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[QUOTE=RockHarders;432484]Mongers-.
Looks like this gravy train is coming to a screeching halt:
[URL]http://www.ambito.com/diario/noticia.asp?id=680092[/URL][/QUOTE]Was only a matter of time.
Doesn't the Argentine government realize that Chavez is dead and left a big, fat, steaming turd in the middle of Venezuela?
[QUOTE=Doggboy;432485]Was only a matter of time.
Doesn't the Argentine government realize that Chavez is dead and left a big, fat, steaming turd in the middle of Venezuela?[/QUOTE]The funny part is they still don't realize that! It wouldn't surprise me if they (the politicos argentinos) are buying dollars at the official rate and selling them everyday at the blue rate and then blaming capital flight on every one else!
Mongers-.
An update; no sales to non residents, and 20% surcharge for residents plus mandatory providing of DNI / CUIL!
[URL]http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=680155[/URL]
Harders,
Does this only apply to international travel? Based on what you've seen, can I (a current non-resident) still purchase a domestic airline ticket using pesos?
Thanks in advance for any intel.
[QUOTE=RockHarders;432490]Mongers-.
An update; no sales to non residents, and 20% surcharge for residents plus mandatory providing of DNI / CUIL!
[URL]http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=680155[/URL][/QUOTE]
Was sure sweet for awhile. Sounds like you cannot even buy a BuqueBus ticket with pesos. Can only imagine what the unintended consequences are going to be.
[QUOTE=RockHarders;432490]Mongers-.
An update; no sales to non residents, and 20% surcharge for residents plus mandatory providing of DNI / CUIL!
[URL]http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=680155[/URL][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Damman;432507]Was sure sweet for awhile. Sounds like you cannot even buy a BuqueBus ticket with pesos. Can only imagine what the unintended consequences are going to be.[/QUOTE]Looking at the buquebus website right now there are no prices listed for going anywhere, so much for going to Colonia and Punta del Este, guess I'll just have to go to elsewhere to get my 90 day stamp, Brasil maybe? (smile).
[QUOTE=Sidney;432504]UAL. Seated all the way in 1 F bulkhead. Very uncomfortable with no leg space! They flew almost to EWR before serving food and drink. Much delayed in EWR. Poor service. Bad food! Why would I ever fly Business Class again?[/QUOTE]I agree First Class is much better. LOL.
[QUOTE=Sidney;432504]UAL. Seated all the way in 1 F bulkhead. Very uncomfortable with no leg space! They flew almost to EWR before serving food and drink. Much delayed in EWR. Poor service. Bad food! Why would I ever fly Business Class again?[/QUOTE]Back before I got my air miles up to my current level I used to do the 40 k miles to Argentina frequent flyer tickets all the time. Is still available today as long a you know when you are coming (250 plus days in advance). I have been coming for 6 to 10 weeks per year for over 8 years now. Aways come for 21 to 24 days at least twice a year plus every other yeAt I add another 2 to 3 week trip. Been flying business class for my last 4 trips (100 k miles). Service has always been greAt (in fact have been scoping out the stew " fernanda" for a couple of trips now! Jajaja). Would never consider any other way of flying to Argentina now. After a night in business class to Argentina I awake refreshed and ready to ring the bell with my midday fAvourita! Just ask anybody who is staying in the house. Doubt many get to their first Chica faster than ol'toymann. Always between noon and 1 pm after Arrival. LOL. That also goes for whatever wingman is joining me on the trip. LOL. Plenty of room in the ol'blackbook.
Nothing like flying business class overnight to South America. I would never pay the full boat ( way to expensive) but never hesitate to blow the miles. 100 k is way more than 40 k but well worth it from my perspective! I did, a couple of trips ago blow 25k miles and 350 bucks to upgrade my buenos aires leg to first class (I fly AA).
Perfect organization makes for perfect performance! Sorry to disagree buddy but its been awhile since you huffed it to Argentina. Enjoy the beAch Sid. Toymann.
