LATAM fares within South America

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Myrna

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Two years ago we went to Peru and the fares for domestic flights operated by LATAM were very expensive (eg LIM - CUZ route) so many recommended to use BA avios instead of paying cash. This worked well for us.

Next year we will be in South America (not Peru) and would like to know if we should pay cash for the LATAM fares for the following routes, or use BA avios: SCL (Santiago, Chile) - MVD (Montevideo, Uruguay); AEP (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - IGR (Iguazu Falls, Argentina); IGU (Iguazu Falls, Brazil) - GIG (Rio de Janiero, Brazil).

I have checked LATAM website for the cash fares for the above routes vary from £50 (carryon only) to £200 (1 checked bag); and the BA website for the avios (all 7,500 + varying tax amounts). Obviously, I would be using avios for the most expensive route (which is SCL-MVD). So, the question is whether to go for the cash fares on the other 2 domestic routes (in Argentina and in Brazil) - not sure if LATAM charges higher fares for non-residents? (as the case with Peru)

Would appreciate any comment. Thanks in advance.
 
If you have the Avios, I would just redeem them (except maybe for the domestic flight within Brazil which shouldn't be that expensive - not sure about Argentina). Certainly a good use of Avios on the routes where LATAM charges through the nose!

Remember that booking on the local site (which means usually booking in Spanish) can yield cheaper airfares in South America.
 
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Thanks, Mattg. I have been re-reading your South America trip report - to get ideas, hints and tips :) We are going to be in Iguazu Falls and staying at hotels inside the park on both sides - expensive but more convenient.
 
Not sure if this is helpful, but I see Air Europa is starting a Boeing 787 tag flight from Montevideo to Iguazu (Argentinian side) from next June. Air Europa is in SkyTeam and also an Etihad partner.
 
Did you try multi-sector booking? That can make a huge difference over booking individual one-way sectors. Either on LATAM.com or 3rd party OTAs.

BTW, Argentina has a foreigner tax on fares that doesn’t always show on some ‘to good to be true’ 3rd party OTAs. Stories of pax denied boarding or asked to pay diff.
 
Did you try multi-sector booking? That can make a huge difference over booking individual one-way sectors. Either on LATAM.com or 3rd party OTAs.

BTW, Argentina has a foreigner tax on fares that doesn’t always show on some ‘to good to be true’ 3rd party OTAs. Stories of pax denied boarding or asked to pay diff.

Thanks, SYD. Will do and report back.
 
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