Questions and Answers

Hello all!

I am planning a trip for myself and my buddy to Chile (SCL) early Jan 2018…We will be leaving ORD and back to JFK….I have been playing around and research a bit on what is the best option for me…
I am thinking economy outbound and business inbound for 2.

I have 100k SQ miles laying around, some AA miles (80K), and some TY points in case (~70K). I know it’s kind of scattered but am hoping for some interesting feedback from here as always 🙂

cheers,

Wesley

Probably best to look at AA points on American metal down in economy since you don’t have enough to go business. They fly a 787 from DFW or look for LAN from LA or MIA to SCL and get an AA connection from ORD. You have to call AA for LAN but can find the space on BA.com. For 2 it’s 60K in economy while business is 110K for 2.

On the way back you can use SQ points to book Star Alliance. My guess is your best bet is Avianca to JFK. That too is a 787 and they have a nice J hard product. Your other choices are Copa and UA, but Avianca flies direct into JFK and they open up space where UA is limited and Copa would be a waste of business class miles. Also Avianca doesn’t have surcharges so that is a plus. Use United to find the space and call Singapore to book.

Air Canada is an option as well but you’ll face surcharges of about $400 on this flights.

Singapore is actually a very good deal from South America. Business is only 50K per person so 100K for 2. That’s excellent!

100k SQ miles is actually just enough for 2 one-way tickets in business class for North America to South America so that’s a great option. Depending on availability, check both inbound and outbound segments! I’m sure you can find some mix of UA/Copa and Avianca, especially if you can find space and route on Avianca’s JFK/LAX-BOG route, operated by their 787.

AA requires 30k per person in economy for one way between US and South America 2 and you have more than enough miles for two pax in economy!

[QUOTE=”MarkS, post: 27469, member: 2121″]Probably best to look at AA points on American metal down in economy since you don’t have enough to go business. They fly a 787 from DFW or look for LAN from LA or MIA to SCL and get an AA connection from ORD. You have to call AA for LAN but can find the space on BA.com. For 2 it’s 60K in economy while business is 110K for 2.

On the way back you can use SQ points to book Star Alliance. My guess is your best bet is Avianca to JFK. That too is a 787 and they have a nice J hard product. Your other choices are Copa and UA, but Avianca flies direct into JFK and they open up space where UA is limited and Copa would be a waste of business class miles. Also Avianca doesn’t have surcharges so that is a plus. Use United to find the space and call Singapore to book.

Singapore is actually a very good deal from South America. Business is only 50K per person so 100K for 2. That’s excellent![/QUOTE]

Thank you so much! I really like the AA outbound idea. Inbound I am debating I should try the Latam 787 route to JFK, since I had AV J once which was amazing for a fast 5 hr red eye. But that would require me more AA miles. Thanks again!

[USER=29]@David W[/USER] You read my mind!

[QUOTE=”Wesley C, post: 27471, member: 310″]Thank you so much! I really like the AA outbound idea. Inbound I am debating I should try the Latam 787 route to JFK, since I had AV J once which was amazing for a fast 5 hr red eye. But that would require me more AA miles. Thanks again![/QUOTE]

You have an option to purchase AA points. When on sale they can be around 2 cents so you’d need about 30K meaning $600. So $300 per person to sit in J. I’d say good deal.

[USER=2121]@MarkS[/USER] heh, funny how that works out!:D

AAdvantage is having a sale on miles at the moment, until next Tuesday. Purchasing 23k miles will get you a bonus of 7k miles, all for a total of $760. Not quite the 2 cents per mile (which you’d get if tyou maxed out the promotion) but it’s still a decent option if there’s biz space. Of course, if you can afford and make use of all the AAdvantage miles from maxing out the promo, great!