Package Deals to South America, Part III

June 2012
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How to Save Up to 53% on Business Class Travel

In the last two issues FCF has been examining “package deals” as a way to save money. We uncovered deals that offered domestic First Class fares for the price of economy (April, page 5) and ones that included substantial savings on Business Class fares to Europe (May, page 9).

In this issue, we take the idea to South America, looking at more than 100 different itineraries with Orbitz, American Vacations, Delta Vacations, and United Vacations, with the goal of finding routes where a package yields serious savings on Business Class fares.

Save up to 35% on Business Class fares to Lima with American Airlines.

What We Established

The greatest savings (up to 53%) and best value was a Delta Vacations package to Buenos Aires, but only if you missed the 28-day advance-purchase deadline for a Business Class ticket. Orbitz offered savings of up to 43% on pack-ages to Lima and Santiago. If you booked the ticket by itself (within 28-days of departure), you will pay $5,000 to $10,000 for a Business Class ticket.

We found that the lowest online Business Class Los Angeles-Buenos Aires fare for travel on June 14 for two people was $17,524 including taxes. Seven nights at the Park Tower in a Deluxe King is $2,196 (on the hotel’s website) for a total cost of $9,860 per person. But if you book the same trip—including Business Class air and hotel—via Delta Vacations as a package, the price is $4,643 per person, including taxes, a savings of $10,434 (53%) for two people.

Factors to Keep in Mind

  • Always check published fares before buying a package so you have a basis for comparison, especially when traveling last minute.
  • Package deals are especially good on routes where Business Class fares are high, even if you fulfill the advance-purchase requirement. A JFK- Buenos Aires Business Class ticket for travel mid-September is $5,017 on Delta, whereas a package deal through Delta Vacations, with three nights at the Sheraton Libertador Hotel, is $5,010 per person, making the hotel stay, in effect, free.
  • Delta Vacations hotel and air packages to South America require a 2-night minimum hotel stay or a 5-day car rental. Orbitz packages require a 1-night minimum hotel stay.

Sample Business Class Savings on Air-Hotel Package Deals to South America

[table_opt style="gray-header" id="1206 " width="" alignment="center" responsive="all" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]

[["<strong>Route<\/strong>","<strong>Hotel<\/strong>","<strong>Hotel Room Category<\/strong>","<strong>Published Hotel Cost Incl. All Taxes<\/strong>","<strong>Published Business Class Incl. All Taxes Per Person<\/strong>","<strong>Published Hotel and Business Class Fare Total<\/strong>","<strong>Published Total Fare Per Person<\/strong>","<strong>Package Supplier<\/strong>","<strong>Total Package Cost<\/strong>","<strong>Package Cost Per Person<\/strong>","<strong>Savings for Two People<\/strong>"],["Los Angeles - Buenos Aires","Park Tower, Buenos Aires","Deluxe King","$2,196 ","$8,762 ","$19,720 ","$9,860 ","DL Vacations","$9,286 ","$4,643 ","$10,434 \/ 53%"],["Miami - Buenos Aires","Park Tower, Buenos Aires","Deluxe King","$2,196 ","$5,514 ","$13,224 ","$6,611 ","DL Vacations","$8,091 ","$4,045 ","$5,132 \/ 39%"],["Miami - Lima","The Westin Lima","Deluxe King","$2,138 ","$3,640 ","$9,418 ","$4,709 ","Orbitz","$6,151 ","$3,075 ","$3,268 "],["New York - Buenos Aires","Park Tower, Buenos Aires","Deluxe King","$2,196 ","$7,754 ","$17,704 ","$8,852 ","DL Vacations","$9,995 ","$4,997 ","$7,709 \/ 44%"],["New York - Santiago","The Ritz Carlton, Santiago","Deluxe King","$1,750 ","$11,471 ","$24,692 ","$12,346 ","Orbitz","$14,024 ","$7,012 ","$10,670 \/ 43%"]]
<small><em>Based on a seven night hotel stay for two people traveling mid-June. Includes all taxes. DL Vacations = Delta Vacations.</em></small>