What are the domestic airlines in Argentina currently?

There's Austral/Aerolineas Argentina of course.

How's the health of Southern Winds and of LAPA (now calls itself AIRG)?

The Dinar website is down. It is dead?

Any others?

terenz,

here's a helpful website w/details of domestic airlines in Argentina, it's in spanish though.

http://www.aeropuertosarg.com.ar/Lineas_Aereas/lineasaereas.html

BTW, Dinar was sold to American Falcon on Aug. 1, which only serves Buenos Aires- Montevideo, there website is under construction.

Other airlines are

Aerovip
Cata- not an airline. but a air cargo comp.
Lade- Linea Aereas del Estado
Laer(Lineas Aereas Entre Rios)- suspended their service this year.

As far as the health of Southern Winds and Lapa, I cannot say. Apparently the economic situation has affected all the airlines in Argentina.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by eperaltaotero:
As far as the health of Southern Winds and Lapa, I cannot say. Apparently the economic situation has affected all the airlines in Argentina.</font>

Then I wish that the domestic airlines would provide some incentive to fly, such as reduced airfares.

Airfare from EZE to El Calafate (fte) is still in the $550 range as it has been all the while (for past 5 months).

The thing is that it would have to go down to just about free. The situation is so bad that it isn't "If the price would go from $500 to $100, I'd fly", its "Even if the price was $100, we couldn't eat this month."

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
Then I wish that the domestic airlines would provide some incentive to fly, such as reduced airfares.
</font>

The fares are down, domestically. Unfortunately, fares quoted/sold outside N. America are still very high. I am waiting until I get down there to book/buy.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by eperaltaotero:
BTW, Dinar was sold to American Falcon on Aug. 1, which only serves Buenos Aires- Montevideo, there website is under construction.
</font>

Looks like Dinar is dead (http://news.airwise.com/stories/2002/09/1033413727.html). The airline did have a website last year.

Something taken off usenet:

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
There are now two different prices for air fares within Argentina: one for
Argentines, in pesos, and another for foreigners, in U.S. dollars.

Here is a some sample fare obtained by phone from Aerolineas Argentinas on
Tuesday, October 1:

Buenos Aires to Mendoza:

Argentine citizen, $183.85 ($ = peso)
Foreign national, U$D 117.10

The lowest price now available for a Visite Argentina air pass purchased
outside of Argentina is U$D 192 for three coupons, bringing the price for
each flight to a little more than 64 dollars -- a bargain.
</font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by terenz:
The lowest price now available for a Visite Argentina air pass purchased
outside of Argentina is U$D 192 for three coupons, bringing the price for
each flight to a little more than 64 dollars -- a bargain.
</font>

that is a bargain, did it mention anything about being able to reserve these fares in advance?

$64 US is about 180-200 pesos. Depending on the daily exchange rate, and depending on where you're going, you might do better to buy the tickets individually. I got a short haul flight for about 60 PESOS.

Buy your tickets locally and in person (their website won't take foreign credit cards) and only speak Spanish with the agents.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Elysse:
Buy your tickets locally and in person (their website won't take foreign credit cards) and only speak Spanish with the agents.</font>

Can I assume that Argentina is not like the US in the sense that advance purchase seems not necessary to obtain a cheap airfare?

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 10-01-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Elysse:
$64 US is about 180-200 pesos. Depending on the daily exchange rate, and depending on where you're going, you might do better to buy the tickets individually. I got a short haul flight for about 60 PESOS.

Buy your tickets locally and in person (their website won't take foreign credit cards) and only speak Spanish with the agents.</font>

I don't know about airlines, but with hotels if you're not Argentine and are trying to book a cheap rate exclusively for locals, you will not get it.

I guess you didn't have any problems, considering that you spoke spanish. Since I speak spanish, I can try to book a ticket on my own when I get there in Nov. Let's hope it works !

Sweet Willie,

Are you trying to obtain tickets to El Calafate ? Let me know, perhaps I can contact an airline and ask if they're willing to book a flight for the dates you're interested, with a cheaper fare similar to the one quoted to Argetinos.
never hurts to try !!


