Originally Posted by
crimson12
Okay, but what about on a USA-Europe-USA itin?
For example, could I fly NYC-MXP-NYC-[wherever]? And then fly r/t from that intermediate point to South America?
You can have a North American gateway stopover if your origin or destination is in North America. So yeah, you could do MXP-NYC(stop)-other NA city. And then go from there to South America.
If you use Avios to go to South America, doing MXP-NYC(stop)-MIA would be good, then connect to AA or LAN to South America. Best yet, you'll still be protected against delays if you're on two tickets if both flights are operated by AA/LAN/OneWorld. So if you fly NYC-MIA on AA and connect to LAN MIA-South America, if your AA flight is delayed, they have a responsibility to help you connect to your next flight. Just make sure you book an eligible connecting, taking into account minimum connection times. I wouldn't stretch it, but it basically takes out the need to overnight at MIA.
From AA.com
AA to/from AA or a oneworldŽ Carrier
If a customer is holding separate tickets on AA or another oneworld carrier, customers holding separate tickets where travel is on oneworld airlines should be treated as through ticketed passengers. In the event of a disruption on the originating ticket, the carrier responsible for the disruption will be required to reroute the customer to their final destination. The ticket stock of the second ticket must be of a oneworld carrier, eligible under the Endorsement Waiver Agreement. You may contact AA Reservations 1-800-433-7300 (U.S. and Canada) or outside the U.S. and Canada, reference Worldwide Reservations Numbers for additional information if the separate ticket is for travel on a oneworld carrier.
Originally Posted by
allset2travel
My bold.
I had read similar suggestions in other threads. How easy is easy? Can you connect air-side (assuming carry-on only) at either SCL (or AEP/EZE) without going through immigration/custom and re-enter?
I do have a need to go to MDZ.
You can connect airside at SCL to an international flight to MDZ. You won't need to go through immigration.
At EZE, you'll have to go through Argentine immigration before connecting to MDZ.
If you have to go to MDZ, connecting via SCL or any other non-Argentinian gateway would help you avoid the fee.