Airlines

[QUOTE=DaddyRulz;439374]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.[/QUOTE]LOL!! Hasn't it been a law now that all purchases in Argentina have to be in pesos? Or is it that the law does not apply to yankee devils?

[QUOTE=Jackson;439373]Last month I paid cash at the main Aerolineas Argentinas office downtown at Peru 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.[/QUOTE]The law says that all purchases must be in pesos, but I guess that the law does not apply to the government owned national airline unless you can prove that you are not a tourist. I do not live here, so I do not have a DNI. That means I cannot get an Argentine issued credit card to pay for my ticket in pesos in Argentina, or go to an Aerolineas office that will accept cash pesos and pay cash pesos. I must incur the USA or other foreign credit card fees that reduce the effective exchange rate that I receive or pay cash in USD. What if I am a poor tourist who has only a foreign passport AND has changed most, if not all, of his foreign money to pesos? I guess that I am SOL, because the government and / or Aerolineas do not care. An Aerolineas ticket cannot be bought by someone else with a DNI, because the name on the ticket must be the same as the name on the ID used to get a boarding pass.

Meanwhile, Aerolineas gets broker and broker, and never discloses the above to the hapless tourist.

I do not think I will ever figure out the Argentine mentality, and have given up trying in order to avoid going nuts.

Tres3.D

[QUOTE=Tres3;439380]The law says that all purchases must be in pesos, but I guess that the law does not apply to the government owned national airline unless you can prove that you are not a tourist. I do not live here, so I do not have a DNI. That means I cannot get an Argentine issued credit card to pay for my ticket in pesos in Argentina, or go to an Aerolineas office that will accept cash pesos and pay cash pesos. I must incur the USA or other foreign credit card fees that reduce the effective exchange rate that I receive or pay cash in USD. What if I am a poor tourist who has only a foreign passport AND has changed most, if not all, of his foreign money to pesos? I guess that I am SOL, because the government and / or Aerolineas do not care. An Aerolineas ticket cannot be bought by someone else with a DNI, because the name on the ticket must be the same as the name on the ID used to get a boarding pass.

Meanwhile, Aerolineas gets broker and broker, and never discloses the above to the hapless tourist.

I do not think I will ever figure out the Argentine mentality, and have given up trying in order to avoid going nuts.

Tres3.D[/QUOTE]This explains it. It won't help you get anything done but maybe it will help with the going nuts part. You must accept this at face value, there is no logic involved.

[QUOTE=DaddyRulz;439375]Unlike the rest of the world where the value of goods or services is pretty much based on what a person will pay for it. In Argentina the value of a good or service is based on what you are perceived by the seller as having the ABILITY to pay for it. If one person CAN pay 700 then that's the price, if another person CAN pay 1500 then that is the price. If you pay less, they think you have somehow robbed them.

Once you get this, it isn't any less frustrating, but it does start to make some kind of sense. There is this one chick at Newport that we call Y3K? Why Y3K? Because, well, with a strait face she told me I had to pay her 3,000 pesos an hour, hence Y3K. Her preferred date is an Argie guy, in decent shape, between 23-30 and I fucking know not a one of those fuckers is spending 3 K an hour. I woulda banged her three or four times by now for 1000-1200 but in her mind that wouldn't be 3-5000 pesos she had earned but rather 6-8000 I had stolen from her.

HGL I know you're not a noob here, I don't mean to talk down to you, obviously you know how to handle yourself. It just took me a long time to figure this out and I thought I would offer a "for what it's worth" kinda thing. Mostly because it extends into all aspects of business, they will walk away from a deal with an extranjero that they would happily make with another Argie, rent, services, cars, anything.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Tres3;439380]The law says that all purchases must be in pesos, but I guess that the law does not apply to the government owned national airline unless you can prove that you are not a tourist. I do not live here, so I do not have a DNI. That means I cannot get an Argentine issued credit card to pay for my ticket in pesos in Argentina, or go to an Aerolineas office that will accept cash pesos and pay cash pesos. I must incur the USA or other foreign credit card fees that reduce the effective exchange rate that I receive or pay cash in USD. What if I am a poor tourist who has only a foreign passport AND has changed most, if not all, of his foreign money to pesos? I guess that I am SOL, because the government and / or Aerolineas do not care. An Aerolineas ticket cannot be bought by someone else with a DNI, because the name on the ticket must be the same as the name on the ID used to get a boarding pass.

