Advice on Avios redemption to South America

[tootsci]

NorthernLass wrote:

It may be different next year – this year Easter is very early, and next year it’s very late, so peak dates (and demand) will adjust accordingly. It’s a moveable redemption feast!

Yeah I’d like to get it locked in sooner rather than later really. Plus the trip is the ‘reward’/celebration for (hopefully!) getting the PhD I have been doing part-time as a mature student alongside my day job for the last 4 years – so having a date locked for my trip will focus my mind for the final push of writing my thesis lol!

[NorthernLass]

Good luck! You’ve done very well, mine took 7 years 😂. I am a bit lazy, though. My “push” was the thought of putting Dr on my bank cards, etc. I think I may also be rather shallow 😂😂😂

[tootsci]

NorthernLass wrote:

Good luck! You’ve done very well, mine took 7 years 😂. I am a bit lazy, though. My “push” was the thought of putting Dr on my bank cards, etc. I think I may also be rather shallow 😂😂😂

Ha ha thanks! It’ll be about 4.5/5 by the time I finish. Don’t worry that’s one of mine too 😂

[meta]

tootsci wrote:

meta wrote:

@tootsci How many seats do you need? Return Madrid-Lima-Madrid is 68k Avios + tax. You already have enough for that. If you add London for the return you can just use less Avios more cash.

Just the one seat. Is that Avios + tax for economy? I’m looking at business for this trip to have my first ever experience of ‘turning left’ (hope Iberia doesn’t disappoint, I’ve read mixed things about the service, though really all I actually want is a lie-flat bed for my middle-aged back and knees!)

So if the issue is the higher costs going from London on the outbound leg, then I could do MAD-LIM (or Quito) and then LIM-MAD-LON on the inbound leg. I’ll definitely go to MAD the day before on the way out to make sure I’m there for the long-haul section but it would be simpler to go all the way through on the way back.

No that’s business off-peak.

[meta]

@tootsi it’s business off-peak

[tootsci]

meta wrote:

@tootsi it’s business off-peak

Ooh ok that’s way better than I thought for MAD-LIM-MAD then. @zio kindly did a check for me as well, and for LON-MAD-LIM-MAD-LON it was 110k Avios + tax, so looks like I can save a chunk of Avios if I just get myself over to Madrid e.g. on a cheapo airline and then get my Iberia from there – even with having to book the Iberia through BA due to not realising the 90d issue with the IP club? Unless I’m misreading things?

[zio]

@meta Thanks for the tip that co-pay is now aligned whether booking via BA or IB. I’d missed that.
Isn’t business off-peak MAD-LIM-MAD 85k avios though (+£211)?

@tootsci no harm at all with a cheapo fare out to Madrid to save the avios. Just to be clear, it’s generally recommended to book the return back to LON to “protect” the connection and get luggage checked through. Maybe if you are travelling HBO you aren’t so concerned with that, but I’d say it’s worth it (and you can also check out the lounge at Madrid which I seem to remember was reviewed recently).

[tootsci]

zio wrote:

@meta Thanks for the tip that co-pay is now aligned whether booking via BA or IB. I’d missed that.
Isn’t business off-peak MAD-LIM-MAD 85k avios though (+£211)?


@tootsci no harm at all with a cheapo fare out to Madrid to save the avios. Just to be clear, it’s generally recommended to book the return back to LON to “protect” the connection and get luggage checked through. Maybe if you are travelling HBO you aren’t so concerned with that, but I’d say it’s worth it (and you can also check out the lounge at Madrid which I seem to remember was reviewed recently).

So it sounds like my oversight on the Iberia Plus account for the Avios transfer won’t be an issue then which is good

Yeah I think as I’ll go over to Madrid the day before my main flight I’ll go cheapo, and then on the way back as I’ll just want to get back home at that point I’ll book all the way through.

Thanks for your help!! 🤩

[jek]

Definitely do LIM-LON (LIM-MAD-LON) on the inbound. We just returned from SJO via MAD and the connection time at MAD was originally 70min but due to a delay, it was only 50min in the end. We just made it, our luggage did not. However, it was nice to be HBO on the Picadilly line with the luggage being delivered the next day.

[Biki]

I’ve got a BA companion voucher that runs out towards the end of September 2025. I’m thinking of using it to fly from Madrid to somewhere in South America for the last week in September/First week in October, but I can’t decide where! Any ideas?

I’ve only been to Argentina and Uruguay in South America, and would like to tick of another (or couple) of countries if I can. Ideally somewhere with warmish weather, which I guess rues out anywhere too far south?

[Michael C]

Biki wrote:

I’ve got a BA companion voucher that runs out towards the end of September 2025. I’m thinking of using it to fly from Madrid to somewhere in South America for the last week in September/First week in October, but I can’t decide where! Any ideas?

I’ve only been to Argentina and Uruguay in South America, and would like to tick of another (or couple) of countries if I can. Ideally somewhere with warmish weather, which I guess rues out anywhere too far south?

Start off in Rio?

[Jill Kinkell]

Quito, Lima, Rio, Santiago.? There is a HfP article on where Iberia flies to in S America. I think the period you’re looking at is off peak. I’ve just booked for Mad-Uio on Iberia with 241. Lots of availability at the moment. Did it on BA site. Hoping to do open jaw for return from Santiago , but date yet to be decided !

[Biki]

Thanks both. I was considering Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica when I started looking at Ibera routes. I wondered whether Santiago might be a little cold at that time of year and whether anywhere closer to the Caribean might be at risk of hurricanes.

Brazil might be a good one, has anyone visited at that time of year an have any thoughts on a rough itinerary?

