Avianca Lounge Bogotá (International) at El Dorado International Airport in Colombia [Review]

Depending on your lounge membership, what’s in your wallet, and what elite status you hold with airlines, there is a smorgasbord of lounges you might be able to visit at the El Dorado Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento International Airport in Bogotá (BOG). I visited the Avianca Lounge Bogotá in the international terminal near the central terminal area during a recent layover. It was much better than the Avianca VIP Lounge in El Salvador, which I visited earlier in the day.

This lounge was spacious, had a huge selection of food and drinks, and multiple spaces were allocated to different activities. However, the Wi-Fi left a bit to be desired. Let’s look at what this lounge offers to visitors.

Location

The Avianca Lounge Bogotá in the international terminal is immediately after duty-free and passport control, located in the central terminal area. There’s another lounge with the same name in the domestic terminal. If you just cleared passport control, you’ll see the “Avianca Lounge | Sala VIP” sign staring you in the face just past the shops.

If you’re coming from a connecting flight, the lounge is near gate 32. Signs outside made finding the entrance easy and advertised the various forms of gaining entry. Within the small entryway, there was a set of stairs to the left or an elevator to the right.

The elevator could hold 4 people if they didn’t have a lot of luggage.

The lounge’s central location is both positive and negative. It’s easy to find but could also be a long walk from some gates. If your departure gate is 21 to 26 or 43 to 46, allow sufficient time to get there — up to 15 minutes of walking.

Gaining Access

I was confused when I arrived on the second floor because Avianca had 2 lounges up there. To the left, there was an exclusive lounge only for Avianca elites. To the right, I saw a sign indicating access for Plaza Premium and American Express guests. Most of us will have access to the lounge on the right side.

The Avianca Lounge Bogotá is part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection. That means you can access it with The Platinum Card^® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, or the Centurion^® Card from American Express.

The lounge is also accessible via Plaza Premium. You’ve got access if you have the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

ELEVATED OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Welcome Offer

Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,300

Annual Fee

$695

APR

18.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on Flights and Prepaid Hotels booked through Amex Travel
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024). Access is limited to eligible Card Members.
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)

Cons

• High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024. Access is limited to eligible Card Members.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card^®.
• Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
• NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card^® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points^® on Flights, and Prepaid Hotels Booked through AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on other eligible purchases
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR^® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card^®.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If you don’t have any of these cards, it’s possible to access the Avianca Lounge Bogotá in a few other ways.

The lounge accepts guests from Club LifeMiles, Plaza Premium’s Smart Traveller program, DragonPass, and Visa Airport Companion. Guests with premium cards from Bancolombia, Scotiabank, and Colpatria also have access. Avianca also sells access to this lounge for Col$128,000 (~$32) or 1,800 LifeMiles. Paying in miles is the better deal. And both of those prices beat the $40 Plaza Premium Smart Traveller charges.

Hours of Operation

The Avianca Lounge Bogotá in the international terminal is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

First Impressions

On arrival at the top of the stairs, I was confused about which way to go: left or right? The sign to the right mentioning Plaza Premium and American Express gave me a hint. A friendly agent at the desk confirmed that the lounge to the left was reserved for premium cabin passengers and Avianca elites.

The spacious layout and open-air design made it feel even bigger. The lounge was open to the next floor, with skylights that bathed it in natural light.

The employee at the front desk also made a great first impression. She was friendly, calm, and professional while other guests argued with her about admission. They thought their credit card should provide free access, but it wasn’t on the list, and they didn’t want to pay for access. She impressed me with her positive attitude and professionalism while I waited and while checking me in for a visit.

Seating

The Avianca Lounge Bogotá is larger than I thought it was at first glance. The first area I encountered after entering had a restaurant vibe.

Tables had both chairs and booth seating, and I was a big fan of the options this presented.

In the far left corner, the lounge had lounge chairs in a semi-circle around a TV.

While the plastic chairs at the tables weren’t very comfortable, the booth-style benches running across the lounge’s main room were very comfortable. I stayed for the lounge’s maximum 3-hour visit and never got that “sore butt” feeling.