Meanwhile, Aerolineas gets broker and broker, and never discloses the above to the hapless tourist.

I do not think I will ever figure out the Argentine mentality, and have given up trying in order to avoid going nuts.

Tres3.D[/QUOTE]FYI, you can pay for an Aerolineas Argentinas ticket on their USA website using a USA credit card without incurring any foreign transaction fees.

[QUOTE=ElAlamoPalermo;439384]FYI, you can pay for an Aerolineas Argentinas ticket on their USA website using a USA credit card without incurring any foreign transaction fees.[/QUOTE]Confirmed, you can buy in Aerolineas Argentinas website easily.

[QUOTE=AlbertPunter;439389]Confirmed, you can buy in Aerolineas Argentinas website easily.[/QUOTE]But you can not buy their tickets on most normal travel sites as they refuse to sell them...

I bought in Expedia at least a couple of times.

[QUOTE=Gandolf50;439390]But you can not buy their tickets on most normal travel sites as they refuse to sell them...[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Gandolf50;439390]But you can not buy their tickets on most normal travel sites as they refuse to sell them...[/QUOTE]Not true at all.

[QUOTE=Member#3320;439397]Not true at all.[/QUOTE]I just did a quick search on travelocity for flights from NY to EZE and not one flight shows for Cristina Airlines. I remember asking them once and they said they won't sell their (Areolinas Argentinas) flights because they have too many cancellations and complaints. Too many problems. Lan Argentina shows up but then they are not controlled by a banana republic.

[QUOTE=Gandolf50;439402]I just did a quick search on travelocity for flights from NY to EZE and not one flight shows for Cristina Airlines. I remember asking them once and they said they won't sell their (Areolinas Argentinas) flights because they have too many cancellations and complaints. Too many problems. Lan Argentina shows up but then they are not controlled by a banana republic.[/QUOTE]Try Expedia

search on Kayak.com

serach Buenos Aires to Rosario or New York to Buenos Aires

On another note, what compels you to continue living all these years in this "banana republic"?

The extended discussion of how to buy a ticket on this limited forum only proves my point. If Aerolineas were a well, or even competently, managed airline, we would not be having this discussion. In fact, this discussion would have never arisen. I think we will all agree that good customer service, all customers, not just Argentine citizens and residents, is an essential element of a well managed airline. The simple fact that we have had this discussion proves the point that Aerolineas is a poorly managed airline. Posters on this forum are silent with regard to the many other airlines, many of them state owned, that fly to Argentina. We do not need to go into a prolonged discussion of traveling with a computer, the Internet, WiFi, foreign IP. Addresses, credit card fees, etc. A well managed airline has an I.T. Department that has already figured all of that out. Uruguay had the good sense to shut down PLUNA. Argentina should do the same. Competent management will seize the opportunity and fill the void.

My dos centavos worth.

Tres3.

Prices for international travel are absolutely off the charts at the moment.

I traveled back to the UK with my son a year ago and it cost a total of 18,000 pesos. I'm currently being quoted 42,000 pesos.

Even allowing for the changing exchange rate that's USD2,500 v USD4,000 FFS!

[QUOTE=Member#3320;439403]Try Expedia

search on Kayak.com

serach Buenos Aires to Rosario or New York to Buenos Aires

On another note, what compels you to continue living all these years in this "banana republic"?[/QUOTE]If things don't get better with the next group of thieves that move into the casa rosada I will be looking into leaving. The truth is I need to unload some more land and houses before I leave. It wasnt this bad a few years ago. Too many losses if I leave now and leave things on consignment.

