Which Airlines Should You Fly to South America in 2026? (Ranked)

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South America is my favourite continent to explore, but finding the right airline from Boston has always been a bit of a mission. Direct flights don’t exist from my home airport, so I’ve spent countless hours comparing connections through Miami, Houston, Dallas and Panama City. I’ve flown economy, premium economy and business class on routes across the continent to figure out what’s worth the money.

After all those trips, I’ve put together this guide to the best airlines flying to South America in 2026. From chasing glaciers in Patagonia to eating your way through Lima, the airline you choose matters more than you’d think. Here’s what I’ve learned about getting there comfortably without overpaying.

Quick tip to find cheap flights to South America

I’ve been using Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) for years to find deals on flights to South America. You enter your home airport and destinations you’re interested in, and they send you mistake fares and discounted deals when they pop up. The free version covers most of what you’ll need, though if you travel a lot like me, it’s worth upgrading to the premium version for $49 a year to get access to more routes.

Last year I grabbed a $236 roundtrip fare from Boston to Cartagena through one of their email alerts, which paid for the membership several times over. If you’re planning a trip to South America and have some flexibility on dates, I recommend signing up for the free trial to see what comes through. You can cancel anytime, and if you decide to upgrade, use my code JON20 to save 20%!

1. 🇨🇱 LATAM Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Santiago (SCL), São Paulo (GRU), Lima (LIM)
• ✈️ Best For: Reaching anywhere in South America, including smaller cities other airlines don’t touch
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy (coming 2027), Premium Business
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: One free checked bag on international flights, carry on included
• 💳 Loyalty Program: LATAM Pass, partners with Delta SkyMiles
• 🎯 Pro Tip: If you have Delta SkyMiles, use them here. Award availability is better and you’ll dodge the hefty fees other programs charge.

LATAM is the airline you’ll see everywhere once you start searching for South America flights, and there’s a good reason for that. They fly to more destinations across the continent than anyone else. This includes smaller cities in Patagonia, the Amazon and the Andes that other carriers don’t serve. If your trip involves hopping between countries or getting somewhere off the beaten path, LATAM will probably be part of your itinerary whether you planned it that way or not.

Flying with them has gotten noticeably better over the past year. They’ve been rolling out brand new business class suites with closing doors on their Boeing 787s, and by late 2026 most of their long haul fleet will have them. Even in economy, the newer planes feel modern and comfortable, with seatback screens and decent legroom for the 10+ hour flights from Miami or Los Angeles.

For anyone with credit card points or airline miles, LATAM is surprisingly accessible. They partner with Delta, so if you’ve been stacking SkyMiles, you can use them for LATAM flights at genuinely reasonable rates. I always check Delta’s website first when booking LATAM award tickets because the fees are dramatically lower than booking through other partners.

• Read next: Prettiest Places to Visit in Latin America
• You may also like: Places to Visit in South America
• For more reading: Things to Do in the Amazon Rainforest

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2. 🇵🇦 Copa Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Panama City (PTY)
• ✈️ Best For: Reaching secondary South American cities with short connections
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business (Dreams lie-flat on select routes)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Checked bag included on most fares
• 💳 Loyalty Program: ConnectMiles (Star Alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Book through United MileagePlus using Aeroplan miles for the best award availability

I’ve connected through Panama City more times than I can count, and Copa has become my go-to for reaching places that would otherwise require two or three connections. Their hub at Tocumen sits right in the middle of the Americas, which means flights to most South American cities are under six hours. They serve 88 destinations in 32 countries, including secondary cities like Medellín, Cali, Guayaquil, and Asunción.

The catch is that Copa flies exclusively Boeing 737s, so don’t expect the widebody comfort you’d get on LATAM or American for longer routes. Copa’s “Dreams” business class on the 737 MAX 9 has lie-flat beds, but most flights still use older 737-800s with recliner seats that feel more like domestic first class. Check your aircraft type before booking if this matters to you. There’s also no WiFi on most planes.

