Home › Travel

The Best Ways To Fly to Central America With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

BY 

Stephen Au

- UPDATED: October 10, 2021

1. Travel

We may be compensated when you click on links from one or more of our advertising partners. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Terms apply to offers below. See our Advertiser Disclosure for more details.

Central America is a particularly interesting part of the world, home to several vibrant countries and 7% of the planet’s total biodiversity, despite occupying just 0.1% of Earth’s land.

Travelers flock to the region to see sights like the Great Blue Hole in Belize, Mayan pyramids in Guatemala and Honduras, and the picturesque beaches of Costa Rica. You can even find bustling metropolises in Panama if you’re a city slicker.

Regardless of what ends up drawing you to Central America, let’s review all of the best ways to fly to this fascinating region using points and miles.

Nonstop Flights Between the U.S. and Central America

Thanks to the region’s proximity to the U.S., plenty of airlines fly nonstop between the U.S. and Central America.

In our guide, we’ve defined the following countries to be part of Central America:

• Belize — Belize City (BZE)
• Costa Rica — Liberia (LIR), San José (SJO)
• El Salvador — San Salvador (SAL)
• Guatemala — Guatemala City (GUA)
• Honduras — Coxen Hole (RTB), San Pedro Sula (SAP), Tegucigalpa (TGU)
• Nicaragua — Managua (MGA)
• Panama — Panama City (PTY)

Like we mentioned, numerous airlines, including low-cost carriers Frontier, Spirit, and Volaris, fly nonstop to the region. However, we’ve excluded these from this guide, which will focus on the best ways to get outsized value from your points.

The main foreign carriers offering nonstop flights to Central America are Avianca and Copa Airlines.

In addition, nonstop flights are offered by major U.S. carriers, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. JetBlue even offers some flights with its lauded Mint business class.

Check out the domestic airlines offering nonstop flights:

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

JetBlue

* Mint service available

United Airlines

And here’s a look at foreign carriers’ nonstop routes between the U.S. and Central America:

Avianca

Copa Airlines

Bottom Line: All major U.S. airlines, as well as Avianca and Copa Airlines, offer nonstop service to Central America. The best lie-flat options are found on JetBlue and Copa Airlines, but convenient nonstop flights may end up being the deciding factor.

Best Programs for Booking Flights to Central America

Emirates Skywards

You may be wondering, “What in the world is Emirates doing in a guide to flying to Central America with points?”

Well, we’re here to inform you that redeeming Emirates miles is the best way to book JetBlue Mint using points.

Thanks to a close partnership between the 2 airlines, there’s finally an alternative to booking JetBlue Mint using points apart from redeeming JetBlue TrueBlue points at a poor, fixed value or using the Chase travel portal to redeem Ultimate Rewards points at a fixed value.

Here’s the award chart for booking JetBlue flights with Emirates Skywards:

Additionally, any JetBlue Mint ticket in the “I” fare class can be booked using the award chart above.

Here are some great example JetBlue redemptions you can make:

• Boston (BOS) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in JetBlue Mint for 52,000 Emirates miles + ~$10 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in JetBlue Mint for 52,000 Emirates miles + ~$10 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in JetBlue Mint for 52,000 Emirates miles + ~$10 in taxes and fees

These flights can exceed $1,500 in price, opening up the possibility to get around 3 cents per point in value!

Here’s how to book JetBlue Mint tickets with Emirates miles:

1. Visit Emirates’ website.
2. Log in to your Emirates account.
3. In the search box on the homepage, click the button that says Advanced search: multi-city, promo codes, partner airlines.
4. Select Book Classic Rewards Flight near the top of the screen.
5. Just under that, click Search partner flights only.
6. Choose your trip type (Round-trip or One-way)
7. Enter the flight, date, and cabin class.
8. Select the number of travelers.
9. Click Search.
10. Book any of the flights you see in the results using Emirates miles and a credit card for taxes and fees.

Earning Emirates Skywards Miles

Emirates Skywards is transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, Brex Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One and Brex transfer to Emirates almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers to Emirates at a 3:1 ratio, taking around 3 business days. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Emirates, you’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 Emirates Skywards miles.

