This topic has been covered various times in this Argentina Forum, and it comes up again and again… so I thought I would make a special thread about it. It may be a good idea to make this a sticky…. but that’s up to the moderators to decide.

It is true that there are various restricted fares eligible only to Argentine residents (it’s not an issue of nationality, rather if you are a permanent resident or not). Tourists that come to Argentina to visit are not eligible to travel under these special fares.

Prices can be significantly lower, although the discounts vary from destination to destination and can of course also be significantly affected by seasonality.

It must be said that while these restricted fares may be booked by non qualifying tourists (either online or through a Travel Agent); those choosing to do so are rolling the dice. If you are unlucky and get a difficult agent upon check-in or boarding, you may be requested to present proof of residence. If you fail to do so, you may be up for denied boarding, re-faring of your ticket, perhaps even fines, etc. etc.

In the interest of full disclosure, it also must be said that enforcement of these rules is very variable... and also varies from carrier to carrier. Aerolineas and Austral are known to be rather lax with enforcement, while LAN has a reputation for being stricter. It’s hard to say what your chances of getting caught will be in the end... but I think it’s important to let everybody know what you are getting into if you book one of these fares.

If you want to roll the dice, then I suggest you either try to book directly with the airlines on their websites, or you can try to get your TA to book these for you. I’ve heard that foreign based TAs tend to be more reluctant to book these resident fares, but I have no direct personal experience with this.

Many local (i.e. Argentina) based TAs will book these special fares for tourists, and unfortunatetly not all of these advise visitors of the potential pitfalls. I think this is very poor service.... while I don’t think a TA needs to lecture anybody on what he/she chooses to do in terms of the rules; I do think that they should offer full disclosure of the terms & conditions. Failure to disclose the facts is a lot more than poor service, it also creates ill-will against third parties that are not to blame for this....

It can be an awful awakening to loose your seat on an oversold domestic flight where alternative connections to your destination may not be plentiful... and all this just because a sloppy TA did not give you all the details of your purchased fare.

In the end... the quest to save " X " amount of money can end up costing " Y > X " and on top of that can end up ruining your vacation because of lost time, lost hotel reservations, etc. etc. I think that all these considerations need to be put on the scales, allowing each and every traveler to make his/her own informed decision.

Cheers,
Alex (Gaucho100K)

(bump)

How do they check for which country you are a resident of?

They know you are not an Argentine resident. You will have to show ID and you will not have a resident id, DNI or Argentine passport. What difference would it make what country you are from as long as it is not Argentina you are not eligible for lower fares.

They know you are not an Argentine resident. You will have to show ID and you will not have a resident id, DNI or Argentine passport. What difference would it make what country you are from as long as it is not Argentina you are not eligible for lower fares.

You could have an Argentine passport or DNI and reside in another country, that's why I asked how they checked.

I guess then the fares are either for Argentine residents or non-resident citizens.

As explained above by nytango, proof of residency for non Argentines is usually a DNI, which is a document that non citizens receive after they have completed the formalities to become a legal resident.

Ok, so all they check for is the DNI. No driver's license or anything goofy like last gas/water bill?

So then you don't have to be a resident. As long as you were a citizen at some point in the past (and assuming you held onto your DNI, which never expires), then you're set.

...No driver's license or anything goofy like last gas/water bill?
Well a little goofy... they do make you sing Oid, Mortales while balancing a soccer ball on your head.

i wish it was something goofy like gas/internet/telphone, maintenance, tax bills,but I dont think that's enough. If it is let me know. I have all the above but no DNI as of now.

You certain DNI doesnt expire is that the document that has to be renewed every two years for a period of time.

Well a little goofy... they do make you sing Oid, Mortales while balancing a soccer ball on your head.

and dance chacarera at the same time.

i wish it was something goofy like gas/internet/telphone, maintenance, tax bills,but I dont think that's enough. If it is let me know. I have all the above but no DNI as of now.

You certain DNI doesnt expire is that the document that has to be renewed every two years for a period of time.

That's right, DNI never expires. You renew it at 8 years old and 16 years old (I think those are the right ages). But once you do that, you're done.

Passport is every 5 years, but now you can renew it at a consulate and it's valid even after you enter Argentina (before you had to re-renew it if you entered the country). Much easier to do it that way, you can have it done in an hour or two instead of waiting a few days for Policia Federal to do it.

Every two years? I don't know. Maybe driver's license if you're advanced in age. But I don't have one of those (well, not an Argentine one).

If you have a DNI, no matter how old it may be, you are set. It does technically expire, but I think that presented with a DNI, even the toughest LAN prison-matron would not argue.

(bump)

Do you know if the non-resident rule applies to intra-Chile flights as well (specifically Santiago - Punta Arenas)?

Do you know if the non-resident rule applies to intra-Chile flights as well (specifically Santiago - Punta Arenas)?