[QUOTE=Member#3320;439403]Try Expedia

search on Kayak.com

serach Buenos Aires to Rosario or New York to Buenos Aires

On another note, what compels you to continue living all these years in this "banana republic"?[/QUOTE]Internal flights are one thing as many of the routes are only served by Aerolinias. International is another thing. If I can avoid flying them, I do. They are typical Argentine. They don't like to do required maintenance. They had a plane grounded in NY last month or the month before because the FAA would not let them fly until they performed overdue maintenance. Whats worse is that it was not the first time. Their seats are small and uncomfortable and their prices are usually among the highest. I have been stuck with them on several connecting flights and each time there was a problem with being late, or waiting for luggage or something. Maybe I am just spoiled by American Airlines since they treat me well as a frequent flyer and I get to avoid a lot of lines and almost always get a free upgrade if there is a seat available. But that's me, every one has different needs and tastes. I'm sure there are people some where who swear by Aerolineas...

I'm looking at flying to EZE next month, and getting fare quotes of $1700 and higher. This is getting way out of hand.

Anybody know why flying to EZE from USA is so expensive?

I regularly fly coast to coast in USA for $350. At 2500 miles that's half the distance to Argentina, but only 20% of the cost.

[QUOTE=Moore;441431]I'm looking at flying to EZE next month, and getting fare quotes of $1700 and higher. This is getting way out of hand.

Anybody know why flying to EZE from USA is so expensive?

I regularly fly coast to coast in USA for $350. At 2500 miles that's half the distance to Argentina, but only 20% of the cost.[/QUOTE]I recently booked a round trip from Miami through Carbone Travel for about $1,100. Promotional rate with limitations but nice.

On [URL]www.kayak.com[/URL] is $1141 on certain days next month.
I forgot to mention that is from SFO.

[QUOTE=Moore;441431]I'm looking at flying to EZE next month, and getting fare quotes of $1700 and higher. This is getting way out of hand.

Anybody know why flying to EZE from USA is so expensive?

I regularly fly coast to coast in USA for $350. At 2500 miles that's half the distance to Argentina, but only 20% of the cost.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Moore;441431]I'm looking at flying to EZE next month, and getting fare quotes of $1700 and higher. This is getting way out of hand.

Anybody know why flying to EZE from USA is so expensive?

I regularly fly coast to coast in USA for $350. At 2500 miles that's half the distance to Argentina, but only 20% of the cost.[/QUOTE]A lot of the price depends on where you live in the USA, and whether or not you are willing to change airplanes in Central or South America. If you live close to South Florida you have a lot more choices because of the competition. I have found that the cheapest fares are change plane fares in Panama, Columbia, or Peru. The layover is one an a half to four hours, depending on the flight and country. The West Coast is terrible for airfares because of the lack of competition, and it is not just to EZE. I have a friend who works in Asia, and lives in Peru. He travels frequently from work to home, and has found it cheaper to fly to Florida, visit his sister, and then fly to Peru, than to fly to Peru via the West Coast.

You are correct about transcon fares, but that is due primarily to the low cost airlines and competition. The Latin American airlines do do not have much competition, and hate competition.

Tres3.

[QUOTE=Tres3;441442]A lot of the price depends on where you live in the USA, and whether or not you are willing to change airplanes in Central or South America. If you live close to South Florida you have a lot more choices because of the competition. I have found that the cheapest fares are change plane fares in Panama, Columbia, or Peru. The layover is one an a half to four hours, depending on the flight and country. The West Coast is terrible for airfares because of the lack of competition, and it is not just to EZE. I have a friend who works in Asia, and lives in Peru. He travels frequently from work to home, and has found it cheaper to fly to Florida, visit his sister, and then fly to Peru, than to fly to Peru via the West Coast.

You are correct about transcon fares, but that is due primarily to the low cost airlines and competition. The Latin American airlines do do not have much competition, and hate competition.

