Airfare, South America
Best Cards For South America Flights
Updated on Thu, 29 Jan 2026
South America is a vast continent ripe for exploration. Coming from North America, you won’t have to deal with jet lag, and costs are generally lower than in more developed regions, while still offering a stunning mix of major cities, natural wonders, and historical sites. South America offers exceptional value for points travelers, and the cards below give you the most reliable and cost-effective ways to book airfare to and from the continent using points.
Our Rankings
1 | Citi Strata Elite
The Citi Strata Elite tops our list of the best cards to have when booking flights to and from South America. Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and American Airlines are the top three programs for award flights to the continent, offering the best coverage, the most options, and some of the cheapest award prices, all with minimal taxes and fees. Citi is the only bank that transfers to all three. While Amex’s transfer partners come in a close second, Citi edges this one out because of its lower annual fee and its exclusive partnership with American Airlines. And while you won’t get the same level of lounge coverage as with the Amex Platinum, you still receive Priority Pass access and four Admirals Club passes. In a region like South America, where lounge networks are less extensive, Priority Pass is often more than sufficient.
2 | Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum sits just behind the Strata Elite, as you can transfer Membership Rewards to both Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan, two of the strongest programs for flights to South America. Delta is another solid option, with good economy availability from a variety of US cities to northern South America at competitive prices. ANA is less commonly discussed for this region, but it can be a strong option for business class. Because South America is treated as a single region on ANA’s partner award chart, you can book flights on United, Copa, or Avianca to southern South America for the same price as northern destinations, maximizing value. The main drawbacks are that ANA requires round-trip bookings and transfers can take two to three days. You can also use British Airways Avios for flights on American, though nonstop routes are key since Avios prices each segment separately. A large signup bonus, premium lounge access, and other luxury perks keep the Amex Platinum firmly near the top of this list.
3 | Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X is another strong contender, and you honestly can’t go wrong with any of the top three cards for airfare to South America. Like the top two options, Capital One miles transfer to Avianca and Air Canada, which cover most award travel needs to and from the continent. Capital One also partners with British Airways, which adds another option, though the best value is usually found on nonstop American-operated flights since British prices each segment separately. There are also a handful of niche partner opportunities, though they tend to be less reliable or competitively priced. You can sometimes find flights on Delta or Copa through Flying Blue, on Delta or LATAM through Virgin Atlantic, or on Star Alliance carriers via Singapore Airlines in business class. Like ANA, Singapore prices South America as a single region, which can create better value for flights to southern destinations like Argentina and Chile. With a significantly lower annual fee than the Amex Platinum and a simpler earning and benefits structure, the Venture X remains a compelling alternative to the top two cards.
Honorable Mentions
4 | Chase Sapphire Preferred
After the top three cards, the options drop off significantly. Chase does not transfer to Avianca, but it does transfer to Air Canada, which offers plenty of solid options to and from South America. Chase also transfers to United, which partners with Avianca. While award pricing is usually better when booking directly through Avianca, you can still tap into its vast network through United when needed. Chase also transfers to several secondary programs we’ve already mentioned, including British Airways, Flying Blue, and Singapore Airlines. We chose the Sapphire Preferred here because we don’t feel the higher annual fee on the Reserve is justified for South America airfare alone. That said, both cards share the same transfer partners, so either works. If you value the Reserve’s non-airfare perks, it may be worth the upgrade. If you prefer a lower annual fee and want to avoid coupon-style credits, the Preferred is the better fit.
5 | Citi American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum
American has strong coverage to and from South America, both on its own metal and through partners. While Avianca often offers the lowest prices and best coverage, its website can be buggy, searches can be slow, and changes or cancellations on award tickets are expensive. American provides a safer alternative when you want more flexibility and predictable booking, especially when the price difference isn’t significant. We chose the Platinum World Elite because it waives the annual fee the first year while still offering a solid signup bonus, a free checked bag for the cardmember and up to four companions, and preferred boarding. If you want more perks, the Globe card is a step up. If you want premium benefits and lounge access, the Executive card is the top option. The Business card offers very similar benefits to this card and does not count toward your 5/24 status.
6 | United Explorer
Rounding out our list is the United Explorer card. United partners with Avianca and Copa, and while you won’t get the same low prices as booking directly through LifeMiles, you’ll still have access to much of the same network. United also does not pass on fuel surcharges, and award tickets can be changed or canceled without fees, which is a meaningful advantage and can be worth the slightly higher mileage cost. The Explorer is a great option for travelers who aren’t loyal to United, as it offers a solid signup bonus, a free checked bag for the cardmember and one companion, and two United Club one-time passes each year. If you value a second checked bag over lounge access, the Quest card may be a better fit. If you fly United regularly and want premium benefits, the United Club Infinite is the airline’s top-tier card.
Honorable Mentions
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