[QUOTE=Toymann;432517]Back before I got my air miles up to my current level I used to do the 40 k miles to Argentina frequent flyer tickets all the time. Is still available today as long a you know when you are coming (250 plus days in advance). I have been coming for 6 to 10 weeks per year for over 8 years now. Aways come for 21 to 24 days at least twice a year plus every other yeAt I add another 2 to 3 week trip. Been flying business class for my last 4 trips (100 k miles). Service has always been greAt (in fact have been scoping out the stew " fernanda" for a couple of trips now! Jajaja). Would never consider any other way of flying to Argentina now. After a night in business class to Argentina I awake refreshed and ready to ring the bell with my midday fAvourita! Just ask anybody who is staying in the house. Doubt many get to their first Chica faster than ol'toymann. Always between noon and 1 pm after Arrival. LOL. That also goes for whatever wingman is joining me on the trip. LOL. Plenty of room in the ol'blackbook.
Nothing like flying business class overnight to South America. I would never pay the full boat ( way to expensive) but never hesitate to blow the miles. 100 k is way more than 40 k but well worth it from my perspective! I did, a couple of trips ago blow 25k miles and 350 bucks to upgrade my buenos aires leg to first class (I fly AA).
Perfect organization makes for perfect performance! Sorry to disagree buddy but its been awhile since you huffed it to Argentina. Enjoy the beAch Sid. Toymann.[/QUOTE]Those that hire me to do their airport transfers can have chica waiting for them at EZE. (I bring chica in with me from the city gratis with a paid airport transfer).
[QUOTE=SilverStar;432518]Those that hire me to do their airport transfers can have chica waiting for them at EZE. (I bring chica in with me from the city gratis with a paid airport transfer).[/QUOTE]Maybe on a one-off basis. Do you have a screen between the driver and the back seat Fred. Just curious for us shy fellas. Toymann.
[QUOTE=Toymann;432517]Back before I got my air miles up to my current level I used to do the 40 k miles to Argentina frequent flyer tickets all the time. Is still available today as long a you know when you are coming (250 plus days in advance). I have been coming for 6 to 10 weeks per year for over 8 years now. Aways come for 21 to 24 days at least twice a year plus every other yeAt I add another 2 to 3 week trip. Been flying business class for my last 4 trips (100 k miles). Service has always been greAt (in fact have been scoping out the stew " fernanda" for a couple of trips now! Jajaja). Would never consider any other way of flying to Argentina now. After a night in business class to Argentina I awake refreshed and ready to ring the bell with my midday fAvourita! Just ask anybody who is staying in the house. Doubt many get to their first Chica faster than ol'toymann. Always between noon and 1 pm after Arrival.[/QUOTE]Agreed on a night's rest in b-class versus in steerage. Since I usually return to Bs As from Sex Prison, that first nut is itching to get out. I'd land at (around) 10:00 AM, be one of the first out of the plane, down the stairs to immigration, out the swinging doors (skip the duty free), no luggage to pick up (I only carry-on, especially going to Argentina), walk by the snoozing customs agents, out the door to the remis kiosk on the left and into a car generally within 20 minutes of touching down. Another 30 minutes to Recoleta, get settled, showered and down the street to 1633 Junin for a nooner. I usually keep a couple hundred pesos with me when I leave so as to be prepared to get right at it, when I return. It's like knocking the foam of a choppe.
[QUOTE==]Nothing like flying business class overnight to South America. I would never pay the full boat ( way to expensive) but never hesitate to blow the miles.[/QUOTE]Agreed. I did JFK to EZE cattle-class a number of times ('07) to get up to exec platinum status. B-class (I rarely buy tickets more than a week or two in advance) usually runs $3,500. $7,500 and while I like to be comfortable, I can't justify the extra $2-6 K (even though I am traveling for business and am usually passing the cost on to a third party). My boney ass starts to get major fatigue after 8 hours in coach. My standing policy for clients and corporate travel is biz class for anything over 8 hours, however, the magnitude in the difference in the prices to Bs As were too big for me to ignore. My clients probably would have paid it if I pushed but, I didn't even ask.