Sorry, I have no idea how this works in Chile.

Is it possible to pay a LAN non-resident price online billed in pesos? I can't figure it out at their website.

Is it possible to pay a LAN non-resident price online billed in pesos? I can't figure it out at their website.

When I log in as if I am in Argentina (country site) then the prices are lower and in pesos. That is not the problem. The problem will be when you check in for the flight and your ID is a foreign passport and not the national ID.

When I log in as if I am in Argentina (country site) then the prices are lower and in pesos. That is not the problem. The problem will be when you check in for the flight and your ID is a foreign passport and not the national ID.
Thanks but I realize that.

I don't want to buy the reduced fare for residents. I want to buy the normal foreigner fare in pesos, not dollars.

Thanks but I realize that.

I don't want to buy the reduced fare for residents. I want to buy the normal foreigner fare in pesos, not dollars.

It seems like you are talking about a form of payment. If I am interpreting you correctly, you wish to use pesos for payment? The only way I can think of doing that is to purchase your ticket here in Argentina and pay in cash (Pesos)..... or, you must have a credit card issued in Argentina that would allow the bank to bill you for the charge in Argentine Pesos.

Else, if you are buying the ticket outside Argentina and/or if you are using a foreign issued credit card, even if the price is quoted in Pesos, it will be converted to the "home" currency of the place where your bank issued the card. However, your statement will normally reflect the charge in both currencies for your reference.

I'm sorry for the confusion. I was watching some fares for next winter and noticed that despite changes in the US dollar, LAN.com always quotes the same price when I choose US as my country. So I was trying to find an option to purchase a foreigner fare in the original pesos and see if it works out to be a little less. My US-based mastercard has no forex fee. It appears I can only get it in pesos if I choose Argentina as the country, but when I do that there's no option to buy the foreigner fare. The potential savings is probably small anyway, so maybe I'll just forget it. Thanks.

(bump)

I'm sorry for the confusion. I was watching some fares for next winter and noticed that despite changes in the US dollar, LAN.com always quotes the same price when I choose US as my country. So I was trying to find an option to purchase a foreigner fare in the original pesos and see if it works out to be a little less. My US-based mastercard has no forex fee. It appears I can only get it in pesos if I choose Argentina as the country, but when I do that there's no option to buy the foreigner fare. The potential savings is probably small anyway, so maybe I'll just forget it. Thanks.

You CAN get a quote in pesos, reales or euros or even peru soles. sign in as another country not US or Canada. Once you price the ticket at the last page on your right hand side you can change the price to pesos. I am not sure if they will bill your credit card in pesos or in US$. The conversion rate they use is 3:1 which is a little better than the 3.08:1 which is the official rate.
remember that most cards, even if they dont have a charge on foreign purchases will use their own rate which may be much different than the official rate.

Thanks! I just selected Europe, and I can choose the peso option. :) I could swear I did the exact same thing a month ago with no success. :confused:

Keisari, as far as I understand, regardless of how the Airline chooses to inform a certain price (ie. in what currency they quote you), they still need to bill your credit card for a given amount of Pesos which will then be converted to the default currency of your credit card account.

Also, it seems odd that the airline would be willing to incurr in a FX loss by quoting a lower internal exchange rate... I would suggest doing the math in detail to make sure your calculations are correct.

The only way around this would be for the airline to have a legal entity that is invoicing the ticket which is established outside of Argentina.

I'm trying to work my way through this problem. My travel agent has quoted me £600 (~$1200) for three internal flights:
AEP->IGR
IGR->MDZ (via AEP)
MDZ->AEP
When I price up the same flights on Opodo or Expedia, I get prices of around £250 ($500), and on the Aerolinea Argentinas website (having set my country of residence to United Kingdom), I get about £240.

My TA warned me that the fares I am being quoted by Opodo and Expedia are for Argentinian residents only, but I've looked at the fare conditions and can see no mention of this at all.

How can I tell what's going on? Will Opodo sell me a ticket that I might not be eligible for? And what about Aerolineas Argentinas? If I set my country to the UK, then should the prices I'm quoted be for valid tickets that I will be eligible to use?

Hi. Im not an expert on the details and small print of the fares you are being offered... but, I think your case boils down to how much your trust your TA. If your TA tells you these fares are not eligible for your status, and you trust him/her, then its safe to say you will be getting an "illegal" fare.

What I can tell you for a fact is that there are indeed a good number of discounted fares that are only eligible for residents of Argentina (its not a nationality thing).

Now, as has been widely documented here, it is possible for non residents to book and issue these fares... but in the end you will be taking a chance. Aerolineas is known to be lax with enforcement, but there is always the possibility that you get a difficult gate agent and you may be faced with refares, denied boarding, etc. etc.

On a final note, I would advise against assuming that if you select your country setting to the UK this will ensure you will be guaranteed permission to board.