What Copa does better than anyone is connections. Panama City is compact, layovers are typically 90 minutes to two hours, and the airline’s punctuality record is excellent. For 2026, they’ve added Salvador de Bahia, resumed Caracas, and launched Los Cabos, continuing to fill gaps in routes other airlines ignore. If your destination isn’t served nonstop from the US, Copa probably has the fastest routing through Panama.

• Read next: 12 Expat-Friendly Places in Panama That Feel Like Home

3. 🇺🇸 American Airlines

• 🏠 Hubs: Miami (MIA), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
• ✈️ Best For: The most nonstop options from the US to South America
• 💺 Cabin Options: Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Flagship Business
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Carry on included, checked bags extra on basic fares
• 💳 Loyalty Program: AAdvantage (oneworld alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Use the “Web Specials” filter when searching award flights for discounted business class to São Paulo

If you live in the eastern half of the US, American probably has more nonstop flights to South America than any other carrier you can book. Miami is their powerhouse for the region, with direct service to São Paulo, Rio, Buenos Aires, Lima, Bogotá and Santiago. Dallas adds options if you’re coming from the west or midwest. For summer 2026, they’re expanding Buenos Aires service significantly with up to three daily Miami flights and four weekly from Dallas during peak months.

I’ve flown American to South America a few times, and their Flagship Business product on their 777s and 787s is comfortable. The lie flat seats, proper bedding, and recent additions like pajamas and mattress pads make overnight flights to Buenos Aires or São Paulo much easier to sleep through. Even Premium Economy offers a real upgrade over basic economy if you’re not ready to spring for business class.

AAdvantage miles are easy to earn through Citi and Barclays credit cards. American now has a partnership with JetSMART that lets you redeem miles on intra-South America flights once you land. That makes connecting to smaller cities in Chile, Argentina or Peru much simpler without needing to book separate tickets.

• Plan your trip: Everything You Need to Know About American Airlines First Class

4. 🇺🇸 Delta Air Lines

• 🏠 Hubs: Atlanta (ATL), New York (JFK)
• ✈️ Best For: Reliability and seamless LATAM connections throughout South America
• 💺 Cabin Options: Main Cabin, Comfort+, Premium Select, Delta One
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Carry on included, checked bags extra on basic fares
• 💳 Loyalty Program: SkyMiles (SkyTeam alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Book Delta to São Paulo or Santiago, then use the LATAM partnership for cheap onward flights

Delta doesn’t fly to as many South American cities as American, and I think that’s fine. What they do, they do exceptionally well. They consistently rank at the top for on-time arrivals and have the lowest cancellation rates of any major US carrier. That’s crucial when you’ve got a non-refundable Machu Picchu trek booked three days after landing in Lima!

The real advantage here is Delta’s joint venture with LATAM. The two airlines share lounges at JFK, São Paulo and Santiago, coordinate their schedules so connections work smoothly, and let you earn and burn miles across both programs. If you’re planning to visit multiple countries, flying Delta into a hub like São Paulo and then connecting on LATAM throughout Brazil or down to Argentina is seamless in a way that booking separate airlines never is.

They recently started flying the A330-900neo on the Atlanta to Buenos Aires route, which is one of the newest widebody cabins you’ll find heading south. Delta also launched Salt Lake City to Lima in late 2025, finally giving travelers in the mountain west a real option that doesn’t require backtracking through Dallas or Miami. For a carrier that isn’t trying to dominate South America, Delta has quietly built one of the smarter networks for getting there.

• Compare fare classes: Delta One vs. Delta First Class in 2026 (Seats, Benefits + Perks)

5. 🇺🇸 United Airlines

• 🏠 Hubs: Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR)
• ✈️ Best For: Star Alliance travelers and connections from the midwest or mountain west
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Plus, Polaris Business
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Carry on included, checked bags extra on basic fares
• 💳 Loyalty Program: MileagePlus (Star Alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to United for solid award availability to Lima and Bogotá

United flies to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Rio, Lima, Bogotá, Santiago and Guayaquil, which covers most of the destinations people want to visit in South America. Houston is their main gateway for the region, and if you’re connecting from anywhere in Texas, the midwest or mountain west, United often has the shortest total travel time compared to backtracking through Miami or Atlanta.

