Star Alliance carrier Avianca brings back O'Hare-to-Bogota flights after 5-year hiatus
Colombia's flag is adding service in the Windy City. Starting in late October, Avianca will launch nonstop service to Bogota from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) following a five-year break.
The move will mark the Bogota-based airline's first time serving the route from Chicago since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic. The carrier will operate daily flights from O'Hare to its home base, El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogota.
As a Star Alliance partner with a LifeMiles loyalty program popular for redemption sweet spots, it makes sense the carrier would bolster its footprint in the home city of United Airlines.
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter.
Route details
Avianca will operate its service between Chicago and the Colombian capital city daily with an Airbus A320 aircraft, which has a total capacity of 180 passengers.
Here's how the itinerary shakes out:
- ORD-BOG — departs 2:35 p.m., arrives 8:25 p.m.
- BOG-ORD — departs 7:00 a.m., arrives 1:15 p.m.
More Avianca, LifeMiles opportunity
Avianca currently serves 13 U.S. cities. That includes Chicago service it currently operates from Guatemala City — a route that launched this past winter.
Even prior to the announcement of this newest route, the carrier's total seats to the U.S. in 2024 was set to rise 27% over 2023 — and by nearly 38% over 2019, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Loyalty basics: Best ways to earn airline miles
Though plenty of travelers may be eager to fly Avianca on this newest route, keep in mind that its LifeMiles program remains a useful bet even if you never (or rarely, at least) step foot on an Avianca aircraft.
The program is known for its award chart that often produces sweet spots for Star Alliance redemptions, including domestic U.S. flights aboard United.
American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Bilt Rewards all transfer to Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 rate.
Hoping to earn enough points for your next redemption? Here are some of the best credit card welcome offers we're seeing this month.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.