the complete journey in both Economy and Business Class. Below, we compare results across programs and dates, including the connection time for each option:

At these mileage prices, buying a ticket may cost less than buying the miles. Add taxes and the cost of any missing miles, then compare with the cash fare. Open the itinerary details to check the cabin and aircraft on each segment. The summary aircraft label followed by “+1” means there is another equipment entry to inspect.

Compare the program, cabin, date, and connection together. We include an alternative via Medellín in the first image to highlight why the connection airport matters.

For Ezeiza to Madrid, start with Smiles Argentina, Smiles Brazil, or United MileagePlus, then select your cabin and dates. From Santiago, change the origin to SCL. Keep connections allowed and check that your chosen result travels through Bogotá.

How to Find the Best Deal for Your Trip

Compare a single ticket from Ezeiza to Europe with separate bookings via Bogotá. Include any separate flight to Bogotá, baggage, and overnight stay. A low Bogotá to Madrid mileage price can lose its appeal once you add the trip to Bogotá.

If you are considering purchasing miles, calculate the money needed to obtain the missing miles + award taxes and fees + any separate travel costs. Compare that with a cash itinerary you would actually buy. For miles already in your account, consider which other trips you could book with those miles.

Before booking, check:

• The long flight in Business Class. A cheap itinerary combining cabins with the overnight segment in Economy doesn’t meet that goal.
• Seats for everyone traveling. Search two passengers from the start if two people are traveling.
• A practical connection. Include the layover and total journey time when comparing prices.
• The cabin you are paying for. If the door is essential, wait for evidence that the flight is assigned the new suite.

For the rules that apply to your account, see our Smiles Argentina guide, Smiles Brazil guide, and MileagePlus guide. Confirm availability before buying miles.

How to Set an AwardFares Alert for Avianca Business Class

Once you know which routes and programs work for you, let an Alert handle the repeat searches. The example below monitors Bogotá to Barcelona, Paris, London, and Madrid during February 2027:

1. Select the programs you can book through, such as Smiles Argentina and United MileagePlus. Enter BOG as the origin and BCN, CDG, LHR, and MAD as destinations. Select Avianca, Business, and nonstop flights.
2. Add your departure dates and set Passengers to the number traveling. This example covers February 1 to 28, 2027; choose two passengers if you need two seats.
3. Select Alert, then choose Live Alert for regular searches of those dates.
4. In the editor, check the program, route, dates, Business Class cabin, passenger count, and any airline or stop filters carried over from your search. Set the maximum mileage price you are willing to pay.
5. Review the Alert count before saving. The example covers 4 routes × 28 dates × 2 programs = 224 Live Alerts. Narrow the dates or destinations if needed, and give each program a mileage budget that works for you.
6. When a notification arrives, refresh the flight, inspect its aircraft and seat map, then confirm the itinerary with the booking program.

Live Alerts regularly check specific dates. Flex Alerts are useful for broader plans, but rely on matching searches made by other users rather than scheduled searches for you. For a particular trip, I’d use Live.

An Alert finds award availability; it does not certify the new suite or hold the seats. Recheck the aircraft assignment after booking and closer to departure.

Finish the Booking With Your Mileage Program

Repeat the exact itinerary in Smiles Argentina, Smiles Brazil, or United, according to the program selected. Confirm the cabin on every segment, total miles and cash for all passengers, and change or cancellation conditions before transferring points or buying miles. Complete the booking there and check that your ticket has been issued.

Start Your Avianca Award Search

Choose a route from the table above, compare the programs you can use, and set an Alert for your dates. If you want the new suite specifically, wait for Avianca to confirm the flight assignments before committing your miles.

Create a free AwardFares account to explore existing results, or compare Gold and Diamond for live searches and Alerts.