New Flight Options to Guatemala from Miami and Chicago

We love our trips to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala not only because the service and fishing are exceptional, but also because it’s relatively easy to get there. There are direct flights from many US cities, and the number keeps on expanding. Even those cities that already have direct options, more options arise frequently. 

For example, American Airlines already provides between 21 and 28 flights a week to and from La Aurora and Miami’s airport. Frontier also has seasonal flights. Now Avianca is reentering the market (they discontinued ORD-MIA flights in 2022).  

We hope they continue this option. Although we ended up getting a refund, at one point we were scheduled to go from Washington-Dulles to Guatemala on Avianca last year and while the schedule was odd, the prices were remarkably low. We purchased business class, and while it’s not reputed to be an elite service, it cost less than economy on other carriers. Price competition is good for the consumer. 

American may now have some competition out of Miami, but they’re not standing still. Starting on November 6th, they’ll offer three direct flights between Chicago’s O’Hare and Guatemala. They’ll compete with United, which has a strong grip on O’Hare. We have frequent flier accounts and credit cards with both airlines, but since Hanna has status on American (and we frequently fly them to Mazatlan) all things being equal we’d often rather build on our American accounts.  

American is also adding daily flights between ORD and San Jose, Costa Rica (starting November 2) and they’re adding flights to Mexican destinations including Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta. 

All of this is good for traveling anglers, especially those who live near Miami or Chicago, or use those airports as their first stops to distant destinations.