Questions and Answers

Hi everyone,

Thinking I’d like to visit South America next year, specifically Argentina and Chile. (Maybe La Paz and the salt flats in Bolivia?). So of course I’m starting to look at premium cabin options to Santiago and Buenos Aires. I think my choices are:
[LIST]
[*]LATAM or American from LAX
[*]American from Dallas
[*]Delta from ATL
[*]Delta to JFK, Aerolineas Argentina from there
[*]United from IAH
[/LIST]
Has that Aerolineas Argentina Condor Class gotten any better? I don’t have any interest in sending a fax from the plane.

Any recommendations or suggestions? I’m leaning towards LATAM if I can get the 787 direct flight. Final decision is obviously also based on general award availability patterns.

Avianca also operates LAX-BOG-SCL and AeroMexico operates LAX-MEX-SCL with a 787, which Lucky has reviewed, as part of this trip report: [URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/05/15/avianca-aeromexico-trip-report/[/URL]

Not the greatest of options, especially AeroMexico, based on the reviews, but at could be useful if space on other airlines is hard to come by.

Considering none of the options have one that stands out most, LATAM’s direct flight seems like the way to go.

I hope the Delta/Aerolineas Argentina option is dead last for you. I dont think it’s worth it at all.

Lately I feel like the best option to South America is the one with award space, honestly. Availability has been crummy!!

Thanks [USER=29]@David W[/USER] … I forgot about the Avianca and AeroMexico options. And generally agree with your comments.

[USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER] … yeah that’s for sure. I’m seeing availability on the AA MIA-SCL flight and some random *A options (Air Canada via YYZ (8 hr connection), Copa via PTY), but all the domestic connections from SFO are in Coach.

Plenty of availability with LATAM using their own program. Now I just need to figure out how to get some “Kilometers”. Get that new credit card and then buy the rest during their next promotion??? Like [USER=4]@Lucky[/USER] I tend to hoard my Starpoints.

Oh, thats interesting. I didnt think LATAM would make space more available to their own members.

Yeah, right?! The only reason I thought to check is because of Lucky’s post detailing his experience searching for availability: [URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/04/25/lanpass-business-class-awards/[/URL]

[USER=390]@Debo[/USER] — You could always buy SPG points specifically for this specific purchase. With the right promo, might not be a bad value…

[USER=7]@Tiffany[/USER] ahhhh good point. That is not a terrible idea. Fingers crossed for a sale!