Notes

Trip journal, observations, group thoughts.

Flights summary: cash options + points math

2026-09-12

Best options found so far, per person:

• Outbound (Dec 11):  MCO → MIA → SCL, AA,          $367
• Return   (Jan 1):   GIG → FOR → MCO, Gol,     $810–855
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• Round trip cash total (int’l only, pp):        $1,177–1,222

Plus in-region legs still to price (rough pp):
  • SCL ↔ PUQ round-trip (LATAM/Sky/JetSmart):    ~$110–120
  • SCL → EZE (Buenos Aires):                     ~$100–160
  • EZE → GIG (Rio):                              ~$150–250

Expected all-flights pp total: ~$1,540–1,750
= 34–39% of $4,500 pp budget on flights alone.

Return is ~2.3× outbound because Jan 1 is post-NYE Rio, one of the year’s highest-demand outbound dates from GIG. This is exactly where points redemption pays off — see if Cap One → Air Canada Aeroplan or Chase UR → Iberia Avios has GIG→USA award space at 30–45k pts one-way.

Flight option: GIG → MCO — return via FOR on Gol

2026-09-12

GIG → FOR → MCO, one-way — USD 810–855
Airline: Gol Linhas Aéreas (G3)
G3 2058 (GIG→FOR) 2027-01-01
G3 7624 (FOR→MCO) 2027-01-02 — overnight connect in Fortaleza

Lands MCO on the trip end date (Jan 2) — clean.

Google Flights link:
google.com ↗

Flight option: MCO → SCL — $367 one-way (AA)

2026-09-12

MCO → MIA → SCL, one-way, USD 367
Airline: American Airlines
AA 537 (MCO→MIA) + AA 957 (MIA→SCL)
Depart: 2026-12-11 (arrive Santiago ~2026-12-12)
Gives 2 buffer days before trip officially starts on Dec 14 — good for acclimation.

Google Flights link:
google.com ↗

Compare against: Chase UR vs Cap One transfer values; Iberia/BA award space; MIA depart alternative.