While I took a bit of a break from review trips over the summer (it’s just too hard to plan crazy routings in summer, given how limited award availability is), I’m getting ready to embark on my latest review trip. I wanted to share the initial details of what I have planned. While I’ll be…
Continue reading: BOOKED: An Open-Ended Latin America Review Trip
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I know you’re trying to review different products but man it would be tough for me to be in MEX and not try to get on LH F on MEX-FRA since that flight seems to have good availability last minute!
I'm looking forward to your post on how to redeem points for LATAM, considering most articles on the internet are outdated.
For Aeromexico, I might suggest you go from Mexico City to Madrid but flying via Monterrey MTY or Guadalajara GDL. That way you would be able to fly the MAX to MTY/GDL and then the 787-9 to Madrid. Or you can also take the 787-9 from Monterrey to Tokyo, I think it would be really interesting to see how is AMX service to Asia compared to other airlines like Delta.
Aeromexico to Sao Paulo, then GOL to Santa Cruz, then BoA to Miami. We want BoA!
Why not try a couple of regional flights around Central America or the Caribbean? Arajet seem to be growing quite aggressively (probably don't have business class though), Avianca have reintroduced some kind of premium cabin on the A320s, and I really enjoyed flying business class on an AM E190 out of NLU last year (you can also review the lounge there).
Emirates 777 to BCN in biz looks pretty open, but not the new product.
BA 787 first could be interesting as well.
Good luck!
@ hbilbao -- I haven't, though it is intriguing how long the flight is. However, I don't think OMAAT readers want another Lufthansa review, so I can't say it's on my radar.
@ alex -- I assume the JFK flight doesn't have the "real" long haul service, is that correct? JFK would be mighty convenient, but I also want to review Aeromexico's long haul product in terms of bedding, amenity kits, etc.
@ Sel, D. -- Hah, I don't really play games with airlines nowadays, so even if I hadn't written about it, it's not something I would have considered doing (though I don't blame those who do!).
@ Super Piquemacho -- Currently GRU gets the 787-8 while EZE gets the 787-9. So my ideal routing would be MEX-EZE, then somehow from EZE-GRU, and then the GOL and BoA routing you suggest. We'll see how it works out!
@ BRC -- Hah, yes, MEX does have good LH F availability, probably the best nowadays. Too bad I'm not trying to review the product...
@ AlanT98 -- Yeah, was really hoping to do Asia, but availability isn't looking great as of now. Maybe that will change as the date approaches...
I find it intriguing. Create a new article with just this poll and let us decide 😀
Why not try out Emirates’ new MIA-BOG (or reverse) fifth freedom route and review how they do service on the relatively short hop? Then find an interesting way between Bogotá and Santa Cruz (again, in either direction) for Boliviana. I know you’ve done a lot EK reviews on here but it could still be interesting.
Ben - I just did a couple of random searches later this month, and there are some fascinating 5th freedom flights on EZE-GRU: AC, ET, LX, and TK all operate the route.
OR, you do AR on AEP-GRU...
Depending on when you are going, the word is that the MEX-TPA daily is bumping up from an Embraer to a 737 due to good numbers. Something to look into perhaps.
Ben, an amazing flight to review would be the Conviasa A340 from Mexico City to Caracas. I understand Venezuela is in this situation and yea... but wow I would certainly love to see that. Have only seen one review on the Conviasa A340 in J.
Another option would be the AM flight to NRT, would be amazing to see how they do on ULR.
Additionally, would be fun to head down to GRU and take SA over to JNB/CPT. From there, up to Entebbe/Kigali, Brussels Airlines to Brussels, and then route back to Miami
Another idea would be head to Havana and catch a flight over to Moscow. Not sure when you are going but Aeroflot is due to start operating their 777's into Moscow next month (I believe).
Just an idea.
A review of a flight from Rio de Janiero's Santos Dumont Airport and some comments of the airport would be interesting.
Also a review of how bad airlines in Argentina might be useful.
So would any flight to the Falkland Islands/Malvinas.
Do the Gol Premium Economy from VVI to GRU than the Air China fifth freedom flight to Madrid
Why not try AR out of MIA… or back… it usually has good fares, and it’s something different to try in here
MEX to Tijuana and then right review using CBX to enter into San Diego from airport. I think they fly the max on some of those routes too
Mexico City to Shenzhen on China Southern would be a pretty cool review from a readers perspective!
How about MEX to EZE on AeroMexico (because of the flight length), and then somehow fly to Brazil on GOL, and then fly Azul back to the U.S. (how about Orlando). Then, maybe connect to Delta's A330neo flights to Europe from MCO (or connect through ATL or JFK to review the new lounges on your radar), and then fly Iberia's new A350 business class to South America. Maybe there is better availability to Bogota, since Iberia has 2x daily A350 flights there from MAD. Then, fly Avianca's new A320 Business Class and somehow get to Bolivia, and return home on BoA's A330 to Miami. It's a long trip, but it reminds me of the old review trips you used to take!
Careful Ben, these routes are ones I fly montly and both the LA and the DL (to a leasser extent) route are subject to frequent equipment swaps. LA keeps the seatmap for the 'new' business class as boilerplate and 48hrs before the flight it either sticks or changes to the 2-2-2. Best bet out of MIA are the 767's you tried or the 777 to GRU which alternates with a 789.
Did that a few times. CBX & the lounge situation in TIJ isn't much to get excited about. Flying to SAN & taking CBX shuttle to TIJ is a good way to fly AM on DL miles however.
