General Info

[The Cane]

And the bad news madness is Brazil just continues: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world...nt-orig-tc.cnn.

[Golfinho]

You sure know how to blow your credibility in just a few posts.

Cred with you, so what? Go to the far corner of Colombia-Brasil for the adventure of it. If I had planned ahead more and made the time would definitely have taken the boatride to Irquitos. There are foreigners in these parts, and the locals could use some cash. Sit outside at the plastic chair bars with a pinga or beer and some company will find you.

[Eszpresszo]

Sad. First priority ought to be getting yourself set-up, instead of avoiding success so later you don't have to shlub thru looking for the cheapest way to do things..

You sure know how to blow your credibility in just a few posts.

[WyattEarp]

Surprisingly, it's touristed.

Is there some Amazonian monger action?

I think it's kind of cool that you just walked across the border in remote Colombia and Brazil. Maybe it's not exactly Indiana Bones, but sounds cool.

[Golfinho]

Leticia, Colombia and Tabatinga, Brazil, that seems like the other end of the world. What's that area like?

Surprisingly, it's touristed.

[Golfinho]

Leticia, Colombia and Tabatinga, Brazil, that seems like the other end of the world. What's that area like?

Surprisingly, it's touristed.

[Golfinho]

honest people of my age, its a necessity that takes first priority above all.

Sad. First priority ought to be getting yourself set-up, instead of avoiding success so later you don't have to shlub thru looking for the cheapest way to do things. Anyway, international flights within South America have always seemed to have had a high dollar-per-mile cost, especially those routes going between Atlantic amd Pacific coasts. But at least with Avianca on Star Alliance, you can use reward miles.

[Eszpresszo]

Everybody knows the discount carriers are in Asia and Europe. The domestic Colombia routes are cheap, though. BTW, how do you find the time for a job?

Well, I didn't know that the discount carriers were in Europe and Asia. So obviously everyone does not. Latin America has had its share of disruption in the airline industry. VARIG and Mexicana are gone, and Avianca had to merge with the national airline of a tiny country. I would have thought that there would have been some progress on that front. But, now at least Spirit can get you to Colombia and Peru cheap (if not with a bit of a hassle).

How do I find the time for a job? Well, like most honest people of my age, its a necessity that takes first priority above all.

[WyattEarp]

Everybody knows the discount carriers are in Asia and Europe. The domestic Colombia routes are cheap, though. Two years' ago, in January no less, I flew from Bogota to Leticia, walked across the border to Tabatinga and took a non-stop to Manaus that was less than 100 usd. Otherwise, the Brazil routes are a good way to use up your Star Alliance miles, though you get your best value for them on inter-Africa flights. BTW, how do you find the time for a job?

Leticia, Colombia and Tabatinga, Brazil, that seems like the other end of the world. What's that area like?

[Golfinho]

and also offers cheap flights to other destinations on the continent. Something tells me there has to be a better way. Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated.

Everybody knows the discount carriers are in Asia and Europe. The domestic Colombia routes are cheap, though. Two years' ago, in January no less, I flew from Bogota to Leticia, walked across the border to Tabatinga and took a non-stop to Manaus that was less than 100 usd. Otherwise, the Brazil routes are a good way to use up your Star Alliance miles, though you get your best value for them on inter-Africa flights. BTW, how do you find the time for a job?

[WyattEarp]

International airfares are greatly influenced by government policy and less about competitive, market prices. First and foremost, you have governments that restrict the number of international flights. Then the portion for taxes assessed on an international fare can be ridiculous depending on the country of destination and the country of departure.

For some reason, it's become expensive over the years to fly from my U.S. city to Toronto and Montreal (where the mongering laws are far more lax). A similar distanced flight inside the USA will be far cheaper. Yet, both Toronto and Montreal have ambitious tourism boards, but the national governments seem to try to kill travel between the two countries.

[Nordico]

The US prices are outrageous. KLM is selling return tickets to Rio from where I live in Europe at EUR 550 (USD 640). I paid EUR 644 (USD 750) for my ticket to Rio, because my return flight is from Sao Paulo.