I must have over 100 of the regular upgrades (utterly useless when you travel further than the Caribbean) and tons of miles (20 k for each RT to Bs As), plus two system-wide upgrades (each year that I am Platinum). I buy a coach ticket and upgrade to biz ($350 plus miles) and with my exec platinum status, I am almost always guaranteed to get it (if I can't, I go through Miami). AA usually has decent food and wine and finishes me off with a little ice cream and dulce de leche before I take my pre-coital snooze.
[QUOTE==]100 k is way more than 40 k but well worth it from my perspective! I did, a couple of trips ago blow 25k miles and 350 bucks to upgrade my buenos aires leg to first class (I fly AA).[/QUOTE]Agreed. I can't complain about being upfront for under $1,500. I did the upgrade to first on one Bs As trip and while comfortable, it wasn't the same step up in experience that one might find on other AA routes. Plus, all I really need is the more comfortable seat, everything else is superfluous.
[QUOTE=Damman;432507]Was sure sweet for awhile. Sounds like you cannot even buy a BuqueBus ticket with pesos. Can only imagine what the unintended consequences are going to be.[/QUOTE]No problems buying tickets in person at BuqueBus this morning, have your passport as they asked for it, and I paid in pesos, same price as when I looked online last week.
I am beginning to wonder if the reason that I do not see the supersaver fares in business and first class is because I lost my Gold status. My last few trips have all been on mileage so I was inactive for 18 months. It frustrates me that Toyman is able to see the fare and I am not getting a response. The best I get is 200000 mile round trip business class.
Just tested my theory and it is wrong. I still can't get the supersaver to EZE but can get to Sao Paulo first class for 125000 miles round trip. I may have to call it fate and spend some time in Brazil. The dollar is a little stronger against the real since the last time I was there in June 2011.
I might like to try Asuncion but that one is not giving a good fare either.
Mongers-.
The key to getting the 50 k and 62.5 k (each way) milesAAver awards on AA to / from EZE is to book them either WAY out (330 days) or literally the day before or the day of the flight. I check the availability quite often and they are always available either the day before or the day of the trip. Understandably this will not work very well for people working normal 9-5 jobs as employees but if you are flexible it works out nice.
Suerte,
Rock Harders.
[QUOTE=BigBossMan;432529]I am beginning to wonder if the reason that I do not see the supersaver fares in business and first class is because I lost my Gold status. My last few trips have all been on mileage so I was inactive for 18 months. It frustrates me that Toyman is able to see the fare and I am not getting a response. The best I get is 200000 mile round trip business class.
Just tested my theory and it is wrong. I still can't get the supersaver to EZE but can get to Sao Paulo first class for 125000 miles round trip. I may have to call it fate and spend some time in Brazil. The dollar is a little stronger against the real since the last time I was there in June 2011.
I might like to try Asuncion but that one is not giving a good fare either.[/QUOTE]I am million miler with AA (primarily due to credit card miles, not flying), and I am permanent gold status. Hope this helps. Toymnn.
[QUOTE=RockHarders;432532]Mongers-.
The key to getting the 50 k and 62.5 k (each way) milesAAver awards on AA to / from EZE is to book them either WAY out (330 days) or literally the day before or the day of the flight. I check the availability quite often and they are always available either the day before or the day of the trip. Understandably this will not work very well for people working normal 9-5 jobs as employees but if you are flexible it works out nice.
Suerte,
Rock Harders.[/QUOTE]Never tried the day or two before but routinely book 330 days out, or there abouts. Always get 50 k one way business class up to about 250 days out on AA. I often book my wingman on their miles about 250 to 300 days out. Never had a problem getting them business class return for 100 k miles. Hope this helps. Toymann.
