The World’s Most Ridiculously Amazing Airfare Strategy Nets Business Class for up to $139.65 Less than Coach on Delta & SkyTeam Partners to Europe and South America?

For travel originating in the U.S., a counter-intuitive mindset can yield a most amazing airfare, simply by combining “two trips on a single ticket”, for just $2,460.35 in Business Class for four long-haul segments.

We tend not to blink an eye when there’s a great bargain on Coke or cakes or carrots at the local market, yet we’re skeptical when we see a headline like the one above. But the same market forces of competition, supply, and demand apply to the airline industry, so what’s a “poor” airline to do? OK, Delta isn’t poor, but in this new era of fares, it’s in a fight to fill seats and that means keen-eyed travelers like you can score a deal that seems to stretch belief.

FCF’s Leg Stretch Strategy (LSS) #3 works best for the person who will travel (or would like to travel) to Europe at least twice in one year, and South America once. If this isn’t exactly you, look at the amazing fares and ask yourself—given the cost—“Might I consider such travel if the cost was ridiculously low?”

The Europe—U.S.—South America Leg Stretch Strategy (LSS)

Most people making the three trips would view it as three completely separate tickets. FCF’s Upgrade Mindset would never do that. In fact, the LSS connects them, in order to make perfect use of “free stopover” provisions. In effect, we “stretch the legs” of a round-trip ticket. It’s a lateral solution to a straightforward problem: “I’m going to these places this year, so how can I pay a lot less to do so? Oh, and I’d like to fly Business Class.”

See the map below, which uses New York, Zurich, and Rio de Janeiro as the example itinerary. Below that you’ll also you’ll see a wide range of U.S. / Europe / South American destinations that can be used with this strategy, along with sample pricing and links to searches for ready-baked trips.

How Does It Work?

The strategy makes use of round-trip itineraries, between two continents (in this case Europe and South America), which route through a third continent (today it’s the USA), which also allow a free stop-over in the “connecting continent” (this is the key, and today it’s the USA, your home) in each direction. The cheapest, most ridiculously-low fares are for “originating in Europe.” Most folks turn off right there; but not you.

“Originating in Europe”? I live in the U.S., I want to go to Europe!

Hold on a second, I know how to make this work for you. The trick is in the sequencing of the trip, and the first part is: get yourself to Europe.

How a Simple One-Way Ticket to Europe
Unlocks Trips to Europe & South America for
Just $2,460.35 in Business Class for Four Long-haul Segments in Comfort

In case you haven’t guessed, we’re suggesting you get yourself to Europe on a discounted, one-way flight, using miles.

(Actually, we’ve made it easy for you with a special report right here: Cheap & Easy Business and First Class One-Way Mileage Awards and How They Can Unlock a Big Deal.)

Once there, you get to take advantage of what FCF believes are the world’s most ridiculously low Business Class fares. (Keeping in mind FCF has a strict editorial policy to never knowingly report on ‘mistake’ fares.)

This itinerary has four discreet legs on one ticket (equivalent to two round-trips): Europe>U.S.>South America>U.S.>Europe. The price? Starting at just $2,460.35!

In Business Class on Delta.

Here’s how it goes, starting with the U.S. departure.

1. You book a one-way ticket to Europe (easy-to-do details here).
2. You then purchase a round-trip ticket on Delta.com or wherever Delta tickets are sold, departing from Europe to South America via the U.S., with free stop-overs both ways in the U.S. You stay at home for however many months you like.
3. You then go to South America and have a great time, hopefully get replenished, perhaps still feeling giddy about your four-leg, $2,460.35 ticket.
4. You then return to the U.S. whenever you want to.
5. You then get to go back to Europe on the final leg of the four-segment ticket, and perhaps do more business or just enjoy a new adventure.
6. Decision Time: You can return home on another one-way ticket OR you can also start the process again, returning to the U.S. on leg #1 of your next Leg Stretch Strategy ticket. Perhaps incorporating the South Pacific LSS this time, or maybe Asia.

Airfare ‘Math’ Like You’ve Never Seen?

A New York to Zurich return ticket in economy ranges from ~$600 to $900; and a New York to Rio de Janeiro return ticket in economy ranges from ~$1,300 to $1,700 on Delta. That’s $1,900 at a minimum to fly economy—and easily $2,600 depending on your dates—while the LSS nets those same destinations in Business Class for $2,460.35. See below:

In case you were wondering, GIG is the airport code for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

CHF = Swiss Franc; Delta’s currency conversion to U.S. dollars:

Fly With Delta’s Code-Share-Comrades, Too

You can also use FCF’s Leg Stretch Strategy with Delta’s SkyTeam code-share partners, including Air France and KLM.

Why Would Delta Do This?

My guess is that Delta can’t compete with European-based carriers on Europe to South America non-stop flights, so they figure: let’s make it really tempting to go via the U.S.—a home advantage for them—and pick off bargain-hunting customers at the same time. Bargain hunters—but smart ones. Like you.

Sorry West Coasters, This One Takes a Little More Effort for You

Note that this particular Leg Stretch Strategy is based on East Coast and Midwest U.S. departures, because Delta considers flights from farther west as “backtracking.” But don’t worry, we’ve got more leg stretches to come, and we’ve already covered one: Los Angeles / London / Auckland in our May report.

That said, I have a friend in LA who said he will have no trouble booking separate tickets to the U.S. gateways required to leverage this deal.

What About Other Destinations?

We’ve crunched the numbers on a number of European / South American trips and found a lot of options. Here are 17 examples, each with a link to the Google Flights page showing the deal. A few more clicks and you’re on your way. Cities where this strategy works best are plotted on the map below to help you find the best fare faster.

KEEP IN MIND: Fares go up and down constantly and will likely be different when you read this.