South America Deals Offered on Airlines

VASP Brazilian Airlines, which inaugurated service from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Manaus last October, is offering a “Brazil Airpass” for flights within Brazil. Travelers can purchase coupons for five one-way flights within Brazil for $440.

By comparison, the one-way regular economy fares from Rio de Janeiro to Manaus and Porto Alegre are $425 and $186, respectively. And the one-way fares between Sao Paulo and Salvador de Bahia and Brasilia are $235 and $203.

After purchasing an air pass, travelers are then eligible to buy four additional coupons, up to a maximum of four, for $100 each.

All of the coupons must be used within a 21-day period, beginning with the first flight within Brazil. Shuttle flights between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are excluded from the program.

Varig offers its own “Brazil Airpass/Varig” for $440 that also permits one-way flights to any five cities within the country during a 21-day period.

Both passes offered by the Brazilian carriers have to be purchased outside Brazil. If flights originate within the United States, the passes can start being used in any Brazilian city. However, if arrival in Brazil is from another South American country, travelers have to begin use of the pass either in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo.

Other South American countries also have air passes with varying conditions.

Aerolineas Argentinas has a “Visit Argentina” pass that offers a a booklet of coupons for four one-way flights within the country for $359; six coupons for $409, and eight coupons for $459. All of the flights have to be made within a 30-day period. Flights to Argentina can be taken on any carrier, and the itinerary can be set up upon arrival.

Avianca has two “Discover Colombia” passes: a 14-day pass permits visits to five cities for $112, and a 30-day pass allows visits to 10 cities for $224. The passes have to be purchased in conjunction with flights from the United States to Colombia aboard Avianca, and the intra-Colombia flights have to be set up before arrival in the country.

Contact travel agents or Aerolineas Argentinas at (800) 333-0276; Avianca, (800) 284-2622; Varig, (800) 468-2744, and VASP, (800) 732-8277.