I wouldn't trust the TA in this instance - the non-resident fares are higher but I'm pretty sure they're not that much higher. You could do a search on the Aerolineas Argentinas site and compare the fare you get with country of residence set to UK vs Argentina. If the UK fare is higher then you should be fine.

I recently booked a couple of flights through the Aerolineas website. They didn't take payment on the website, but instead you have to call their local office. If you were concerned I'm sure they would confirm your eligibility for the fare at this stage.

Steve

That's the thing. I trust my TA when they say that the £600 fares are eligible for non-residents, but I don't trust them that those are the lowest possible fares that I could use. £600 seems a lot for three single flights. In Europe I wouldn't expect to pay more than £300 or so for three single flights, but I have no feeling for Argentina so I don't know what would be "reasonable" to expect.

Setting Argentina as my country on the Aerolineas Argentinas website, I get the disclaimer about non-residents:
Las tarifas expresadas en pesos (ARS) para vuelos dentro de Argentina sólo son válidas para residentes en el país y para compras realizadas dentro del territorio argentino. Si usted no es residente argentino por favor, haga su reserva, ingresando a la página web de su país de residencia."
This implies that if I set the country to UK, I should be getting eligible fares.

Pricing up on the website using the Argentina location, I get a total of around £200, which is cheaper still.

:confused:

Comparing intra-European fares to intra-Argentina fares is a dangerous experiment, as the probability of ending up comparing apples to oranges is very very high. This is due to that fact that the European airline market is mostly unregulated and enjoys killer competition from both traditional (ie. full service) and low cost airlines. Furthermore, the volume of the European market (in terms of pax carried) is so big that carriers can even afford to offer super low fares for one way trips.

In Argentina, things could not be more different. You have a virtual monopoly on many routes, on routes where Aerolineas and Austral (which BTW is the same company) is not the only option, you have maybe 1 additional carrier but with very low frequency so in practice its still a quasi-monopolic situation.

Reverting back to your specific case, after reading the disclaimer you posted above as shown on the website, I think that if you go online with Aerolineas and select the UK as your location, you have a very solid case to insist that they allow you to fly with the fare you purchased.

csdf-- Did you finally purchse your tickets?

I've looked at a number of posts on issue of non-residents buying resident-only fares on Aerolineas Argentinas. These include posts in this excellent Argentina thread and the Argentina thread on Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum. I don't have an answer, and I think both views may be correct: Nothing much stops a tourist from buying resident fares from a TA in Argentina and sucessfully flying, but there is always a possibility that "Bad Things May Happen."

However, there is an alternative for those who plan ahead: Book your flights on Aerolinas Argentinas' web site. Certain flights are legally bookable at the deeply discounted rate by non-residents. Use the pick list on the entry page to select county as "U.S." Set your dates and distinations. You will get a Southwest Airlines-style list of available flights and fare for the few days before and after your selected date. A few flights may be listed as "flex tango". These are the resident rates, but fully legal for you to book.

(On on a RT when you pick the return flight, you have to scroll up and re-select your departure flight -- an navigation oddity of this website.)

This rates are only posted for low demand flights and can disappear closer to departure. For example, I booked EZE to El Calafate for $119 each way in high season (January), and this is one of the longer domestic flights available. "Normal" fare is more like $240. Some flights on this route, probably high demand ones, are over $500 each way or "unavailable".

Aerolineas Argentinas' web site doesn't allow you to actually pay for the tix, but only place then on a 24-hour reservation hold. You will get an e-mail confirmation thru Amadeus almost immediately that will say, "trip status: confirmed". Do not believe it. You MUST call Aerolineas Argentinas at 1-800-333-0276 to arrange payment. Today is a holiday in Argentina. They could not process a credit card transaction for me, but Aerolineas extended the reservation hold for my trip and asked me to call back tomorrow.

Hi Bowgie-- Im in agreement with you on the fact that there seems to be no 100% straight answer on this issue. However, Im a little confused on how you arrive at the conclusion that certain flights are legally bookable by non-residents. Im referring to your quote which I transcribe below... (italics & bolding are mine):


Book your flights on Aerolinas Argentinas' web site. Certain flights are legally bookable at the deeply discounted rate by non-residents.


Are you saying these flights are legally bookable because in your reservation process you got some sort of specific legend or written confirmation that these fares are eligible for non-residents? Or is this an interpretation on your part because in your practical experience, you were able to complete a proper and functional reservation?

Your post continues to say... again, italics & bolding are mine:


A few flights may be listed as "flex tango". These are the resident rates, but fully legal for you to book.


Again... is there some sort of explicit notice in these fares as they are posted on the website that says they are eligible for use by non residents? Are you able to consult & review the fare rules as part of this booking process?

