Recently we spoke about tactical fares. They are significantly discounted fares airlines offer sporadically for a variety of interesting reasons.
Some include holiday tactical fares at Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year; origin-specific tactical fares; destination-specific tactical fares, and advance-purchase tactical fares, to name a few.
And then there’s this beauty:
Limited-Route Tactical Fares
Limited-route tactical fares come in two tasty flavors:
- Small airlines sniping at the majors’ heels, and
- Competition between majors
Right now we’re seeing some big-time sniping all the way to beautiful South Africa.
Better LATAM Than Never
LATAM (formerly LAN) is Latin America’s largest airline and a member of oneworld, of which American Airlines is a member.
Let’s look at an example of a regional airline shouldering its way onto the big stage. You can fly from Miami to Johannesburg on LATAM starting at $2,321 round-trip, an amazingly cheap fare.
Now who would think of flying an airline synonymous with South America to South Africa?
Hardly anyone. So what’s an airline to do on that route? Have a sale and undercut the other airlines to get its foot in the door. The normal fare to Johannesburg on other airlines starts at around $5,000. So, by flying LATAM you cut the cost by up to $2,679 (54%). That’s a 2-for-1. Take note that trips to Africa on LATAM don’t earn miles. They do between South America and other regions, but alas, not Africa.
QUICK LATAM Primer
LATAM’s Business Class, called “Premium Business Class”, no less, offers flatbed seats and a 15.4 inch high-resolution TV.
Now, About the Layover
This deal involves a 12-hour layover in São Paulo, Brazil, on the way to South Africa, and a 6-hour layover on the way back. Now that’s going to put most people off. Or not. Don’t forget, flying via Europe on most schedules requires a half-day layover anyway. It’s all about whether you view a layover as a pain or an opportunity.
Generally, the more direct the route, the higher the fare, and that’s the case on routes to South Africa. But here at FCF, we think if you can turn that layover time into a benefit, the savings is cream on top. It’s not only a lot cheaper, you get a life experience thrown in as well in São Paulo. The more direct route, typically through West Africa and often with a stop to refuel, doesn’t allow enough time to leave the airport, stretch your legs, and bucket-list tick.
Another way to look at it is that on Delta in economy, Miami-Johannesburg can easily cost $1,500+. So using LATAM instead, you get a $821 upgrade to Business Class for 36+ hours of flying, round-trip. That’s just $23 an hour to escape economy! Take my money!
São Paulo: São Cool?!
- See the crazy architecture of the perfectly named Hotel Unique.
- This is Brazil after all, so you have to visit the Football Museum.
- Get the heart rate up on a São Paulo bike tour.
- Visit Municipal Market and dine out on its famed Bologna Sandwich.
- Wonder at the Catedral da Sé, one of the largest neo-Gothic churches in the world.
Limited Route Tactical Fare #2:
Washington, D.C. to Johannesburg
Now here’s an example of a limited route tactical fare involving competition between major airlines. Virgin Atlantic from Washington, D.C. to Johannesburg starts at $3,372.
With more than 15 airlines flying this route, Virgin Atlantic is offering a lower fare to compete. The fare on oneworld airlines starts at around $5,100 to Johannesburg. Another example is Chicago-Johannesburg, but this time on SWISS, starting at $3,850, compared to other airlines starting at $4,800. For details see FCF Africa alert.
While You’re in the Neighborhood
Read our report about plunging Business Class fares to Nairobi here, with one Business Class deal currently at $2,661, and our South Africa fare alert here.
Not Going to Jo’burg?
Johannesburg may be the ultimate second-fiddle city. You know what I mean. It’s your entry, but as quickly as possible it’s your exit. Everyone who goes to South Africa has his eye on Cape Town, the luxury game lodges around Kruger National Park, and, those really in the know, on getting to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, one of the world’s great destinations.
But with these amazing new fares, it’s the hub for getting wherever you want in not just South, but southern Africa. Change planes for Cape Town, Kruger, Maun (the jumping-off point for a small plane to your game lodge in the Okavango Delta), Namibia (one of my all-time favorite trips), Zambia, Zimbabwe, and even Mauritius, your sandy beach after days spent in the bush.
Make No Mistake, These Are Real Fares
Many people think FCF is in the mistake-fare business because there are now so many bloggers and paid sites that focus on them. The fares we’re talking about in this article may appear to be mistakes because they’re so low, but they’re not, they’re honest-to-goodness real published fares. Be aware that mistake fares are a risky proposition because airlines often don’t honor them.