May 24, 2015, 12:43 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA Awards to / from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Link to Wikipedia article about the Galápagos Islands.
The Galápagos Islands are a province of Ecuador, comprised of an island group just south of and extending north past the equator, approximately 600 miles from the coast of Ecuador. The area is a defined National Park and World Heritage. All visitors are required to abide by Park regulations. Link to regulations for visitors.
AAdvantage awards are theoretically available on XL / LAN Ecuador, but very few FT AAdvantage members has reported success other than securing award flights to gateway Ecuadorian cities highland capital Quito / UIO or coastal Guayaquil / GYE. Most of us have purchased UIO / GYE flights to GPS, often through the boat company we are cruising with; visitors can expect no fare discounts, which are reserved for Galápagos residents. You'll also find little or no difference in fares, as they are controlled.
- Low season generally May 01 - June 14 / Sep 15 - Oct 31
- High season generally Jan 01 - Apr 30 / Jun 15 - Sep 14 / Nov 01 - Dec 31
Be absolutely sure which airport you need to use; most tours define that clearly and may include specific flight information and even tickets, so passengers can be met. Neither airport is equipped with extensive facilities, and they are open part time for daytime flights.
There are no international airport flights to the Galápagos airports, only domestic intra-Ecuadorian flights from both Baltra and San Cristóbal as shown below.
While there are no immigration and customs formalities, one must have a permit to visit the Galápagos islands, and there is a mandatory agricultural inspection required of passengers departing to the islands. Your permit is usually arranged by your tour company.
- Baltra: GPS (SEGS, South Seymour airport), (built during WW II by the U.S. Army, arguably the largest airport and used by the majority of Galápagos cruises).
- G2 / Avianca Ecuador (previously AeroGal - Star Alliance Affiliate) - Guayaquil, Quito
- XL / LAN Ecuador (oneworld)- Guayaquil, Quito
- EQ / TAME (previously Transportes Aéreos Militares Ecuatorianos - Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, now just TAME, government owned) San Cristóbal, Guayaquil, Quito
- San Cristobal: SCY (SEST) airport, more remote with fewer cruise departures.
- G2 / Avianca Ecuador (previously AeroGal - Star Alliance Affiliate) - Guayaquil, Quito
- XL / LAN Ecuador (oneworld)- Guayaquil, Quito
- EQ / TAME (previously Transportes Aéreos Militares Ecuatorianos - Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana, now merely TAME, government owned) - Baltra, Guayaquil, Quito
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AA Award to / from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (master thread)
Jan 18, 2017, 9:57 pm
#33
Join Date: May 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 78
I'm getting award tickets to Galapagos in May/June
Before new year, there was lot of award availability for those months. Unfortunately I didn't knew my schedule yet then so I was unable to book early.
I got SCY-GYE-LIM ticketed some weeks ago as award, but flight to Galapagos seems to be harder to secure. BA search displays no availability when searching only segment UOI/GYE-GPS/SCY and it's same when calling to AA. BA can't somehow see availability of married segments that include XL flights. It would be nice to see availability for those without needing to call.
There seems to be some award availability as married segments from LIM. I would have liked to have stop or at least long layover in UIO to visit at least the city. AAgent agent was able to see availability for morning flight LIM-UIO and married segment LIM-UIO-GPS departing in evening and having 4 hour layover in middle of night in UIO. The agent was unable to book morning flight LIM-UIO with around 21 hour layover in UIO, even that required LIM-UIO had space and UIO-GPS had space whan booked with later LIM-GPS flight. At least have one LIM-UIO-GPS itinerary in hold as a plan B.
Is it possible to get long layover somehow when the system is enforcing that kind of married segment logic? Probably I'm out of luck with getting the long layover/stopover, but it doesn't mind to ask. Or how to get secure UIO-GPS/SCY without another segment as an award in that situation?
Before new year, there was lot of award availability for those months. Unfortunately I didn't knew my schedule yet then so I was unable to book early.
I got SCY-GYE-LIM ticketed some weeks ago as award, but flight to Galapagos seems to be harder to secure. BA search displays no availability when searching only segment UOI/GYE-GPS/SCY and it's same when calling to AA. BA can't somehow see availability of married segments that include XL flights. It would be nice to see availability for those without needing to call.