[This message has been edited by eperaltaotero (edited 10-01-2002).]

I'm not sure it is still valid, but in February, I flew LAPA (now calls itself ARG)from the Buenos Aires local airport (Jorge Newberry) way down to Ushuaia with a regular airfare of $95 US roundtrip. One direction the flight stopped at El Calafate.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by minatonka:
I'm not sure it is still valid, but in February, I flew LAPA (now calls itself ARG)from the Buenos Aires local airport (Jorge Newberry) way down to Ushuaia with a regular airfare of $95 US roundtrip. </font>

Where/how did you book your flight?

I actually made the rez by phone in Buenos Aires. However, I could have made the rez on-line in the USA but I misunderstood the $$$ on the website to mean USA $$$ rather than the Argentine dollars that it meant. Now the AR dollar is approximately 1/4th the value so that makes it so cheap.

I think the website was 08107777arg.com or airg.com.ar

El Call Center de AIRG está disponible todos los días de 5 am a 12 am (hora argentina). Le sugerimos que intente en ese horario para poder realizar su consulta on line.

Muchas gracias

Now you'll need to contact their Call Center to reserve a flight. A week ago I was able to look up flights and reserve/buy the tickets. Weird..

I just got back from El Calafate. I paid 432 ARS r/t. (I called Aer. Arg. locally in Bs. As. & the flight was Austral metal.)

I will be 4 days in Buenos Aires. I may want to make a one day trip by plane. What shall I see? Montevideo, Iguassu (one day not enough?!)? Any other suggestions, may be by bus, car, boat?
I want to get Pesos from an ATM. Will that work? My bank cards worked allover the world.
Can/Shall I pay hotels, restaurants with a credit card? I have the fear they might charge me US-dollars instead of pesos; both have a $-sign!
Thanks!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by USAFAN:
I will be 4 days in Buenos Aires. I may want to make a one day trip by plane. What shall I see? Montevideo, Iguassu (one day not enough?!)? Any other suggestions, may be by bus, car, boat? </font>
Go to Iguassu. One day is not enough to see everything - but the place is worth a visit! If you like nature/scenery, go to Iguassu.
BTW, Montevideo can be done by boat, too.

For the day, take the ferry to and from Colonia in Uruguay. The separate boat to Montevideo is about 3 hours each direction, and it would be a very quick trip, but could be done with taxis to roam around the city.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by minatonka:
For the day, take the ferry to and from Colonia in Uruguay. The separate boat to Montevideo is about 3 hours each direction, and it would be a very quick trip, but could be done with taxis to roam around the city. </font>
I have read about this Buquebus(?) boats. But what is so great on Colonia, Montevideo? Somebody on the board wrote that Montevideo is not worth going!?!
Has somebody been on a "Ranch" in the Pampas?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by USAFAN:
Has somebody been on a "Ranch" in the Pampas?</font>
... about 3 years ago. I made a day trip to the Gauchos in the Pampas. The trip included:
- horse riding (also for those who never did it before)
- lunch + music/dance
- "show" of the Gaucho's riding their horses
- visiting the ranch/buildings
I found it too touristic and rather boring for a long bus drive (or maybe the wrong tour operator).

BTW, have you ever visited a Tango show or plan to do so? That's worth any penny!

LH738:
Thanks, I'll pass the "Gaucho-Tour" and see a Tango-Show.

Update: The Visite Argentina passes are now up to USD 300/3 segments.

Question: If I get a local to buy me the Argentinean fare in advance, will I get hassled about the fare when I fly?

I've found what I think is a fairly-helpful and competent travel agent in Bs As. If interested, e-mail me.

Terenz, YGM!

The Russians used to charge different prices for "locals" and "foreign tourists." In the early 90s, I was dating a Russian and we would use locally priced museum and opera tickets, travel on locally-priced, internal Aeroflot flights, etc. After the flight attendants realized that I was a Westerner, I would get dirty looks.

This is a real turn-off, not to mention a sign that things are horribly wrong. Of course, there are ways to circumvent these rules, and I am also certain that there will be some cautionary tale where a foreigner was denied boarding on a "local" ticket.

Same commodity, same price. That's the only fair way.