Esfera points cut international flight costs
Traveling during off-peak seasons can yield cheaper flights, and transferring Esfera loyalty points to partner programs, sometimes with bonus offers, can
Traveling internationally during off-peak seasons can lead to cheaper airfares and greater seat availability. By transferring points from the Santander bank's Esfera loyalty program to airline partners, travelers can potentially book flights to destinations like Amsterdam from as low as R$ 1,270 plus taxes per leg, according to a report from Passageiro de Primeira.
Off-peak periods vary by destination. For Europe, the low season typically runs from November to March, excluding the year-end holidays. For the United States, the best periods are generally from January to March and again from September to November.
How to use Esfera points for off-season travel
One of the best ways to use Esfera points is to transfer them to partner airline loyalty programs. The Esfera program partners with several airlines, making it easier to book international flights during both high and low seasons. Partner programs include Azul Fidelidade, LATAM Pass, Smiles, ConnectMiles, Iberia Plus, and Etihad Guest. The full list of partner programs is available on Esfera's official website.
Boosting points with transfer bonuses
A key part of this strategy involves bonus transfer campaigns. In certain offers, Esfera provides bonuses when transferring points to partner programs, which can significantly increase the final balance received. In the past, the program has run offers with bonuses of up to 120%. Combining these bonus transfer offers with off-season ticket prices can lead to even greater savings. Recent examples of such bonus offers include transfers to Azul Fidelidade with up to a 115% bonus, to LATAM Pass with up to a 25% bonus, and to Smiles with up to a 25% bonus.
Example flight cost calculation
To understand the potential savings, consider a flight from Sao Paulo (GRU) to Amsterdam (AMS) on various dates, including off-peak months. Based on the best possible Cost per Thousand Points (CPM) from a past bonus transfer offer between Esfera and LATAM, which was R$ 25.40, this emission could be made from R$ 1,270.00 plus taxes per leg. The report notes that while this example is based on a real flight listing, ticket prices can change, and the cited CPM is from a past offer, not a currently active campaign.
Traveling in an international off-peak season may also bring benefits like more affordable services and tours at the destination. Monitoring active campaigns on the official Esfera website is recommended for those looking to take advantage of these mechanics.