Tres3.[/QUOTE]Ticket is $1,600.00 from Chicago on AA always. Look for deals for buying miles. There was a promotion from AA where you get a 25% discount on what you buy. I found a round trip for 40 k miles on AAdvantage. I was down to zero miles at the time so I had to buy all the miles. Even with the tax, fees and small print, I ended up paying about $900.00 for all. Same flight that they sold for $1,600.00! AA is the only one where you can fly for 40k miles but you have to be flexible. And.......after you book, if you find a better flight you can change for no cost.

[QUOTE=Boston;441446]Ticket is $1,600.00 from Chicago on AA always. Look for deals for buying miles. There was a promotion from AA where you get a 25% discount on what you buy. I found a round trip for 40 k miles on AAdvantage. I was down to zero miles at the time so I had to buy all the miles. Even with the tax, fees and small print, I ended up paying about $900.00 for all. Same flight that they sold for $1,600.00! AA is the only one where you can fly for 40k miles but you have to be flexible. And.......after you book, if you find a better flight you can change for no cost.[/QUOTE]The 40 K is low season, a tremendous deal, as with 30 K to Lima, Bogota, Medellin. And for 20 K, you can use it for 1 way, too. Just have to watch the airport taxes, it can be quite different as with London ($200) compared to Paris or Madrid (at least 50 per cent less).

Just watch out for the transfer, flights often come with overnight connections. And beware of coming into LGA and leaving from JFK.

And you need to plan & book way ahead of departure. Unless, you are born lucky.

[QUOTE=RevBS;441448]The 40 K is low season, a tremendous deal, as with 30 K to Lima, Bogota, Medellin. And for 20 K, you can use it for 1 way, too. Just have to watch the airport taxes, it can be quite different as with London ($200) compared to Paris or Madrid (at least 50 per cent less).

Just watch out for the transfer, flights often come with overnight connections. And beware of coming into LGA and leaving from JFK.

And you need to plan & book way ahead of departure. Unless, you are born lucky.[/QUOTE]One other thing about AA. They seemed to have blocked out the 50 K business class level. I flew this one time and was very impressed. Not Singapore Air but still pretty good. Check [URL]iflybusiness.com[/URL] for deals in business class. I found one for about 3 k on UA but a long layover in San Paolo. If you're going Chicago to san Paolo it is perfect.

You must not use any site other than Lan or you can end up with 3 or 4 stops. Lan does fly non-stop mia / eze RT.

Lan and AA are both part of one world. Sometimes you can save 50% by buying your seat on AA equipment via Lan.

I cannot even avoid the type As at the airport. I get to the airport and of course there is only one person checking IDs and there is a long line. So I am premiere class so I immediately go to the front of the line. Some woman starts complaining that ID checker should take her first while I do the machine check in. Sorry darling. The world works.

In a slightly different way. Something in the Argentinean air brings out people's egos.

Rather than flying overnight through Dallas like I usually do I tried the new Buenos Aires to Miami flight that leaves at 10:20 Am.

In BA, lines are much shorter at both security and immigration which gives more time to relax in the lounge. The the new AA Lounge is upgraded with power plugs at every seat.

My true concern was Miami which I do consider the worst airport in the world. First I always arrange that I have a good amount time between flights. AA (prpbably believing they can pull this off) automatically switched me to an earlier flight. As I got off the plane they handed me a boarding pass in a red folder which was supposed to give me priority through immigration and customs. Well I am Global Entry and Trusted Traveler anyway so I do not really need it. First Global Entry Kiosk I try is not working. System does not recognize me. I try another and luckily it goes through. Armed with the red card, I get in the the diplomats and airline personnel line which is slightly shorter than the Global Entry line. The custom's agent asked me if I bought anything and I say just some Christmas stuff. As I am walking away, the agent asks me if I bought more than $2000 in Christmas shit. I just laughed and said "No Way.".

I head to the gate in fairly good time. It turns out the boarding gate listed on the boarding pass had changed. Now I am OJ Simpson which is a sorry sight to see being a 62 year old fat guy. I make it but I am the second to last person to board the plane. Luckily they do not give away those First Class overhead storage bins. Uneventful ride home.

