Best mileage program USA to Easter Island?
Apr 7, 2013 | 9:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 21
Best mileage program USA to Easter Island?
I'm interested in accumulating miles for a trip from North America (likely DTW or ORD) to Easter Island in 2014. I'm seeing LAN makes a lot of trips - does it make more sense to go with BA Avios? Or AA miles? Concentrating on credit card spend.
Thanks for your input!
Thanks for your input!
Apr 7, 2013 | 11:21 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,989
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Avios.
AA considers Easter Island to be in the South Pacific, so you would either have to go via PPT if you want to redeem a single award (assuming that there is a published through-fare from DTW/ORD to IPC via PPT), or redeem for two awards (North America to South America 1 (for LIM) or 2 (for SCL), and then a second award from South America 1 or 2 to the South Pacific.
All BA awards are priced by segment and distance flown on each segment; BA no longer uses a zone system.
Avios.
AA considers Easter Island to be in the South Pacific, so you would either have to go via PPT if you want to redeem a single award (assuming that there is a published through-fare from DTW/ORD to IPC via PPT), or redeem for two awards (North America to South America 1 (for LIM) or 2 (for SCL), and then a second award from South America 1 or 2 to the South Pacific.
All BA awards are priced by segment and distance flown on each segment; BA no longer uses a zone system.
Apr 7, 2013 | 11:31 am
#3
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Who cares... status is a Red Herring.
Posts: 733
I would go with BA because 1) as stated AA prices it as South Pacific and does not allow stopovers.
And Easter Island is exciting for 2 days, in my opinion. It's epic... for two days. It's a boring island, no beaches, no real mountains. You're going for the Moai.
So 2) I would create stopovers along the way. See Lima or something.
And Easter Island is exciting for 2 days, in my opinion. It's epic... for two days. It's a boring island, no beaches, no real mountains. You're going for the Moai.
So 2) I would create stopovers along the way. See Lima or something.
Apr 7, 2013 | 11:55 am
#4
Formerly known as cagalindo
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: MCO TPA
Programs: Citi AA/HH/TYP Amex SPG/HH & Chase SP/PC
Posts: 1,335
If you can book saver rates on AA for the leg back from LIM - it might be worth it, utilizing a free leg out of whatever hub you land in. ie. a long stopover. Keeping in mind repositioning costs, etc. Avios to Lima is hard to beat most of the time tho.
Apr 7, 2013 | 12:48 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
american express starwood - AB AA BA CX JL LA
american express membership rewards - BA CX IB
chase ultimate rewards - BA
(all include skyteam/DL as well)
AA - citi - visa, mastercard, american express
BA - chase visa
LA - us bank visa
JL - maybe
thats a whopping 4 different options for BA credit cards, 2 for AA/CX/LA and maybe JL, 1 for AB/IB
any LAN partners that are not oneworld? because the above is just oneworld
to SCL >
LA - JFK LAX MIA MCO
AA - DFW MIA
(DL - ATL)
for comfort, JL no longer operates from US to south america?
american express membership rewards - BA CX IB
chase ultimate rewards - BA
(all include skyteam/DL as well)
AA - citi - visa, mastercard, american express
BA - chase visa
LA - us bank visa
JL - maybe
thats a whopping 4 different options for BA credit cards, 2 for AA/CX/LA and maybe JL, 1 for AB/IB
any LAN partners that are not oneworld? because the above is just oneworld
to SCL >
LA - JFK LAX MIA MCO
AA - DFW MIA
(DL - ATL)
for comfort, JL no longer operates from US to south america?
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Apr 7, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Apr 7, 2013 | 1:29 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,989
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Maybe a combination of AA miles and BA Avios? AA miles from North America to South America; and BA Avios from South America to IPC?
The AA award from North America to South America would be permit a stopover at the North American "gateway," which could be MIA or DFW, or maybe even NYC, LAX, or CUN, depending on published-fare routing rules.
Maybe a combination of AA miles and BA Avios? AA miles from North America to South America; and BA Avios from South America to IPC?
The AA award from North America to South America would be permit a stopover at the North American "gateway," which could be MIA or DFW, or maybe even NYC, LAX, or CUN, depending on published-fare routing rules.
Apr 7, 2013 | 5:00 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Everywhere
Programs: Who cares... status is a Red Herring.
Posts: 733
Apr 8, 2013 | 4:24 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
I would go with BA because 1) as stated AA prices it as South Pacific and does not allow stopovers.
And Easter Island is exciting for 2 days, in my opinion. It's epic... for two days. It's a boring island, no beaches, no real mountains. You're going for the Moai.
So 2) I would create stopovers along the way. See Lima or something.
And Easter Island is exciting for 2 days, in my opinion. It's epic... for two days. It's a boring island, no beaches, no real mountains. You're going for the Moai.
So 2) I would create stopovers along the way. See Lima or something.
Apr 8, 2013 | 5:32 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
Interesting. Never noticed a beach in town, didn't even know it was there, but Anakena is a must with a few Maui on the background. I also disagree with a suggestion for a 2-day itinerary. You won't see anything in 2 days. 4-5 days at least if you want to spend some time on the beach.
Apr 8, 2013 | 5:34 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
My understanding is they suspended flights from Lima at least until the Fall.
Apr 8, 2013 | 7:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: Many
Posts: 339
I managed to book my Easter Island trip days before BA switched to Avios, so I got the stopovers and EI on one low mileage redemption. Actually I think 3 days is about right for a visit. There is plenty to see four three days, but not much more after that unless you just want to take it easy on a small and very remote island.
I would not characterize the "beach" in town with that term really - there are places to step off the rocks and swim, surf or dive. Anakena is the real beach and must not be missed due to the outstanding moai there.
I would not characterize the "beach" in town with that term really - there are places to step off the rocks and swim, surf or dive. Anakena is the real beach and must not be missed due to the outstanding moai there.