There are decent deals on discount Business Class travel to South America if you know this upgrade strategy involving "B fares."

Book American Airlines’ lowest economy fares and an upgrade to Business Class will cost 50,000 AAdvantage miles, plus a $600 "upgrade surcharge.”

Book a ‘B’ fare (more expensive coach fare, with fewer restrictions), however, and the airline charges 20,000 miles – and no surcharge.

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EXAMPLE: If you book American Airlines’ lowest economy class Dallas-Lima fare for about $925, an upgrade will cost 50,000 miles plus the $600 surcharge. But, book a B fare for $1,570 round-trip, and American will charge you only 20,000 miles – and no cash surcharge!

THE MATH: The B fare really only costs $45 more, since the $600 surcharge doesn’t apply. You’ll also save 30,000 miles -- just enough for a domestic round-trip upgrade, easily worth $1,000 or more depending on the routing.

This discount Business Class travel upgrade strategy works better on some routes than others. It works best when you are booking less than 50 days in advance or your route doesn’t offer discount Business Class fares at all, and when the lowest economy fares are sold out (always check both ways).

In these two (fairly common) instances, you might only be paying a little more in order to save both 30,000 miles!

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