The real reason to pick United comes down to loyalty programs. If you collect Chase points, have Star Alliance status, or already fly United domestically, it makes no sense to switch to American or Delta just for one trip south. Your miles work on United metal to the major cities, then transfer seamlessly to Copa or Avianca for connections to smaller destinations. That Star Alliance consistency is something Delta and American can’t offer in quite the same way.

Polaris business class is comfortable and the lounges are solid, though I’d give Delta One a slight edge on food and service. Where United wins is practicality: they have the flights, they work with your existing points, and Houston connections are fast. Sometimes the best airline is just the one that gets you there without making you start over with a new loyalty program.

• Read next: 8 Frequent Flyer Programs to Join in 2026
• You might also like: United Airlines First Class Review: Is it Worth It in 2026?

6. 🇨🇴 Avianca

• 🏠 Hub: Bogotá (BOG)
• ✈️ Best For: Colombia trips and affordable business class through LifeMiles
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business Class Américas
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Carry on included, checked bags vary by fare
• 💳 Loyalty Program: LifeMiles (Star Alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: LifeMiles runs sales almost monthly where you can buy miles for around 1.2 cents each, making business class to South America absurdly cheap

Avianca has been flying since 1919, which makes it one of the oldest airlines in the world. If Bogotá, Cartagena or Medellín are on your itinerary, they’re the obvious choice with flights from over 15 US cities including Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Their Bogotá hub offers easy connections to the rest of Colombia and beyond.

I’ll be honest: I often book Avianca not because I love the airline, but because LifeMiles makes business class so affordable. The program runs buy miles promotions so frequently that waiting for a sale is basically guaranteed, and at 1.2 to 1.3 cents per mile you can book lie flat seats to South America for under $900. The catch is that LifeMiles doesn’t always show the same award inventory as other Star Alliance programs, so search before you buy.

As of January 2026, Avianca expanded their Business Class Américas product to 47 domestic routes and over 80 international routes throughout Colombia, Ecuador and Guatemala. The seat won’t blow you away compared to Delta One or United Polaris, but you’re paying a fraction of the price. If you’re willing to do a little homework, the value here is hard to beat.

• Read next: 10 Best Airlines that Fly to Colombia This Year
• If you’re visiting Colombia, check this out: 12 Amazingly Beautiful Places in Colombia to Visit

7. 🇪🇸 Iberia

• 🏠 Hub: Madrid (MAD)
• ✈️ Best For: Avios redemptions with low fees and Spanish cultural connection to Latin America
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Depends on fare class, business includes 2 checked bags
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Iberia Plus (Avios, oneworld alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Transfer Chase or Amex points to Iberia instead of British Airways for the same flights with much lower fees

If you’ve collected Avios through credit cards or British Airways, Iberia is often the smarter way to spend them. The same redemption that costs $500 in fees through British Airways might cost $150 through Iberia, and you can transfer points freely between the two programs. Madrid to Buenos Aires or Lima in business class runs around 50,000 to 60,000 Avios off peak. That’s excellent value compared to what American or Delta would charge through their own programs.

Spain and South America share a language, a history, and centuries of cultural exchange, and Iberia leans into that connection more than any other European airline. They fly to more South American cities than their European competitors: Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, São Paulo, Rio, Bogotá, Quito and several more. For 2026, they’re adding Recife and Fortaleza in Brazil using the new Airbus A321XLR, marking their first Brazilian routes in over a decade.

I wouldn’t say Iberia’s business class is the best you’ll find crossing the Atlantic, but it’s comfortable and the Spanish crews tend to be warm. Evening departures from Madrid are timed so you can sleep on the overnight flight south, arriving in South America ready to start your trip. If you’re already flying through Europe or have transferable points with Chase, Amex, Bilt or Capital One, routing through Madrid can save you hundreds of dollars without sacrificing much comfort.

