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American Airlines miles are ideal for super cheap economy awards and ultra-luxury First Class awards. The cheap economy awards rely on American Airlines’ off peak award pricing. At the moment, we are in the middle of the Fall off peak award pricing window to Central and South America.

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  • If you book flights on American Airlines or US Airways planes to Central America or Northern South America during the above dates, you pay only 15,000 miles each way.
  • If you book any American Airlines partner to Southern South America during the above dates, you pay only 20,000 miles each way.

For a limited time, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® offers 75,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months. That means you’ll have 82,500 American Airlines miles after meeting the spending requirement.

Those 82,500 miles are enough for two roundtrips to Southern South America or nearly three roundtrips to Northern South America (90,000 miles total.)

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I checked award space to some popular destinations for the Fall.

New York to Rio de Janeiro

Award space for two people is very good from New York to Brazil’s most visited city this Fall.

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Award space is even better on the return flight.Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.08.57 PM

I pieced together this award with direct flights.Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.09.40 PM

For two passengers, the total is 80,000 miles + $120!

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Just by opening the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® and spending $7,500 in the first three months, you’d have enough miles to book this award.

Dallas to Santiago

Award space from Dallas to Chile’s capital is sporadic this Fall, but if you have flexibility, it is easy enough to book.
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Award space on the return is far better.Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.13.32 PM

I priced out this award for two people.Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.14.27 PM

Again the cost is 80,000 total miles + $106 for two people. Silly cheap, right?

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Los Angeles to Colombia (open jaw)

These awards can all be booked one way, so open jaws are possible on roundtrips.

I searched for award space for three passengers from Los Angeles to Medellin, and award space is quite good this Fall.

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For the return, I searched from Bogota back to Los Angeles. (Medellin and Bogota are connected by very cheap low cost carrier flights or Avios awards on LAN.) Award space is again excellent for three people.Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.16.18 PM

The award isn’t ideal in terms of layovers, but the price is right.Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.20.03 PM

For three people, you’d pay only 90,000 miles + $242. Total!Screen Shot 2015-09-15 at 11.20.09 PMBottom Line

Off peak awards to South America with American Airlines miles are super cheap.

For a limited time, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® offers 75,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months. That means you’ll have 82,500 American Airlines miles after meeting the spending requirement.

Those 82,500 miles are enough for two roundtrips to Southern South America or nearly three roundtrips to Northern South America (90,000 miles total.)

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Earn 75,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard®. Plus get American Airlines Admirals Club membership for super-cheap economy awards and ultra-luxury First Class awards.

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Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!


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