RJames

I have AA miles, my rough itinerary for Brazil, Argentina and Chile is as follows:-

Rio - Igazsu, Brazil cross by land to Igazsu, Argentina, Igazsu - Buenos Aires - Santiago - Easter Island (- Tahiti) - Easter Island - Santiago.

I have looked at LAN for flight schedules and prices and the visit South Amrerica Air Pass. I had thought of a One World Award for this itinerary but I need to fly two OW airlines, as LAN is the only OW airline with service in South America this isn't possible unless I choose to fly transpacific or transatlantic on the same ticket. (I know the ticket is valid for a year and I can use the ticket for two trips). Wondering if a OW award itinerary is best or if I should get an open jaw ticket into Rio and out from Santiago and buy one way tickets as needed between Rio and Igaszu and Igaszu and Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires to Santiago and Santiago to Easter Island roundtrip. Which airlines should I check for the flights in Brazil and Argentina? Which websites should I use to book these tickets? I don't know much about flights in South America besides LAN's network, I have ruled out the LAN Visit South America air pass as I don't want to connect in Lima and I'm looking for the most direct flights. While Tahiti is not a must, if I am on a OW award I would like to add it to the itinerary, if not, I'd imagine it would be an expensive add on or maybe Easter Island to Tahiti is an impossible flight to get using FF miles.

Any informtation will be appreciated.

Thank you.

RJames

Oh, forgot to mention I have 25K CO miles that rolled over to UA which I could use on a Star Alliance carrier for some of the tickets I need. I have no plans for the 25K miles and don't mind using them on this trip, I do not plan on purchasing tickets with Star Alliance carriers and earning more miles, those miles took a few years to earn and I only have that many miles because CO never enforced the three year (or 18 month) expiry policy.

I do have elite status with American and have already requalified for next year, so, I am not looking to earn EQMs for elite status on this trip.

Gardyloo

Before you give up on the Oneworld award (now called the "Explorer" award, BTW) you might have a look at an itinerary that includes JFK-YVR or v.v. on Cathay Pacific, for your second OW airline (over LA and AA.) It might bump you to the next tier for awards, depending on where you are and your other travel plans, but just a thought.

When is this? Reason for asking is that Lan and Tam are merging, which would solve your Brazil issues. Otherwise I'd look at ITA and just pick the cheapest/most convenient flights.

As far as availability goes, you'd really have to talk with AA regarding seats for SCL-IPC-PPT etc. Remember that AA regards IPC as part of the SW Pacific zone for all-partner redemptions (now called Oneworld and Partner awards - how confusing is that?) so the Explorer award is really the only way to go, short of buying a ticket.

RJames

Gardyloo, thanks for your reply.

Any idea when the merger between LAN and TAM will be finalized, I was looking at travelling in Fall, 2012. I had not heard of the merger, was thinking of maybe booking with GOL using FF miles but somewhat reluctant if GOL changes flight scheudules or cancels flights and AA can't help me closer to my travel date.

I hadn't considered the Cathay flight as I am in Toronto. I was thinking of flying to Rio via Dallas or JFK on AA. Flights back from Chile would also be on AA, probably via Dallas also. If I add the Cathay flight solely for the purpose of ticketing an Explorer award, I'd be aimlessly flying to the west coast. I had looked into a OW award some years ago and had planned on using BA from Buenos Aires to Rio (think that was the flight routing but could be wrong) to satisfy the two different airlines rule.

AA does classify Easter Island and Tahiti in the South Pacific zone, so my thought was that if I was on an One World Explorer award I'd try to include both destinations on the award. If I am not using the OW Explorer I'd just pay for a roundtrip ticket from Santiago to Easter Island and one day try to redeem AA miles on Air Tahiti Nui to get there.

Gardyloo

<i>Any idea when the merger between LAN and TAM will be finalized, I was looking at travelling in Fall, 2012.</i>

That's a $64 question; the Chilean authorities gave the final okay earlier this month, but no idea if they will be combined for purposes of things like mileage redemptions before you travel. I'd guess not, personally.