• Read next: How to Save $300 on Flights to Europe: Tips You Need to Know
• Flying from Spain? These 13 Cheap Flights from Madrid Will Blow Your Mind

8. 🇫🇷 Air France

• 🏠 Hub: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
• ✈️ Best For: Best-in-class business class experience and French food and wine at altitude
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, La Première (First)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag in economy, 2 in business
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Flying Blue (SkyTeam alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Flying Blue miles transfer from Chase, Amex, Citi, Capital One and Bilt, and award sales happen frequently

Air France business class is one of the best ways to fly between Europe and South America right now. Their newer A350s and retrofitted 777s have suites with closing doors, lie flat beds, and a level of privacy that rivals what you’d find in first class on other airlines. Multiple travel reviewers rank it among the top business class products flying, and after experiencing it myself, I understand why.

The food deserves its own mention because Air France delivers on the promise of French dining at 35,000 feet. Menus are designed by Michelin starred chefs, the cheese course is fantastic, and champagne flows freely in business class throughout the flight. Even economy gets complimentary wine and proper meals, which feels increasingly rare. They fly to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia, Lima, Santiago, Bogotá and Buenos Aires, with Rio getting up to 12 weekly flights in 2026.

If you’re starting your trip from Europe or connecting through Paris, Air France is hard to beat. The lounges at CDG offer complimentary Clarins spa treatments, they’re rolling out free in-flight Starlink WiFi across the fleet, and the overall experience makes the flight feel like part of the vacation. For European travelers heading to South America, this is my top recommendation.

• Read this before you book: Inside Air France First Class: My Review & Booking Secrets

9. 🇶🇦 Qatar Airways

• 🏠 Hub: Doha (DOH)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers coming from Asia, the Middle East, Africa or Australia
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business (Qsuite), First (select routes)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Generous allowances, 2 bags in economy on most routes
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Privilege Club (Avios, oneworld alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Qatar partners with LATAM for connections to 55 South American cities beyond São Paulo

Let me be upfront: if you’re flying from the US, Qatar Airways to South America probably doesn’t make sense. You’d be flying east across the Atlantic and then doubling back, adding 10+ hours to your journey. But if you’re starting from anywhere in Asia, the Middle East, Africa or Australia, Qatar becomes one of the best options available. Their Doha hub sits perfectly positioned to connect the Eastern Hemisphere to South America with just one stop.

Qatar flies direct to São Paulo with 21 weekly flights as of early 2026, and they’ve added new routes to Bogotá and Caracas. This makes them the only Middle Eastern carrier serving Colombia and Venezuela. From São Paulo, their partnership with LATAM opens up connections to 55 destinations across South America including Rio, Buenos Aires, Lima and Santiago. For travelers coming from Sydney, Singapore, Dubai or Johannesburg, this routing is competitive with the alternatives.

The real draw is Qatar’s Qsuite, which is, in my view, the best business class product flying today. You’ll enjoy private suites with closing doors, lie flat beds, and service that consistently wins best airline awards. If you have a long journey from the other side of the world and want to arrive in South America well rested, flying Qsuite through Doha is worth considering even if the routing looks odd on a map.

• Read next: Qatar Airways First Class Review & Complete Guide

10. 🇬🇧 British Airways

• 🏠 Hub: London Heathrow (LHR)
• ✈️ Best For: UK travelers wanting direct flights to South America
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus), Business (Club Suite), First
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 1 checked bag in economy, 2 in business and first
• 💳 Loyalty Program: British Airways Executive Club (Avios, oneworld alliance)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Check which aircraft is operating your flight. The new Club Suite is excellent, but the old Club World seats are terrible

For anyone flying from the UK to South America, British Airways is realistically your only option for nonstop flights. They operate daily service from Heathrow to São Paulo (increasing to 10 weekly in 2026), plus a daily rotation that stops in Rio de Janeiro before continuing to Buenos Aires. That Rio-Buenos Aires routing is quite clever if you’re visiting both cities, since you can stopover in one direction without booking separate tickets.

