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With the big American Airlines devaluation kicking in on March 22, I wanted to check the current picture of premium cabin and off peak award space to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. It is much better than award space to Australia/New Zealand at the moment, which I looked at last week.

Why This Matters

Ideally you’d book award space to Southern South America now to save a lot of miles.

Current award prices:

  • 20,000 AA miles one way in economy from March 1 to May 31 and August 16 to November 30
  • 30,000 AA in economy on all other dates
  • 50,000 in Business
  • 62,500 in First

Award prices for bookings made March 22 or later:

  • 30,000 AA miles one way in economy all year round (adios off peak awards to Southern South America)
  • 57,500 in Business
  • 80,000 in First

While many off peak awards are going up in price or having their off peak dates slashed, Southern South America is the only off peak award being eliminated.

Award Space

Premium Cabins

I found good award space in June and July in Business Class and First Class from Dallas to Buenos Aires.

Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 4.26.17 PMScreen Shot 2016-03-11 at 4.26.25 PMI found regular award space from Miami to Santiago in September in Business Class and First Class if you can fly mid-week.Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 4.27.37 PMScreen Shot 2016-03-11 at 4.27.44 PMI found regular award space from New York to Sao Paulo in First Class and Business Class in January 2017 if you can fly early in the week.Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 4.29.18 PMScreen Shot 2016-03-11 at 4.29.22 PM

These award calendars intentionally show space from American Airlines hubs to big cities in South America. You can tack on award space from your home airport to the hub for zero extra miles. You can tack on connecting flights in South America on LAN or TAM for zero extra miles also.

Off Peak

Right now you can book award flights through May 31, 2016 and from August 16 to November 30, 2016 to and from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia for 20,000 miles each way in economy.

I found great award space next month to Rio de Janeiro for 20,000 miles each way.

Screen Shot 2016-03-14 at 8.58.08 AMAward space is much scarcer to Buenos Aires during the Fall off peak window.Screen Shot 2016-03-14 at 8.58.56 AM

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to burn American Airlines miles before the devaluation, Australia, Brazil, and Chile are a good bet. You can book plentiful First Class award space now for 62,500 miles one way for 2016 or 2017 travel that goes up in price to 80,000 miles one way next Tuesday.

Or you can book economy awards for 20,000 miles each way at off peak prices before off peak awards are eliminated next Tuesday.

Further Reading

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