View on my SCL-IPC flight

Which is better?
One of the biggest reasons I decided to pull the trigger and do this trip was the existence of round-the-world (RTW) flights. You can construct your dream itinerary and then either pay cash or use frequent flyer miles. I chose the latter, which saved me quite a bit. Specifically, I chose the Oneworld Alliance “Explorer Award” using American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

[Note: This option is no longer valid as of April 7th, 2014. It is indeed a sad fact that AA decided to discontinue the Oneworld Explorer Award tickets (booked using miles), as this is what allowed me to take my trip. See here for more details…]

These types of awards allow you to fly up to 16 segments and a maximum distance of 50,000 miles. Each level of miles flown corresponds to a number of AAdvantage miles. Star Alliance and SkyTeam also offer such awards, but I think Oneworld offers the most bang for your buck…or mile. Continue Reading…