There seems to be some award availability as married segments from LIM. I would have liked to have stop or at least long layover in UIO to visit at least the city. AAgent agent was able to see availability for morning flight LIM-UIO and married segment LIM-UIO-GPS departing in evening and having 4 hour layover in middle of night in UIO. The agent was unable to book morning flight LIM-UIO with around 21 hour layover in UIO, even that required LIM-UIO had space and UIO-GPS had space whan booked with later LIM-GPS flight. At least have one LIM-UIO-GPS itinerary in hold as a plan B.
Is it possible to get long layover somehow when the system is enforcing that kind of married segment logic? Probably I'm out of luck with getting the long layover/stopover, but it doesn't mind to ask. Or how to get secure UIO-GPS/SCY without another segment as an award in that situation?
Jan 19, 2017, 6:24 am
#34
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,940
I'm getting award tickets to Galapagos in May/June
Before new year, there was lot of award availability for those months. Unfortunately I didn't knew my schedule yet then so I was unable to book early.
I got SCY-GYE-LIM ticketed some weeks ago as award, but flight to Galapagos seems to be harder to secure. BA search displays no availability when searching only segment UOI/GYE-GPS/SCY and it's same when calling to AA. BA can't somehow see availability of married segments that include XL flights. It would be nice to see availability for those without needing to call.
There seems to be some award availability as married segments from LIM. I would have liked to have stop or at least long layover in UIO to visit at least the city. AAgent agent was able to see availability for morning flight LIM-UIO and married segment LIM-UIO-GPS departing in evening and having 4 hour layover in middle of night in UIO. The agent was unable to book morning flight LIM-UIO with around 21 hour layover in UIO, even that required LIM-UIO had space and UIO-GPS had space whan booked with later LIM-GPS flight. At least have one LIM-UIO-GPS itinerary in hold as a plan B.
Is it possible to get long layover somehow when the system is enforcing that kind of married segment logic? Probably I'm out of luck with getting the long layover/stopover, but it doesn't mind to ask. Or how to get secure UIO-GPS/SCY without another segment as an award in that situation?
Before new year, there was lot of award availability for those months. Unfortunately I didn't knew my schedule yet then so I was unable to book early.
I got SCY-GYE-LIM ticketed some weeks ago as award, but flight to Galapagos seems to be harder to secure. BA search displays no availability when searching only segment UOI/GYE-GPS/SCY and it's same when calling to AA. BA can't somehow see availability of married segments that include XL flights. It would be nice to see availability for those without needing to call.
There seems to be some award availability as married segments from LIM. I would have liked to have stop or at least long layover in UIO to visit at least the city. AAgent agent was able to see availability for morning flight LIM-UIO and married segment LIM-UIO-GPS departing in evening and having 4 hour layover in middle of night in UIO. The agent was unable to book morning flight LIM-UIO with around 21 hour layover in UIO, even that required LIM-UIO had space and UIO-GPS had space whan booked with later LIM-GPS flight. At least have one LIM-UIO-GPS itinerary in hold as a plan B.
Is it possible to get long layover somehow when the system is enforcing that kind of married segment logic? Probably I'm out of luck with getting the long layover/stopover, but it doesn't mind to ask. Or how to get secure UIO-GPS/SCY without another segment as an award in that situation?
Jan 19, 2017, 10:58 am
#35
Join Date: May 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 78
Planning to try to get last-minute deal after arrival from UIO or from GPS, so not thinking about that.
Oct 21, 2017, 4:47 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 127
Hel-scl-gps-nyc-hel
I would like to travel to Santiago de Chile and Galapagos islands , is that possible by AA miles ?
If I calculated right, price should be 117 500 miles.
Maybe good option to buy ticket ticket Hel-Jfk-Hel , if price 300 eur.
And use miles nyc-scl-gps-nyc..
If I calculated right, price should be 117 500 miles.
Maybe good option to buy ticket ticket Hel-Jfk-Hel , if price 300 eur.
And use miles nyc-scl-gps-nyc..
Oct 21, 2017, 8:34 am
#37
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
I don't think GPS receives flights from SCL. You'd need to fly via UIO or GYE as a domestic Ecuadorean flight. Common wisdom here has always been that award space on Galapagos flights is VERY elusive. That's the leg you may end up buying.
