LAN Airlines has an interesting special for those looking to travel in comfort from the US to South America, especially to Argentina, Chile, Peru, or Ecuador:
They’re running a strong sale for business class, and throwing in a free (economy) domestic roundtrip ticket. The domestic roundtrip isn’t a connection: it’s a separate ticket that’s valid as long as the dates are embedded between the dates of the international flights.
These business class fares are pretty strong. (The flights to Chile are the least interesting, but still below the norm.) Consider:
- $899 (plus tax) roundtrip to Ecuador. Then for your domestic ticket, think Galapagos…
- $999 (plus tax) roundtrip to Peru. Connect to Cuzco for a trip to Machu Picchu?
- $1799 (plus tax) roundtrip to Brazil. No free domestic ticket this time. Bummer.
- $2199 (plus tax) roundtrip to Argentina. Side trip to Bariloche or Mendoza, perhaps?
- $2599 (plus tax) roundtrip to Chile. Domestic freebie options: Calama, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas
Some of these flights require 30 days advance purchase (Brazil, Ecuador, Peru), while others require 50 days advance purchase (Argentina, Chile).
Here’s the fine print on the free domestic ticket:
Complimentary domestic roundtrip ticket available with purchase of new Premium Business Class Sale ticket by September 29, 2010 from the United States to Argentina, Chile, Peru or Ecuador.** Complimentary ticket must be booked at the same time as the Premium Business Class Sale ticket and used within the travel period applicable to the Premium Business Class Sale ticket purchased. Complimentary domestic ticket is for economy class travel to the following destinations: Mendoza, Iguazu or Bariloche in Argentina; Calama, Puerto Montt or Punta Arenas in Chile; Galapagos Island in Ecuador; Cuzco, Arequipa or Iquitos in Peru. Complimentary ticket not available in Brazil. MINIMUM STAY: To PUERTO MONTT, PUNTA ARENAS/CALAMA/IGUAZU, BARILOCHE/MENDOZA: 4 days. No minimum stay for CUZCO/AREQUIPA/IQUITOS/GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Passenger responsible for any applicable taxes or airport fees. Seats are limited and might not be available on all flights/dates. Complimentary domestic round trip tickets do not have a cash value and/or cannot be substituted or transferred
UPDATE: I followed up with the company regarding the actual process of booking this deal, which isn’t brazenly apparent on the website. Here are the instructions:
…customers should select their final, domestic destination when booking flights. They will be ticketed through the hub in the corresponding Latin American country (example, final destination is Cuzco, ticketed through Lima and given complimentary domestic flight to Cuzco).
Presumably, booking it as a multi-city itinerary would be the way to go if you are embedding the domestic flights in the middle of the itinerary.
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September 3rd, 2010 at 10:38 am
what is the direct link to this deal?
from the main page i only see business class deals from $899 (mostly from Miami only, much more expensive from other cities), and nothing mentioning the complimentary domestic ticket.
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Hmm, you’re right, the link doesn’t indicate the free domestic ticket.
You may need to phone this in.
Here is a press release that was sent to me, in its entirety, which may help:
—————-
LAN Airlines Offers Luxury for Less with
Special Premium Business Class Sale
Book now to experience discounted fares and receive a complimentary domestic flight within Peru, Argentina, Chile and Ecuador*
MIAMI, September 1, 2010 – LAN Airlines, South America’s premier air carrier, and its affiliates announced an exciting new fare sale for their award-winning Premium Business Class service on flights to South America from major U.S. gateways including Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and New York.** The offer also extends to travel from Boston, Chicago, Orlando and Washington DC on LAN’s partners’ First or Business class until passenger connects with LAN or its affiliates’ Premium Business Class for a 100% upgraded experience. Passengers must book by September 29, 2010 to be eligible for a complimentary domestic roundtrip flight in Economy to add to their travel itinerary to Argentina, Chile, Ecuador or Peru.*
“This Premium Business Class sale exemplifies the best of what LAN Airlines has to offer,” said Pablo Yunis, LAN Airlines’ Vice President for North America and the Caribbean. “Passengers now have the opportunity to experience our unparalleled service, the luxury of Premium Business Class and discover South America with the connectivity of LAN’s extensive network of tourist destinations paired with our unbeatable special fare sale.”
To access the special Premium Business Class fares, passenger must purchase tickets by October 31, 2010 and travel must be completed during applicable travel dates listed below. LAN Airlines and its affiliates offer a complimentary domestic roundtrip ticket in economy class to the domestic cities listed below for purchases made by September 29, 2010.
Argentina: From $2,199 RT + tax
§ Advance purchase: 50 days
§ Travel dates: September 1st, 2010 – December 14th, 2010 & December 24th – December 31st 2010 & January 1st – January 29th 2011 & March 1st – July 23rd 2011
§ International flight to Buenos Aires.
§ Domestic cities:
§ Mendoza
§ Iguazu
§ Bariloche
Chile: From $2,599 RT + tax
Ecuador: From $899 RT + tax
§ Advance purchase: 30 days
§ Travel dates: September 1st – December 8th 2010 & December 25th 2010 – June 14th 2011
§ International flight to Quito or Guayaquil
§ Domestic city: Galapagos Islands
Peru: From $999 RT + tax
§ Advance purchase: 30 days
§ Travel dates: September 1st – December 5th 2010 & December 31st 2010 – June 12th 2011
§ International flight to Lima
§ Domestic cities:
§ Cuzco
§ Arequipa
§ Iquitos
Brazil: From $1,799 RT + tax
§ Travel dates: September 1st – December 9th, 2010 & January 7th – June 26th 2011
§ International flight to Sao Paulo via Lima.
