FirstClassFlyer

Elite, Non-elite, Business, and Leisure Travelers can now Save big on 14 Routes—up to 67% off.

In the past two months, FCF has written two special reports for oneworld members (American) looking to deploy miles in order to achieve or maintain their elite status. In December, we focused on Europe and in January on Asia. By the way, the tactics also work for anyone who can’t find a low Business Class fare and also work for those who don’t even have any American miles.

This month FCF takes the same approach to southern South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

Our Pitch: The same as Asia and Europe: Forget about free mileage awards because they don’t earn elite credit, and it can be difficult to find availability. Instead, use miles to upgrade, as availability is much greater, and you earn miles and elite credit.

American’s Upgrade Program

To southern South America, American requires 25,000 miles plus a $350 co-pay each way on the lowest upgradeable economy fares (H, K, M, L, V, G, Q, N, O, S classes). The co-pay is kind of high, but when Business Class fares are high, this upgrade offers a great return.

Save 53% On High-Fare Routes

One Example: Say you’re traveling Dallas-Buenos Aires, often an expensive Business Class route, even when booked way in advance. The lowest AA economy fare is currently $1,671 from Dallas, while Business Class is $5,023 ($3,352 more)—so even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 53% off the published fare by using miles. (See chart below for upgrade award availability survey.)

AA.com screenshot below…

What to Do When an Upgrade is Only Available One Way?

American lets you combine coach and Business Class fares, so you can upgrade the segment that has space and book the other leg in paid Business Class. On New York-Rio de Janeiro, the combined coach-Business Class fare is $2,693 while round-trip Business Class is $4,248—so even with the $350 one-way co-pay, you can still save 28% by using miles one-way.

Lowest Economy Route On American Saves 47%

Miami-Santiago is one of AA’s lowest economy fare routes, currently starting at $996 round-trip, while Business Class is $3,204. Even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 47% off the published fare by using miles.

AA.com screenshot below…

Bridge Route Connections Can Save Up to 67%

Smart travelers use the long-haul Business Class flight as a “bridge.” All they have to do is get to and from the bridge gateway.

From the U.S., that means you might even buy an economy through-fare ticket, meaning the fare gets you to and from the international gateway all on one ticket rather than requiring two separate tickets. Upgrade all the flight segments if upgrade space is available.

Example: Chicago-Rio de Janeiro: The through-fare ticket gets you there via Miami or New York for $844 instead of $4,712, the cost of a Business Class ticket. Even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 67% off the published fare by using miles.

Use our cheat sheet below to know when you can easily upgrade the long-haul segments; fly the short connecting flight/s in coach if you must.

TRAVELING ONWARD IN SOUTH AMERICA,
BUT NOT ON AMERICAN?

It’s easy if you stick with AA’s partner, LATAM, and book the entire trip on one ticket.

Say you want to fly Miami-Porto Alegre in Brazil. On American, that means making a connection in São Paulo. The round-trip through-fare is $1,352 in coach versus $3,780 in Business Class. You upgrade the bridge legs of the trip (because LATAM flights don’t allow upgrades), Miami-São Paulo and São Paulo-Miami. Even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 46% off the published fare by using miles. Note that the São Paulo-Porto Alegre leg will be on LATAM, in economy (but the flight is less than two hours).

Google Flights screenshot below…

HOW TO BOOK MILEAGE UPGRADES WITH AMERICAN

Before buying your economy ticket, call American (upgrades cannot be done online) at 1-800-433-7300 to find out if the flights/dates you want are available for a mileage upgrade. Book the economy ticket online—keep American on the phone—then have the AA reservationist book the upgrade, or pay the by-phone booking fee and book both the economy ticket and upgrade at the same time directly with the AA reservationist.

If the upgrade on the flights/dates you want are not available, have the agent check dates/flights on the days before and after.

Use our survey below to get an idea of routes and months with great upgrade space.

HOW ANYONE CAN PLAY THIS UPGRADE GAME

Don’t have any or enough American miles? No problem. Just buy American miles when they go on sale (recent opportunity here), or transfer Starwood points (takes about two days), and you too can save big.

