Should I book each family member separately or together?

Always book together on one reservation. This ensures you're seated together, makes changes easier, and often gets you better group rates. Most airlines offer small family discounts when booking 3+ passengers.

Are there cheaper days to fly to South America?

Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically cost $100-300 less per person than Friday-Sunday flights. Avoid departing the week before Christmas or during North American spring break for the best prices.

How early should we arrive for international flights with kids?

Arrive 3 hours early for international departures. South American check-in and security can be slower, and you'll want extra time for family bathroom breaks, snacks, and getting through immigration.

Should we get travel insurance for family trips?

Yes, especially with children. Medical coverage in South America can be expensive for foreigners, and trip cancellation insurance makes sense given the high cost of family flights. Expect to pay 4-6% of your total trip cost.

How to Book Family Flights to South America

Book family flights to South America 2-3 months ahead for best prices, use multi-city searches to compare gateways like Lima, Santiago, and São Paulo, and consider breaking up long journeys with stopovers. Expect to pay $600-1200 per person from North America depending on season and destination.

Choose your South American gateway. Lima (Peru), Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil), and Bogotá (Colombia) offer the most flight options and competitive prices. Lima and Santiago work best for western South America, São Paulo for Brazil and Argentina, Bogotá for northern countries.
Search 2-3 months in advance. South American flights follow predictable patterns. Book January-March trips by October, April-September trips by February, October-December trips by August. Prices jump significantly closer to travel dates.
Use multi-city search tools. Search Google Flights, Momondo, and Kayak with flexible dates turned on. Try different gateway combinations - sometimes flying into Lima and out of Santiago saves $200+ per person compared to round-trip tickets.
Consider stopovers for families. Panama City, Mexico City, and Miami make natural stopover points that break up 8+ hour flights. Copa Airlines via Panama and Avianca via Bogotá often offer competitive family deals with reasonable layovers.
Book seats together immediately. South American routes fill up fast and airlines charge $50-150 per person for seat selection later. Pay the fee upfront to guarantee your family sits together, especially on LATAM and Avianca.
Check baggage policies carefully. Most South American carriers allow 23kg (50lbs) free, but budget airlines like Sky and JetSmart charge for everything. Factor baggage fees into your total cost - they can add $100+ per person each way.

Should I book each family member separately or together?: Always book together on one reservation. This ensures you're seated together, makes changes easier, and often gets you better group rates. Most airlines offer small family discounts when booking 3+ passengers.
Are there cheaper days to fly to South America?: Tuesday and Wednesday departures typically cost $100-300 less per person than Friday-Sunday flights. Avoid departing the week before Christmas or during North American spring break for the best prices.
How early should we arrive for international flights with kids?: Arrive 3 hours early for international departures. South American check-in and security can be slower, and you'll want extra time for family bathroom breaks, snacks, and getting through immigration.
Should we get travel insurance for family trips?: Yes, especially with children. Medical coverage in South America can be expensive for foreigners, and trip cancellation insurance makes sense given the high cost of family flights. Expect to pay 4-6% of your total trip cost.