[QUOTE=BigBossMan;432529]I am beginning to wonder if the reason that I do not see the supersaver fares in business and first class is because I lost my Gold status. My last few trips have all been on mileage so I was inactive for 18 months. It frustrates me that Toyman is able to see the fare and I am not getting a response. The best I get is 200000 mile round trip business class.
Just tested my theory and it is wrong. I still can't get the supersaver to EZE but can get to Sao Paulo first class for 125000 miles round trip. I may have to call it fate and spend some time in Brazil. The dollar is a little stronger against the real since the last time I was there in June 2011.
I might like to try Asuncion but that one is not giving a good fare either.[/QUOTE]One of the guys at the dinner this past Friday said that AA had zeroed out all award travel to Argentina. Just passing on something that I've heard, I have no first hand information.
DR.
[QUOTE=DaddyRulz;432537]One of the guys at the dinner this past Friday said that AA had zeroed out all award travel to Argentina. Just passing on something that I've heard, I have no first hand information.
DR.[/QUOTE]DR-.
What the guy said at the dinner is simply not true; AAnytime awards are available on ALL flights down to the very last unsold seat (which for flights to / from EZE are 60 k, 100 k, and 125 k for why, J,F, one way). The sAAver awards to / from EZE are what are difficult to come by in advance; they are 20 k /30 k (high / low season), 50 k, and 62.5 k for why, J,F, each way. However, a day or two before, and absolutely day of the flight these lower award tiers are ALWAYS (unless the flight is sold out) available to / from EZE.
Suerte,
Rock Harders.
Rock is right on.
The goal of the airlines is not to get you from one place to another, feed nor comfort you during your passage. Their objective is to separate you from your money. They've invested more in the science of how to do this than they have in the baggage carousels at EZE (oh, wait, those are the ones they ripped out of JFK in the 70's and bought on the cheap, slightly used...).
Your best defense against this is information. As Rock pointed out, last-minute deals are plentiful. An unsold airline seat is a perishable good and of zero value, once the aircraft leaves the gate. The marginal cost of servicing a body in that potentially empty seat is pretty low (provided the aircraft is not otherwise empty). Therefore, the airline will do most anything to turn it into value. This includes retiring some of the billions of frequent flier miles that are floating around out there. They also consider the possibility that you will want something that will require you to pay them real money (booze, change fees, etc). The key is you have to be at either end of the flexibility spectrum: really flexible (last minute) or rigid (plan 11 months in advance and not need to change it).
Destination EZE is (IMO) a very good use of miles because the fares are consistently quite high, when compared to other international destinations. 40-120 k miles for a round trip to London (worth $300-600) is no where near as good a deal as 40-120 k miles round trip to EZE (lowest coach fare I have seen in years was $1100).
[QUOTE=RockHarders;432540]DR-.
What the guy said at the dinner is simply not true; AAnytime awards are available on ALL flights down to the very last unsold seat (which for flights to / from EZE are 60 k, 100 k, and 125 k for why, J,F, one way). The sAAver awards to / from EZE are what are difficult to come by in advance; they are 20 k /30 k (high / low season), 50 k, and 62.5 k for why, J,F, each way. However, a day or two before, and absolutely day of the flight these lower award tiers are ALWAYS (unless the flight is sold out) available to / from EZE.
Suerte,
Rock Harders.[/QUOTE]I'm pretty good with UAL stuff and still know a lot of people there, but AA is a mystery to me. Thanks for the clarification.
I suspect he is referring to me and what I said was that AA had zeroed out all AASaver awards in business and first for October through the end of the schedule (330 days out). I found a single AASaver award for EZE- MIA in first but nothing else. This was a major change from the past where I've always found a decent number of awards 9-12 months in advance. I didn't check DFW or JFK because availability has always been much worse for those cities. I speculated that maybe it was related to cleaning up the balance sheet during bankrupty, a policy change in award availability, or perhaps even a system glitch but didn't really know.
I'd also looked at close-in availability and it looked terrible as well but, since I like to plan my trips way in advance, close-in availability doesn't matter much to me.
