Airlines

Due to fog and or strikes and or radar problems, my regular "work package" sent via Fedex from Miami is 5 days late, and has been lounging in Montevideo for the past 2 days.

Dear Boss (pick company) or Dear Wife (pick name) I can't return to US for work because as you know the airport doesnt have radar. I will stay in BA and promise not to fuck Portenos or Paraguayenese and focus on tele-commuting until the equipment arrives from god knows where.

[QUOTE=BundaLover]Dear Boss (pick company) or Dear Wife (pick name) I can't return to US for work because as you know the airport doesnt have radar. I will stay in BA and promise not to fuck Portenos or Paraguayenese and focus on tele-commuting until the equipment arrives from god knows where.[/QUOTE]Bad news bunda - it seems to have arrived.

Maybe the installation specialists will now go on strike!

[url]http://actualidad.terra.es/nacional/articulo/argentina_espana_recibe_radar_cedido_1646317.htm[/url]

American Airlines.

Last week of October 2007. Weather should be peaking around then!

Hopefully chica skin will be showing after a cold winter!

JFK-EZE nonstop. On Friday, dropped from 796.00 all in to 647.00.

I booked immediately.

When I came to BA on the same route on 3/13/07, it was 860.00.

213.00 USD saved.

Regards.

Smuler

From where I am United is the only choice. United is the only airline with a direct flight non stop. Yes it is like 2 hundred more, but I have the assurance of knowing my luggage will not be lost and that when my plane lands I will be in Argentina not a pit stop. Many people say I am crazy, but United really is the best and most comfortable.

[QUOTE=Sidney]They tried very hard to cancel my return ticket from SDQ--MIA, after failing to return in 90 days. One year is normal. Only a long argument with a customer service supervisor saved the ticket.[/QUOTE]Most airlines have different fares for different lengths of trips. Most are 30-60-90 day trips. To buy a ticket for a longer stay usually increases the fare considerably. In fact, it's often cheaper to buy two round trips and throw away the other portion that to buy a ticket for a one year stay.

I recommend using frequent flyer rewards for long stays. You have to use them within a year, either from date of issue or date of departure, it might vary from airline to airline.

Don't just buy a ticket and expect to change the return date with a low fee. It might work, but you might get hit with a change fee, plus a big fare difference.

Good July thru March of 2008.

Email info by [url]www.farecompare[/url].

WOW!

[QUOTE=Sidney]Fare compare. Thank you Jaimito![/QUOTE]Which Airline please

AA tried to take extra out of the way stops on the non stop MIA-EZE flight and not give me the additional FF miles! Also, the flight attendant tried to charge me $20 for a flat beer while deliberatly speaking to me in Spanish! AVOID! I told her to first take the drink cart to the intersection of seats 10b and 10c, and then to turn right to serve me my drink in seat 13E, but she refused! AVOID! More to come later. AVOID!

I don't fly AA anymore.

Sid: back in '75 how much were those plywood, hand painted (Rosebud perhaps? Leather strap skis worth?

Sid,

Have you checked Ebay for your missing luggage. They are bound to turn up soon.

Dirk,

We shouldnt fly AA because you couldnt get in flight beer the way you like it?

You guys are VERY tough customers.

I began November 2003 Thanksgiving traveling to this promised land. In the 8 trips since I flew American, very flight ORD / MIA / EZE flawless. Great as Gold / Platinum. Only once there was no plane coming in from Uruguay? / but I was hanging in the American Club and expectedly after 3 or 4 hours, as with anyone, they immediately arranged for Intercontinental hotel for 60 people kept the buffet open! Luggage always there, pleasant service, speciall assistance on seating, I have more confidence in them than anyone else. The one time on United when my chicky split 2005 the 6:00 PM never happened. If I did'nt argue she / we would never had gotten an Airport room, so there. Now see what happens to me when I fly American in August!

Mongers-

I guess nobody except Sidney and myself understood that I was doing an obvious ridiculous parody of Sidney's complaints and writing style. The events I wrote about never actually occurred, in truth I have never even been on the MIA-EZE flight, I take the JFK-EZE route. I do not like American Airlines that much, but I just chose them at random to parody Sidney. However, in my experience, flying AA to Buenos Aires is the worst of the four US airlines that fly to EZE. Their 767's have the least entertainment options and are the least comfortable.

Suerte,

Dirk Diggler

[QUOTE=Dirk Diggler]Mongers-

I guess nobody except Sidney and myself understood that I was doing an obvious ridiculous parody of Sidney's complaints and writing style. The events I wrote about never actually occurred, in truth I have never even been on the MIA-EZE flight, I take the JFK-EZE route. I do not like American Airlines that much, but I just chose them at random to parody Sidney. However, in my experience, flying AA to Buenos Aires is the worst of the four US airlines that fly to EZE. Their 767's have the least entertainment options and are the least comfortable.

