Any tips for flying to South America, please ?

[pilbeam_mp62]

I am planning a holiday in South America in October - flying from London to Rio at the beginning of October, and returning from Buenos Aires 2 weeks later.

I don't really want to book British Airways, because of potential strikes.

Does anyone have experience of the other airlines that do these routes ? Any info would be gratefully received, as well as info about the best place to actually book the flights.

Thank you very much.
Regards

[Puggit]

Best bet for S America would be to look at Iberia (make sure you're not on a BA flight LHR-MAD!). Air France and TAP could be another option, along with the S American airlines themselves.

Slightly longer trip, but you might also consider flying via North America (I'd suggest American via Miami as the most direct).

[davepoth]

BA and Iberia are the same company now! Expect everything out of the UK to be a BA codeshare.

Continental have a fairly good service, but it often involves a layover at New York (whether you consider this good or bad is up to you).

[shakotan]

Puggit said:

Best bet for S America would be to look at Iberia (make sure you're not on a BA flight LHR-MAD!). Air France and TAP could be another option, along with the S American airlines themselves.

Slightly longer trip, but you might also consider flying via North America (I'd suggest American via Miami as the most direct).

fk flying with any North American carrier, they are st.

[harry010]

As you are going to Rio and Beunos Aires, an option might be to fly into Sao Paulo and connect to Rio from there inbound, and then come back through Sao Paulo outbound as it's the same flight for all intents and purposes.

Sadly it's BA, but it's direct and overnight so less hassle. I use this flight a lot and I've never had any problems.

Lufthansa might also be an option, but it's usually a lay-over in Munich.

[Red rose]

I recently flew to LHR - Rio for work. BA were "too expensive" and our travel folk proposed to book me on TAM. A quick look at google suggested that TAM might not be an "airline of choice". I kicked back and ended up being booked on Air France via CDG.

A few days later an email arrived from our travel folks safey consultants explaining that TAM may have issues elsewhere, but run the most modern fleet of any carrier on this route and are therefore our preferred option for UK Brasil travel. Doh !

Anyway, the Air France flights were OK. Aircraft seemed old and tired but great food and wine !

[pilbeam_mp62]

Thanks very much to all for the info.

Regards