I looked at UA at the same time and 9-12 month availability looked a bit lower than normal but there were some seats available.
I paid no attention to coach availability as I don't use award miles for coach as its a poor value relative to business / first in my opinion. I also don't care about AAAnytime awards as they are a poor value as well. Other people may think otherwise.
As pointed out, award availability can change in an instant so you have to check frequently and never assume that you can or can it get a seat without checking.
October. December (high season for touristas) has always been a bit of a challenge for me to Bs As (particularly, before I got comfortable renting an apartment instead of a hotel). Several years ago, I had to be in Bs As for business in the Spring (I think that there was also some huge Catholic gathering of some sort in Bs As) and arrived at EZE with no hotel reservation (could not find a single room online). I managed to book one that morning through hotelsdotcom via my phone as I rode in the remis, destination unknown. I wouldn't be surprised if the airlines were blacking out some of the possible FF seats in lieu of paying travelers during the period when they expect the most traffic.
Ever since the blue market for dollars became popular, I got into the habit of paying for my domestic airline tickets with pesos to take advantage of the discount. However, what I've been reading about the effects of la Resolución General 3450 and how the 20% surcharge would be applied made me a little concerned. My local Argie friends tell me that it has no effect on domestic travel, even for those without a DNI / CUIL.
Well, there's only one way to find out for sure. Try to buy a ticket at the advertised price and pay for it in pesos.
Today I walked into my local LAN office and purchased a one-way ticket from my (un-named Argentine City) to Buenos Aires. Before going to the office, I logged into the LAN domestic site from home and checked the price. When I got to the LAN office this afternoon, I used their computer terminal to check the price again in pesos. Basically they were the same as the one advertised on the poster hung on the front of the building, "Fly to Buenos Aires desde $xxxx". I could have purchased my ticket at that computer terminal if I had wanted to use my credit card, as I've done so in the past. Not today. Instead I sat down and a nice young lady sold me a ticket en efectivo. She did not add a 20% surcharge, and there didn't seem to be a surcharge already built into the price of the ticket. I paid in pesos and that was that. She knew I was an extranjero as she had asked to see my passport. So, as of today anyway, domestic airline tickets don't appear to be affected by the resolution.
United terminating NYC route:
[URL]http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A//www.cronista.com/negocios/Por-falta-de-demanda-United-Airlines-elimina-los-vuelos-sin-escalas-de-Buenos-Aires-a-Nueva-York-20130715-0081.html&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=UTF-8[/URL]
[URL]http://www.cronista.com/negocios/Por-falta-de-demanda-United-Airlines-elimina-los-vuelos-sin-escalas-de-Buenos-Aires-a-Nueva-York-20130715-0081.html[/URL]
[QUOTE=Damman;434568]United terminating NYC route:
[URL]http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A//www.cronista.com/negocios/Por-falta-de-demanda-United-Airlines-elimina-los-vuelos-sin-escalas-de-Buenos-Aires-a-Nueva-York-20130715-0081.html&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=UTF-8[/URL]
[URL]http://www.cronista.com/negocios/Por-falta-de-demanda-United-Airlines-elimina-los-vuelos-sin-escalas-de-Buenos-Aires-a-Nueva-York-20130715-0081.html[/URL][/QUOTE]It could be a seasonal adjustment.
I read this article this morning. [URL]http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/20131207/frequent-flier-miles-worth-less-as-airlines-roll-back-benefits[/URL] I am sitting here with a bank of 450,000 miles. Maybe better used sooner rather than later.
For those sitting around BA twiddling their peckers:
13 day South America Passage, Buenos Aires to Santiago, March 4 & 17. MS Zaandam. Visiting Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Straits of Magellan, Puerto Arenas, Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Amerlia Glacia, Chiliean Fjords, Puerto Montt, Santiango.
