It seems to be a huge issue with LATAM flights that originate from the U.S. to South America that there is a lack of award space. Is it me or do you folks experience the same thing? What's the point of the alliance if you can't use the benefit?

Which program's miles are you trying to redeem, for what route? And how are you checking LATAM award-seat availability?

JFK - MDZ on 11/23
I check on LATAM/Multiplus website and they have availability.

I used British Airways, American, Asia Miles and Avios. I called all of these folks and none of them can see award availability. I have AMEX points I want to use, so I would just transfer them to a OneWorld member. Some of these folks checked the entire month and said they see no availability.

If I could I would just trade points with someone....this is just frustrating.

I would first check to see whether AA can get you from NYC to EZE, LIM, or SCL. Then, see if LATAM has award space available from AEP, LIM, or SCL. Remember that you have up to 24 hours to connect on an AA award. If you redeem Avios instead, you pay for each flight flown, so you can either connect or stop over at your connecting point.

AA has MileSAAver Coach award seats to EZE, LIM, and SCL on 11/23, including the JFK-EZE nonstop. I would start checking availability for AEP, LIM, and SCL to MDZ on 11/24, using ba.com; the aa.com website cannot show LATAM award-seat availability.

Ok so lets make sure I understand this correctly. If I fly from JFK to EZE on AA award. I then can fly from AEP to MDZ on the same 30K award? Btw the AEP-MDZ flight in the afternoon is only $70.

Sounds great but I was really trying to avoid the 1 hour transfer from EZE to AEP and killing my entire day by traveling. But at this point beggars can't be choosers I guess.

You guess correctly.

AA awards are by zone, so if there is partner availability on the AEP-MDZ flight, you should be able to book it as part of a single 30K-mile SAAver award. If that's what you want to do, I suggest that you immediately put JFK-EZE on a free, five-day hold at aa.com before someone else grabs the SAAver seat; then, call AA and ask if AEP-MDZ is available, and request that it be added to your held award for no additional mileage. (You might have to inform the AA agent that EZE and AEP are "co-terminals.")

If award seats are not available for the AEP-MDZ segment, you can book the JFK-EZE segment with either AA miles or BA Avios. For the JFK-EZE AA nonstop, BA would charge only 25,000 Avios.

Are there cheap EZE-MDZ flights available on a different carrier?

Note: If your Amex MR account is based in the U.S., then AA is not a transfer partner, but BA is, and I think that Amex is running a transfer bonus right now for transfers for BA. If you are going to use BA Avios for the AA flight, don't put the flight on hold at aa.com. Check ba.com to see if the AA flight shows up for Avios redemption; if it does, your can then transfer the necessary number of MR points to get to 25,000 Avios.

I appreciate all your help.