Of course once you reach LA you now encounter the worst taxi drivers in the world. I live 4 miles from the airport and the guy got lost (well only one wrong turn). "Turn here. Turn here." He does not quite hear me. Cab driver was playing Christmas music so I tip him 25%.

Reach the house by 23:00 hours which is 4:00 AM BA time. So waking up at 6:00 AM in BA made it a 22 hour trek and I had a nice nap three hour on BA to Miami flight.

I do like the daytime flight. I just wish it went through DFW. I know Texas is California's great rival but I do admit the Texans are damn good. Worthy rivals.

[QUOTE=BigBossMan;442752]My true concern was Miami which I do consider the worst airport in the world.[/QUOTE]Can flying through Santiago de Chile be an option for you? If I am correct, AA flies from LA to SCL, ant then you can fly LAN from SCL to BA.

LAN is a One World member so you might be able to use / save your AA mileage.

[QUOTE=Joe23;442855]Can flying through Santiago de Chile be an option for you? If I am correct, AA flies from LA to SCL, ant then you can fly LAN from SCL to BA.

LAN is a One World member so you might be able to use / save your AA mileage.[/QUOTE]Yes. I have actually done the Buenos Aires, Santiago and Lima triumvirate of mongering more than once. I took a liking to first class when it took only 120,000 mileage points. Now first class is in the order of 390,000 miles.

LAN does not have first class so you have to sit next to someone. Although I have heard they have improved the LAN business class seats. Anybody with experience in the new LAN business class?

[QUOTE=Big Boss Man;442857] Anybody with experience in the new LAN business class?[/QUOTE]

Nice lie flat seats in LAN business class:

[URL]http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lan-lanpass/1545992-new-business-class-b763.html[/URL]

[URL]http://www.lan.com/sitio_personas/minisitios/boeing767/b767/index.html[/URL]

What is up with the airlines? Gas is cheap and I had heard that the fares would drop.

Funny I can go to Ecuador for $500, but it cost $1200-1400 to go to Argentina?

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;443329]What is up with the airlines? Gas is cheap and I had heard that the fares would drop.

Funny I can go to Ecuador for $500, but it cost $1200-1400 to go to Argentina?[/QUOTE]It s called CRISTINA! LOL.

They think that this is Europe, everything is very expensive here! It s actually getting more expensive then London! WTF??

Have a great trip!

Maria.

[QUOTE=WorldTravel69;443329]What is up with the airlines? Gas is cheap and I had heard that the fares would drop.

Funny I can go to Ecuador for $500, but it cost $1200-1400 to go to Argentina?[/QUOTE]I think most gas is bought well in advance by airlines (like six months). I'm sure we will see cheaper prices this summer. Just a guess, but I bet gas is way cheaper in Ecuador than Argentina.

Well it is too bad for Riina and maybe for the rest of us who need cheap plane tickets. The reduction in the price of oil is putting a lot of money in peoples pockets so you get more travel (more demand) AND there has been huge movements in the currency markets mostly favoring the dollar so many destinations have gotten MUCH cheaper in the last few months, especially Europe (about 12%) and places like Brazil, Colombia and Mexico too. It is hard to find a destination that has gotten more expensive versus the dollar. Really it's cool for those of us living outside of the USA Or traveling outside the USA So the airlines really are in fat city!

Not much help for South America. I did see $400 RT for Lima to BA on Lan. So if you have 30 AA miles RT to Lima, you are home free.

From this side of the Pacific, I have not seem such great airfares since the Sars epedemic and 9/11. Not sure what the dynamics for all these incredible airfares. While RT are great, the best for me are multi-city flights. I scored a Capetown to Bangkok-Paris for $595 on Etihad in April. And Singapore-LAX-Bangkok next month on Delta. And I saw a flgiht that I might buy after Paris, and that is Moscow-Istanbul-Bangkok for $330 on Turkish Airline in June.

Last month, I did a Singapore-Sydney RT for $200 on Malaysian Airlines. Not true? Just go to Kayak and start hammering.

