ps to JFK then TAM JFK-GRU-EZE. That's the best product. Avoid UA's horrible international product.

Is that daily direct only seasonal? OP stated the trip would be August, so winter season for SCL, and lower demand.

I second the recommendation for LAN if you can, however. Great airline for any SA flights. Just wish we could shake them loose from the One World Alliance.

Both LAN 763 J and United 763 J are inferior to Air Canada 763 J when traveling solo because of the close proximity to the stranger sitting next to you. Air Canada J, like CX/SQ/DL/VS/NZ new-J products, offer so much privacy and direct aisle access. Especially Air Canada J in the A seats on a 763 - really private with no one facing you.

With United 763 J, I always blow the extra 30,000 miles or USD800 to get into F, just for the privacy. With Air Canada, no need to spend extra beyond the company-paid J ticket.

Now, for leisure flights with a partner, LAN and United are just fine, maybe even better than Air Canada J.

From LAX to South America, United does offer the better short-haul connecting flights as they offer international-J cabins to ORD/IAD from LAX. Even still, I prefer Air Canada for the long-haul privacy on the night flights.

I would think the vast majority of paid J tickets are business travelers flying solo. Airlines like UA/AA/CO/LH just seem to get it wrong with their new-J products that offer no privacy.

TAM all the way!!
 

I agree with BenjaminNYC. TAM is the only way to go. Both First and Business are outstanding. You can use the Virgin Atlantic lounge at JFK and the TAM lounge at GRU. Live music in the evenings. If you are in First, you will be escorted from your plane to the lounge to the plane. A class act all the way.

I don't hesitate to flip down the LAN privacy screen, and I do on most every flight. It isn't much, but it helps. I've yet to fly on new UA C, and have a trip (first) on AC C in July, so I'll be able to test that (but will be flying with a companion, and it looks like everyone is pretty much separated on that cabin).

Ended up booking UA all the way; LAX-IAD-EZE-IAD-JFK-LAX. Got a D fare I could live with, and applied 2 SWUs to upgrade. So fare both transcons have upgraded:); and the IAD-EZE-IAD flights are waitlisted. No one in F yet on those flights (F5), and per seat map (yes, I know), no other occupied seats in C (except for the phantom).

I thought about the LAN and the TAM options. Didn't want to move out of the *A, and with TAM I've heard several reports of a zoo transferring at GRU... didn't look like it was going to be as eze to upgrade on TAM as on UA (just apply the SWUs...). Looking to see if I can make GS-lite this year...

FYI - The 8:30-9 AM IAD-LAX (UA 867) is running a 3-cabin 777 for most of the summer.

Yes, they added that after I booked. Should there be a schedule change, I may try to switch to that flight, and avoid the IAD-JFK leg.