So, this is dead simple, as we've told you in the last two installments (see special report here for travel to Europe, and for travel to Asia here): One-way tickets increase your chances of getting a First or Business Class seat at a lower award-cost level and can get you the itinerary you want, not the one the airlines offer you. Just divide the itinerary in two and search for the best deal on each leg.
Here’s the key point: Having a credit card program that links to many different airline programs. (More on that in The Lazy Upgrader’s Guide to Lucrative Credit Card Opportunities). It means you can outflank the availability barrier airlines put up.
We’ll just recap when one-way tickets are the way to go:
- When a round-trip saver award is not available
- When you want the best routing and best premium seats
- When a partner saver round-trip award is not available on your preferred carrier, but is with the partner’s own mileage program
The majority of the best one-way deals to southern South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile) are available to those with Starwood Starpoints, Amex Membership Rewards points second, and Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi points a distant third and fourth.
The Best Deals to Southern South America
Air Canada: The airline and its partner flights with United cost 55,000 miles one-way in Business Class (45,000 SPG points). First Class is 70,000 miles one-way (60,000 SPG). The airline also works with Amex Rewards points.Alaska: Partner flights on American start at 50,000 miles (40,000 SPG) in Business Class and 63,500 miles (53,500 SPG) in First Class; LAN is 45,000 miles (40,000 SPG) in Business Class. Partner rates rise on American on Jan. 1, 2018.
American: Its flights and those with partner LAN cost 57,500 miles one-way in Business Class (47,500 SPG). First Class is high, starting at 85,000 miles one-way (70,000).
Asiana: The best one-way deal: Business Class starts at 35,000 miles (30,000 SPG) and First Class at 45,000 miles (40,000 SPG) on United flights.
Cathay Pacific: Cost varies by route, starting at 45,000 miles (40,000 SPG) one-way (Miami to Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santiago, and Dallas to Santiago) in Business Class on its partners American and LAN, and 70,000 miles (60,000 SPG) in First Class. Amex and Citi points also transfer to Cathay.
Korean: Partner flights with Delta cost 55,000 miles one-way in Business Class (45,000 SPG points). Compare that with 75,000 Delta SkyMiles!
Lufthansa: Charges 52,500 miles for partner awards in Business Class one-way (42,500 SPG) on United flights. First Class is high, 85,000 miles one-way (70,000 SPG).
Singapore: Charges 50,000 miles in Business Class one-way (40,000 SPG) on for partner awards on United. First Class is 70,000 miles one-way (60,000 SPG).
United: Charges 55,000 miles in Business Class one-way and 70,000 for First Class (60,000 and 80,000 respectively as of Nov. 1) for its own flights. Credit card partners are Chase and Starwood. (Note that SPG transfer to United miles is not recommended, so transfer the SPG points to Marriott Rewards to be used with Marriott’s Travel Packages on United, for more details go here.)
Virgin Atlantic: Partner-flight cost varies, starting at 45,000 miles (40,000 SPG) on Delta in Business Class.
[aside headline=" Delta" alignment="aligncenter" width="half" headline_size="default"] This airline was not included in our one-way report as it's one of the highest priced awards at 75,000 for Business Class. Even with the SPG transfer, it would take 60,000 points and partner, Korean Air, offers a much better value. [/aside]