Difficulty finding awards to Brazil
 

Hey all,

I've been looking at a trip to Brazil (GRU) in July or August leaving out of one f the DC area airports. Awards going down are easy to find, but it's like pulling teeth to find coming back.

I've been looking with US and UA miles and prefer a C award, and they're quite difficult on either carrier. Given that July and August are the middle of winter down there, why is it so hard to get an award?

Any suggestions on getting one, even with a *A award?

Thanks!

Super

Try to get back to the States some other way (multi-leg). IAH, CLE, ORD.

So multicity it?

Which cities have flights to GRU or GIG? I could do GIG and pick up a JJ flight easily if I had to.

Given that I couldn't find any C revenue availability to GRU, I kinda wish there was even less award availability! :D

Don't forget CM via PTY. It is another option. Ditto for AC.

Keep in mind that July is the school/college winter break in Brazil, so no surprise there.

Ya, some CM options and AC options came up. It's annoying that UA doesn't show *A availability like it used to. I'm more inclined toward a long haul with a real C product than 2 domestic F types. AC seemingly had the best availability when I've looked.

I've even looked at one way awards with one way rev, but that's just as expensive as round trip.

I've seen some C tickets with a mix of US/JJ metal for around 4k, some Y tix starting around 1200. So I have thought about buying. I'd at least get upgraded to MCO or MIA and then hit JJ for the long haul.

Winter break makes sense. I figured there had to be a reason award availability. Just couldn't think of what it could be though.

+1
Getting flights to/from Brazil in July and the first week of August can be very difficult. Lots of brazilians travel abroad during that time.

ORD, IAH, IAD, EWR all have nonstops from GRU.

EWR and and IAH also have nonstops from GIG. ORD and IAD have one-stops from GIG.

CLT has nonstop service on US, and MIA and JFK on TAM.

I ran into a similar problem on my recent trip to Brazil. I wanted to get award tickets for my family, but saver awards weren't available, and I checked multiple times until 30 days out. Seems ridiculous, considering that the ORD-GRU and GIG-IAH flights were wide open in both Y and C.

I went alone.

Flights are packed
 

I have a revenue flight in two weeks (granted it is a quasi long weekend here in São Paulo) and both directions are like F2 J4 Y1 already. Paid about $1k over the usual L fare because my dates were firm. But about a month ago I was able to get PDX to GRU r/t over the Christmas holidays for Mr. GLR, even in J one direction. I suspect it was luck of availability opening. Booked myself in November as well but in saver Y. Tons of business travelers (my fourth trip of the year myself).....

It looks grim for award travel within 3 months whenever I look.

I have no idea what that means, you mean, you'd rather have the old UA - which could only book UA metal????

UA.com of today shows more Star Alliance (and others) than it ever did, EVER!.

Is there any way to route US-BR award travel through Europe?

If you can, there are C seats available GRU-ZRH (LX) on Aug 5.

Only if you pay for two awards. :-:

I was hoping with the relaxation of some of the award routine rules post merger that it might be possible.

Oh well ... :(