§ Complimentary roundtrip does not apply to travel in Brazil
LAN Airlines’ Premium Business Class – Service Highlights:
LAN Airlines’ Premium Business Class has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards. In 2010, Global Traveler Magazine selected LAN’s Premium Business wine list as the second best in the world. In 2009, Business Traveler Magazine named LAN Airline’s Premium Business Class as the best Business Class to South America and Global Traveler Magazine selected LAN’s onboard champagne as Best Airline Sparkling Wine for its Wines on the Wing, International Business Class Airline Wine Competition.
Visit http://www.LAN.com for more information or log on to Facebook and Twitter LAN Airlines USA to learn more about current deals and promotions.
*Complimentary domestic roundtrip ticket available with purchase of new Premium Business Class Sale ticket by September 29, 2010 from the United States to Argentina, Chile, Peru or Ecuador.** Complimentary ticket must be booked at the same time as the Premium Business Class Sale ticket and used within the travel period applicable to the Premium Business Class Sale ticket purchased. Complimentary domestic ticket is for economy class travel to the following destinations: Mendoza, Iguazu or Bariloche in Argentina; Calama, Puerto Montt or Punta Arenas in Chile; Galapagos Island in Ecuador; Cuzco, Arequipa or Iquitos in Peru. Complimentary ticket not available in Brazil. MINIMUM STAY: To PUERTO MONTT, PUNTA ARENAS/CALAMA/IGUAZU, BARILOCHE/MENDOZA: 4 days. No minimum stay for CUZCO/AREQUIPA/IQUITOS/GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Passenger responsible for any applicable taxes or airport fees. Seats are limited and might not be available on all flights/dates. Complimentary domestic round trip tickets do not have a cash value and/or cannot be substituted or transferred.
**Premium Business Class Sale Terms & Conditions:
Valid only on new ticket purchases. Fares are in US DOLLARS and based on roundtrip tickets in Premium Business Class or First/Business Class from BOSTON, MA; CHICAGO, IL; MIAMI, FL; LOS ANGELES, CA; ORLANDO, FL; NEW YORK, NY; SAN FRANCISCO, CA; and Washington DC to BUENOS AIRES, Argentina;SANTIAGO, Chile; LIMA, Peru; GUAYAQUIL and QUITO, Ecuador; and
SAO PAULO, Brazil. NOTE: From Los Angeles, CA to Lima, Peru special fares cannot be applied to flight numbers LA601 and LA602. Flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Miami to Sao Paulo, Brazil connect via Lima. Flights to/from BOSTON, MA; CHICAGO, IL; ORLANDO, FL andWashington DC are in First or Business class are operated by codeshare partner American Airlines or partner United Airlines and connect with LAN Airlines or its affiliates in MIAMI, LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO or NEW YORK and Flights from MIAMI, LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO are be operated by LAN Airlines S.A. or its affiliates (LAN Argentina S.A., Aerolane, Lineas Aereas Nacionales del Ecuador S.A. dba LAN Ecuador or LAN Peru S.A.). Consult LAN’s sales offices or travel agencies for specific operating carrier information. Premium Business Class sale tickets offer available for new purchases on/before October 31, 2010. MINIMUM STAY: To SANTIAGO/BUENOS AIRES: 10 days; To LIMA/GUAYAQUIL/QUITO/SAO PAULO: 7days. MAXIMUM STAY: Limited by travel dates listed in advertisement. TAXES: not included, approximate taxes of up to US$100, including the September 11th Security Fee. Date change, ticket reissuance and refunds permitted at no charge for LAN Airlines and its affiliates’ Premium Business Class tickets. Change/ticket reissuance fee and refund restrictions may apply to codeshare/partner flights. Please contact American Airlines or United for details. DISCOUNTS: Children and infant discounts not available for this offer. Offer subject to change without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply for other fares not shown in this advertisement.
About LAN:
LAN Airlines is one of the leading passenger and cargo airlines in Latin America. The company and its affiliates serve over 70 destinations around the world through an extensive network that offers full connectivity within Latin America, while also linking the region with North America, Europe and the South Pacific, as well as 70 additional international destinations through its various alliances. LAN Airlines and its affiliates have a leading position in their respective domestic markets of Chile and Peru as well as an important presence in the Argentinean domestic market and has completed its first year of operations in the domestic market of Ecuador.
Currently, LAN Airlines and its affiliates operate one of the most modern fleets in the world, with 86 passenger aircraft, and its cargo subsidiary, LAN CARGO and its respective cargo affiliates, own a fleet of 10 freighters. The company recently completed its short haul fleet renovation process by acquiring new aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, enabling LAN to improve its efficiency and to reduce significantly its CO2 emissions. The fleet renovation is part of the company’s commitment to the protection of the environment.
LAN is one of the few Investment Grade airlines in the world (BBB). The company’s world class quality standards enabled its membership in oneworld™, the global alliance that encompasses the best airlines in the world. For more information please visit http://www.lan.com or http://www.oneworldalliance.com.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Post is updated with further information regarding the booking of the domestic portion. For those who are subscribed to comments, I’ll paste that info here, too:
“…customers should select their final, domestic destination when booking flights. They will be ticketed through the hub in the corresponding Latin American country (example, final destination is Cuzco, ticketed through Lima and given complimentary domestic flight to Cuzco).”
Presumably, booking it as a multi-city itinerary would be the way to go if you are embedding the domestic flights in the middle of the itinerary.