Recommended Chase Cards

CREDIT CARD	CARD INFO
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Enjoy new benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel. With Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories. Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21. Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more. Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $95 UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $1,200 Must Reads: For more info on the Chase Sapphire Preferred, see our thoughts on its benefits and travel insurance coverage, which includes primary car rental insurance. Take a look at our full review to see why it’s one of our favorite cards.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. Through 12/31/21, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Excellent Credit Recommended (740-850) Annual Fee: $550 UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $1,000 Must Reads: For more on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, see our thoughts on its benefits, global airport lounge access, and travel insurance protection. Take a look here for our full review.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Bonus Valuation*: $2,000 Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn 25% more value when redeeming points through Ultimate Rewards® travel Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $95 Must Reads: For more info on the Ink Business Preferred, see our guides on its benefits, 7 things to do as a new cardholder, and our full review. This is our favorite Chase business credit card.

Bottom Line: The most comfortable way to fly to Central America is in JetBlue Mint, one of the best business class products from a U.S. carrier. You can redeem Emirates miles, which are easy to earn, for this experience, though the only available routes currently are to Costa Rica’s beach hotspot, Liberia (LIR).

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

American Airlines is another major operator of nonstop flights to Central America.

With nearly 20 nonstop flights, you’re bound to find a flight suitable for you, whether you live in one of the cities from which AA flies nonstop or one of the many other cities American connects with its hubs across the country.

Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program offers great redemption prices on American’s longer flights, while British Airways Executive Club (discussed in the next section) has the best prices for shorter flights.

Here are some great American Airlines redemptions you can make using Asia Miles:

• New York (JFK) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in American Airlines business class for 30,000 Asia Miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – San José (SJO) one-way in American Airlines business class for 30,000 Asia Miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Phoenix (PHX) – San José (SJO) one-way in American Airlines business class for 30,000 Asia Miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

Unfortunately, Asia Miles requires you to submit an award request form or call the customer service phone number in order to book.

Given this extra step, here’s what we recommend you to do:

1. Do not use American Airlines’ website to find availability. Instead, use a partner website like British Airways or Qantas to search.
2. After finding American Airlines availability, give Asia Miles a call at 866-892-2598.
3. Provide the Asia Miles customer service specialist with the details and finish making the reservation.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are easy to earn.

It maintains partnerships with American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, Brex Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex transfers at a 1:1 ratio in a few hours, Citi and Brex both transfer at a 1:1 ratio within 1 business day, and Capital One transfers at a 1:1 ratio within 2 business days.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Transfers to Asia Miles process in 5 business days.

Recommended American Express Cards

CREDIT CARD	CARD INFO & BENEFITS
New 100k Welcome Offer The Platinum Card® from American Express Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 60,000 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline. $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only. $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $695 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $2,200
New Welcome Offer American Express® Gold Card Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Rose Gold is back. You can now choose between Gold or Rose Gold. Earn 35,000 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required. Get up to 12 complimentary months of an Uber Eats Pass subscription when you enroll with your Gold Card by 12/31/21. No Foreign Transaction Fees. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840) Annual Fee: $250 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here. UP's Bonus Valuation*: $1,320
New Welcome Offer The Business Platinum Card® from American Express Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Welcome Offer: Earn 85,000 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, 0% Intro APR for 12 months from the date of the account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time. After that, your APR will be 14.24% to 22.24% based on your credit worthiness and other factors as determined at the time of account opening. Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com. Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else. Cap applies. Unlock over $1,000 in value per year for statement credits on select purchases with your Card, including up to $400 with Dell Technologies, up to $360 with Indeed, up to $150 with Adobe and up to $120 on wireless telephone purchases. Enrollment required. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year toward baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline. $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership. Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting with The American Express Global Lounge Collection®. More lounge options than any other credit card on the market as of 8/2020. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $595 ($695 if application is received on or after 01/13/2022) Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here. UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $2,640
American Express® Business Gold Card Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. More Rewards: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month 4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year. Pay Over Time Option: A flexible payment option to help manage cash flow on purchases of $100 or more. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840) Annual Fee: $295 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold card, click here. UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $1,540

British Airways Executive Club

With the British Airways Executive Club, it’s best to compare the merits of this program to those of Asia Miles.

In this case, partner American Airlines is going to be the major airline we examine.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles offers attractive mileage prices compared to British Airways Executive Club on flights longer than 2,000 miles. But, on the other hand, British Airways Executive Club offers phenomenal award prices on flights up to 2,000 miles in flight distance.

