Hey FlyerTalker -

I thought you guys might have an idea or two about this:

I have tons of points - probably 1.3m SPG, 1m Amex (with 50% rebate) 750k chase and 500k Citi but am finding it really hard to get 3 business class seats from LAX - GRU. The issue is that the only non-stop flight is on American and my options seemed limited to paying about 425,000 MR points / ticket x 3 and then getting 50% back at the end or getting a LAN/TAM flight with a short lay-over (can’t be more than 2.5-3 hours as we have an infant and a 3 year old) but I am unfamiliar with their mileage programs and whether converting SPG or other points might make sense.

Given that I can realistically use any airline I’d like and any alliance I’d like, are there any sweet spots for redemptions that might make sense to explore here? For example (I know nothing about this) but perhaps there was a partner airline of American’s like Cathay Pacific or AsiaMiles that had a sweet spot for redemptions and availability that would make it a better deal to transfer points. I really am new to the LAX - GRU route so I don’t know if there is something I can take advantage of on that codeshares with American/Lan/Tam or that might work with another airline (for example Air Canada has popped up a few times in my searches as having shortish layovers)

Any thoughts are much appreciated….

Worst case: I’m ‘stuck’ paying $2,200 a ticket x 3 by using pay with points on AMEX which isn’t the end of the world but isn’t ideal. Plus, I’m not even sure how nice the plane that flies the route is — I believe it’s a 777 and not a 787.

Thanks!

Harry