Continental service offers low fares, available seats
The South American continent has long been a members-only club, the members being mostly the flag carriers and a smattering of U.S. airlines. Consequently, fares have been high, deals few and clientele predictable—businessmen, tourists in seasonal spikes (for Carnivale in Brazil, for instance) and expats going home for a visit. Now the market is growing and the airlines are pursuing it.
Low Business Class fares to the region have only been around since Delta launched them in March 2005—up to 70% lower than previously—and the airline is still the leader in low fares to South America. (They’re available from many major cities in the U.S. to Sao Paulo, Santiago and Buenos Aires.) But now Continental has announced daily non-stop service between Houston and Buenos Aires, and it is playing up the initiative with special fares from select U.S. gateways: $2,139 from Houston, $2,466 from New York and $2,346 from Los Angele's.
The Opportunity As often happens when an airline inaugurates new routes, there are a lot of mileage and award seats for the taking. If you have miles to burn, don’t wait. Memo to Amex Membership Rewards club members: You can transfer points to Continental One Pass miles.
The Dead Zone: Dallas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.; look for connections via non-stops For some reason, the low fares to South America aren’t available from Dallas, San Francisco or Washington, D.C. with Continental. If one of these is your starting point, book the international leg from Houston with Continental or from Atlanta with Delta, and find another inexpensive way to make a connection.
Continental service offers low fares, available seats
The South American continent has long been a members-only club, the members being mostly the flag carriers and a smattering of U.S. airlines. Consequently, fares have been high, deals few and clientele predictable—businessmen, tourists in seasonal spikes (for Carnivale in Brazil, for instance) and expats going home for a visit. Now the market is growing and the airlines are pursuing it.
Low Business Class fares to the region have only been around since Delta launched them in March 2005—up to 70% lower than previously—and the airline is still the leader in low fares to South America. (They’re available from many major cities in the U.S. to Sao Paulo, Santiago and Buenos Aires.) But now Continental has announced daily non-stop service between Houston and Buenos Aires, and it is playing up the initiative with special fares from select U.S. gateways: $2,139 from Houston, $2,466 from New York and $2,346 from Los Angele's.
The Opportunity As often happens when an airline inaugurates new routes, there are a lot of mileage and award seats for the taking. If you have miles to burn, don’t wait. Memo to Amex Membership Rewards club members: You can transfer points to Continental One...