Just to go to Holland America Cruise Lines website, or other discount cruise agencies. Prices was of today, but don't be surprise if it has gone up when you try to book. You can wait but I don't believe they will go down any further. Cruises are generally $100 per day & up. Sales tax will be added on, and gratituties are about $10 a day. Excursions are extra, but you can choose to go on your own. Just make sure you make back to the ship on time. Generally, you can buy excursions at the port cheaper, or just negotiate with a taxi driver for a set fee or use local transportation. Holland America has a good reputation, and the food is excellent. I did this cruise a few years back.
What's going on with AA? Very hard to get a ticket coach or Bz from Chicago? NO business availability over a 4 month period and the peon section has you taking 3 flights to get there. Observations and opinions welcome.
[QUOTE=Boston;437797]What's going on with AA? Very hard to get a ticket coach or Bz from Chicago? NO business availability over a 4 month period and the peon section has you taking 3 flights to get there. Observations and opinions welcome.[/QUOTE]Very strange. When are you traveling? I hopped on their site and there is limited space in Feb. Not great rates. Most flights through MIA or DFW.
[QUOTE=Troyster;437798]Very strange. When are you traveling? I hopped on their site and there is limited space in Feb. Not great rates. Most flights through MIA or DFW.[/QUOTE]
Toyster, I should have mentioned I was talking about using miles for the ticket. I was looking mid year and all business was greyed out. I did find one thing out..if you check every few days, availability does change. I also called AAdvantage and found out that if you book and something better does come available, you can change with no problem, as long as destination and dates remain the same.
I was looking for a business award in November. Good availability but only for the daytime flights from and to MIA.
You can change dates without a problem on an AA award. Just need to keep the same airports.
[QUOTE=Boston;437820]Toyster, I should have mentioned I was talking about using miles for the ticket. I was looking mid year and all business was greyed out. I did find one thing out..if you check every few days, availability does change. I also called AAdvantage and found out that if you book and something better does come available, you can change with no problem, as long as destination and dates remain the same.[/QUOTE]Our beloved ff miles mean almost nothing anymore. I find if you are limited on flexibility you have to start about a year out these days to have a chance. Good luck. Hope you find something.
[QUOTE=EasyGo;437835]I was looking for a business award in November. Good availability but only for the daytime flights from and to MIA.
You can change dates without a problem on an AA award. Just need to keep the same airports.[/QUOTE]Thanks, I did not know we can change dates too.
The issues on whether to fly with two or three classes and if there is a first class cabin, how many seats, are in flux. When american has the answers, then the booking will be on the website. The new first class will use more space and need a higher ticket price. How much value is added on the difference between first and business? Are most of the first classs seat filled by passengers paying full price or are getting discounted upgrades with miles vs cash.
American is out of bankruptcy and looking to make money with the configuration of their new longer distance eqipment.
I, for one, see little value of the upgrade from business to first class on the 777's the used in the recent past. The upgrade from coach to business is huge for a 9+ hour flight, especially when paying primarily or totally with miles.
Air Fare:
If I want to fly in or out of this country and I am a citizen or a RESIDENT I pay X amount of pesos if I use the Argie Airlines or LAN.
Fair enough.
But If my traveling companion is a foreigner she May have to pay quite a bit more.
Example:
1200 p for me and 2000 p for my companion.
That's not cool!
Does it help if my companion is part of Mercosur?
Thanks,
TL.
It is cheaper for me to fly than to take a bus!
One is 13 hours and the other one is 2 hours duration!
SHIT!
The Only benefit is that it gives you 13 hours of one on one, face to face time.
