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Fly business class to Rio de Janeiro from Miami and Washington, DC, from $1,563

April 19, 2024
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4 min read
Aerial view of famous Copacabana Beach and Ipanema beach
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You can save a decent amount of money right now on business-class travel to Brazil via Copa Airlines. A new fare sale has flights to Rio de Janeiro from Miami and Washington, D.C., at uncommonly low prices. Rio has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the world's greatest party cities, not to mention it's home to two iconic beaches: Copacabana and Ipanema. So, if you've been considering heading to South America, keep reading.

Aside from the great prices, this deal is enticing because the travel window is unusually wide. We found discounted flights from May until March 2025. Keep in mind that almost all the itineraries include layovers in Panama, but they are all reasonable in length. Also, some routes offer lie-flat seats on just one segment of the itinerary.

The famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CHRISTIAN ADAMS/GETTY IMAGES

Deal basics

Airline: Copa Airlines

Routes: Round-trip in business class from Miami International Airport (MIA) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., to Rio de Janeiro's Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG)

How to book: Browse Google Flights, then book directly with the airline

Travel dates: Availability from May through March; varies by route

Sample flights

Availability for discounted business-class fares from Miami to Rio de Janeiro was wide open from August until December. Copa has round-trip itineraries from MIA to GIG for $1,563.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Check out this Copa itinerary we found from Miami to Rio in December.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Google Flights says this is a massive discount from normal prices for this route during the holiday season.

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GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Rio's next Carnival celebration takes place Feb. 28 through March 8, 2025. If you're interested in being part of the iconic festival, you can book round-trip business class to land in Brazil right before the fun begins for less than $2,000. That's an excellent price, especially considering how big an event Carnival is. Also, both legs of the return flight get you a lie-flat seat.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

The discounts are just as easy to find for flights out of our nation's capital. This business-class itinerary from IAD to GIG for Carnival is available for just $2,254. Like the Miami itinerary, both legs of the return journey are with a lie-flat seat.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

Want to escape the Northeast's harsh winter but aren't keen on dealing with the massive crowds at Carnival? That's not a problem, as the same $2,254 price is available for a round-trip flight from Washington to Rio in January.

GOOGLE FLIGHTS

We told you earlier that this deal's availability is unusually generous. The sale price on Washington-to-Rio flights can also be found for travel across August and September.

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GOOGLE FLIGHTS
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Maximize your purchase

When you book this deal or any flights, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:

Bottom line

Take advantage of the wide-open nature of this sale and find the itinerary that best suits your travel schedule.

Related reading:

Featured image by F11PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.