Please dont misunderstand where Im coming from. Im not a Travel Agent and Im not taking sides on this fare policy used by the Airlines (BTW, Aerolineas is not the only carrier that does this, LAN does the same). Im just trying to make sure that visitors to Argentina know the facts and understand the different scenarios that may occur if they make certain decisions.

Ive heard and read many posts on various Internet Bulletin Boards on how the system can be played. IMHO, I understand many of these practical ways to effectively land resident only fares are all based on assumptions that if the airline's system (website, reservation system, call center, billing center, etc.) somehow allows a non-resident to make a "functional" or "confirmed" reservation, and even pay for a ticket in full, this somehow validates the eligibility or legality of the booked & purchase fare. To come to such a conclusion is not something that is without risk.

I say this based on real-life situations I have witnessed first hand (at AEP when I was doing travel of my own), and also based on my conversations with my company's TA, and other industry professionals that I know.

From all this information, it is my conclusion that while it is true that there are multiple ways to secure a booking, pay for your ticket, and even get a boarding pass using one of these resident only fares.... BEWARE, because in the end, if you are unlucky and your fare basis gets checked/audited upon checking in, there is a possibility you will have issues that may result in inconveniences and additional costs.

Each visitor should understand the facts and then decide if he/she wishes to roll the dice.

Hi Bowgie: Are you saying these flights are legally bookable because in your reservation process you got some sort of specific legend or written confirmation that these fares are eligible for non-residents? Or is this an interpretation on your part because in your practical experience, you were able to complete a proper and functional reservation?


Hello Gaucho:

Here are the fare rules cut and pasted from my e-mail confirmation.

"The information detailed below corresponds to the route:
Cabotaje en Internacional
Flex Tango
Class Economy

Changes Flight/date changes at any time allowed paying USD25 to change to the same class or upper class. Change to a lower class not allowed. Route change allowed with a USD 25 charge per operation.

Name change Not allowed

Cancelations Cancellations allowed at any time with a USD50 or 50% of the fare charge (whatever the smaller amount).

Refunds Refunds allowed at any time with a USD50 or 50% of the fare charge (whatever the smaller amount).

Child discount 33%

Infant discount 100%

Baggage allowance 15KG"


If you try to book a dummy reservation where a flex tango fare is available:
Say January 12 for AEP to El Calafate, the Aerolineas website has a link to the same rules in five different languages. I know it does not "explicitly" say that the fare is good for non-residents. However, to pay for the fare, I had to call Aerolineas' call center, which is most definitely staffed by people from Argentina. The Aerolineas ticket agent asked for my "home residence address in the United State", "US phone number", "credit card", etc and I told him that I do not live in Argentina.

Just for kicks, I went back to the Aerolineas website and changed my "Country of Residence" on the pick-box on the homepage from "United State" to "Argentina". It brings up the home page this time in Spanish. I enter the very same trip info, but instead of presenting me with the avialable flights, the whole page is filled with this text (Spanish version listed first) and a click-through link with ACCEPT: "the fares expressed in pesos for flights within Argentina are valid only for residents of Argentina for tickets bought within the borders of Argentina. If you are not an Argentine resident, please visit the (Aerolineas) website of the country of your residence." And there are direct links for a bunch of other countries including the U.S.

So I think if one is honest with the Aerolineas website and follows the instructions and cautions, then one would be safe to book.

Bowgie, Did you also tell him you're not a citizen, or just where you live?

If not, is it possible that the website just has a bug? They're not showing you the warning when you pick US, but they should???

Bowgie-- I understand where you are coming from, however, its interesting to note that the fares rules you quote dont seem to address the eligibility issues. I guess the only really valid document would be the complete fare rules and the contract of carriage... but I guess its not worth it to dig into this from a legal standpoint.

In the real world, my biggest "fear" of using these fares (if I were a non resident) would be the fact that the final judge of all this is not some agent of the call center, but the gate agent that checks you in and/or the gate agent that controls your paperwork at the boarding gate. Its hard to predict if telling them that you disclosed the facts of your residence to some AR call center is going to get you off the hook if someone throws the book at you.

Bowgie, Did you also tell him you're not a citizen, or just where you live?

If not, is it possible that the website just has a bug? They're not showing you the warning when you pick US, but they should???

Citizenship is irrelevant, its a residency issue. Foreign nationals with a DNI (this is a form of ID that you obtain when you are a legal resident) are 100% legal to use these restricted fares.

Bowgie-- I understand where you are coming from, however, its interesting to note that the fares rules you quote dont seem to address the eligibility issues. I guess the only really valid document would be the complete fare rules and the contract of carriage... but I guess its not worth it to dig into this from a legal standpoint.

In the real world, my biggest "fear" of using these fares (if I were a non resident) would be the fact that the final judge of all this is not some agent of the call center, but the gate agent that checks you in and/or the gate agent that controls your paperwork at the boarding gate. Its hard to predict if telling them that you disclosed the facts of your residence to some AR call center is going to get you off the hook if someone throws the book at you.

