Hi, I'm looking for some advise on internal transport in Buenos Aires. I'll be there for a month and want to go to BsAs, Iguazu, Southern Brazil, Salta, Bariloche and anywhere else that sounds appealing along the way. We're not necessarily looking for the cheapest option, but of course it's a consideration, as long as it's good value. I've been checking out the package deal that Aerolineas does, but it seems a bit restrictive and inflexible. I've also heard that they have quite a bad reputation, is this true? Buses are obviously time consuming and seem quite expensive, and the thought of a 24 hour bus trip isn't too nice, but it seems to work for most people! So, any advice? Is it easy to get cheap flights at the last minute in july? I've heard good things about LAN, do they do good deals? Any advice or suggestions appreciated! Thanks!
"Is it easy to get cheap flights at the last minute in July?"
Forget about cheap flights. Prices are as follow:
Aerolineas has prices for residents and non-residents. It also has different fares for travellers arriving in Argentina via Aerolineas and for travellers arriving in Argentina via any other international airline. There is no way to get around it as they ask for your papers when you check in. Unless you live in Argentina and have the right ID you will have to pay the non-resident price. This is why the web site says something about country of origin. So you need to be careful when you get quotes that they are for non-residents and also be clear whether the quote is in dollars or pesos.
Round-trip flights from Buenos Aires for travellers arriving in Argentina via Aerolineas Argentinas taxes included:
Iguazu ---- 354.00 US$.
Salta ------ 422.00 US$.
Ushuaia --- 374.00 US$.
Calafate ---- 357.00 US$.
Trelew ------- 217.00 US$.
Cordoba ---- 253.00 US$.
Mendoza ---- 374.00 US$.
Bariloche ---- 482.00 US$.
One-way flights:
Calafate-Trelew ---- 164.00 US$.
Ushuaia-Calafate -- 133.00 US$.
Calafate-Bariloche -- 264.00 US$.
Buenos Aires-Rio Gallegos -- 122.00 US$.
Round-trip fares from Buenos Aires for travellers not arriving in Argentina via Aerolineas:
Trelew ------ 422.00 US$.
Salta ------ 548.00 US$.
Iguazu ------ 458.00 US$.
Calafate ---- 464.00 US$.
Trelew ----- 336.00 US$.
Cordoba --- 431.00 US$.
Ushuaia ---- 486.00 US$.
Mendoza --- 486.00 US$.
Bariloche --- 625.00 US$.
One-way fares:
Calafate-Trelew ---- 254.00 US$.
Ushuaia-Calafate --- 192.00 US$.
Calafate-Bariloche --- 343.00 US$.
Buenos Aires-Rio Gallegos -- 284.00 US$.
When there is not high demand Aerolineas Argentinas uses the Natalia fare for foreigners independently of which carrier they arrive in Argentina.
Round-trip Natalia fare from Buenos Aires (The one-way fare is half the amount given here): There is no Natalia fare for Trelew, Calafate and Ushuaia.
Iguazu ---- 240.00 US$.
Calafate --- 241.00 US$.
Ushuaia -- 253.00 US$.
Mendoza -- 253.00 US$.
Cordoba -- 183.00 US$.
Bariloche -- 325.00 US$.
Gallegos -- 243.00 US$.
One-way Bariloche-Calafate --- 277.00 US$.
One-way Calafate-Ushuaia --- 158.00 US$.
Aerolineas Argentinas´phone numbers around the world:
Madrid: 900-955-747
Australia: 9234-9000
USA: 1-800-333-0276
London: 0800-0969-747
Germany: 0800-1844-747
Argentina: 0810-222-8652
LAN Argentina return fares from Buenos Aires:
Iguazu --- 238.00 US$.
Cordoba --- 184.00 US$.
Calafate ---- 240.00 US$.
Ushuaia ----- 252.00 US$.
Mendoza ---- 252.00 US$.
Bariloche ---- 323.00 US$
Rio Gallegos ---513.00 US$.
Comodoro Rivadavia - 474.00 US$.
One-way Calafate-Ushuaia -- 90.00 US$.
Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.
"I have also heard that Aerolineas Argentinas has quite a bad reputation, is this true?
The problems this airline has are common to all services in Argentina. Everything is precarious here and airlines suffer from this state of affairs. Travellers see only what affects them and fail to see the real state of the country. It is true that we have first world buses but this is possible due to the laundering of money.
Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.
Previous report on the radar crisis at Ezeiza International Airport and domestic one:
* There are genuine Air Traffic Control problems which do not look to go away quickly. The ATC problems are complicated by substantial pressure to keep airlines flying despite serious radar problems, some admitted, some denied by the Air Regions Command, an air force subjunct which until the 15th of March ran all of Argentine aviation. On the 15th President Kirchner announced the creation of a new National Civil Aviation Authority but only actually appointed five members to a Transfer Execution Unit. Since the present controllers are largely military - and certainly most with radar qualification - any real agency changes are going to take a while, even after the two new to-be-leased and 15 to be purchased ATC radars get up and running. When weather gets bad, with shaky radar, pax would be far better off accepting delays, inevitable under the paper, pencil and stopwatch system that preceded radar, and still substitues for it quite safely when the electronic eye fails anywhere in the world, than demanding to be delivered instantly - into danger. Obviously, except for scheduled maintenance no ATC authority, civil, military or some combination thereof, can predict radar outages. Weather prediction is a little better, but not much. ATC delays are not basically inconveniences. They are often measures taken to save the lives of the very pax who complain loudly in airport lines and lounges.
Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.
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