Decent Business Class Deals to Buenos Aires- From $1,787 Roundtrip from Miami
This weekend I'm not traveling - which means I'm at home jealously looking at my friends' Facebook pictures of their holiday weekend jaunts. It also means I'm booking trips for myself, or at least researching good fares and uses of miles (like my Aer Lingus JFK-DUB I just booked yesterday).
I'm planning a trip to South America this December and I was just able to book some pretty competitive business/first class fares for peak season in December - $2,500 for roundtrip business class on American (and I'm desperately in need of elite miles/points!) and for $250 more each way you can confirm into first class on the 777. I could have used EVIP systemwide upgrades, but I value them more than $250 each, so I think I'm just going to suck it up and splurge for first since I can sleep in the Flagship First suites vs. crumpling myself up in their angled lie-flat business class seats (woe is me, I know).
Considering economy was $1,637 (and there are no confirmable EVIP upgrades available), I don't think paying $928 ($464 each way) to confirm in business class is a bad deal for a 4,406-mile flight.
I checked fares for this summer from Miami and found business class on the esteemed Aerolineas Argentinas $1,787 total roundtrip for several dates in July. These fares book into C class, which only earns 75% MQMs if you bank to SkyTeam partner Delta, but still it is a cheap business class fare to Buenos Aires. Plus, as Ben mentions, flying Club Condor is so exclusive you can send faxes from the sky!
American and United have ~$2,500 fares from NYC via Miami for summer travel (winter in Buenos Aires).
Stilll, I don't mind off-peak travel. Hotel rates are cheaper, top restaurant reservations easier to get and doing touristy type things is more tolerable. Sure, July is the "coldest" month with averages in the high 50's, but it may be nice to take a summer reprieve from the scorching hot weather in the US. Especially if you can get great airfare!
I'm using the nifty ITA Search Matrix (tutorial)to do these fare searches and then will buy my airfare through Travelocity to maximize my point earning (as outlined in this post). Has anyone else been able to find "good" fares recently? Please feel free to share below!
[card card-name='The Platinum Card® from American Express' card-id='22504813' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.