It is hard to say what my paperwork at the gate is going look like because I'm traveling on an e-ticket, and I will only be holding a boarding pass given to me by the check-in agent at the AEP airport. Aerolineas has my info in their computer because the Aerolineas call-center employee instantly pulled up all the info I entered thru their website when I gave them the record locator. The call center employee asked me to call within 48 hrs ahead to reconfirm, and he helpfully gave to Aerolineas' toll free number for Mexico, where I will be the day before. I will bring a paper copy of my flight reservation that Aerolineas e-mailed me. It shows payment in USD and U.S. phone contact numbers.

Bowgie--

I guess I cant seem to express myself in a way to get my message over clearly. English is not my native language so I apologize for not being to properly articulate the concepts Im trying to convey.

Your paperwork is your boarding pass and your form of ID, its irrelevant that you have an Eticket. As you surely understand, your PNR and your entire reservation/booking/purchasing record is something that any Airline agent will have easy access to. If you purchase a fare for which you are NOT eligible... (Im sorry but thats the reality of the situation, no matter what sort of twist you want add to this) then, if the agent wants to have beef with you, then the agent WILL HAVE A CASE. You are playing the system... and its your choice to do so -but- please realize that you must be prepared to face the consequences.

Again, please don't misunderstand my position. Im on your side... I have nothing to gain from you getting busted. Im crossing my fingers things will work for you, and its clear you have done your homework very well. Chances are, you will be fine.

My only point is that I want others reading this thread to understand that no matter how you do this, there are risks involved in using these fares.

Its not a matter of how convinced any given traveler is about his/her case, in the end... its up to the gate agent. You come across as a very seasoned traveler and you seem to be comfortable with taking a somewhat aggressive approach to things... thats fine, and kudos to you, but your strategy and approach is not for everybody.

Best of luck to you with your travel plans, Im sure you will have a great trip.

Gaucho;
it is not a language problem. Your English is impecable. I think the flyertalk member does not want to understand. In the US, a paper trail is important but in South America it may not. I agree with you. There is a risk of somebody asking for ID when you board and the fare code on the boarding pass will not match your passport and lack of Argentinian identity card.
I am buying tickets for Bariloche and will be paying double just to make sure I use the US site with LAN and specifiy that is for non-resident.
Thank you for explaining the situation so well for the rest of us.

Gaucho;
it is not a language problem. Your English is impecable. I think the flyertalk member does not want to understand. In the US, a paper trail is important but in South America it may not. I agree with you. There is a risk of somebody asking for ID when you board and the fare code on the boarding pass will not match your passport and lack of Argentinian identity card.
I am buying tickets for Bariloche and will be paying double just to make sure I use the US site with LAN and specifiy that is for non-resident.
Thank you for explaining the situation so well for the rest of us.

I second the idea that Gaucho is perfectly understandable and clear.
It is also possible that as an American, I may have an unrealistic expectation about what a pieces of paper, be it my purchase receipt in US dollars or my PNR on Aerolineas' computer, may mean to a gate agent inside Argentina.

Let's try something else by cross-posting from The Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum:

"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:

Calafate ---- 357.00 US$ (Prices for other destinations omitted for brevity)

Round-trip fares from Buenos Aires for travellers not arriving in Argentina via Aerolineas:

Calafate ---- 464.00 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):

Calafate --- 241.00 US$

EsterosdelIbera"

(His listed actual name is Jorge Daniel Barchi from Argentina)

Now I can't say one way or the other whether what Jorge says about Aerolineas giving the "Nalalia" fare to overseas web ticket buyers is true or not. This just seems to be consistent with what Aerolineas is allowing me to do. My RT price paid was 239 US$

I can't see a way for definitively clearing this up without a knowledgeable Aerolineas employee weighing in here.

As you and Gaucho say, I'm a big boy. I can roll the dice on this, and report back in January about what actually happens.

Gaucho;
it is not a language problem. Your English is impecable. I think the flyertalk member does not want to understand. In the US, a paper trail is important but in South America it may not. I agree with you. There is a risk of somebody asking for ID when you board and the fare code on the boarding pass will not match your passport and lack of Argentinian identity card.


Thanks for the compliments on my English, which are certainly not deserved.

Alas, this is not about the paper trail. The fares in question are not for non residents, so even if you have a paper trail the length of the Great Wall of China, its still useless if they throw the book at you.

No matter if its in Mongolia, the USA, Germany or Japan, no paper trail matters if one is playing the system to create a paper trail to purchase and use a non-eligible fare. If you get caught, you will face the music.

But hey... as Bowgie mentions, he is willing to roll the dice and kudos to him for making up his mind and going for it.