[Java Man]

When I search flights to GIG, there are all kinds of out of the way routes to Brazil when you look for the cheapest fares. And when you live in Dallas, taking a flight to Toronto, Chicago or Newark to catch a direct flight to Brazil seems incredibly stupid. Something tells me there has to be a better way. Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated.

Flew Avianca from ORD to GIG in July. Connected in Panama, Avianca's Hub. Cost was $843, (purchased about 1 month before.) I've usually flown on American Airlines: ORD. MIA. GIG. But this route felt a little shorter, maybe because Panama is a 7 HR flight to GIG, vs 8 hrs from MIA. Avianca will also let you bid for upgrades to Business class if you purchase an economy fare. (Assuming there are unsold Business class seats.) I also use Hopper.com to check on when fares may be cheaper.

Also best fares are found 45 to 90 days before you fly and check for fares on a Tuesday.

[Eszpresszo]

I do not know what it is but it seems there are never any cheap airfairs. I can get to Paris or Medellin or even Montevideo for 500 round trip. But for some reason, Brazil is always high, I think the chepaest I ever got was 950.

What gives? IS there a travel hack to get a cheaper flight to Rio? Leaving from a certain city? I tried Azul even leaving from Ft Laudreal and it's still cost a pieace. I would visit rio more often if the airfair wasn't soo ridiciollus!

Let me know any tips you guys have found.

I have had that same question. Its cheaper to get to SE Asia now than Brazil, where the poon and a lot of other things are a bit cheaper, apparently (not to mention you don't need to shell out for a visa). I can afford the ticket to be sure. But, I want to have an extended trip in Brazil now that my new employer is giving me a lot of paid time off. And speaking of Asia, here is a travel hack I found when trying to find the cheapest way to Bali. But I hope there is a Latin American version of this trick.

Getting to Bali from the US is expensive, while its like taking a cheap flight to Cancun for the Australians. On the other hand, for an Australian to get to South America, it is rather expensive for them. Flights to DPS with a single connection were suddenly $1000 USD or more, and involved a long layover, regardless of whether you went over the Pacific or over the Persian Gulf. Kuala Lumpur, (code KUL) is a cheap destination to reach and it is well served by the "Big Three" of the Persian Gulf. Flights from there to Bali (or anywhere else in SE Asia) were cheap, less than $100 RT on different regional airlines. So KUL was my connecting hub and my hobby zone on both ends of the trip (yes, you can monger well in KL, though not like in BKK). So I found the sweet spot for low airfare costs and a fun weekend on both ends of the journey.

Now, that I went off on that tangent, I will get to the question at hand. I was wondering if there is a Latin American equivalent to KUL. That is, an airport that is inexpensive to get to, and also offers cheap flights to other destinations on the continent. The key feature of KUL is that it is home to AirAsia, a low cost airline. When you book a flight through KUL, internet search engines don't include low cost carriers like Batik, Malindo and AirAsia. Is South America any different? Last I looked BOG was the busiest airport in South America. Does it host budget regional carriers? I can get there cheap on Spirit and AeroMexico. And its a mongering capital, as well.

When I search flights to GIG, there are all kinds of out of the way routes to Brazil when you look for the cheapest fares. And when you live in Dallas, taking a flight to Toronto, Chicago or Newark to catch a direct flight to Brazil seems incredibly stupid. Something tells me there has to be a better way. Any suggestions or insights would be appreciated.

[BlueChange]

I do not know what it is but it seems there are never any cheap airfairs. I can get to Paris or Medellin or even Montevideo for 500 round trip. But for some reason, Brazil is always high, I think the chepaest I ever got was 950.

What gives? IS there a travel hack to get a cheaper flight to Rio? Leaving from a certain city? I tried Azul even leaving from Ft Laudreal and it's still cost a pieace. I would visit rio more often if the airfair wasn't soo ridiciollus!

Let me know any tips you guys have found.