[mzb]

Biki wrote:

Thanks both. I was considering Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica when I started looking at Ibera routes. I wondered whether Santiago might be a little cold at that time of year and whether anywhere closer to the Caribean might be at risk of hurricanes.

Brazil might be a good one, has anyone visited at that time of year an have any thoughts on a rough itinerary?

Sep/Oct is early spring; so things haven’t quite warmed up and Santiago will likely be fresh, but should be otherwise sunny.
Rio should start to be pretty pleasant (water will still be on the cooler end but I am sure you will find it acceptable), you can then hop to the North East coast of Brazil for some more guaranteed hot and tropical weather by the beach (Bahia, Ceara, etc). I’d also squeeze in a weekend to Iguazu falls if you haven’t had a chance to experience them in your prior trip to Argentina.

I am not sure how long you are planning to travel for but if it’s 2 weeks I’d either consider a Peru/Chile itinerary (Lima, Cuzco, Santiago, Atacama or Lake area or for something unusual Easter Island), or stick with Brazil which is a huge country (Rio, Iguazu, Beach time on the North East. If interested in nature and wildlife – consider the Pantanal).

There’s been quite a few threads on the topic of South America in the Destinations sub-forum, worth having a read through it.

[MGOR]

I really enjoyed Bolivia. Flew into Santiago and then up to Calama to get across to San Pedro for a couple of days before going to Bolivia to see Uyuni, Potosi, Sucre and LaPaz. Crossing the altiplano and staying at apparently the highest hotel in the world at Tayka Desertio was literally breathtaking. We then returned back to Santiago. We’d managed to grab F return on a 241 now that was a redemption!

[NorthernLass]

Kind of related – has IB gone to dynamic pricing? I’m seeing San Juan (PR) at 34k avios but MIA 42K avios for the same day, when you’d think they would be in the same pricing zone. Also different prices for early v later flights on some routes. Or was it always like this?!

[zapato1060]

@NorthernLass always like this. SJU is 34k with Santo Domingo, next door at 42.5k like MIA. SJU is just a sweet spot is all.

[marks7389]

It’s a shame that options for onward travel to the rest of the Caribbean from SJU are so limited these days, but an IB redemption is a great option if you want to go to Puerto Rico.

[NorthernLass]

It certainly is, and it’s definitely somewhere I’d like to go for longer – we spent one day there on a cruise many years ago. Of course there are plenty of flights to the continental US from there which would make for a good 2-centre trip.

[ukpolak]

Mrs UKP is of PR decent and we’re overdue a visit to her relatives there at some point. Sorry for basic question but what are the chances of getting 4 x J (so 2 x 241 companion vouchers) on MAD-SJU return?

We managed JFK and MIA albeit with BA over the past year using 2 x 241s (thanks to the tips on here!) but San Juan could be a good option for next time around.

Froggee’s USA trip reminded me of my last visit to family in PR, so this time I’d insist on a hotel with my own agenda and plan. Hopefully there aren’t as many iguanas as ten years ago!

[Candor]

NorthernLass wrote:

It certainly is, and it’s definitely somewhere I’d like to go for longer – we spent one day there on a cruise many years ago. Of course there are plenty of flights to the continental US from there which would make for a good 2-centre trip.

Me, my partner and her family are heading their in December, spending 6 days in Puerto Rico , then on a week cruise around the Caribbean

Was tempted by IB, but in the end went Jet Blue with a stop in New York as worked out better timings wise, but yeah when researching flights plenty of ways to make it work as trip visiting somewhere in the US then onwards, Miami, New York, Boston all had loads of connections

[marks7389]

ukpolak wrote:

Mrs UKP is of PR decent and we’re overdue a visit to her relatives there at some point. Sorry for basic question but what are the chances of getting 4 x J (so 2 x 241 companion vouchers) on MAD-SJU return?

Limited because IB only seem to release 2 business class redemption seats. There’s also no Premium Economy as they use A330-200 aircraft on that route.

[travelmyway]

Found it really helpful to read through this thread as looking to book first Iberia redemption shortly to Buenos Aires in Business Class, using avios and a 2for1.

As discussed here, for the outbound don’t need luggage to be checked through as will probably just book a cash ticket and spend a day or two enjoying Madrid.
For the return, looking to change onto a Gatwick flight at Madrid and get luggage checked through.

Am I right in thinking I can do this (MAD-EZE-MAD-LGW) on avios using my 2for1? And the process would be to book MAD-EZE return online then call BA to ask them to add MAD-LGW once released and I’ll pay 2for1 avios and x2 taxes of the one way reward business price I’m seeing for Iberia MAD-LGW?

Thanks so much for your help. Long time reader first time poster and got so much knowledge from all the regular posters on here!

[marks7389]

Yes, or MAD-EZE-MAD-LHR. One thing to consider is that Iberia operate a couple of MAD-LHR flights per day with Long Haul seating (so lots more room in Business Class and IFE in case you didn’t quite finish watching your film), whereas with MAD-LGW you’re stuck with Iberia Express A320/A321s.

We’re considering a similar trip. At 1p/Avios you can do the whole thing in business class for about £1K pp on off-peak dates, which is excellent value considering the distance.

[zapato1060]

IB only releases 2x tickets on BA at 355, but a tidy tip is if you don’t mind NOT using the 241. IB release 9 business seats to IB members at full price 34k like 360 days or so out.

I did Puerto Rico last year. Rented a car in San Juan, drove to Aguadilla, stayed at Ponce. Culebra island we never got to experience but has incredible reviews. I used Marriott pts and 4-4-5 for our stay. Even with £ to $ it was pricey so bear that in mind. Much more expensive than Barbados, US virgin islands or any other Caribbean island I’ve been to.

Eric’s BBQ in Aguadilla was so 🤤🤤🤤