High Business Class Fares to South America Got You Down? Try These Low-Fare Routes to Save Up to $7,858 / 67%

September 2024
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In June we told you about the Sidestep Hustle to Europe and in July we told you about the Sidestep Hustle to Asia.

Business Class fares these days are a bit of a roller coaster. One moment you’re spotting a great deal, and the next, it's spiking again, leaving you frustrated. So, we started thinking — what if we looked at this from a different angle? Instead of settling for those sky-high fares, why not broaden your scope and consider flying from or into a different city? Often, a nearby alternative offers a much lower price, easily covering the cost of a quick hop to get there, and still saving you money.

This “Sidestep Hustle” is a handy hack when fares are high out of a major U.S. city like Chicago, Houston, or Washington, DC. Let’s look at some examples.

Sidestep Hustle #1

Alternate U.S. Departure City

A typical Business Class fare on American Airlines from Chicago to São Paulo is $10,428. Instead, you could sidestep to Indianapolis and fly from there to São Paulo in Business Class on American for only $3,913. Indianapolis is just 177 miles from Chicago, a short trip that saves you $6,515, or 62%, on the international flight. You could use a short “positioning flight” or even a car trip to get to Indianapolis. Either way, you’re well ahead. Screenshots follow.

Chicago to São Paulo for $10,428 on American

Indianapolis to São Paulo for $3,913 on American

ONEWORLD alliance EXAMPLES

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SkyTeam alliance EXAMPLES

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Star Alliance EXAMPLES

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Sidestep Hustle #2 Alternate Airline

Here’s another move for mastering The Hustle: sometimes the best deals hide outside your go-to airline or alliance. Too often, frequent flyers — especially those with elite status — stick to their favorite airline’s website and overlook incredible flight deals elsewhere. Take the Houston-Santiago route below as an example. It’s the exact same trip, but by making a Sidestep Hustle from American to United, you can save a staggering $5,207, or 50%.

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The Sidestep Hustle is for savvy travelers looking to sidestep the steep fares to South America. With these kinds of tricks, you’ll find yourself exploring South America for a fraction of the usual cost. So, next time you're headed south, throw in a little Sidestep Hustle and let the savings take flight.

[["To","Flying From","High Fare","Instead Fly From","Lower Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["\n\nSantiago","\n\nAtlanta","$6,630","Nashville","\n\n$4,080","$2,550","38%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$6,380","Greenville, SC","#rowspan#","$2,300","36%"],["S\u00e3o Paulo","Chicago","$10,428","Indianapolis","$3,913","$6,515","62%"],["\n\nRio de Janeiro","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHouston","$11,788","San Antonio","$3,990","$7,798","66%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","\n\nAustin","$3,930","$7,858","67%"],["\nSantiago","#rowspan#","$9,120","#rowspan#","$3,752","$5,368","59%"],["\n\n\n\n\n\nS\u00e3o Paulo","#rowspan#","\n\n$10,587","San Antonio","$3,900","$6,687","63%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Austin","$3,770","$6,817","64%"],["#rowspan#","\n\nWashington, DC (IAD)","\n\n$10,747","Baltimore","$4,010","$6,737","63%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Philadelphia","$3,770","$6,977","65%"]]
[["To","Flying From","High Fare","Instead Fly From","Lower Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["\n\nS\u00e3o Paulo","Chicago","$5,717","Indianapolis","$3,947","$1,770","31%"],["#rowspan#","\n\nDetroit","$5,313","\n\nToronto","$2,831","$2,482","47%"],["Santiago","#rowspan#","$5,248","#rowspan#","$2,510","$2,738","52%"],["\n\nRio de Janeiro","\n\n\nHouston","\n\n$11,348","Austin","\n\n$4,148","\n\n$7,200","\n\n63%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","San Antonio","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["\nSantiago","#rowspan#","$8,132","Dallas","$4,052","$4,080","50%"]]
[["To","Flying From","High Fare","Instead Fly From","Lower Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["Buenos Aires","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHouston","$8,569","\nAustin","$3,950","$4,619","54%"],["\n\nRio de Janeiro","#rowspan#","\n\n$11,313","#rowspan#","$3,930","$7,383","\n\n65%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","\n\nSan Antonio","$3,990","$7,323","#rowspan#"],["\n\nSantiago","#rowspan#","\n\n$8,118","#rowspan#","$3,890","$4,228","\n\n52%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Austin\n","$3,880","$4,238","#rowspan#"],["\n\n\n\nS\u00e3o Paulo","#rowspan#","\n\n\n\n$5,740","San Antonio","$3,750","$1,990","\n\n35%"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Austin","$3,728","$2,012","#rowspan#"],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC","#rowspan#","Baltimore","$3,977","$1,726","30%"]]
[["To","Flying From","Flying on","High Fare","Instead Fly On","Lower Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["Buenos Aires","\n\nAtlanta","\n\nAmerican","$5,740","\n\nDelta, United","$3,914","$1,826","32%"],["S\u00e3o Paulo","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,183","#rowspan#","$3,498","$1,685","33%"],["Santiago","Charlotte","Delta","$5,872","American, United","$4,052","$1,820","31%"],["S\u00e3o Paulo","Chicago","American","$10,447","United","$5,240","$5,207","50%"],["Buenos Aires","\n\nLas Vegas","\n\n\n\nDelta","$5,249","American","$4,434","$815","16%"],["Santiago","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,702","American, United","$4,169","$1,533","27%"],["Buenos Aires","\n\nMinneapolis","#rowspan#","$6,254","American","$4,534","$1,720","28%"],["S\u00e3o Paulo","#rowspan#","American","$5,813","Delta","$3,632","$2,181","38%"],["Santiago","Raleigh","\n\nDelta","$5,622","American, United","$3,972","$1,650","29%"],["Buenos Aires","Seattle","#rowspan#","$5,679","American","$4,684","$995","18%"],["S\u00e3o Paulo","Washington, DC","American","$10,447","United","$5,703","$4,744","45%"]]