Conviasa from the New Mexico City Santa Lucia airport (NLU) to Caracas, Venezuela super intriguing they fly an A340.
Another interesting airline to fly is Surinam Airways - their only USA destination is Miami.
Azul would be great too!
As would Aerolineas I don't recall a J review on them in recent times.
Premium economy reviews in general would be very welcome, and I say that as someone who's never actually flown premium economy on a long haul flight. Different airlines approach that class of service in very different ways. In fact, I would say premium economy reviews would be more useful than F ones, as F is becoming more niche than ever (rich people fly private, the mass affluent are happy in C, most senior managers in big companies have stopped doing ridiculous amounts of travel) and more airlines are understandably getting rid of it.
If you can't find anything from MEX, have you considered using ATL as a hidden city?
I would be more interested in the Mexico City LH F service. How it compares to U.S. menu wise etc. It’s often open for redemptions in F and an interesting option for people west of Texas to position and take.
AZUL! Ben please fly Azul in their business class to Florida! We’ve been wanting that for years! Also please checkout PS ATL while you’re in Atlanta, would be great to review this and compare to PS LAX!
@Apple We're on the same page. I was just trying to concoct a crazy itinerary flying Turkish out of Havana or Caracas one way and back the other. What's the catering like on Turkish out of Caracas? Who's on that flight?
Another vote for Aerolineas Argentinas here. So few reviews out there, they have a mishmash of A330 products, some 2-2-2, some ex-TAP Portugal with that product.
EZE-GRU Premium Economy Latam, Premium Economy GOL: if you are looking for full-service carriers, LX and TK also operate on this route.
EK EZE-GIG
Ben,
I am from Mexico, and member of Aeromexico Rewards,
there´s many space open to SCL, EZE, & GRU, sometimes twice a day in the 787-9, it´s very good and I have already tested. You can try either one and then LX First in the 777.
If you want to try AM 737 MAX business class, fly to my home airport MID, and from here take AA MID-MIA. If You visit, I can show You the city (which is beautiful) and recommend interesting hotels and we can chat about airlines and reward programs of Mexico, I think will be very interesting for You.
The Amex lounge in Atlanta is a shit show.
Overcrowded and they make announcements telling people to not put their feet on couches.
Food is bad and staff is unfriended/combative.
Worst Amex lounge I have experienced.
Ethiopian, Turkish or Qatar GRU to EZE. Or Emirates GIG to EZE. Then Aerolinas Argentinas EZE to MIA. It’s certainly not glamorous but you’ve never reviewed it. And while you’re in Buenos Aires, there is plenty of good coffee and cake to keep you occupied.
Sh*t show indeed.
It will hit the fan when they put an annual visit limit per card next year.
Food is as good or as bad as other Centurion lounge.
And for F*** sake, put a self service soda machine. Line for Alcoholic seems to be in every Centurion lounge.
Domestic catering in AM J between TIJ and MEX leaves a lot to be desired. I was never able to figure out what the contents of the sandwich was except for the fake bacon. They did offer good tequila though.
CBX was a breeze.
You should consider flying conviasa to Caracas - they fly out of mexico city's other unused airport (which would itself be an interesting experience), followed by GOL to Brazil and Azul to Florida.
Try Avianca's "new" business class within the Americas. You reported on the launch of this back in April but I haven't seen anything online about what it actually looks like.
Hi Ben, not necessarily helpful for the current trip, buy would be great to see you review some of the premium transcon flights in the US sometime. Checking out AA’s flagship business and others would be helpful.
there is a really cheap J class fare on AM; BCN-MEX-GRU for 600-800EUR in Business class. Nearly always available.
Haven’t read every reply but don’t see COPA popping up. It’s not a particularly exciting biz product but the airline connects most of Latin America to their PTY hub, providing non-stop access via Turkish to IST, AF to CDG and KLM to AMS.
Not for a review trip but speaking of Latin America you and Ford really need to check out the Four Seasons Tamarindo. The cliff suites are probably the best standard suites I've stayed in at any property in terms of the size, views, and the pool situation. Value is relative considering the price point but I really think ~$1,800 a night is quite reasonable for the size of room, the pool size, and the overall property. Of the Four Seasons properties in Mexico it had the most sense of place and the best staff in terms of really wanting to imbue a pride of the local heritage and Mexican excellence.
Flying long-haul to either Seoul or Tokyo with AeroMexico would allow you to highlight a lesser known North American connection to Asia that doesn't connect through the United States. I would personally appreciate it if you made reference to their lack of Mexican cuisine in the premium cabin if this occurs and you found availability, since I think it's a major misstep given the mass appeal of this type of food, and the award-winning Mexican chefs that design their menus.
Alternatively, you have some unique flights to Caracas Venezuela and Havana Cuba on Conviasa and Turkish Airlines (a 5th freedom route) for something a little different. South America has a number of these between SCL, EZE, GIG, And GRU so that could tag onto your future Bolivian adventure. I've avoided booking premium cabin rewards within Latin America because of how sub-par their hard and soft product has been. Hopefully LATAM's new business cabin changes this trend. Thanks for the Delta redemption sweet spot. Best of luck!
I get that there probably aren't many people looking to fly from Chile to Mexico via Atlanta, but about an 85% discount is insane.
What about going to Japan? You can try out JAL A35K Business Class or go to HNL and take ANA A380.Then go to Dubai and Geneva on the latest EK 777.After that, flying to Madrid is an option so you can check out the IB A350 with CL6720 and go to LHR. Finally,fly BA 777 First Class back.