Here’s the award chart for partner-operated flights (including American Airlines) booked with Asia Miles and British Airways Avios:

As you can see in the chart above, British Airways costs 8,000 Avios less than Asia Miles for American Airlines business class flights up to 2,000 miles in flight distance, while Asia Miles costs 8,750 miles less than British Airways for American Airlines business class flights longer than 2,000 miles in flight distance.

Additionally, flights can be booked 100% online and it’s easy to earn British Airways Avios.

Here are some great example routes you can book using British Airways Avios:

• Austin (AUS) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Guatemala City (GUA) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – Belize City (BZE) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – Guatemala City (GUA) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – San José (SJO) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – San Pedro Sula (SAP) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Dallas (DFW) – San Salvador (SAL) one-way in American Airlines business class for 22,000 British Airways Avios + ~$6 in taxes and fees

Follow these steps to book your American Airlines ticket using British Airways Avios online:

1. Visit British Airways’ website.
2. Log into your British Airways Executive Account by clicking Log in in the top-right corner and entering your account details.
3. After logging in, hover over the Book button in the top banner, and click Book a flight with Avios under the Flights sub-menu.
4. Enter your travel information and click Get flights.
5. Book the flight you wish using Avios and a credit card for taxes and fees.

Earning British Airways Avios

British Airways Executive Club has transfer partnerships with Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Chase and Amex transfer to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Capital One transfers to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers to British Airways at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Additionally, you can also earn Avios with the British Airways Visa Signature® Card!

Recommended Capital One Cards

Credit Card	Benefits & Info
Capital One Venture Rewards Card Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	Earn 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn Receive up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck No Foreign Transaction Fees Excellent Credit Recommended (740-850) Annual Fee: $95 Must Reads: For more info on the CapOne Venture card, see our thoughts on its benefits and our full review.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	Earn 20,000 mile sign up bonus (worth $200) once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months; 14.99% - 24.99% variable APR after that Earn 1.25X Miles on every purchase Annual Fee: $0 Must Reads: For more info on the VentureOne Card, see our thoughts on its benefits and our full review.

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is a polarizing loyalty program. Associated with an airline with extremely high customer satisfaction, it’s somewhat unintuitive to think that its mileage prices aren’t all that attractive, especially for long-haul, premium cabin travel.

Still, for regional flights in first or business class, it’s possible to get solid value overall. More importantly, you’re almost always guaranteed a “floor” value with your miles, meaning they will be worth at least 1 cent apiece in redemption value.

Booking Delta flights to Central America is best done with Delta SkyMiles. It’s not unheard of to book economy flights for 10,000 miles in each direction, though you’ll generally redeem around 30,000 to 50,000 miles in each direction for a first class flight.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell how much you’ll pay for a flight until you actually search due to Delta SkyMiles’ dynamic award pricing system.

Nonetheless, if you maintain a high degree of flexibility, you should be able to get some good deals on nonstop first or business class flights to Central America.

Additionally, since Delta SkyMiles members have the best access to award availability, you have the option to redeem more miles for a flight that works better with your schedule, while partner programs like Air France/KLM Flying Blue wouldn’t have that option.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in Delta first class from 32,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Atlanta (ATL) – San José (SJO) one-way in Delta first class from 43,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Atlanta (ATL) – San Pedro Sula (SAP) one-way in Delta first class from 17,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Atlanta (ATL) – San Salvador (SAL) one-way in Delta first class from 31,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in Delta first class from 29,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – San José (SJO) one-way in Delta first class from 34,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – San Salvador (SAL) one-way in Delta first class from 27,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in Delta first class from 20,000 SkyMiles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

If you’re ready to book your Delta flight, follow these steps:

1. Go to Delta’s website.
2. In the top ribbon, fill in the search box. Search for your flights.
3. Find suitable flight options and book your ticket using SkyMiles and a credit card for taxes and fees.

Hot Tip: Delta SkyMiles is very much a “what you see is what you get” program. Enhance what you see by searching using the award calendar.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles are best earned through transfers from American Express or Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer within 1 business day at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 SkyMiles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Also, Amex issues several Delta SkyMiles co-branded credit cards that also come with perks like priority boarding, free checked bags, and more.

