Boliviana de Aviación

Boliviana de Aviación, known as BoA, is Bolivia's flag carrier, linking Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz with a domestic and regional network and a longer-haul widebody. Most of its flying is done on single-class Boeing 737s, with the wider cabin choice reserved for the A330-200.

Because the fleet splits so cleanly between narrowbody economy and one widebody with a business cabin, the seat decision comes down to which aircraft you are on. On the 737s the whole cabin is one class, so the choice is about position rather than product.

The narrowbody fleet runs three Boeing 737 variants: the 737-300, 737-700 and 737-800. All three are laid out as single-class economy, so there is no business cabin to choose on a domestic or short regional sector.

The long-haul aircraft is the Airbus A330-200, a widebody with a forward business cabin ahead of a much larger economy. This is the only aircraft in the fleet where a premium seat is on the table.

The 737s are straightforward economy from front to back. Comfort comes down to where you sit: forward rows board and leave first, exit rows carry extra legroom and the seats against a galley or lavatory wall are the ones to avoid if you can. The 737-800 is the longest of the three cabins, so seat position matters most there.

The A330-200 is a different flight. Business up front is a wider recliner with more pitch, set ahead of the main economy cabin, and it earns its place on the longer sectors BoA flies the widebody on. Economy behind it is a standard widebody layout where the forward rows and exit rows give you the most room.

On any of the 737s, aim for a forward economy row or an exit row for legroom and a faster exit, and check whether the seat behind you reclines into a bulkhead or a galley wall before you book. There is no premium cabin to hold out for, so position is everything.

On the A330-200, decide first whether the business fare is worth it for your sector: it buys a wider recliner and more pitch on the longer routes. In economy, the rows near the front and the exit rows are the ones to ask for, and it is worth checking window alignment on a widebody where not every seat lines up with a window.