Disasters seem to follow me everywhere. After I left Sydney, there was a hostage crisis, leaving 3/4 dead. And now that I am booked for Paris, the terrorist shooting a few days ago. I am starting to feel like Jason Bourne.

I am trying to make reservations for a March trip to Lima and Bs As.

Very frustrating. I juggle dates and every time I finally find fights that are reasonable and try to book either the flights are no longer available or the price increases, in one case by over $3000.

Don B.

So I tried delaying until May. Same thing tried about 1 o flights, even ones that were ridiculous and the same thing, price doubles.

You just can't get to Bs As with a stop in Lima.

Don B.

In general, there is a time window for different destinations where prices will be low and then will start to creep up. After that, you have to look out for FLASH deals where they might appear for a few hours, sometimes days.

Go to Kayak. March, LAX-Lima, round trip $600-$800, Lima-EZE, round trip $500-$600. For a single ticket, with Lima stopover1 or 2 way, $1300+. August, you probably could save around $300+.

For about 2 weeks, I was looking for a ticket for my friend, LAX-Paris, round trip. A few months ago, Aeroflot was the cheapest at $700+ with very bad connection times. Not too many alternatives, $1200+ for the others. Then Aeroflot started creeping up, now at around $1050+. But 2 days ago, Turkish Air came out with $800 round trip. Connection time was just as bad, but 1 or 2 nights in Istanbul cannot be beat. He is not a monger. For me, Moscow would have been great. Now that the ruble is down, I was able to book an American 5 star hotel for $104 plus taxes. It used to $300 to $400 a night.

How do you say "fuck me" in Russian?

[QUOTE=DonB;443853]So I tried delaying until May. Same thing tried about 1 o flights, even ones that were ridiculous and the same thing, price doubles.

You just can't get to Bs As with a stop in Lima.

Don B.[/QUOTE]Still the same problem with one ticket. Looked at about two dozen cheap fares, even those with terrible connecting times, every time I checked availability the fare would go up by about $1000, USD that is.

By buying two tickets I got almost exactly what I wanted for 754 Ord to Lima and 419 RT Lima Bs As, total 1173. This also gives me a long enough layover in Mexico City for a quick trip for a photo that I want for a book I am writing.

Don B.

[QUOTE=DonB;444051]Still the same problem with one ticket. Looked at about two dozen cheap fares, even those with terrible connecting times, every time I checked availability the fare would go up by about $1000, USD that is.

By buying two tickets I got almost exactly what I wanted for 754 Ord to Lima and 419 RT Lima Bs As, total 1173. This also gives me a long enough layover in Mexico City for a quick trip for a photo that I want for a book I am writing.

Don B.[/QUOTE]If you are flexible on dates, AA still lets you travel from USA to BA for 40 k miles. With the promotion they have now, even if you don't have any miles you can get 40 k for about $1. 000. If you have some miles it is even less. I got my ticket for about $900.00, although you have to be flexible. The availability changes almost daily.

Anyone else ever tried getting an error fare? A mate of mine noticed this a few months back - [URL]http://www.secretflying.com/2015/01/error-fare-manchester-argentina-247-return/[/URL] - and I got x2 returns from Manchester (UK) to Buenos Aires for GBP250 (USD375) each!

Flying with Lufthansa. Good departure times too - late afternoon both ways. Will be there in April.

Last week I just missed out on first class returns, London-NYC-London, for GBP50!

If you are coming from South Florida or some other Avianca connecting city, you might want to check out Avianca via Bogota. The daily flight to and from BA is on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The connections from / to MIA are short ant the return flight leaves in the morning, not at night. I travel on frequent flyer miles with the United alliance, but the fares from MIA look competitive.

Tres3.

I am coming to BA in Dec. I looked for business class out of Miami with Aerolinas Argentinas. Ive read nothing buy horrible reviews on line but they are all over a year old. I RTFF and no one mentions the airline? Has anyone flown it? Are the seats lay flat?