Sweet Redeem Survey: American Upgrade Availability to southern South America

[table_opt id="5946" style="blue-header" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

[["Routes","Departure","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Dallas - Buenos Aires","March, April, May,<\/span> July, Aug.,<\/span> Oct.","May, June,<\/span> Aug., Sept.","May through July,","May, June,<\/span> Oct., Nov.","June, July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept.","May, July, Aug."],["Dallas - Santiago","March,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> June, Aug.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","May,<\/span> June, July,<\/span> Sept.","May,<\/span> June, July, Aug.<\/span>","May, June,<\/span> July,<\/span> Sept.,<\/span> Oct., Nov.","June,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span> Sept.","May,<\/span> June, July,<\/span> Aug."],["Dallas - S\u00e3o Paulo","June,<\/span> July through Sept.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","June, July,<\/span> Aug., Sept.","June,<\/span> July<\/span>","Feb., March, May, <\/span>June, Aug., Sept.<\/span>","March,<\/span> April,<\/span> May, through Sept.<\/span>"],["Los Angeles - S\u00e3o Paulo","April","","","","",""],["Miami - Belo Horizonte","Feb.,<\/span> May, June, July,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span>","Feb.,<\/span> May,<\/span> July,<\/span> Oct., Nov.<\/span>","March, April, <\/span>May, June,<\/span> July through Sept.,<\/span> Oct., Nov.","Feb.,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","Feb.,<\/span> July,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span>","Feb., March through June,<\/span> July,<\/span> Aug., Sept. through Nov.<\/span>"],["Miami - Bras\u00edlia","Feb. through April, June,<\/span> July, Oct., Nov.","Feb. through April, May,<\/span> Aug., Sept.","May,","May through July,<\/span> Sept, through Nov.","March, April,<\/span> June, Aug.,","Feb.,<\/span> April, July,"],["Miami - Manaus","Feb, March, June,<\/span> July","April, May,<\/span> Aug.","April through June","March, June, July,<\/span> Aug. through Oct.","May,<\/span> June,","March, April,<\/span> May,"],["Miami - Montevideo","Feb.,<\/span> March,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> July, Nov.<\/span>","March,<\/span> April, Aug.,<\/span> Oct.,"," March,<\/span> May, June,<\/span> July, Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Oct., Nov.","Feb.,<\/span> March, May<\/span>","March, April, June, Nov.<\/span>","April, May,<\/span> June, July, through Oct.,<\/span> Nov."],["Miami - Rio de Janeiro","Feb., April,<\/span> May, June,<\/span> July,<\/span> Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Feb., March,<\/span> June, July, Sept.","","Feb., March, April, May,<\/span> Aug. through Oct., Nov.<\/span>","March, May,<\/span> July,<\/span> Sept.","May, June, July,<\/span> Aug."],["Miami - Santiago","Feb.,<\/span> March, April<\/span> July, Oct., Nov.","March, April,<\/span> May,<\/span> Aug., Sept.<\/span>","March, April, May,<\/span> June,<\/span> July, Aug., Sept.<\/span>"," Feb.,<\/span> March,<\/span> April, June, Oct.,<\/span> Nov. <\/span>","May,<\/span> July through Sept.,<\/span> Oct.,<\/span> Nov.","April,<\/span> May, June,<\/span> July through Sept.,<\/span> Oct."],["Miami - S\u00e3o Paulo","May, June,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","April,<\/span> June,<\/span> July<\/span>","Feb., March,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> June,<\/span> July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","July,<\/span> Aug.<\/span>","May, June,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","Feb., through April,<\/span> May, June,<\/span> July, through Sept.<\/span>"],["New York - Buenos Aires","April, May,<\/span> June, Aug.<\/span>","May, July<\/span>","Aug.","May, June, Aug.<\/span>","July<\/span>","July"],["New York - Rio de Janeiro","May, June,<\/span> July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept., Nov.<\/span>","Feb., April,<\/span> May,<\/span> June,<\/span> Sept., Oct., Nov.<\/span>","Feb.,<\/span> March,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> June through Aug.,<\/span> Oct.","Feb., April, June,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span> Sept., Oct.<\/span>","Feb., April,<\/span> May,<\/span> June,<\/span> Oct., Nov.<\/span>","March,<\/span> April,<\/span> May,<\/span> June,<\/span> July,<\/span> Aug.,<\/span> Oct., Nov."],["New York - S\u00e3o Paulo","March, April,<\/span> May,<\/span> June through Aug.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","Feb.,<\/span> March,<\/span> May, June<\/span>","March, April, Aug.<\/span>","April,<\/span> May, June,<\/span> July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept.","March,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> June<\/span>","Feb.,<\/span> March,<\/span> April, May, June through Aug.<\/span>"]]

Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats; in green at least four seats; in purple at least six seats.

The Power of American Upgrades to Southern South America + Surprising Availability