Recommended Delta SkyMiles Cards

CREDIT CARD	CARD INFO
Limited Time Offer Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Limited Time Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Earn 2x Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840) Annual Fee: $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99. Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Card, click here. UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $700 Must Reads: For more info on the Delta Gold Card, see our thoughts on its benefits and our full review.
Limited Time Offer Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021. Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights. Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2x Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1x Miles on all other eligible purchases. Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight. No Foreign Transaction Fees. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840) Annual Fee: $250 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Card, click here. UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $900 Must Reads: For more info on the Delta Platinum Card, see our thoughts on its benefits and our full review.
Limited Time Offer Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Learn More (at Amex's secure site)	Limited Time Offer: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021. Earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 15,000 MQMs four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights. Receive a Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. Complimentary access into the Delta Sky Club® for you when traveling on a Delta flight. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card. Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1x Mile on all other eligible purchases. No Foreign Transaction Fees. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $550 Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve card, click here. UP’s Bonus Valuation*: $800 Must Reads: For more info on the Delta Reserve card, see our insights on its benefits and our full review.

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

In certain situations, it makes more sense to book Delta flights using Flying Blue miles instead of Delta’s own SkyMiles.

When we’re discussing flights to Central America, Delta’s Saver-level award tickets are also bookable with Flying Blue miles.

Flying Blue miles are generally easier to earn than Delta SkyMiles, but Flying Blue members can only access a small chunk of award availability, making it a bit more challenging to book award flights on Delta metal.

Delta SkyMiles charges lots of miles on select nonstop routes, even in the Saver award category. Get around this by redeeming Flying Blue miles on some of these great example routes:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Belize City (BZE) one-way in Delta first class for 38,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees (Delta SkyMiles charges at least 54,000 miles for this ticket)
• Atlanta (ATL) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in Delta first class for 43,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees (Delta SkyMiles charges at least 56,000 miles for this ticket)
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Belize City (BZE) one-way in Delta first class for 43,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees (Delta SkyMiles charges at least 62,000 miles for this ticket)
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in Delta first class for 43,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees (Delta SkyMiles charges at least 54,000 miles for this ticket)

Here’s how to book Delta tickets using Flying Blue miles:

1. Find Saver-level availability on Delta’s website.
2. Reproduce that search on Air France/KLM Flying Blue’s website.
3. After finding a Delta flight, redeem your Flying Blue miles and pay for the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Air France/KLM Flying Blue has transfer partnerships with all the major transferable currencies, including American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Miles, Brex Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Brex have the best transfer ratios of 1:1 — they also transfer instantly.

Marriott has a 3:1 ratio transfer ratio, and transfers take 3 business days. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue, you’ll get an extra bonus of 5,000 miles.

Flying Blue also has a co-branded credit card issued by Bank of America that earns miles directly.

Recommended Citi Cards

CREDIT CARD	CARD INFO
Citi Premier® Card Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	Earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Annual Hotel Savings Benefit 80,000 Points are redeemable for $800 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $95 UP's Bonus Valuation*: $1,280
Citi Rewards+® Card Learn More (at our partner's secure site)	For a limited time, earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, 13.49% - 23.49% variable APR. Balance transfer fee will apply. Earn 2x ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases. The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.49% - 23.49% variable. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi's discretion. Annual Fee: $0

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is our go-to frequent flyer program for Star Alliance flights between the U.S. and Central America because it has plenty of transfer partners, some of the best redemption rates for economy and business class, and even permits one-way stopovers for an extra 5,000 points!

Not only can you book United flights with Aeroplan points, but you can also book Avianca and Copa Airlines flights.

Here’s the award chart for partner-operated flights:

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Chicago (ORD) – San José (SJO) – Guatemala City (GUA) one-way in United and Avianca economy class with a stopover in San Jose for 17,500 Aeroplan points + ~$38 in taxes and fees
• Denver (DEN) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in Copa Airlines business class for 25,000 Aeroplan points + ~$38 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in United business class for 20,000 Aeroplan points + ~$38 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Guatemala City (GUA) – San José (SJO) one-way in Avianca business class with a stopover in Guatemala City for 30,000 Aeroplan points + ~$38 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in Copa Airlines business class for 35,000 Aeroplan points + ~$38 in taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – San Salvador (SAL) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in Avianca business class and Copa Airlines business class with a stopover in San Salvador for 30,000 Aeroplan points + ~$38 in taxes and fees

Follow these steps to book your award ticket:

1. Find award availability on each segment on United.com (look for Saver availability).
2. Go to the Aeroplan homepage.
3. Click Sign In in the top-right corner and log into your Aeroplan account.
4. Re-enter the flight details from step 1 to reconfirm that you’re seeing the same flights.
5. Use your Aeroplan points and a credit card for taxes and fees.
   • If adding a stopover, you will need to call Aeroplan at 800-361-5373 to book your ticket.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Earning lots of Aeroplan points is easier than ever.