Suerte,

Dirk Diggler[/QUOTE]Upon re-reading I get it. Please don't make a habit of that. One El Sid is enough.:)

I guess when I traveled three time during that year when I fell in lust with my chicky, the points added up then you go miles, so I have limited experience with orther airlines. I certainly respect the senior opinions, so if you have better options please pass it on. I will finish my free mileage soon, and will explore your options. I trust the boards experience. Which airline do you think are the best?

Estimados clientes,

Queremos informarles sobre nuestra tarifa promocional a Buenos Aires desde New York de $579 más $67 de impuestos (total $646 aproximadamente) ida why vuelta para viajar en vuelos directos.

Esta tarifa no aplica para viajes que se inicien entre el 11 de julio why el 9 de agosto, why debe estar finalizado para el 30 de noviembre.

Para hacer su reserva, visite nuestra página [url]www.1800ARGENTINA.com[/url]

Éste es sólo un ejemplo de nuestras promociones. Para ofertas desde otras ciudades o a otros destinos, visite [url]www.1800ARGENTINA.com[/url]

Buen viaje!

Carbone Travel.

PS: Esta promoción está sujeta a disponibilidad why cambios. Puede ser cancelada en cualquier momento. Le sugerimos comprar su pasaje lo antes posible.

Just did a dummy intin for a random date in SEP on the website Exon quoted.

On TAM, JFK to EZE via Sao Paulo - $618 all in.

On American direct from JFK to EZE $652 all in.

[QUOTE=Sportsman]Just did a dummy intin for a random date in SEP on the website Exon quoted.

On TAM, JFK to EZE via Sao Paulo - $618 all in.

On American direct from JFK to EZE $652 all in.[/QUOTE]I would guess this only applies to round trips originating in NYC. Somebody let me know if I am wrong.

Thanks

Looking at Chicago for $728 / $800 with Tax. I never know if I should use the miles or what when the fare goes to this? Any thoughts? Kudos to Exon for getting the word out two hours after Carbone Travel emailed me. I don't get it, isn't fuel up? I think it's because everyone is sick / congestion down there? No offense meant.

They currently have a round trip flight out of Miami for $494 including taxes. Amazing. Thanks Exon for this valuable tip.

[QUOTE=Tryan123]They currently have a round trip flight out of Miami for $494 including taxes. Amazing. Thanks Exon for this valuable tip.[/QUOTE]Since I'd be whats considered a frequent flyer too Buenos Aires I've tried them all. Over the years I've found Carbone Travel to be the best for the lowest fares down there. You even get the miles.

Carbone is whats called a ticket consoladator, they buy hundreds if not thousands of seats at a time at discounted prices. Then resell them over the net at discounted prices.

As an example, check a fare then go to the carriers website or another discounter website and normally you'll find Carbone is 2 to 3 hundred dollars cheaper.

Mongering Tips from the Top by.

Exon

[QUOTE=Exon123]Since I'd be whats considered a frequent flyer too Buenos Aires I've tried them all. Over the years I've found Carbone Travel to be the best for the lowest fares down there. You even get the miles.

Carbone is whats called a ticket consoladator, they buy hundreds if not thousands of seats at a time at discounted prices. Then resell them over the net at discounted prices.

As an example, check a fare then go to the carriers website or another discounter website and normally you'll find Carbone is 2 to 3 hundred dollars cheaper.

Mongering Tips from the Top by.

Exon[/QUOTE]Righto Exon. I started using them years ago as they have a presence in Miami. Unfortunately, these wonderful deals don't help us fellows in BA as the origin must be in the states. Good for you guys though.

I have used Delta for the last year, simply because they had unbeatable business class prices, if you were willing to book 50 days in advance. However, I recently decided to start traveling economy.

I live here in BA (for the last 6 months) so I have't been able to take advantage of places like CheapTickets. Com, which I did when I was living in the States.

I went to check out Carbone and received a price of $903/ ticket from EZE to the IAH (Houston) Decent price, for sure, per ticket, compared to what's out there on carrier sites. However, they charge an additional $110 Govt Taxes and fees, and with the other usual charges, the ticket came to $1,040. That's still cheaper than going to most airlines directly. The travel was on AeroMexico, BA to Mexico City to IAH and back. Sept. 2 through Sept. 8.

I tried Carbonne with an origination from the States and saw that the price was different - the ticket was much cheaper ($742) but the taxes were higher ($213) with a total price of $955 (no other fees and taxes presented) Still a good price.

As a side note, I was surprised after reading Doggboy's post that they didn't give me a problem searching with EZE as my point of departure. Have they changed things perhaps? Having a good cheap outlet to buy tickets for roundtrips to the States from BA would be great!

Also, I did a comparison just for grins, on CheapTickets. Com (where I've also bought tickets in the past) Instead of originating in EZE, I originated in IAH, roundtrip, because CheapTickets does require originating in the States even for searching. The price I got there was $930 per ticket, total (taxes and fees) Not a lot of difference, but a little cheaper. This flight went from IAH to Miami to BA and back.

