I must admit, when I flew LAN Airlines from New York to Lima this past summer, I was paying more attention to the new full-recline seats in business class (i.e. sleeping very soundly) than I was to the rundown of newly offered comforts in neighboring economy class: more on-demand entertainment choices, increased seat pitch, power outlets, oversized overheads, tasty new meals, and complimentary booze. What really awakened me, though, were the surprisingly affordable fares on these retrofitted economy-class seats. Even heading into winter high season, flying LAN remains one of the most affordable ways to get from the U.S. (non-stop from New York, Los Angeles, and Miami) to South America and the Caribbean. See sample fares after the jump.

Here’s a sample of current round-trip fares (taxes and fees not included):

New York City to Quito from $397
New York City to Lima from $478
Los Angeles to Lima from $718
Los Angeles to Buenos Aires from $869
Miami to Punta Cana from $209
Miami to Bogota from $218
Miami to Quito from $399
Miami to Buenos Aires from $819

Travel- and book-by dates vary by destination, so be sure to read the fine print under the “special offers” tab on www.lan.com.