2027 travel plans

[Warks]

When I went to book to SCL a few years ago, travel agent found that LATAM didn't release inventory until a month or so after Qantas. So had to wonder if it was worth taking up the early Qantas inventory or wait to LATAM. I took QF, as prices at the time were soaring.

Could you get an award to NZ and then fly LATAM from there? Not sure if there is a NZ tax like there is an Australian one, but may save a bit.

Thanks. That might be worth looking into. I'll add AKL-SCL to my search.

 

[k_sheep]

Feb 2027 - Chile - Patagonia - W-Trek (Torres del Paine National Park). If I keep saying it, it will happen! Can't book anything this early I guess. Have been looking at airfares to Santiago (ex SYD) and with only Qantas-LATAM flying direct it's never going to be cheap. Seems like $2500 in Y is about standard HOWEVER my Hopper app pointed out a wonderful $2000 fare on Air Canada, which, you guessed it, goes via Canada. SYD-YVR-YTO-SCL. Much as I love Canada I don't need to travel twice as far and take more than twice as long to save $500.
Anyway Chile is rather huge (thin but long....) so will need internal flights to get around too which seem reasonable but assume the cheaper ones are Easyjet level service. Will fly to Puerto Montt and then Punta Arenas for the trek.
People diss ChatGPT and I agree it's hopeless at some things but it's come up with a decent looking itinerary for my trip.

Did the trek in 2022. Domestic flights are actually reasonably priced.

If you can swing it, I would recommend doing the full O track. The W is spectacular but crowded. If (when?) I do it again, I would start and end in Glacier Grey and go clockwise. You get the glacier boat trip both ways which is gorgeous. Do the crowded stuff first. Get to Los Torres and it's a bit cheaper to restock food. Then do the top loop in peace.