Stopover suggestions for S. America & LAN vs. AA on BA award ticket?
Jul 20, 2011, 1:29 pm
#91
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Florida
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Marriott Platinium
Posts: 1,334
Dear Fellow FTers,
I realized that most Fters inquire about JFK,SFO and LAX. My question is, what is the best stopover award journey from Miami to say IPC or Galapagos and then take a one way award trip to Denver.
I have 130,000 miles (for 2 adults) and want see as many places as possible.
I fly economy and do not care about upgrades.
I am cognizant of the BAEC partner issues and wonder whether I should go with LAN from MIA and return with AA to Denver.
Any help will be immensely appreciated.
Thank you!
RM
I realized that most Fters inquire about JFK,SFO and LAX. My question is, what is the best stopover award journey from Miami to say IPC or Galapagos and then take a one way award trip to Denver.
I have 130,000 miles (for 2 adults) and want see as many places as possible.
I fly economy and do not care about upgrades.
I am cognizant of the BAEC partner issues and wonder whether I should go with LAN from MIA and return with AA to Denver.
Any help will be immensely appreciated.
Thank you!
RM
You will need 3 one way awards
1) MIA-LIM(if you want)/SLC-IPC on LAN 20K BA miles
2) IPC-SCL-GYE on LAN 12.5K BA miles
3) GYE-MIA-DEN on AA 20K BA miles
Total=52.5k for each + fees
Remember, you can use BA miles + $$$ on the first 2 one way awards (20K BA miles cost around 250~270)
Jul 22, 2011, 5:34 pm
#94
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,032
I think your best bet will be to book an open jaw using two one ways and a one-way intra S. America ticket. Book the inbound to IPC on the new LIM flight, book IPC-SCL-EZE-IGR with stops everywhere and then finally book your outbound open-jaw from IGR-AEP-EZE-wherever.
Jul 22, 2011, 9:10 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVP Gold, BA Silver, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,619
I think you'll have a hard time covering all 3 unless you can use the new LIM-IGR flight (I think there is one) and then IGR-AEP and then EZE-SCL-IPC. You might have to convince the agent why they should let you take LIM-IGR-AEP/EZE-SCL since it's a pretty circuitous way to get to SCL from LIM. They usually allow LIM-EZE-SCL since that is a published routing.
I think your best bet will be to book an open jaw using two one ways and a one-way intra S. America ticket. Book the inbound to IPC on the new LIM flight, book IPC-SCL-EZE-IGR with stops everywhere and then finally book your outbound open-jaw from IGR-AEP-EZE-wherever.
I think your best bet will be to book an open jaw using two one ways and a one-way intra S. America ticket. Book the inbound to IPC on the new LIM flight, book IPC-SCL-EZE-IGR with stops everywhere and then finally book your outbound open-jaw from IGR-AEP-EZE-wherever.
Jul 22, 2011, 11:22 pm
#96
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,032
Agreed, albeit with the smallest correction. I think that the intra-S. America ticket (25k BA miles in J) should read IPC-SCL-EZE/AEP-IGR. One needs to book partner awards with stopovers with BAEC telephone agents, and since they may not be totally familiar with Buenos Aires' multiple airports (i.e. may only query EZE), it's sometimes helpful if you are able to lead them segment by segment.
Jul 26, 2011, 11:21 am
#98
Join Date: May 2011
Location: HOU
Posts: 17
Using the information I found on this thread (thanks everyone) I just booked my first trip on LA using BA points:
LAX-LIM(stop)-IPC(stop)
IPC-SCL(stop)-EZE(stop)-LIM-JFK
Going in April in Business class for 80k points plus taxes and fees.
After booking I went to lan.com seat selector and was able to select/change my seats for all flights except for the LAX-LIM leg. Website gives me the message "Check-in not available for this flight at LAN.com".
Anyone know how I can select a seat for this first leg?
LAX-LIM(stop)-IPC(stop)
IPC-SCL(stop)-EZE(stop)-LIM-JFK
Going in April in Business class for 80k points plus taxes and fees.
