Australia to Bogota

[samh004]

I'm not posting this question in Flight Search Assistance, as I'm just looking at ideas right now, though would be happy to ultimately pay a gratuity to someone who suggests something I do use.

A friend of mine is getting married in Bogota next year (late January) and I've been invited. Due to issues, I don't think I'll be able to transit the US, so my only option is South America and I'm new to the US Dividend and AA miles ideas, but feel that they'd probably be cheaper than the almost $4k ticket Qantas or LAN wants to charge me.

I'd prefer to keep myself in OneWorld, as I'm P1 so that will assure me of lounge access and being looked after, presumably, but earning miles back isn't important if I can make a saving on the ticket price.

I was considering a premium award, seeing as everyone is doing them, but as my partner has been invited too, if two economy tickets isn't bad value (would be $8k if paid in cash - equivalent to a return J ticket) then I'm happy to stick to Y.

I'm a beginner at navigating and using the US Airways site, but if I could have some pointers or ideas, I'd be very happy.

Thanks.

 

[ftm]

On the LA ticket, look at booking a domestic flight (eg BNE SYD) in low season with a stopover in Sydney until January.

LA seasonality is normally based on the date of the first flight rather than the date of the departure from Australia.

That should help the price of a 'normal' ticket.

 

[doctau]

Across the South Pacific has gotten more expensive since AR dropped their Sydney route.

If you can't transit the US, another option is the long way around, for example via DOH and GRU. Although it's longer there should be more competition on the segments that make it up, so it could be worth looking into.

 

[samh004]

Across the South Pacific has gotten more expensive since AR dropped their Sydney route.

If you can't transit the US, another option is the long way around, for example via DOH and GRU. Although it's longer there should be more competition on the segments that make it up, so it could be worth looking into.

I was considering that too, time in the air (or in lounges) doesn't bother me, so long as I get to the destination, bypassing the US, so I wouldn't be averse to taking a convoluted route just to get there.

The Qatar option just priced up at half the price in Y of the Qantas Y option, but that's only to GRU, not all the way to BOG. Still, makes it more affordable, although non-earning.

Has anyone booked a Dividend/AA award Australia to South America (not via US) though? That would seem perhaps the easiest

 

[mikew]

I managed to book MEL-BKK-IST-GRU RT as a star award in J on TG/TK/TK for world cup using US miles. Long story but I ended up having to cancel due to work commitments (I was in India) and I ended up on a paid J on EY. I believe it is above the MPM to go this way but I would just try a few agents and see how you go (just build your trip put it on hold and try a few times to get it ticketed) as it is possible.

There are plenty of Y award seats on LAN available into SCL so if the fare is $4k its probably still a good use of points even with the YQ.

EK have flights for $2100 from BNE-DXB-GRU and you can pick up fares on LAN from GRU-BOG for around $500.

If you sort out your US issues then DL: SYD - BOG $1001 - 4cpm - FlyerTalk Forums might be of use for you.