flights to Brazil

[Dan171]

Hi FF gang,
I am looking at going to the world cup in Brazil next year, i know flights aren't available that far in advance yet, but any recommendations on best route, SC earning capability to price? i will take either 3 or 5 weeks off for it.

if i do 5weeks i might throw in a week to the US at the end. I will be gold with Qantas Frequent flyer and Virgin velocity. but will have around 250,000 airmiles with Qantas and they would be a preferred carrier?

 

[RooFlyer]

Only general observations, sorry, possibly no more than you know already.

Two entry options ex Australia.

1. LAN/QF codeshare are to Santiago, then on to Sao Paulo / Rio on LAN (don't know if any QF code shares on these routes). LAN has some sort of affiliate or subsidiary operating within Brazil, but I'm not sure if they are part of 1 World (ie QFF earns). Look at the LAN PASS as well for internal Sth American flights.

2. AA/QF code share or just QF metal to LAX or DFW, then onto Sao Paulo / Rio on AA. generally, I would think AA travel might be cheaper, and have the better Points earning capacity, but possibly less convenient than LAN/LAN Brazil. SCs go on distance, irrespective of carrier, as long as its on a "Eligible" flight.

But also look at a 1World Circle Pacific fare: Circle Pacific - oneworld. These can be very good value, although I've never done one with Sth America.

That would see you fly in via SCL, and maybe it'll take you to one of the Brazil ports as well (or this might have to count as an Open Jaw sector if the rules don't accommodate it), then it'll take you up to USA where I think you might get several stops allowed. To include Sth America you have to choose the 29,000km option. I'm not sure if you have to include Asia if you do Nth and Sth America.

 

[doctau]

According to Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Terms & Conditions most LAN economy booking classes get full Economy SC rather than Discount Economy ones rather than just full Y.As in http://www.australianfrequentflyer....program/qf-la-across-south-america-50859.html tekkyy and myself have received Economy SC but rotor said he only got Discount Economy ones so it may be applied inconsistently. If you are going to fly economy then going with LAN may get you more SC for the same price (if they do give you what the T&Cs say they should give you).

Brazil-based TAM are merging with LAN, and switching from *A to OW in the 2nd quarter of 2014. Whether that's in time for the world cup is a good question, but I would hope that is is so OW can capitalise on the travel.

As RooFlyer said, Circle Pacific fares are definitely worth looking into if you're going to the US, but they may not be the best value as with any of those type of fares.

 

[Red Roo]

Hi FF gang,
I am looking at going to the world cup in Brazil next year, i know flights aren't available that far in advance yet, but any recommendations on best route, SC earning capability to price? i will take either 3 or 5 weeks off for it.

if i do 5weeks i might throw in a week to the US at the end. I will be gold with Qantas Frequent flyer and Virgin velocity. but will have around 250,000 airmiles with Qantas and they would be a preferred carrier?

Thanks for choosing Qantas as your preferred carrier. Our Reservations team are available 24/7 on 131313 and would be happy to discuss your options. It's going to be a very busy travel period, therefore the earlier you can book, the more choices you will have.

 

[Fantic125]

Only general observations, sorry, possibly no more than you know already.

Two entry options ex Australia.

1. LAN/QF codeshare are to Santiago, then on to Sao Paulo / Rio on LAN (don't know if any QF code shares on these routes). LAN has some sort of affiliate or subsidiary operating within Brazil, but I'm not sure if they are part of 1 World (ie QFF earns). Look at the LAN PASS as well for internal Sth American flights. .....

I've flown LAN/QF codeshare twice over to Brazil (LA800 & LA756) both times in -Y (fare buckets L & S) and received QF SC's based on discount economy.

The flight over is a bit tedious from memory; 21 hours flying time as well as a 90 minute stopover in AKL, 5 hours in SCL, and a 30 min stop in Sao Paulo (can't get out the plane though).

The first time I was in Rio for a week then continued on GIG-MIA-DFW-SAN. That worked out to be about 20 hours all up from leaving Rio to arriving in San Diego, so if you do consider going over via LAX, keep that in mind on top of the 14 hour SYD-LAX flight. All the flights were on AA metal in Y, so it was pretty average.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I am not sure what award availability will be like but it may be worth remembering that a oneworld round the world award with Qantas is 140,000pts + tax in Y and 280,000pts + tax in J. Limit of 5 stopovers but you could do something like PER-xSYD-xSCL-GIG-LAX/JFK-LHR-HKG-PER for example.

Again award availability will be the problem.

 

[Kefuan]

I am also looking to do this but potentially on points. Its going to be hard to snag anyting decent tho I imagine...so definately will keep an eye on this thread if it comes to paying for a ticket.

I am looking at doing the LAN to Santiago route also...