Gaucho;
what I meant by a paper trail is that if the website made a mistake and you can prove it by a paper trail then in the US usually they will accept that as a mistake of the company and will honor the rate. This does not always work in Europe either. In the US, I think there is a culture of trying to satisfy the customer and the "customer is always right".
I did not say that is any way to imply that a non-G7 country has any low standards, just that I am not sure if any company outside the US will be quick to admit that their website is wrong and honor an incorrect fare.

Keisari-- point taken, and you are right about the fact that in the US, the customer is king and that concept does sometimes move mountains.

You're definitely taking a chance, but it's yours to take. On my last flight out of BA via Aerolineas, I watched two businessmen at the gate trying to board on what were clearly resident based fare tickets. Based, presumeably, on how they looked, since the gate agent wasn't asking everyone for their DNIs, they both got asked to produce them, didn't have them, and were sent back out of the gate area to re-purchase their tickets.

If they're overbooked, I wonder who'd get bumped first.

I'm Confused. :confused:

I also booked one of the $237 rt flights in January. I went through all the appropriate links and menus on the website and confirmed with the agent when I called that I do not live in Argentina.

What's the basis for saying that flex tango fares are resident fares? Is it just because it's cheap?

I am of the belief that Flex Tango should be fine for the following reasons:

I selected Australia as my country of residence on the website.
To pay I had to go through an agent in Australia.
I confirmed to the agent that I do not live in Argentina.
When selecting Argentina as country of residence, a lower fare is available.


I think that's as confident as you can be.

Does anyone know if there is something in the fare basis code that differentiates between resident and non-resident codes? I'm pretty worried now and don't want to be detained at the airport.

I have priced reservations on the Aerolineas system to El Calafate the past several months (as I've waited, in vain, for LAN to release award seats for AA members). I do see some of the "sale" fares mentioned above, when I log in as an American. Gaucho, are you telling us that those sale fares are posted as a mistake, and that Aerolineas may not honor them? That would be the most dreadful customer service imaginable, and couldn't possibly hold up in a credit card dispute. I mean, it's one thing (albeit bad) to price discriminate against foreigners, but it's another to "offer" them the cheap fares and they try to stick them for more money at the airport. How the heck are us gringos supposed to know what fares are are not actually "valid" for our use if they're offered on the American website? It seems ridiculous (and I understand it COULD be ridiculous).

Hi Iahphx-- I dont work for Aerolineas so my guess is as good or bad as any other you may get on what exactly is going on. Your position is different from others Ive seen here, since its clear you are not trying to play the system and buy the lowest fare no matter what. As you are using the US website and logging in as a non resident... so what I suggest you do is call AR´s 800 number for your area and ask them to look up your reservation and ask them about eligibility for non-residents.

I do not subscribe to the idea that AR is offering something to later stick people for more money at the airport... that is a conspiracy theory that doesnt hold up. I think its clear that some less expensive fares are available for travel by non-residents, but some heavily discounted offerings are reserved for residents, even though they may be booked and even ticketed in practice by just about anybody.

Sorry I cant be more specific with my assistance.

....
What's the basis for saying that flex tango fares are resident fares? Is it just because it's cheap?

I don't think Flex Tango is a resident only fare. We flew to Mendoza on a Flex Tango fare, purchased on the website, selecting US as country, confirmed and paid for by phone call to US agent using US credit card. I think $250 RT.

Should you decide to go for a business class fare, be aware that the planes don't always seem to have a business cabin, and when they do you can still wind up in coach, but they will make things right if you speak up.

We preferred our LAN Argentina flight to Puerto Iguazu - they had Havanna cookies in the snack box.

Hi Iahphx-- I dont work for Aerolineas so my guess is as good or bad as any other you may get on what exactly is going on. Your position is different from others Ive seen here, since its clear you are not trying to play the system and buy the lowest fare no matter what. As you are using the US website and logging in as a non resident... so what I suggest you do is call AR´s 800 number for your area and ask them to look up your reservation and ask them about eligibility for non-residents.

I do not subscribe to the idea that AR is offering something to later stick people for more money at the airport... that is a conspiracy theory that doesnt hold up. I think its clear that some less expensive fares are available for travel by non-residents, but some heavily discounted offerings are reserved for residents, even though they may be booked and even ticketed in practice by just about anybody.

Sorry I cant be more specific with my assistance.

Yes, I am simply logging on to Aerolineas' US site. I didn't realize that others were doing anything differently. Obviously, if you're not an Argentine resident and you buy from the Argentine site, you're breaking their rules and taking your chances. And since there's no way to pay on Aerolineas' US site, you're required to talk to an agent to get ticketed. It doesn't seem like there could be any reasonable chance of mistakenly buying the "wrong" ticket under such circumstances.

FWIW, I have found deep discounted fares on both LAN and Aerolineas' US websites. Since you're not required to buy roundtrip tickets to get the discounts, it seems like the best strategy for foreigners is to shop both websites and get the lowest fare you can.

