Currently have 100k in BA (so I can use to book on LAN or AA).

Have about 50k in UA, I earn about 75k a year for work on UA.

I go to Argentina about twice a year to see the wife's family (in San Juan).

I wanted to gather y'alls thoughts on a strategy for optimizing the miles I accrue from work to get to MDZ; wife's family usually meets us there for a few days then we drive back with them to MDZ when we leave.

Should I stay the course and get those miles on United or switch to another airline, say AA so I can use LAN?

AA/LAN is usually better for flying into SCL. UA/Copa okay for EZE but keep in mind I gotta make it into MDZ.

Thanks!

EDIT: FOrgot, I currently have UA premier gold, so that's probably a factor here too.

Welcome to the Argentina forum ChewieSF.

Yes I think it's worth your while keeping accounts going in both Oneworld and Star Alliance. Oneworld especially for domestic sectors in Argentina and both accounts for the US - S America sectors.
Being able to double your chances of getting availability on the long hauls is a big bonus in my opinion.

On the Oneworld side, at least for South America, using AAdvantage miles for the itineraries you're talking about will probably be a significantly better option in terms of total miles required than using BA Avios (regardless of which oneworld carriers actually flown).

BA now charges per segment (SF to MDZ is going to be at least 3, maybe 4 separate segments), whereas AA should book all segments from origin to destination (with a stopover at one gateway city if desired along the way) for something roughly comparable to what BA now charges for a single flight having no connections.

Due in part to matters of availability, I often still book F using AA flights from SFO via JFK (with a stopover) to EZE, which is 62,500 AAdvantage miles each way. JFK-EZE on AA using BA miles would be 75,000 Avios with no other flights.

Your choice in paid flights will make a difference, though, to the decision as well. I don't fly much compared to some, but my paid flights are always business or above. I'd have to fly much more and spend a fortune as a result (in J and F) to maintain status on AA, whereas BA's Tier Point system makes it relatively easy for me to maintain a high enough status that I put up with the lower value of resulting miles, since I eventually earn more miles thanks to the bonuses, and all oneworld carriers take better care of me along the way as a result.

The trip to MDZ is much easier via SCL - an easy int'l/int'l connection @ SCL, 30 minutes airtime, and then your Argentina point of entry is MDZ, much easier than EZE - plus then requiring (likely) a cross-town transit. Recall also now that if you interline on separate tickets, you might need to retrieve your bags enroute.

Although award space has gotten pretty dicey on the route, nothing is better (for me, anyway) than the SFO/LIM route to get to deep South America. It sounds like getting something in an AA bank (and maybe they'll comp you some status) would be the best way for your travels. It will permit you to get there on one ticket for one set mileage amount.

Nothing will make you appreciate the SFO/LIM route more than your return flight, when you land at SFO in the AM, and are home, no TSA to deal with, and a calm and generally uncrowded arrivals process (often the only flight at that hour).

Awesome, great tips from everyone. Much love.

I wish I had the points in AA instead of BA. Problem is all of those points are from the AMEX, not from flying

For those of you that have used StarAlliance to Arg, any good award routes via SCL? Or is EZE the way to go?

Un abrazo!

Not only that, but with a transit in SCL (not going thru Chile Immigration),
you will save the US$160 Reciprocity fee for both countries...collected only when you enter the countries at their respective capital city airports.

Argentina is turning into a pre-pay for all points of entry (land/sea/air) very soon.

Good points, though I already have the recipricocity fee stamps for EZE and SCL.

I'm looking at booking SFO-MDZ-SFO for a family member traveling mid-December and early January. We have AA and UA miles and Chase points (for a cash booking at 1.5 cents per point). Cash fare is about $2200 = 150k Chase points. UA non-saver awards are 130k miles, flying Copa with best connection via Panama City.

Has anyone here booked this route recently? Should we go with miles or just use Chase points to buy the cash fare?

CM had fares for around $700 RT a week or two back, I would look for that.. check out CM's website.

If you're going the mileage route UAs mileages are going up on November 1st, so I would book that sooner than later. Remember UA has flights via EWR now as well to EZE.. or look to route via SCL

Thanks for the heads-up on UA's devaluation. These dates are peak priced, so I would take a slight hit by waiting. If I had some date flexibility I could get saver awards, but I don't.

Mid-December to early January is high season on intercontinental travel, so miles options can be limited.

Try CM as they recently started flying to MDZ so they might have special offers. Also LATAM recently started operating SCL-UAQ. San Juan is not Mendoza but it's close enough in case there's some good price as well.