[QUOTE=Gandolf50;439346]A perfect example is Aerolneas Argentinas, the company loses more then 2.5 million dollars per day, service is lousy. Flights are regularly canceled. Most web travel sites will not even sell their tickets. But the government (which is basically bankrupt) continues to pump money into it that they don't have. Any management with half a brain would sell it off or even give it away just to stop the hemorrhaging. But we all know that will never happen. [/QUOTE]I had a recent experience with Aerolineas that I would not believe if it had not happened. It is small wonder that Aerolineas went bankrupt, and is once again broke. All I wanted to do was buy two tickets from BA to Iguazu and pay cash. I did not want to pay with a USA issued credit card because all the fees would guarantee that I would receive an exchange rate much less than the "Official Rate". The first thing I encountered was that Aerolineas only gave an hour from the time that the reservation was made until the time it had to be paid for. I could not get to a ticket office listed on the Aerolineas web site in less than an hour. I then discovered that going to an Aerolineas ticket office would do no good. After going to a ticket office, I was informed that the airport (in this case EZE or AEP) was the only place that I could pay cash. I took the Tienda Leon bus to AEP and found that the reservation was a two step process. First I had to make a reservation and have the ticket issued, (thank goodness I speak Spanish because the ticket agent spoke very little English) and then I had to stand in another line to pay. When I payed, I was charged $321.20 p for "miscellaneous charges" that were not disclosed on the web site or by the ticket agent. I paid and left in disgust. I suppose that I could have used a travel agent, but who is going to pay the agent's commission? USA airlines stopped paying commissions to agents many years ago. Does Aerolineas still pay a commission to Argentine agents? Quite frankly I do not care, but that is another expense (government subsidy) that Aerolineas must pay.
The DELTA office across the street from my apartment would let me buy a ticket anywhere DELTA flies for cash (pesos) paid in their office, or their web site would let me pay in the USA with a USA issued credit card, thus avoiding the fees.
Tres3.
[QUOTE=Tres3;439367]I had a recent experience with Aerolineas that I would not believe if it had not happened. It is small wonder that Aerolineas went bankrupt, and is once again broke. All I wanted to do was buy two tickets from BA to Iguazu and pay cash. I did not want to pay with a USA issued credit card because all the fees would guarantee that I would receive an exchange rate much less than the "Official Rate". The first thing I encountered was that Aerolineas only gave an hour from the time that the reservation was made until the time it had to be paid for. I could not get to a ticket office listed on the Aerolineas web site in less than an hour. I then discovered that going to an Aerolineas ticket office would do no good. After going to a ticket office, I was informed that the airport (in this case EZE or AEP) was the only place that I could pay cash. I took the Tienda Leon bus to AEP and found that the reservation was a two step process. First I had to make a reservation and have the ticket issued, (thank goodness I speak Spanish because the ticket agent spoke very little English) and then I had to stand in another line to pay. When I payed, I was charged $321.20 p for "miscellaneous charges" that were not disclosed on the web site or by the ticket agent. I paid and left in disgust. I suppose that I could have used a travel agent, but who is going to pay the agent's commission? USA airlines stopped paying commissions to agents many years ago. Does Aerolineas still pay a commission to Argentine agents? Quite frankly I do not care, but that is another expense (government subsidy) that Aerolineas must pay.
The DELTA office across the street from my apartment would let me buy a ticket anywhere DELTA flies for cash (pesos) paid in their office, or their web site would let me pay in the USA with a USA issued credit card, thus avoiding the fees.
Tres3.[/QUOTE]Last month I paid cash at the main Aerolineas Argentinas office downtown at Perú 2 for 2 tickets to Cancun. I made the reservation on their website and had 24 hours to pay. On the 1st trip to the office I tried to pretend I was a tourist, and was advised that all foreigners are required to pay in USD. I returned later that day with pesos and my DNI and was issued the receipt for the electronic tickets within a few minutes.
Go figure.
Thanks,
Jax.
I talk to Argie friends of mine and they just don't get this. The National Flagged Carrier will not accept their own currency in their own capital. I could understand it if I was paying for a ticket on Aerolineas in Germany or something. But this would be like American Airlines refusing to accept dollars for a ticket a Brit was trying to purchase in Washington DC saying, "Sorry, we only accept Pounds from you." My Argie friends all say the same "You are Yankees you can afford it" or "YaY, you should use your dollars.".
Then I look at them and ask "how can your government, not allow somebody to buy something using YOUR money in YOUR country? It's like the government itself is saying "Our money is shit, we don't want it." Then they start to understand.