Thanks to lucrative transfer partnerships with American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy, you’ll have many ways to rack up points.

Amex, Capital One, and Chase maintain 1:1 transfer ratios. Marriott Bonvoy is 3:1 with a 5,000 points bonus after transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeroplan.

Amex, Chase, and Capital One transfer instantly while Marriott Bonvoy takes 5 business days to transfer to Aeroplan.

United MileagePlus

The last frequent flyer program we’ll be looking at is United MileagePlus. United’s website is fantastic because it’s capable of showing virtually all of the available options you can book within the Star Alliance.

However, we generally recommend only using United to perform award searches; rarely do we recommend you to book your ticket using United miles.

But if you have a bunch of United miles or need to access award availability beyond partner-level Saver awards, the only way to book United flights with points is through United MileagePlus.

Sure, you’ll end up paying more miles for your flight, but you’ll get to adhere to the schedule/availability that fits your needs best.

In any case, you’ll avoid fuel surcharges, which is great news. Here’s how much award flights cost (remember, you’ll very rarely find premium cabin awards at that starting price):

Here are some great example flights you can book using United miles:

• Chicago (ORD) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in United business class from 32,200 United miles + ~$22 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Coxen Hole (RTB) one-way in United business class from 32,600 United miles + ~$22 in taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in United business class from 32,600 United miles + ~$7 in taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Belize City (BZE) one-way in United business class from 50,500 United miles + ~$22 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) – Belize City (BZE) one-way in United business class from 40,400 United miles + ~$22 in taxes and fees
• Newark (EWR) – Panama City (PTY) one-way in United business class from 30,000 United miles + ~$7 in taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Liberia (LIR) one-way in United business class from 30,000 United miles + ~$22 in taxes and fees

Follow these steps to book your United flight online with United MileagePlus:

1. Go to United.com.
2. On the homepage, fill out the search box and remember to check off the box that says Book with miles.
3. Perform the search, find a suitable award flight, and complete the reservation by redeeming United miles and paying for taxes and fees.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

Earning United miles is easy. Currently, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy are United MileagePlus transfer partners.

Chase transfers at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1.1 ratio in 3 business days. Also, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United, you’ll get a bonus of 5,500 miles.

You can also earn United miles through Chase’s co-branded credit cards.

Recommended United Cards

CREDIT CARD	BENEFITS & INFO
UnitedSM Explorer Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® fee Credit 25% back on United inflight purchases Check your first bag for free (a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip) when you use your card to purchase your ticket Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United ClubSM with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining and select delivery services Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
UnitedSM Business Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months you account is open. Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the UnitedSM Business Card and a personal United credit card. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster. Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United ClubSM one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges. Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for one year with DashPass, DoorDash's membership service. Activate by 12/31/21. $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year. Annual Fee: $0 introductory for the first year, then $99.
United ClubSM Infinite Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 75,000 bonus miles Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United purchases including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and on dining at restaurants and eligible delivery services. Earn 1 mile per $1 on all over purchases. Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheckTM fee credit. 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights when using your card. Excellent Credit Recommended (740-850) Annual Fee: $525
United GatewaySM Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn up to 15,000 bonus miles Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines purchases Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases Earn 3x on grocery store purchases up to $15k for the first year account is open. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $0
United QuestSM Card Learn More (at Chase's secure site)	Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open Earn 3x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel, 1x on all other purchases Earn 3x miles on United purchases Earn 2x miles on dining and select streaming services Earn 2x miles on all other travel Earn 1x mile on all other purchases Each year, receive a $125 credit on United® purchases and two 5K-mile anniversary award flight credits. Terms apply. Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850) Annual Fee: $250

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to fly between the U.S. and Central America using points and miles.

We’ve focused on major U.S. airlines in this guide, though Avianca and Copa Airlines also operate nonstop flights.

And with a dizzying network of routes, it can feel overwhelming to try to get the best deal with your points.

If you’re looking for a lie-flat business class opportunity, redeem Emirates miles on JetBlue Mint or Aeroplan points on Copa Airlines’ lie-flat business class (on Boeing 737 MAX planes only).

But know that regardless of how you plan on getting there, you have plenty of options for getting to Central America with minimal cash outlay.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture Rewards Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.