Note it's the AA <i>Explorer</i> award, not the Oneworld Explorer. The Oneworld Explorer is the (paid) RTW product sold by the Oneworld airlines. More confusion.

If starting in YVR allowed you to hit destinations that would require separate trips, then the "aimlessness" of it might not be so clear. The additional bump in mileage required would probably be less than separate trips, depending on whether you're flying coach v. business class etc. Up to you.

RJames

Sorry, I confused the names of the different products. AA Explorer, okay got it.

Agree, if I can add Tahiti if I fly to Vancouver it maybe the way to go, Tahiti has been on my wish list for years. When I said aimlessly fly to Vancouver, I meant I wouldn't consider a stop there and geographically Vancouver isn't enroute to South America.

If I do not book an AA Explorer award I am looking at a 20,000 mile off season economy class award, so 40,000 miles would get to to/from South America, but of course I'd have to pay for point to point tickets once I am down there.

Of course, all this planning can mean squat if there are no FF seats available. I will call AA tomorrow when I have some dates worked out to inquire about availability and how many miles I would need to redeem. Business class would be ideal, but the entire trip/routing depends on what is available.

Here is the rough itinerary I have worked out which includes the Cathay flight:-

Toronto - JFK - Vancouver - Dallas - Rio de Janerio (open jaw) - Buenos Aires - Santiago - Easter Island - Papaetee - Easter Island - Santiago - Dallas - Toronto.

I know one open jaw is allowed, but I am not sure if AA will allow one between Rio and Buenos Aires. I have had some problems in the past when redeeming miles (before one way awards were introduced) an open jaw was permitted, but not for the cities I was trying to book as AA considered the two cities too far apart (they were both US cities).

Gardyloo

I wasn't sure if you were thinking about business v. economy, but if coach, then I think the "Explorer" option is not especially good value. The route you describe would require 140,000 miles for a coach ticket (25,000 - 30,000 flown miles) and 190,000 miles in business class.

I think two one-way partner awards, YYZ-GIG and SCL-YYZ for 20K miles each, combined with a (Oneworld) Visit South America or Lan South America Airpass (not the same thing) - http://www.lan.com/en_us/promociones...pass_preg.html - would save money and miles.

If you wanted to use AA miles to go from IPC (which you can reach on the air passes) to PPT, since both are in the Southwest Pacific, that would be 20,000 AA miles each way, or 30K in business - helluva deal.

The other problem with the above route using the Explorer award is that you'd have to stop over in New York for 24h+, otherwise you'd be traveling between two Canadian cities via the USA, a violation of cabotage rules that AA must live with.

RJames

Thank you, Gardyloo.

I wouldn't be willing to use 140,000 miles and fly those sectors in economy, it's really is not a good use of miles. I have enough miles for a business class AA Explorer ticket and may consider this option (obviously, I'd have to add a stopover in New York which I hadn't accounted for - I was unaware of this rule).

Will price out all the segments I need using the LAN South America Pass and then work on the next step.

I have a question, where can I find out if the LAN flights from Santiago - Easter Island - Papetee are operated using the same aircraft? Reason I ask is because I may combine two tickets and would only like to stop in Easter Island once. The two tickets would be:-
Ticket 1, Santiago to Easter Island return - paid ticket.
Ticket 2, Easter Island to Papaetee return - using FF miles.

RJames

Have given this some more thought. The more I think about this, I'd rather use some of my miles for an AA Explorer Award to travel to Europe and Northern Africa - probably on a 130,000 mile business class award ticket. There are four OW airlines with hubs in Europe so it's easy to meet the two different airline rule. Of course, that is for a trip later on and not for now.

Think the way to go for South America is open jaw tickets to Rio and back from Santiago or v.v and try to fill in the gaps as necessary. Will check on availability of FF tickets that I can use for the various flights I need.

RJames

Just got off the phone with AA and have been told I cannot fly on LAN flights to Tahiti, the only way to get to Tahiti using miles is to fly on Air Tahiti Nui via LA, just posting in case this maybe of interest to fodorites.