Trying to get from NYC to either BA or Rio on miles.
For scheduling reasons, I can only do non-stops on weekends (Th-Mo).
I've been looking for it for a while, so when I found availability on UA for April 2014 I snagged it right away.
2 months later, I get an email from UA that my schedule has been changed, and I am now routed through IAH. So what was meant to be an after-work outbound with a before-work inbound, turned into a flight that makes me takes more days off - not an option.
Why? Because EWR-EZE flight has been canceled and will not be available any more.
So, I'm back to trying to figure out the best way to get there.
The only airlines flying there direct are AA, LAN, and TAM.
My miles/pts are
Chase UR - 450K
UA - 250K
AA - 100K
SPG - 100K
AmEx MR - 120K
BA - 300K
DL, US Air, JB - minimal.

There is no availabiliy on AA for bus/first as far as the eye can see.
I have no experience with award booking on TAM or LAN.
What are the choices for points/mile transfers for those programs, and what's the availability of award tix for these routes?

i have been eyeing tix on that route for a while and other than on united there does not seem to be a ton of availability

You can try searching the Aeroplan site for availability on TAM. Availability is very tight and even last time I did EWR-EZE I had to stopover on the way back to make it work with points.

GIG with a short connection in CLT on US for one leg may have to be your option with UA points.

AR is adding JFK-EZE later this year and should be viable with DL points, though no idea what the award space will look like.

why dont you look into nyc-sao paulo. sao paulo to rio is a very easy trip and dozens of cheap flights a day