These anomalies can net Business Class for only 5,000 more miles than coach—and at up to 36% off.
U.S. domestic airlines charge 100,000 to 125,000 miles for a Business Class ticket between the U.S. and southern South America—Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. But here’s the deal: Combine a little-utilized loyalty program with our favorite credit card points, from Starwood Preferred Amex, and you can get Business Class starting at just 55,000 miles roundtrip—just 5,000 more than American and United charge for coach.
Three Best Deals—by Alliance
See chart (immediately below) for sample savings for each alliance (details follow).
Best of the Best to Southern South America By Alliance:
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The Japan Airlines + Starwood Opportunity
Japan Airlines uses a flight distance chart, meaning the miles required are based on the distance between departure and arrival cities, whereas U.S. carriers use a zone chart, which divides the world into zones with a set mileage cost for each. Japan Airlines is a Starwood partner. If you’re not a Starwood player, but do have Amex Rewards points, then you can still save 20% with Cathay Pacific.
Upgrade to Business Class for only 5,000 Miles
Sample savings with Japan Airlines
New York-Rio de Janeiro Business Class goes for 100,000 miles round-trip on American; but if you use Japan Airlines miles and its partner award chart, the ticket, for the same exact flights, costs only 65,000 miles. (Note that departures from other U.S. cities require more miles or purchasing a separate ticket to the gateway cities in the chart below.)
To take advantage of this award chart discrepancy, transfer just 55,000 Starpoints to Japan Airlines, only 5,000 more miles than AA requires for an economy ticket. (Note that transfers can take up to seven days, so choose dates with good availability—so availability changes are likely not an issue).
More Sample Savings with Japan Airlines to Southern South America
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Don’t have Starwood Points, but do have Amex Points? Save 20% on Cathay Pacific.
Cathay uses a flight-distance chart and offers lower rates than American and LAN on some routes. Rates are not as low as Japan Airlines—many routes that cost 65,000 miles on Japan Airlines cost 85,000 on Cathay—but the latter has more credit-card transfer partners, Amex Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Starwood. Transfer time is as short as one day, so the odds can be better for award space if you transfer points.
Five Fast Steps to Booking Upgrade for 5,000 Miles
Step #1: Find award seats on American or LAN via their websites.
Step #2: Create a JAL account in 5 minutes.
Step #3: Check award space via JAL for American online, or call (800) 525-3663 for travel on LAN.
Step #4: Transfer the necessary points from Starwood to JAL.
Step #5: When you have the JAL miles, book your award.
Star Alliance Upgrades for 10,000 Miles
Differences also occur in programs within the same alliance that use a zone chart. Here, the partner to use is Asiana Airlines, a Starwood partner, or All Nippon, an Amex Rewards partner.
Upgrade to South America for Just 10,000 Miles with Starwood and Star Alliance
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Sample savings with United: Chicago-São Paulo Business Class starts at 110,000 miles round-trip. But if you use an Asiana Airlines partner award, the ticket—for travel on United—costs only 70,000 miles round-trip, 40,000 fewer miles than Business Class via United MileagePlus (and Chase Ultimate Rewards) and only 10,000 more miles than coach. To take advantage of this discrepancy, use just 60,000 Starpoints. The cost is valid from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, so note that the routes in the chart top right are just examples. If you are originating in Atlanta, New York, or Los Angeles, the price is still 70,000 miles.
Don’t have Starwood Points, but do have Amex Points? Still Save 20% with All Nippon
All Nippon uses a flight distance chart with lower rates than United on some routes. The routes in the chart on top cost 88,000 All Nippon miles; the cost goes up from other U.S. cities. Rates are not as low as on Asiana Airlines, but All Nippon has Amex Rewards as a credit-card transfer partner in addition to Starwood. Transfer time is usually instantly, which ups the odds for getting award space on transfer. (Learn more on getting miles with any of the Star Alliance airlines listed)
Five Fast Steps to Booking Upgrades for 10,000 Miles for Travel on United
Step #1: Find award seats on United.
Step #2: Create an Asiana Airlines account in 5 minutes.
Step #3: Call Asiana Airlines at (800) 227-4262 to verify United award space.
Step #4: Transfer the necessary points from Starwood to Asiana Airlines.
Step #5: When you have the Asiana miles, call (800) 227-4262 to book.
SkyTeam Deals: Good, but not as good
Differences also occur within partner award programs even if the airline is not part of an alliance, but still has partners that are members and use a zone chart.
Sample savings with Delta: Atlanta-Buenos Aires Business Class starts at 125,000 miles round-trip. But a Virgin Atlantic partner award for travel on Delta costs only 90,000 miles, 35,000 fewer miles than via SkyMiles, and only 30,000 more miles than coach. It takes just 75,000 Starpoints or 90,000 Amex Membership Rewards, Chase, or Citi ThankYou points.
The price applies from anywhere in the U.S. The routes to the right are just samples. From Minneapolis, San Francisco and Seattle, the price is still 90,000 miles.
Five Fast Steps to Booking Partner Flights with Virgin Atlantic Miles
Step #1: Check the Delta website for award space.
Step #2: Create a Virgin Atlantic account in 5 minutes.
Step #3: Call Virgin Atlantic (800) 365-9500 to check for Delta award space.
Step #4: Transfer the necessary points from Amex Rewards, Chase, Citi ThankYou, or Starwood to Virgin Atlantic.
Step #5: When you have the Virgin Atlantic miles, call (800) 365-9500 to book.
Sample SkyTeam Savings to South America Business Class Via Partner Programs
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