The cheapest flight I could find on Delta or Continental (Continental is the only airline I know of that has direct flights from Houston to BA) was $1,300, taxes and fees not included, so look at at least another $200, to bring it to $1,500 or more.

Rarely is it a good deal to fly from an airline's main hub, where there is no competition. So you get a good price from NYC or MIA, but not from IAH. It's almost always a better deal to fly on a separate ticket from these other cities, than to just buy the direct city.

As Sydney has noted, using [url]www.farecompare.com[/url] is good (sign up for email alerts for EZE) and if Carbone travel can beat the rates, and you get your FF miles, go with them.

Has anyone figured out how to get regular 50,000 mile award flights on Delta or its partners for USA / Argentina? I just checked online and could not find a single one in the next 12 months! Do they even exist? Only 100,000 mile awards (skychoice) were available - that's 100k for a friggin economy seat.

[QUOTE=Moore]Has anyone figured out how to get regular 50,000 mile award flights on Delta or its partners for USA / Argentina? I just checked online and could not find a single one in the next 12 months! Do they even exist? Only 100,000 mile awards (skychoice) were available - that's 100k for a friggin economy seat.[/QUOTE]You won't see them further out (as you might at first expect) Actually, check in the next 1-3 days. That's when they're available. Which means, you'll probably have to mix and match, Skysaver outbound and Skychoice on return trip. Or, take a 1 way Skysaver and play the same game when you're ready to return.

Tough to plan on apt rental reservations this way, little easier if you're staying in a hotel.

[QUOTE=Moore]Has anyone figured out how to get regular 50,000 mile award flights on Delta or its partners for USA / Argentina? I just checked online and could not find a single one in the next 12 months! Do they even exist? Only 100,000 mile awards (skychoice) were available - that's 100k for a friggin economy seat.[/QUOTE]I would call up Delta and have them check their partner awards. Often they may not have their own awards available, but might have Continental, Copa or Aeromexico via an DL agent. (I'm not sure what exact partners Delta has. I'm a NW member, and can us 4 different partners, but even airlines in the same alliance can vary a little.

You might end up paying the phone booking fee, but still much better than wasting another 50k miles! If you have any American Airline miles, you can get pretty easy awards in the off season for 40k miles.

For instance, using my NW account, I can find 50k flights from the west coast to EZE in September. Mostly CO flights, but some with a DL leg in them too.

[QUOTE=Monger514]You won't see them further out.[/QUOTE]If DL only has awards 1-3 days out from a flight, then they're surely a frequent flyer program to avoid. I book about 10 reward flights a year (I only use 5 of them, I cancel the other 5) and book out 11 months sometimes. I thought CO was stingy in handing out awards, but I find it hard to believe that DL is so bad.

Most airlines allow you to book 330-350 days out. Find out what your airline does, and try to snag the seats as they come available. If you're booking in a busy time, book at the first chance you can get, and if your city isn't coming up at a reasonable rate, check other major cities close to you.

I don't know about Delta, but you can only get international award seats on American's partners by calling; the internet site lets you look but it's misleading. I wasted lots of valuable time in trying to score seats to Australia before finding this out. I don't know the partners for Delta but it's worth a shot.

I cashed in awards for 50,000 in May, booked almost 30 days in advance, on Delta. Not sure why you would have a problem. I know Monger had the same problem when looking for business class tickets trying to get rewards, but I've not had a problme except for a few blacked out days, not months, for SkySaver.

Just to clarify....

Delta has plenty of award seats going out for a full year. It's just the cheaper awards (Skysaver) that tend to only be available at the last minute. This is especially true for business class, but it's pretty much the case for coach, too, you just might see one a week or so out, from time to time, so not terribly much better. So, being adventurous pays off, I suppose.

Delta does have a nice feature on their website where you can look at a calendar one month at a time and see what awards are available every day of the month.

Live in the United States.

Does anyone have ideas for calling the 1-800 customer service number. Perpetually on hold.

[QUOTE=Hlover]Live in the United States.

Does anyone have ideas for calling the 1-800 customer service number. Perpetually on hold.[/QUOTE]IF you can't get thru to AA USA, call AA customer service in one of the other countries that doesn't have a toll free number, like Australia at +61-2-9234-9000 or New Zealand at +64-9-379-3675. It should only cost a few bucks for a 5 or 10 minute call to make/change reservations. I've done this when outside Argentina and local office was closed for the day. They all have access to the same system.

You often can't call toll free numbers like AA Argentina's 0810-222-VOLAR (86527) unless you're in country.

I don't know the details, but just saw this posted. Works as a one way down, I believe. Not sure if it works from other cities yet, or FROM BA yet.

This is about 30% of the normal first class fare!

So far, it doesn't seem to work from other cities, or in the reverse direction. Normal fares seem to be in the $5000-$5500 range.