If you’re planning a trip from Miami to Uruguay, you might have noticed a significant change in flight options. American Airlines, which operated the only direct route between Miami and Montevideo, has temporarily suspended this service until the southern summer. If you’re wondering how this impacts your travel plans, don’t worry. At Guru’Guay, we believe that opting for a connecting flight can actually be a better choice, and we’ll explain why.
Why You Don’t Need a Direct Flight
While a direct flight from Miami to Uruguay might seem like the easiest option, it’s not always the best choice. A connecting flight with a trusted South American airline can offer a smoother travel experience and may only add a couple of hours to your journey. The total travel time for a direct flight from Miami to Montevideo is around 9.5 hours, while a flight with one stop usually takes about 11.5 hours.
Given the minimal difference in flight duration, the added flexibility of choosing a connecting flight can make your travel experience more pleasant, especially with airlines that specialize in routes across South America.
The Best Airlines for Your Journey
At Guru’Guay, we are big fans of three major South American airlines: LATAM, Avianca, and Copa Airlines. These carriers offer excellent service, frequent flights, and smooth connections.
LATAM Airlines
One of the largest and most well-established airlines in Latin America, LATAM offers connecting flights from Miami to Uruguay with a layover in Santiago, Chile. Santiago’s airport is modern and efficient, making it one of the more pleasant places to transfer between flights. LATAM also provides excellent in-flight service, with comfortable seating and reliable customer care.
Avianca
Avianca, the national airline of Colombia, is another excellent option. If you choose to fly with Avianca, you’ll have a stopover in Lima, Peru. Lima’s airport is relatively easy to navigate, and the airline is known for its friendly staff and comfortable seats. Avianca frequently offers competitive fares, making it a great choice for travelers looking to balance cost and comfort.
Copa Airlines
Copa Airlines operates flights with a layover in Panama City. Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport is one of the most well-connected hubs in Latin America and is easy to navigate, even if you don’t speak Spanish. Copa Airlines is renowned for its punctuality and friendly service. Their flights tend to have shorter layover times, making this a great option if you’re looking to minimize the length of your trip.
What’s It Like to Transfer in These Airports?
One of the concerns many travelers have when flying with a layover is the experience of transferring between flights, especially in unfamiliar airports. However, both Santiago, Lima, and Panama City are well-equipped to handle international travelers, and the process is generally smooth.
Santiago (LATAM): The airport in Santiago is known for being user-friendly. There are clear signs in English and Spanish, and it’s easy to navigate through immigration and customs. The terminal offers plenty of amenities such as restaurants, lounges, and shopping, making the layover quite comfortable.
Lima (Avianca): Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima is one of the busiest in South America, but it is still quite manageable for travelers. The airport staff is helpful, and the airport itself is modern, with plenty of services for those on layovers, including duty-free shops, dining options, and lounges.
Panama City (Copa Airlines): Tocumen International Airport is a major hub in Latin America, connecting numerous international flights daily. It is well organized and easy to navigate, and its smaller size compared to some other international airports makes for a quick and smooth transfer. If you’re lucky, you might have time to enjoy a coffee while waiting for your connecting flight.
Cost Savings with Connecting Flights
Flying with a layover often provides an opportunity to save on airfare. In fact, travelers frequently report saving hundreds of dollars by choosing a flight with a stopover instead of a direct flight. Take Joel, for example, a traveler from the USA who said, “The great advice in your guide saved me $500 USD on my airline ticket!” That’s a significant amount of money that can be better spent enjoying your vacation.
On top of lower base ticket prices, certain flight search platforms like WayAway help you find the best possible rates for flights to Uruguay. WayAway is a flight aggregator that searches for the best deals across airlines worldwide, including those flying between Miami and Montevideo.
If you join WayAway’s membership plan, you’ll also receive cashback on flight bookings, making it an even more budget-friendly option for frequent flyers. This means not only can you save on your initial booking, but you’ll also accumulate cashback for future travel, making it a win-win.
American Airlines: When Will Direct Flights Resume?
If you’re set on flying direct and prefer to wait for American Airlines to resume its service, here’s what you need to know. The airline plans to restart its direct Miami-to-Montevideo flights on October 30, 2023, just in time for the southern summer. However, this service will only be available until March 30, 2024, after which the direct route will be suspended again. So if you’re traveling during the high season, you can take advantage of this option—but for year-round flights, it’s worth considering one of the South American airlines.
Why Support South American Airlines?
While waiting for American Airlines’ seasonal service, it’s worth considering flying with South American carriers that operate year-round. These airlines are reliable, offer great customer service, and help support the local economy. Plus, they tend to offer competitive fares that make flying with them a cost-effective and practical option. Supporting local airlines not only ensures you have more flight options, but also helps promote sustainable tourism in the region.
How to Find the Cheapest Flights to Uruguay
To find the best deals on flights, we recommend using WayAway to compare prices across airlines. The platform is user-friendly and allows you to easily filter by stopover duration, price, and airline preferences. Whether you choose LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines, or wait for American Airlines’ direct service, WayAway simplifies the process of finding the cheapest and most convenient flights.
Signing up for WayAway’s membership plan provides an added bonus: cashback on your bookings, which can help reduce the overall cost of your trip.
Final Thoughts
Though American Airlines’ suspension of direct flights may seem inconvenient, it opens the door to exploring more flexible travel options with some of South America’s best airlines. LATAM, Avianca, and Copa Airlines all offer excellent service with manageable layovers, and the cost savings can be significant. Plus, by supporting South American carriers, you’re contributing to the growth of regional tourism.
For those looking to travel soon, we recommend comparing flights on platforms like WayAway to ensure you get the best deals. With flexible options and year-round service, flying from Miami to Uruguay has never been easier or more affordable.