Please report back on your experience if you get a chance. Thanks.

The weirdest thing about Aerolineas' US website is that, when you see a flight and fare you want and try to book it, about half the time you get an "error" message at the final step of the booking process. The seats then "magically" disappear from inventory . Very frustrating -- it's like they're taunting you. :)

I guess it's just some IT programming error, and the seats aren't "really" available.

The weirdest thing about Aerolineas' US website is that, when you see a flight and fare you want and try to book it, about half the time you get an "error" message at the final step of the booking process. The seats then "magically" disappear from inventory . Very frustrating -- it's like they're taunting you. :)
I saw the same thing with the Australian site - seats disappearing from the inventory. I was still able to book through the US site though. :)

Steve

There seems to be a serious IT glitch with Aerolineas' overseas websites. As I mentioned before, on several ocassions, I've tried to book fares that are shown to be available on certain flights. Most of the time, as I'm completing my reservation, I get an error message, and the seats mysteriously disappear from inventory if I run the search again!

OK, so I'm a slow learner. But this time, I try some dates and -- voila -- there are seats I'd like to buy. Instead of trying to make the reservation (and have the seats disappear), I call Aerolineas' US number and say, "Hey, I'm on your website right now looking at certain flights that supposedly have seats available for x dollars, what is your computer showing?" On one flight where the website is showing the lowest fare (flex tango) being available, the rez agent's screen is showing the flight sold out in coach! On another flight, where I'm seeing 2 flex tango seats available, she's only showing 1.

Obviously, the website inventory is all screwed up. What I'm now wondering is whether there are OTHER flights that the website shows only higher fares available, but there are actually flex tango seats available.

Your position is different from others Ive seen here, since its clear you are not trying to play the system and buy the lowest fare no matter what. As you are using the US website and logging in as a non resident... so what I suggest you do is call AR´s 800 number for your area and ask them to look up your reservation and ask them about eligibility for non-residents.


Gaucho,
I have to say that I am disappointed with the implication that I tried to "play the system" and therefore my questions did not warrant any further discussion. All I did was try to buy a ticket through what I believed were the proper channels. Then I found information in this thread that the ticket I bought may not be valid due to some sort of bait-and-switch scam, which seems to be a common occurance and does not break any laws. My income is limited and yes, I try to find the best deal but that doesn't mean that I acted with malintent. Actually, I decided to cancel my reservation because I did not want to do business with a company which may intentionally mislead its customers. Once the government can do a better job of regulating ethical business practices, I will consider visiting again.

Gaucho,
I have to say that I am disappointed with the implication that I tried to "play the system" and therefore my questions did not warrant any further discussion. All I did was try to buy a ticket through what I believed were the proper channels. Then I found information in this thread that the ticket I bought may not be valid due to some sort of bait-and-switch scam, which seems to be a common occurance and does not break any laws. My income is limited and yes, I try to find the best deal but that doesn't mean that I acted with malintent. Actually, I decided to cancel my reservation because I did not want to do business with a company which may intentionally mislead its customers. Once the government can do a better job of regulating ethical business practices, I will consider visiting again.

Dear Curlyflyer--

Im afraid you are misunderstanding the entire point of my participation on these resident vs. non-resident fares. Firstly, I dont make any personal implications. However, it would be fair if all of us would act like grown-ups that we are and live up to the fact that we all like to get the best possible deal, and if there is a glitch in the system, the conventional wisdom all over this board is that companies should always honor fares... (and please note that Im not making any distinctions here for American, Chinese, Kuwaiti or Argentine businesses). Therefore, Im sorry but I cannot accept your "dissapointment". This has nothing to do with your limited budget... we all have a limit to our budgets, but Im afraid you are missing the point.

Since you think that I somehow implied that your post(s) did not warrant further discussion... please be so kind as to read this somewhat detailed post, and if you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to email me and I will entretain your questions or concerns via PM or email. I really want you to understand where Im coming from... but for now, please do read on.

Im afraid you are wrong about assuming that Aerolineas is playing a bait & switch game... that is simply nonsense. You have not read the threads properly, please go back and re-read. It was not me but other posters that said there was some sort of scam, and I have refuted this from the first time I read such implications.

If you will read all the threads related to these resident only fares you will see that Ive posted the same thing all over this forum... Aerolineas is NOT trying to scam or bait or extract more $$$ from non-residents, they just have old systems that are not maintained to G7 nation standards and therefore, if you want to book fares that are non-eligible you will be able to do so... you may even get some sort of confirmation (verbal or otherwise).... all I do here is tell folks to understand that if you book a fare for which you are not eligible for, you may (please note bolding) get caught and may have to face inconveniences. Other posters, including expats that live here in Argentina have reported similar experiences... so please, for Heavens sake do not think conspiracy theory on my part, or on ARs part.