Food and Beverage

Buffet

This lounge is a winner in the food department. That applies both to quantity and quality.

At the far end of the lounge was a buffet with a build-your-own-salad bar, fresh juices, and employees who could quickly whip up paninis on the grill, made from ingredients guests could select.

There were also 2 hot soup options. During my visit, there was a hearty vegetable soup and a chock-full-of-pieces chicken tortilla soup. Eating these soups with a spoon was a challenge. I almost needed a fork because they had so much jammed inside. That’s a compliment, for sure.

Nearby seasonings, croutons, and tortilla strips allowed visitors to customize their soups as desired.

Beverages

The buffet had fresh juices (watermelon and orange) and water with lemons inside. The 2 drink stations in the corners of the lounge also offered bottled water, sodas (Coke products), and iced tea. There were coffee machines, as well. The cabinet doors on one of these drink stations were broken, unfortunately.

The drink stations had stir sticks, tea bags, and packets of sugar and sweetener. That final “whoosh” from the coffee machines was a bit too powerful and splashed coffee onto the counter.

Amenities

This lounge was on the larger side, providing space for extra amenities. Here’s what I found during my visit.

Wi-Fi

The lounge had a private Wi-Fi network rather than using the airport’s public Wi-Fi. While that typically leads to better connections, that’s not what I found in the Avianca Lounge Bogotá.

I got download speeds of around 2 Mbps on average, with average uploads of just 0.10 Mbps. Anything other than text-based services was difficult. Sending some pictures via WhatsApp was a struggle; streaming was out of the question.

Charging Stations

There were countless locations for charging your devices in this lounge. Of those were 2 Movistar charging stations, offering both 2-prong and USB charging points on both sides of the pole.

There were additional outlets (universal style) at multiple points on the long benches in the restaurant area. These were located near our feet, spaced out every few tables. Other outlets were available in the children’s room, the work area, and the wall near the bathrooms.

Bathrooms

There were spacious restrooms on the right side of the lounge (away from the atrium). The cleaning staff kept these immaculately clean throughout my 3-hour stay, despite the lounge being full near the time I left.

There were 2 showers available, located in separate cabins near the restrooms. Staff at the reception desk had the key for these.

Work Area

A Samsung-branded work area was located in the rear of the lounge, furthest from the reception desk. There were 4 desks with glass dividers along the wall, along with a handful of tables and chairs.

This room had multiple charging points for your laptops and phones, but it also had a table full of wireless charging points, tablets for use, and rolling chairs lining both sides of these tables.

Children’s Play Area

A large children’s play area was between the restrooms and the entrance, along the right-side wall. This brightly-colored room had several tables and chairs, a padded floor, objects to climb on, and even a small playhouse with a slide. There were also tablets encased in holding stations along the wall; these weren’t turned on during my visit.

The room had lounge chairs near the entrance and a wall full of cubbies to hold your stuff. If parents need to charge their phones while watching their kids, I noticed several outlets near the lounge chairs.

Service

I was thoroughly impressed with the service here, from start to finish. Upon arrival, I thought the employee at the reception desk did a great job interacting with 2 upset travelers. And she quickly transitioned from dealing with them to welcoming me to the lounge once they departed.

The cleaning staff in this lounge were phenomenal. Dirty dishes disappeared from tables quickly, and staff moved through the lounge regularly to ask guests if they were done with their plates or needed anything additional. Plus, the bathrooms were spotless at all times. That’s no small task in a lounge with dozens of people moving in and out regularly.

Staff at the buffet were very friendly and were willing to answer questions. They spoke varying degrees of English, but it was enough to make the paninis or fetch drinks for customers who didn’t speak Spanish. And the buffet was consistently stocked with ingredients. None of the trays sat empty for long.

Grade A staff at this lounge.

Final Thoughts

I had assumed the Avianca Lounge Bogotá would be just a place to kill a few hours during a long layover in Bogotá. Instead, I really enjoyed my visit. The Wi-Fi was nothing to write home about, but I got some work done and had a great meal, and the staff was friendly and efficient. This would be my default choice if I pass through BOG again.