Business class deal alert: Flights to Ecuador and Peru from $715
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Flying international business class for under $1,000 is quite a treat. And with so much to explore in South America, you may want to jump on these business class deals to Ecuador and Peru starting from $715. If you play your cards right, you may even score a flight in a lie-flat seat. These fares are widely available from New York, including peak summer travel and holidays. Departures are also available from other cities such as Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
This deal was originally reported by Scott’s Cheap Flights, which offers a premium membership that alerts readers to discounted fares for $49 per year for economy class deals and $199 per year for an elite membership, which also includes first, business and premium economy class deals.
Deal basics
Airlines: American, Avianca and Copa
Routes: JFK/LAX/ORD/SFO and others to UIO/GYE and LIM
How to book: Directly through the airlines or through Google Flights
Travel dates: February – December
Sample flights
The deals below are for business class seats. Most airlines use standard recliners for business class between the U.S. and northern South America. However, certain flights include lie-flat seats, such as Avianca’s flagship 787 service from New York.
As an example, here’s a flight over Thanksgiving from New York (JFK) to Quito (UIO) priced at $715 round-trip in business class. The flight between New York and Bogota (BOG) is in a lie-flat seat. This price is available on nearly all travel dates through June and from September through early December.
If you’d like to travel during the summer months, it’s only slightly more expensive at $753 round-trip on Copa Airlines. These fares are available on nearly every travel date between late June and August.
From Los Angeles (LAX), I found flights on American Airlines to Guayaquil (GYE) for $810 round-trip over Labor Day. These flights include lie-flat seats on American’s Boeing 777 between Los Angeles (LAX) and Miami (MIA). This fare can be found on select dates through May, and there is more availability between August and early December. From Guayaquil, you can easily hop over to the Galapagos Islands.
Copa Airlines is selling business class flights from Chicago (ORD) to Lima (LIM) for $929 round-trip. These seats are just standard recliners, but there is widespread availability through early December. Here’s an example for a trip over Easter in April.
From San Francisco (SFO), you can fly business class on Copa Airlines to Lima for $1,159 round-trip. These flights over Thanksgiving include lie-flat seats on the flights between San Francisco and Panama (PTY). You’ll find this fare available from late April through early December. Once you’re in Lima, it’s super easy to hop on a cheap domestic flight over to Cuzco to check out the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.
Maximize your purchase
Pay with: The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Prestige® Card for 5 points per dollar on airfare, the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve for 3 points per dollar on air travel, the American Express® Gold Card for 3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2 points per dollar on travel.
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
If you want to experience some luxury on your way to and from South America, jump on these business class deals quickly. Once you arrive in these capital cities, you’ll be able to find cheap flights within the region to visit some major tourist attractions such as Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. And if you’re looking for some adventure, a visit to the Amazon is also within reach. Choose your flights strategically and you could be flying in a lie-flat seat.