If you've been scheming up a trip to Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Brazil, or Argentina and want to fly in a comfy lie-flat seat, you only have a few more weeks to book one of the best deals in travel.
Alaska Airlines' newly named Atmos Rewards program recently announced it would cut two key partners. The first, Singapore Airlines, was sad news, but wasn't the best use of Alaska miles to begin with. The other, however, was a devastating blow for travelers who like using points and miles to travel to South America: LATAM Airlines.
LATAM's partnership with Alaska Atmos will end on Oct. 1, giving travelers just a matter of weeks to use their Atmos Rewards points to fly LATAM to destinations all over South America.
You might be thinking: I can fly other airlines to South America, right? Why should I care about LATAM and Atmos? Here's why:
Yes, that's real. Alaska only charges 35,000 points each way between the U.S. and Lima, Peru (LIM). For flights to destinations further south in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, Alaska only charges 50,000 points each way!
When travelers ask me what points to earn to fly to South America, they can't even finish the question before I used to scream “Alaska” in their face. Now, I scream “Atmos” … but I only get to do it for a few more days. Consider this my final scream in your face, travelers.
Here are the five deals you need to book before this option goes away Oct. 1.
Lima, Peru for 35K Miles
You've already seen the fare above, and it's the best one of the bunch. For just 35,000 points each way, you can fly to Peru – a gateway to Machu Picchu and an awesome city in and of itself. Just ask our Managing Editor Jackson Newman who brought his whole family down to Peru on this Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal a few months ago.
Jackson, here: Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the World for a reason, but making the trek all the way there isn't for the faint of heart … especially with two little kids in tow. Flying LATAM business class from New York (JFK) to Lima (LIM) punctuated an otherwise unforgettable trip with a touch of flair – and you can't beat this price!
Related reading: How I Booked a Bucket List Trip to Machu Picchu
For a lie-flat seat on a nearly eight-hour flight, that's an amazingly small price to pay.
Alaska's rates were the best deal on this list … and every other deal we'll show in this top five.
Brazil for 50k Miles Each Way
For the longer flights down to Brazil, Alaska charges a few more miles … but not that many more …
Just 50,000 Atmos Rewards points could get you from Boston (BOS) nonstop to Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) this fall – an outstanding rate that beats Finnair's pricing (which is next best) by 25,000 points!
Those 50,000 points could put you in one of these seats this fall or spring, but don't wait to book it!
And Argentina, Too!
Different country, same deal. Alaska only charges 50,000 points to fly nonstop to Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE), too!
When we sent this deal to our subscribers, it included availability starting in December and running through March, including Christmas (pictured) and New Year's Eve availability, too.
Spending the holidays or the peak summer (in the southern hemisphere) in Argentina for 100,000 miles roundtrip in business class? Give me a break!
Santiago, Chile for (You Guessed It) 50k Miles Each Way
Fly to Santiago (SCL), spend a few days in the city, and then connect on down to Patagonia in the peak summer months. Dreamy, right? Oh, and you can start that journey for just 50,000 Alaska Atmos Rewards points each way … so long as you book before Oct. 1.
If you think those seats look more like $2,500 than they do 50,000 points, that's exactly why this deal is so sweet.
The pricing to take these flights to Chile is the best with … you guessed it … Alaska Atmos. Those Florida nonstops to Chile will clock in close to nine hours in the air. Paying just 50,000 points for a lie-flat seat on that long of a trip is just so dang good!
Nerd Alert: Easter Island for 35k Miles Each Way
OK, this is a weird one, and that's why we gave it our special “Nerd Alert” designation when we sent it. But if you've ever sought out travel to the super remote Easter Island in the southern Pacific Ocean, you know how hard it is to find a good deal. Well, our team found one.
If you can get down to Santiago (SCL) for, I don't know … 50,000 Alaska Atmos points, you can spend 35,000 more to fly the 5.5-hour domestic flight over to Easter Island (IPC)!
Is it weird? Yes. Is it unbelievably cool? It is. Is it going away on Oct. 1 just like the rest of these deals? Sadly, yes.
Where Else Should I Look Before Oct. 1?
These aren't all the flights LATAM operates down to South America, but they are the ones with the best lie-flat availability we've found. So, if you want to fly LATAM to South America, look at these other routes before Oct. 1 to use your Alaska miles.
Here are the LATAM routes not already listed above you can book from the United States.
New York (JFK) to Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE): Seasonal, December to July (A320 – no lie-flat seats)
Los Angeles (LAX) to Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU): Year-round
LAX to Lima, Peru (LIM): Year-round
LAX to Santiago (SCL): Year-round
Orlando (MCO) to Bogota, Colombia (BOG): Year-round (A320 – no lie-flat seats)
Miami (MIA) to BOG: Year-round (A320 – no lie-flat seats)
MIA to Fortaleza, Brazil (FOR): Seasonal, April to October
MIA to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ): Year-round
MIA to Quito, Ecuador (UIO): Year-round (A319 or A320 – no lie-flat seats)
Bottom Line
One of the best deals in travel will expire on Oct. 1, so if you want to fly lie-flat to South America, it's time to put your Alaska Atmos Rewards points to use.
These five Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alerts, starting at just 35,000 each way in business class, are some of the best ways to use Atmos points, period.
