I'm Continental Platinum and will need to fly semi-annually to Buenos Aires , which CO doesn't service. CO does fly to Rio, Sao Paulo, Santiago and Lima in South America. I flew UA from JFK direct 3 weeks ago...but am losing 22,500 CO miles (5 k each way plus 125 % bonus) each trip. Copa (via Panama City)is a partner but the connections to BA are terrible.

I'd like to take CO "somewhere" in South America, then connect to an airline there - such as Varig, A. Argentina, etc.

Any suggestions / comments ? ....thanks.