After booking I went to lan.com seat selector and was able to select/change my seats for all flights except for the LAX-LIM leg. Website gives me the message "Check-in not available for this flight at LAN.com".
Anyone know how I can select a seat for this first leg?
Jul 28, 2011, 2:28 am
#99
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA PLT / 2MM
Posts: 2,113
Alternatively, is there a way to get in IPC and Patagonia (PUQ?) in for 80K?
Last edited by LAX_Esq; Jul 28, 2011 at 3:06 am
Jul 28, 2011, 7:23 am
#100
Join Date: May 2011
Location: HOU
Posts: 17
After booking I went to lan.com seat selector and was able to select/change my seats for all flights except for the LAX-LIM leg. Website gives me the message "Check-in not available for this flight at LAN.com".
Anyone know how I can select a seat for this first leg?
Anyone know how I can select a seat for this first leg?
Jul 28, 2011, 7:32 am
#101
Join Date: May 2011
Location: HOU
Posts: 17
USA-LIM-SCL-PMC(if you wanted)-PUQ = 40k
SCL-IPC = 20k coach
PUQ-SCL-EZE-LIM-USA = 40k
I played around with skyscanner when planning my trip to SA. Just click on an airport on the map and then all possible destination airports will highlight in green.
Jul 28, 2011, 4:21 pm
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
The AEP-IGR route is in an economy-only plane, so no J possible there. Hopefully, if that's the only one, you can include it on the same routing but just accept "downgrade" to Y on that leg. However, be aware of that in case it creates booking hickups.
I dunno about any of the other legs. Make sure enough of the itenerary has J seating to making using a J award worthwhile, unless booking with a J award makes it possible to get Y seats that you can't with a Y award (but I don't even know if that would be the case or not).
I dunno about any of the other legs. Make sure enough of the itenerary has J seating to making using a J award worthwhile, unless booking with a J award makes it possible to get Y seats that you can't with a Y award (but I don't even know if that would be the case or not).
Jul 31, 2011, 4:32 pm
#103
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 633
How are people checking LAN availability out of Miami on BA? For example, if I go to the BA site and try to book MIA-MDZ for example, it will show the MIA-SCL portion as being in AA and SCL-MDZ on LAN which drives the points way up.
Is there a way to make it use only LAN when searching?
Also, checking Expedia LAN flies out of SJO Costa Rica to SCL, Lan Flight 601. But when I try to put in SJO on the BA site it says their partners don't fly there. Is this because this flight is operated by LINEAS AEREAS?
Is there a way to make it use only LAN when searching?
Also, checking Expedia LAN flies out of SJO Costa Rica to SCL, Lan Flight 601. But when I try to put in SJO on the BA site it says their partners don't fly there. Is this because this flight is operated by LINEAS AEREAS?
Last edited by FlyingBoat; Jul 31, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Jul 31, 2011, 4:41 pm
#104
Join Date: May 2011
Location: HOU
Posts: 17
How are people checking LAN availability out of Miami on BA? For example, if I go to the BA site and try to book MIA-MDZ for example, it will show the MIA-SCL portion as being in AA and SCL-MDZ on LAN which drives the points way up.
Is there a way to make it use only LAN when searching?
Is there a way to make it use only LAN when searching?
You have to search leg by leg and then call BA to actually book the flights you want. You may want to read thepointsguy's series on BA.
Aug 1, 2011, 7:50 am
#105
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 633
No, I don't think there is any way to limit the search to LAN only.
You have to search leg by leg and then call BA to actually book the flights you want. You may want to read thepointsguy's series on BA.
You have to search leg by leg and then call BA to actually book the flights you want. You may want to read thepointsguy's series on BA.
I do search by leg. But if I look at MIA-SCL, it only gives me AA options searching several times through the next year, not LAN. If there were LAN availability, I take it then it would show that option as well?
Edit: I see now for a day where both LAN and AA are shown, so I answered my own question. Thanks.