U.S. carriers’ Business Class fares to South America are no bargain. 50-day advance fares typically start at $3,000 to $4,000, and 2-for-1 fares on Delta are $6,000 to $8,000. Don’t pay the piper: Buy a discounted economy ticket and use miles to upgrade to Business Class. Here’s how the five U.S. carriers stack up when it comes to upgrades.
American: B+
American earns high marks because it has one of the largest route networks to South America and the second-best upgradeable fares ($1,400-$1,650), even with the $700 upgrade surcharge.
Continental: C+
How does Continental compare to its new alliance partners United and US Airways? It has a larger route network than United, mostly thanks to its partner airline Copa. But its upgradable fares run about $400 more than US Airways’, plus there’s an upgrade surcharge as high as $1,000 (also $400 more than US Airways).
Delta/Northwest: C-
These new wingmates get our lowest grade. Upgradeable economy fares run $1,800 to $2,400. Mileage program members save $700 to $1,500, depending on the route, which represents low value for the miles spent.
United: C+
United’s program has become very similar to Continental’s (see our Report Card on Mileage Program Upgrades to Asia, FCF December 2009), requiring surcharges up to $1,000, plus the cost of the upgradeable economy ticket.
US Airways: B+
The lowest upgradable economy fares to South America, even with the $600 surcharge. Fares start at $1,200. The downside: Its only destination is Rio, and upgrades cost 10,000 miles more than any other U.S. carrier.
Comparing Round-Trip Upgradeable Mileage Programs to South America
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