MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.


United is putting a 787-9 Dreamliner on its only route to Argentina, from Houston to Buenos Aires, starting October 25.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 10.13.29 PM
source: gcmap.com

 

The United 787-9 Dreamliner has 48 beds in Business class in a 2-2-2 configuration. I always choose a middle seat, since both have direct aisle access. If you choose a seat on either side of the plane, you’ll either need to climb over your seatmate or be climbed over during the flight.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 10.14.20 PM

Each seat converts to a fully flat bed with 6’6″ of sleeping space.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 10.14.40 PM

Some days that the Dreamliner operates have 18 awards seats!

  • How many miles do you need? 
  • What’s the award space?
  • How can you get United miles?
  • How can you book the awards?

Miles Price

Between the United States and Argentina, United charges 30,000 miles each way in economy and 55,000 miles in Business Class.

But you don’t have to book the United award space with United miles. You can book the space with miles from any Star Alliance partner. If you want to book with another partner, search united.com without signing in. Note the date, cabin, and flight number of any Star Alliance flights with a blue button in its Saver award space column; then call the airline whose miles you’re using to book the award.

Screen Shot 2015-05-07 at 12.13.14 AM

Here are the prices charged by some other Star Alliance partners (economy/Business one way) with their transfer partners in parentheses:

  • Asiana (SPG) : 25k/35k
  • Air Canada Aeroplan (MR, SPG): 30k/47.5k
  • Singapore (UR, MR, TY, SPG): 30k/50k
  • Lufthansa Miles & More (SPG): 30k/52k
  • United (UR): 30k/55k
  • Avianca LifeMiles (none, must buy): 30k/60k

Award Space Picture

For over a year, award space on United routes to Buenos Aires has been terrible. That’s probably because United cut its Argentina flights to one per day from Houston, when it previously operated daily flights from Newark and Washington-Dulles also and also because Argentines want to travel to America to take out dollars at a cheaper rate than the “blue market” rate at home.

Award space is pretty weak for the next few months also, but after United puts its 787-9 on the route, award space picks up consistent mid-week award space for up to 9 people in each cabin.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.31.03 PM
When United 787-9s are rolling out. Source: http://airlineroute.net/2015/05/09/ua-iah789-s15/

Houston to Buenos Aires

All the calendars below are for Houston to Buenos Aires. It is zero extra miles to start your award anywhere else in the continental United States, Alaska, or Canada and connect to Houston.

Normally United opens up a lot of last minute award space, and it has opened some from Houston to Buenos Aires in the next month, though almost exclusively in economy.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.25.03 PM

Look when award space picks up and starts to include a lot more space in Business class: right after the Dreamliner starts flying on October 25.Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.26.04 PM Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.26.38 PM

All those calendars just show award space for one passenger. That’s all I expected there to be, considering how sparse award space has been on the route historically.

But I decided to see if there was more award space on a day like November 4 when the calendar had shown award space in both cabins.
Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.38.56 PM

I changed my search to two people, and all the Dreamliner days seemed to have 2 award seats.Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.39.27 PM

I changed to 4, 6, and then 8 passengers, and most days remained. That means that almost every day with one award seat has 8+. Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.44.34 PM Finally I signed in and searched for a flight on one day to look at United’s Expert Mode.

On November 4, you can see “I9” and “X9.”

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.50.44 PM

“I” is Business Class Saver award space and “X” is economy Saver award space. The “9” means that there are nine seats in that fare bucket, or possibly more since nine is the highest number listed. That’s 18+ Saver award seats on the same flight.

Award space from Houston to Buenos Aires is bookable through mid-April 2016 at the moment, but the award space dries up March 24.
Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.53.31 PM

Buenos Aires to Houston

Award space from Buenos Aires to Houston is similar to what we just looked at, but a little worse.

For two people, there is a lot of award space in the next month from Argentina back home, almost all of it in economy.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 11.04.06 PM

After a dead period, there is award space that again starts right after the 787-9 comes into service on the route on October 25. All the award space is in Business Class.
Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.54.10 PM February and March also have some good award space for 2+ people.Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.55.46 PM

How to Get United Miles

Right now is a fantastic time to get United miles.

  • The United Explorer card offers 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months and 5,000 bonus miles for adding an authorized user.
  • The Ink Plus business card offers 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 instantly to United miles.
  • The Sapphire Preferred offers 40,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards after spending $3,000 in the first three months and 5,000 bonus points for adding an authorized user.

Screen Shot 2015-04-24 at 6.40.36 PM

Bottom Line

United is moving its newest plane the 787-9 Dreamliner to its Buenos Aires route in October. From then on, award space in widely available midweek, sometimes for up to 18 people on the same flight.

United’s Dreamliner features excellent flat bed seats, and the award space is open over the best time to visit Buenos Aires–its Spring through its Fall. What’s not to like? Only that this space might not last because historically United has offered very little space on the route.

Further Reading

 

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!


Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.

MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.


United is putting a 787-9 Dreamliner on its only route to Argentina, from Houston to Buenos Aires, starting October 25.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 10.13.29 PM
source: gcmap.com

 

The United 787-9 Dreamliner has 48 beds in Business class in a 2-2-2 configuration. I always choose a middle seat, since both have direct aisle access. If you choose a seat on either side of the plane, you’ll either need to climb over your seatmate or be climbed over during the flight.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 10.14.20 PM

Each seat converts to a fully flat bed with 6’6″ of sleeping space.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 10.14.40 PM

Some days that the Dreamliner operates have 18 awards seats!

  • How many miles do you need? 
  • What’s the award space?
  • How can you get United miles?
  • How can you book the awards?

Miles Price

Between the United States and Argentina, United charges 30,000 miles each way in economy and 55,000 miles in Business Class.

But you don’t have to book the United award space with United miles. You can book the space with miles from any Star Alliance partner. If you want to book with another partner, search united.com without signing in. Note the date, cabin, and flight number of any Star Alliance flights with a blue button in its Saver award space column; then call the airline whose miles you’re using to book the award.

Screen Shot 2015-05-07 at 12.13.14 AM

Here are the prices charged by some other Star Alliance partners (economy/Business one way) with their transfer partners in parentheses:

  • Asiana (SPG) : 25k/35k
  • Air Canada Aeroplan (MR, SPG): 30k/47.5k
  • Singapore (UR, MR, TY, SPG): 30k/50k
  • Lufthansa Miles & More (SPG): 30k/52k
  • United (UR): 30k/55k
  • Avianca LifeMiles (none, must buy): 30k/60k

Award Space Picture

For over a year, award space on United routes to Buenos Aires has been terrible. That’s probably because United cut its Argentina flights to one per day from Houston, when it previously operated daily flights from Newark and Washington-Dulles also and also because Argentines want to travel to America to take out dollars at a cheaper rate than the “blue market” rate at home.

Award space is pretty weak for the next few months also, but after United puts its 787-9 on the route, award space picks up consistent mid-week award space for up to 9 people in each cabin.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.31.03 PM
When United 787-9s are rolling out. Source: http://airlineroute.net/2015/05/09/ua-iah789-s15/

Houston to Buenos Aires

All the calendars below are for Houston to Buenos Aires. It is zero extra miles to start your award anywhere else in the continental United States, Alaska, or Canada and connect to Houston.

Normally United opens up a lot of last minute award space, and it has opened some from Houston to Buenos Aires in the next month, though almost exclusively in economy.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.25.03 PM

Look when award space picks up and starts to include a lot more space in Business class: right after the Dreamliner starts flying on October 25.Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.26.04 PM Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.26.38 PM

All those calendars just show award space for one passenger. That’s all I expected there to be, considering how sparse award space has been on the route historically.

But I decided to see if there was more award space on a day like November 4 when the calendar had shown award space in both cabins.
Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.38.56 PM

I changed my search to two people, and all the Dreamliner days seemed to have 2 award seats.Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.39.27 PM

I changed to 4, 6, and then 8 passengers, and most days remained. That means that almost every day with one award seat has 8+. Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.44.34 PM Finally I signed in and searched for a flight on one day to look at United’s Expert Mode.

On November 4, you can see “I9” and “X9.”

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.50.44 PM

“I” is Business Class Saver award space and “X” is economy Saver award space. The “9” means that there are nine seats in that fare bucket, or possibly more since nine is the highest number listed. That’s 18+ Saver award seats on the same flight.

Award space from Houston to Buenos Aires is bookable through mid-April 2016 at the moment, but the award space dries up March 24.
Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.53.31 PM

Buenos Aires to Houston

Award space from Buenos Aires to Houston is similar to what we just looked at, but a little worse.

For two people, there is a lot of award space in the next month from Argentina back home, almost all of it in economy.

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 11.04.06 PM

After a dead period, there is award space that again starts right after the 787-9 comes into service on the route on October 25. All the award space is in Business Class.
Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.54.10 PM February and March also have some good award space for 2+ people.Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 9.55.46 PM

How to Get United Miles

Right now is a fantastic time to get United miles.

  • The United Explorer card offers 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months and 5,000 bonus miles for adding an authorized user.
  • The Ink Plus business card offers 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 instantly to United miles.
  • The Sapphire Preferred offers 40,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards after spending $3,000 in the first three months and 5,000 bonus points for adding an authorized user.

Screen Shot 2015-04-24 at 6.40.36 PM

Bottom Line

United is moving its newest plane the 787-9 Dreamliner to its Buenos Aires route in October. From then on, award space in widely available midweek, sometimes for up to 18 people on the same flight.

United’s Dreamliner features excellent flat bed seats, and the award space is open over the best time to visit Buenos Aires–its Spring through its Fall. What’s not to like? Only that this space might not last because historically United has offered very little space on the route.

Further Reading

 

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!


Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.