Oct 21, 2017, 8:46 am
#38
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
/Moderator
JFK-...-UIO or GYE would be much more useful for GPS or SCY. Be sure to do your research on the Galápagos - if you just fly to GPS and expect to wing it you'll be likely to have a very frustrating experience, particularly in high season. For the tours that make it worthwhile, be careful of selecting a boat that truly does a seven day tour and is not stitching a 3 and 4 day trips together; select a boat that is smaller (can go to sites larger groups are not permitted) and be aware boats can range from excellent to dodgy. There's no European or North American Coast Guard or licencing authority assuring you a boat will meet certain safety standards. (We've been to the islands twice, once on an extended boat excursion and once on a liveaboard dive boat that included Darwin and Wolf islands.)
May 20, 2018, 6:04 am
#40
Join Date: May 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: BA Gold, AA PLT, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 78
BA search still works, just need to use the dedicated award search https://www.britishairways.com/travel/redeem/ instead of the search in main pages when looking for awards to more exotic places. And remember to check availability also as a married leg, LA seems to open more award space on that route as married segments.
May 20, 2018, 9:24 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
BA search still works, just need to use the dedicated award search https://www.britishairways.com/travel/redeem/ instead of the search in main pages when looking for awards to more exotic places. And remember to check availability also as a married leg, LA seems to open more award space on that route as married segments.
May 28, 2019, 7:40 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
FWIW, I've been able to book LATAM flights from the mainland of Ecuador to the Galapagos using my AA miles. It's a cheap 5000 miles, plus more taxes than you'd think necessary (about $45 one way). The key was to search inventory on BA and then find a competent AA agent to duplicate it (if you're connecting, encourage them to search by individual segment if they're not finding the flights). BTW, BA's taxes are about 2x AA's, so I guess the taxes are right. My "on request" AA reservation ticketed in less than 24 hours.
LATAM availability isn't great, but I found about 2 days each week with seats when I was looking. I know most people are going on expensive private boat tours, but if you want a much cheaper "land-oriented" Galapagos visit, consider an "open jaw": fly in one direction to San Cristobal (SCY) instead of just Baltra (GPS) to open up more award inventory and save yourself a needless ferry ride.
LATAM availability isn't great, but I found about 2 days each week with seats when I was looking. I know most people are going on expensive private boat tours, but if you want a much cheaper "land-oriented" Galapagos visit, consider an "open jaw": fly in one direction to San Cristobal (SCY) instead of just Baltra (GPS) to open up more award inventory and save yourself a needless ferry ride.
May 28, 2019, 10:09 am
#43
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
FWIW, I've been able to book LATAM flights from the mainland of Ecuador to the Galapagos using my AA miles. It's a cheap 5000 miles, plus more taxes than you'd think necessary (about $45 one way). The key was to search inventory on BA and then find a competent AA agent to duplicate it (if you're connecting, encourage them to search by individual segment if they're not finding the flights). BTW, BA's taxes are about 2x AA's, so I guess the taxes are right. My "on request" AA reservation ticketed in less than 24 hours.
LATAM availability isn't great, but I found about 2 days each week with seats when I was looking. I know most people are going on expensive private boat tours, but if you want a much cheaper "land-oriented" Galapagos visit, consider an "open jaw": fly in one direction to San Cristobal (SCY) instead of just Baltra (GPS) to open up more award inventory and save yourself a needless ferry ride.
LATAM availability isn't great, but I found about 2 days each week with seats when I was looking. I know most people are going on expensive private boat tours, but if you want a much cheaper "land-oriented" Galapagos visit, consider an "open jaw": fly in one direction to San Cristobal (SCY) instead of just Baltra (GPS) to open up more award inventory and save yourself a needless ferry ride.
What is this “needless ferry ride” you speak of? These are islands, and the only way to get between islands and to Baltra is by boat. Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and most land-based touring, and though you can bus to the north you still have the Itabaca Channel.
May 28, 2019, 12:41 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,421
Thanks for the information.
What is this “needless ferry ride” you speak of? These are islands, and the only way to get between islands and to Baltra is by boat. Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and most land-based touring, and though you can bus to the north you still have the Itabaca Channel.
What is this “needless ferry ride” you speak of? These are islands, and the only way to get between islands and to Baltra is by boat. Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and most land-based touring, and though you can bus to the north you still have the Itabaca Channel.