or if you are willing to connect in LAX, you can fly SAN-LAX with AA and connect to LA LAX-LIM, on J (with fully flat beds), stay a few days in LIM and then get an LA flt to CUZ, all this with your AAdvantage miles.

A few additional comments on Cuzco and Machu Picchu (as I don't know much about the redemption rules for either AA or UA): Fly LAN if possible. I say this because we got stuck in Cuzco for an extra night when all TACA/Avianca flights (in fact, all flights except LAN) were canceled due to poor weather. The TACA staff helpfully explained that LAN has better technology on their planes (I'm assuming ILS?) that allows them to fly when other airlines are grounded. We wanted to fly LAN in the first place, but ended up on TACA for a host of reasons (long story). Anyway, fly LAN, i.e. use AA miles.

As for staying in Cuzco, the best hotel in town is Palacio Nazarenas. Consider it the luxury wing of the Monasterio (which is next door); also not bad but suffers from tour groups. Haven't stayed at the Marriott so I can't comment.

We took the Hiram Bingham train to MP, which was a fantastic experience. There are plenty of other trains as well, but we thought the HB was worth the expense. There's an Orient-Express hotel right at the MP entrance (not in Aguas Calientes), but we didn't stay there so I can't comment.

Overall MP, the Sacred Valley and Cuzco are an amazing experience and well worth going to!

Good point about LA non-stop LAX-LIM in lie-flat seats. Much better option than CM through PTY. Do note that, at least on the domestics flights we took LA does not offer F, while TA F seats even have foot rests (like CM's newest planes). Not a big deal for such short flights, but just FYI if premium travel is a priority. Aside from an F cabin, the only difference between LA and TA we noticed on the two flights we had with each was the LA A319s appeared newer than the TA A319s, so I wouldn't be surprised if LA has "better technology" on their planes.

Forgot to mention some hotels around MP. We stayed in Aguas Calientes at the Hotel El MaPi, a nice, modern-feeling hotel with a good restaurant. It is close to the train station right in town, which we appreciated for getting to spend some time experiencing the many sides of the town. There is a more luxurious, "resorty" place on the other side of the train station, the Inkaterra, that looked very nice; the trains pass (slowly) right though the property, which may or may not be of interest. We didn't stay at the Casa Andina there as it was further away from the bus and train stations, but we stayed at many of their other properties in Peru and thought they were good values. The Casa Andina would be a more convenient choice for experiencing the thermal baths. In reality the town is so small nothing is really "far" from anything, especially if you get porters to haul your luggage or don't mind walking up/down the hills.

We saw the Santuary Lodge at the entrance to MP and it looked very appealing. If spending time up there is more important than in Aguas Caliente that would be the way to go. I think that's what I would have preferred if I'd been on my own and money was no object.

Thanks to everyone for your numerous positive suggestions and contributions. You provided a lot of info. that I hadn't seen in the guide books. I'm going to look into LAN LAX-LIM with the newer equipment and flat bed seats. I hadn't seen that routing out of SAN and it actually should shave some time out of the trip from SAN. Muchas gracias!

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Note that, if a stopover at LIM is desired, a subsequent one-way Coach award from LIM to CUZ on LAN costs only 6,000 AA miles (or 4,500 BA Avios).

Maybe LAN is good relative to other South American carriers, but I thought they were ridiculous for technology and check-in procedure.

When checking in at a LAN office in LIM, we had to re-enter passport info that I know I had already entered. They asked that we print the BPs twice since the tech meatheads did not design the sheet so that half could be torn off at boarding and kept by the gate. Also, the BPs there did not show my correct status.

According to a couple other travelers, their check-in machines at CUZ don't allow check-in short of the two hour mark. (!) (This was for a hop to LIM, btw.) Regular check-in line was ridiculously long, and the OW elite line person took off while we were in line and never came back. Ticket agent position did not pull people from the OW elite line and looked as if she would never, ever consider doing something so crazy... :rolleyes:

The correct OW status didn't matter at LIM anyway since there is no expedited security lane and no LA/OW lounge on the domestic side.

I suppose experiences can vary widely at airports, but it seems to me that LAN has been getting better, even on the domestic side. Lately there has always been a greeter at the lines in the terminal who will direct you to the 'comodoro' line if you mention oneworld status. There is also a special separate check-in area for premium passengers in SCL. There are no domestic lounges anywhere in the system, though. Many airports in the LAN system do have Diners Club and other credit card and Priority Pass access.

I am considering LAX > LIM > CUSCO on LAN's 787 service....LAX to LIM....but could not find the 787 on this route. As a OW sapphire, I should be able to 'chose' EExit seating in Y ?