BA’s new Club Suite business class has closing doors, lie flat beds, and direct aisle access on every seat. It’s a competitive product now and I’d rate it among the better transatlantic business classes. BA has put the A350-1000 on the Rio and Buenos Aires route for South American summer, which is their newest aircraft. But check what plane you’re actually getting, because the old Club World seats still fly on some 777s, and the difference is stark.

The catch with BA is always the Avios surcharges. A business class redemption to São Paulo might cost 80,000-90,000 Avios plus £500 or more in taxes and fees, which undercuts what looks like a good deal on paper. If you’re flexible, consider transferring your Avios to Iberia and flying via Madrid for much lower fees. But if you value your time and want to land in Brazil without a connection, BA is the only nonstop option from the UK.

• Want to fly in style? Read: British Airways First Class in 2026: My Complete Guide

11. 🇧🇷 GOL Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: São Paulo (GRU/CGH), Rio de Janeiro (GIG)
• ✈️ Best For: Cheap domestic flights within Brazil and connections to South American neighbours
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, GOL Premium (blocked middle seat)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Carry-on only on basic fares, checked bags extra
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Smiles (partners with Delta, Air France-KLM)
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Transfer Amex or Chase points to Smiles for surprisingly good redemption rates

GOL emerged from its own restructuring in 2025 and is back operating at near full capacity. They’re Brazil’s original low-cost carrier, founded in 2001, and they operate the largest domestic network in the country with over 60 destinations. If you need to get from São Paulo to Salvador, Rio to Recife, or any other major Brazilian city pair, GOL usually has the most frequencies and often the lowest prices.

Internationally, GOL focuses on South American destinations and select US cities. They fly to Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, Lima, and several Caribbean destinations, plus Miami and Orlando in the US. The partnership with Delta and Air France-KLM means you can earn and redeem SkyTeam miles, and their Smiles program occasionally offers good value redemptions if you transfer points in during a bonus promotion.

The experience is basic but functional. There’s free water and coffee on all flights, free meals on international routes, and GOL Premium gives you a blocked middle seat for a bit more space without paying business class prices. They fly an all-Boeing 737 fleet, so the planes are modern and well-maintained. For getting around Brazil cheaply, GOL does exactly what it promises.

• Get ready to travel! 12 Most Beautiful Places in Brazil to Visit in 2026 (+ Local Tips)

12. 🇺🇸 Spirit Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• ✈️ Best For: Dirt cheap fares to Colombia, Peru and Ecuador from the US
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only (Big Front Seat available for purchase)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Personal item free, everything else costs extra
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Free Spirit
• 🎯 Pro Tip: Bring an empty water bottle and fill it after security – Spirit charges for everything including drinks

I’ve flown Spirit to Colombia multiple times. If you know what you’re getting into, it’s fine. If you expect anything resembling a full-service airline, you’ll be miserable. Spirit is ultra-low-cost, meaning the base fare is cheap but you pay for every single thing: carry-on bags, checked bags, seat selection, water, snacks, everything. By the time you add it all up, the price difference from a legacy carrier shrinks considerably.

That said, Spirit flies to seven Colombian cities including Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, and Barranquilla, plus Lima in Peru and Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador. For the northern part of South America, their coverage is impressive. Fort Lauderdale is their main hub, so connections from the east coast are usually straightforward. The seats are tight (28-inch pitch), there’s no entertainment, and the experience is no-frills in the truest sense.

My advice is as follows. Pack light enough to fit everything in a personal item, bring your own food and an empty water bottle, download entertainment to your phone, and treat it as a bus with wings. For a 3-4 hour flight to Cartagena or Medellín, it’s totally survivable and the savings can be substantial if you’re disciplined about not adding extras.