Vayama Travel Blog

Don’t Pass Up on South America Air Passes and save

By Florin R. Ferrs.

You’ve scored a great discounted airfare to South America on vayama.com (It could be to Lima, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Buenos Aires or any other South American city). You’re on a budget,  but still want to see South America’s top ten destinations. How can you cover all that territory in a timely manner without costing you an arm and a leg?

You can always go the classic backpacker’s route and use local buses; and this is a nice way to see the local culture up close. But unless you have a whole year off, it will be difficult to see the “best of” South America by bus, plus some of the best destinations are simply not reachable by car and that includes Machu Picchu, Angel Falls, the Galapagos and remote villages in the Amazon Jungle.

The only way to see the best of South America is by air, but if you wait until you get there to  buy your domestic flights,  it will get very expensive. The secret to saving time and money is to get a South America Airpass before you leave. South America air passes start from $350 to $650 and allow you to cover different regions and countries for one set low price. To qualify for an airpass you must first buy an intercontinental flight to South America on one of the participating airlines (booked for less on vayama.com). Once your ticket to South America is issued, you have to contact one of the participating airlines to purchase their airpass.

South America Airpasses

1- LAN Airlines South America Airpass

LAN’s Airpass covers over 50 destinations in South America, allowing you to design many different routes based on your interests. You must first fly to South America on LAN Airlines or on a One World Alliance member (or on South African Airways, Air China or United Airlines). Once you’ve purchased your discounted flight to South America (online with vayama), you have to contact LAN Airlines to book their airpass. Click here to see LAN’s suggested itineraries, including the Galapagos and the best of South America.

Easter Island and Iguazu falls are included in LAN's SA Pass

2- One World Alliance Visit South America Pass

This pass is open to anyone arriving in South America on a One World Alliance carrier; it allows you to book as many flights as you want within South America for one low set price per flight. Click here for more information on the One World Visit South America Pass.

Don't pass up One World's South America Pass

3- Aerolineas Argentinas South American Pass

Aerolineas Argentinas is set to be the newest member of the Star Alliance and their South American Pass offers great value for money. Their pass starts with a set price for 3 or 4 flights,  and goes up to 12 one way flights in total. You must fly to South America on Aerolineas Argentinas and within South America the pass will be on Austral and Aerolineas Argentinas. Click here for more information on Aerolineas Argentina’s South American Pass.

Aerolineas' South American Pass

TAM Brazil Airpass

TAM Brazilian Airlines is also a member of the Star Alliance and their TAM Brazil Airpass gets you 4 to 9 flights within Brazil for one set low price. Plan your inter-Brazilian trip and call TAM airlines to book the airpass after you’ve purchased your discounted intercontinental flight to Brazil on TAM airlines on vayama.com. Click here for more info on TAM’s Brazil Airpass.

See Brazil with TAM's Brazil Airpass

Create your own South American explorations and save with these airpasses. Send us your South American travelogues, pictures and blogs; we will post the best ones for our traveler’s to enjoy and follow on your footsteps.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 21st, 2010 at 1:26 pm and is filed under South America. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.