Booking a multi-country flight itinerary in South America

Avoid booking one giant 'round-the-world' ticket; instead, book a round-trip ticket to your primary hub and use budget airlines or a regional air pass for internal legs. Use aggregators to identify routes, then book directly with the airline to ensure you have a valid ticket if flights change or get canceled.

1. Map your 'Open-Jaw' route. Search for an 'Open-Jaw' ticket (multi-city) to get into your first country and out of your last. For example, fly into Bogotá (BOG) and out of Buenos Aires (EZE). This saves you from back-tracking.
2. Identify regional carriers. South American aviation is dominated by LATAM and Avianca. Use these as your base, but look for smaller carriers like Sky Airline (Chile/Peru) or JetSmart for cheaper secondary routes.
3. Check the air pass options. If you plan on visiting 4+ countries, check the 'LATAM South America Air Pass.' It requires you to have an international flight on a Oneworld airline, but it can significantly lower the cost of internal legs if booked at the same time.
4. Book internal legs separately. If an air pass isn't viable, book regional flights 6-8 weeks out. Use Google Flights to track prices, but always toggle the country setting on airline websites to 'Local' (e.g., set the LATAM site to 'Chile') to avoid 'foreigner pricing' for domestic flights.

Should I use a travel agent for multi-country trips?

Generally, no. Online tools are robust enough now. Only use an agent if you are planning a very complex itinerary with remote bush flights or specialized logistics.

Why do some airline websites show higher prices for me?

Dynamic pricing based on your IP address is common. Use a VPN or set the airline's website location to the country of departure to see the local currency pricing.

Are regional flights often delayed?

Yes. Budget airlines like JetSmart have tight schedules. Never book a tight connection (under 4 hours) between a regional flight and your international flight home.