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South America-based LATAM left the Oneworld alliance in May 2020 after Delta purchased a stake in the airline. Although it cut ties with American Airlines completely, LATAM maintained its mileage relationships with many of its Oneworld partners — including British Airways. In other words, you can continue to redeem British Airways Avios for flights across LATAM's network.
Here's a closer look at LATAM's partnership with British Airways, plus a dive into some of the best uses of Avios on LATAM flights.
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British Airways Avios Award Chart for LATAM Flights
British Airways Club uses a segment- and distance-based award chart for LATAM awards. That means the award cost depends on how many miles you fly, rather than what geographic regions you're flying between. If you have to connect, British Airways prices each flight segment separately and then adds the prices together. That means it's best to use British Airways Avios for nonstop LATAM award flights.
British Airways no longer publishes any award charts. Thus, travelers have to search for award flights to figure out how much an award will cost. But we'll save you the trouble. AwardWallet has confirmed the following British Airways award chart for LATAM flights based on award searches:
| Flight Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 650 miles | 6,000 | ||
| 651 to 1,151 miles | 9,000 | 16,500 | |
| 1,152 to 2,000 miles | 11,000 | 16,500 | 22,000 |
| 2,001 to 3,000 miles | 13,000 | 38,750 | |
| 3,001 to 4,000 miles | 20,750 | 62,000 | |
| 4,001 to 5,500 miles | 25,750 | 77,250 | |
| 5,501 to 6,500 miles | 31,000 | N/A | 92,750 |
| Over 7,000 miles | 51,000 | N/A | 154,500 |
Premium economy seats are available on select short-haul planes, such as those in the Airbus A320 family. Thus, the product is only available on certain flights and doesn't appear wholly bookable outside a short list of flights in the 1,152–2,000-mile distance band. We will fill in the table's blanks as we get additional data points.
Related: The Complete Guide to British Airways' Partners
Best Uses of British Airways Avios on LATAM Flights
Miami to the Dominican Republic for 9,000 Avios
Surprisingly for a South America-based airline, one of the best ways to use British Airways Avios for LATAM is on a flight between the U.S. and the Caribbean! LATAM operates a fifth-freedom route from Miami (MIA) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ). As this flight spans just 911 miles, you can book it for 9,000 Avios each way in economy:
For this flight, it might be worth splurging for business class. LATAM operates a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on this route, including lie-flat business class seats. And you can book it for just 16,500 Avios each way:
The catch? This flight only operates on Saturdays, so you may need some schedule flexibility to book it. Thankfully, British Airways doesn't require roundtrip award bookings. That means you can fly LATAM in one direction and use your Avios (or another mileage currency) to fly in the other direction on another airline.
Premium economy from Miami to Bogota for 16,500 Avios
LATAM's flight from Miami to Bogota clocks in around ~1,500 miles. Thus, you'll only need to pay 11,000 Avios for an economy award, 16,500 Avios for premium economy, or 22,000 Avios for business class on days LATAM puts its 787 Dreamliner on the route. Generally, LATAM operates MIA to BOG with an Airbus A320, which doesn't feature lie-flat seats.
Fly to Lima for 13,000 Avios
Another sweet spot in the LATAM British Airways award chart is on flights to Lima, Peru (LIM) — especially from Miami. The flight from Miami to Lima covers ~2,600 miles, meaning the cost is just 13,000 Avios each way in economy:
Business class isn't quite as appealing at 38,750 Avios each way. Although it's three times as expensive, some will still find value in upgrading to business class. LATAM uses Boeing 767 aircraft on this route with lie-flat business class seats.
Flights from New York (JFK) to Lima (LIM) span 3,629 miles, bumping the rate to 20,750 Avios in economy or a whopping 62,000 Avios in business class.
Los Angeles (LAX) to Lima (LIM) falls just outside the 4,000-mile distance band, meaning you'll need to pay 25,750 Avios in economy or 77,250 Avios in business class. You may be able to do better than this by booking these same awards through other mileage currencies. For example, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan charges 25,000 miles in economy or 50,000 miles in business class.
Intra-South America flights from 6,000 Avios
Unlike its award chart for flights within North America, British Airways prices short-haul flights on LATAM at just 6,000 Avios each way. You can fly up to 650 miles in distance for this bargain-basement price. Among the seemingly endless options include Bogota to Cartagena, Lima to Cusco, and Recife to Fortaleza.
Even better, award availability is generally widespread. But a word of caution: It's worth checking cash prices before booking one of these short-hop awards. Often, you can book one-way, sub-600-mile LATAM flights for cheap. It may be worth saving your Avios for a more valuable redemption down the road.
Boosting Your British Airways Avios Balance
U.S.-based travelers have no shortage of ways of minting British Airways Avios. British Airways is a transfer partner of the following major transferrable points programs:
In addition, you can transfer Avios between British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Qatar at a 1:1 transfer ratio at no cost. Finnair should join that list within a few months, as well.
Plus, eligible new cardholders of the British Airways Visa Signature® Card can earn 75,000 bonus Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. That's a solid way to build your Avios balance.
- Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL.
- Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
- 10% off British Airways flights starting in the US when you book through the website provided in your welcome materials.
- Every calendar year you make $30,000 in purchases on your British Airways Visa card, you'll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
- Simply tap to pay with your contactless British Airways Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
- Member FDIC
- 3X Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL
- 2X Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations
- 1X Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Bottom Line
One of British Airways' most slept-on partner airlines is LATAM. And part of what makes this partnership so valuable is the number of great sweet spots available on flights between the U.S. and both South America and the Caribbean. Flights within South America also present good value when cash prices go up.
Thanks to its numerous transfer partners and lucrative credit card offer, British Airways Avios are some of the easiest rewards to earn. And you can take advantage of frequent transfer bonuses from Chase, Amex, and Capital One to further reduce the cost of these awards whenever the bonuses come around.
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