AR just has old systems with a very basic website and they do a poor job of communicating what fares are eligible and what fares are not eligible. Their enforcement of these rules is lax, as Ive posted a gazillion times all over the place, so there is a chance that everything will work out, even if you do purchase a non-eligible fare... but I want folks to know what they may be getting into.

Just so you and other skeptics understand... I dont work for AR and I dont even care to defend them. I dont even agree on the dual fare system, because I think it creates the wrong impression of a country that wants to open itself to tourism. I fly LAN as much as I can, although they also have a two-tier fare system that has lower fares for residents. However, this two tiered system has been around for ages, its widely used in many developing nations where the difference between the income levels of locals vs. visitors is substantial... its not a local invention.

My objective with pointing out the potential pitfalls is that I often hear of non-residents that (knowingly or not - that is beside the point) book these fares and when they get caught and have to face the music, they scream bloody murder. The rules that govern these fares are there... I didnt make them, I just want to give folks the heads up.

Please feel free to contact me via PM should you have any additional comments.

Dear Curlyflyer--


Just so you and other skeptics understand... I dont work for AR and I dont even care to defend them. I dont even agree on the dual fare system, because I think it creates the wrong impression of a country that wants to open itself to tourism. I fly LAN as much as I can, although they also have a two-tier fare system that has lower fares for residents. However, this two tiered system has been around for ages, its widely used in many developing nations where the difference between the income levels of locals vs. visitors is substantial... its not a local invention.

My objective with pointing out the potential pitfalls is that I often hear of non-residents that (knowingly or not - that is beside the point) book these fares and when they get caught and have to face the music, they scream bloody murder. The rules that govern these fares are there... I didnt make them, I just want to give folks the heads up.

Please feel free to contact me via PM should you have any additional comments.

A comment on the tiered system: I have run into this practice not only with Aerolineas but also with hotels in Argentina. It's a ridiculous system (note Gaucho, I understand you're not defending it) which IMHO fits well with the Argentine general practice of extracting every peso possible from the foreigner. Argentines have raised this to an art form. It's a shame really, and reflects badly on the country which in spite of terrible corruption at all levels, is a pleasant tourist destination.

The excuse about income levels is just that: an excuse, and a poor one. There are plenty of Argentine residents who are a lot richer than me, and they still fly cheaper only because they happen to live there.

And Gaucho is right: it isn't only Argentina. Look at the hefty hotel taxes levied by so many American municipalities: they're easy to raise because local voters don't pay them. And the last time I was in Amsterdam I bought a train ticket for 15 Euros that I could have bought for 9 Euros had I also purchased a discount card for 65 Euros, which would have been good for a whole year...but of course it's those of us who are not EU residents who don't buy the discount cards and therefore pay full fare. So, other countries may be a little more subtle than Argentina, but it's still SOAK THE TOURIST.

A comment on the tiered system: I have run into this practice not only with Aerolineas but also with hotels in Argentina. It's a ridiculous system (note Gaucho, I understand you're not defending it) which IMHO fits well with the Argentine general practice of extracting every peso possible from the foreigner. Argentines have raised this to an art form. It's a shame really, and reflects badly on the country which in spite of terrible corruption at all levels, is a pleasant tourist destination.

The excuse about income levels is just that: an excuse, and a poor one. There are plenty of Argentine residents who are a lot richer than me, and they still fly cheaper only because they happen to live there.

And Gaucho is right: it isn't only Argentina. Look at the hefty hotel taxes levied by so many American municipalities: they're easy to raise because local voters don't pay them. And the last time I was in Amsterdam I bought a train ticket for 15 Euros that I could have bought for 9 Euros had I also purchased a discount card for 65 Euros, which would have been good for a whole year...but of course it's those of us who are not EU residents who don't buy the discount cards and therefore pay full fare. So, other countries may be a little more subtle than Argentina, but it's still SOAK THE TOURIST.

Yup, soaking the tourist is a worldwide "scam." It most often is confined to gov't entities. US car rental taxes are obscene on the theory that only out-of-towners pay them. In China, tourist attractions tend to have a different rate for foreigners. A resident of Venice pays about as much for an annual pass on the water buses as a tourist pays for 2 or 3 trips. And, as mentioned above, almost all European cities offer locals train passes at a tiny fraction of what visitors pay on a per trip basis.

What is a little unusual is when private businesses do it. In the United States, the practice seems to be largely confined to Hawaii where, for years, locals have been able to get discounts on hotels and interisland airfare that visitors are prohibited from using. The reason the travel companies do it is price discrimination: they think visitors will pay more. They may be right, but it's probably an inefficient means of price discrimination (ie, there are many visitors would would "trade up" to fancier hotel rooms if they could get the more affordable locals rate).

Not sure the motivation in Argentina. Frankly, I would not have bought a domestic Argentine airline ticket had I not been able to find one at the cheaper "flex tango" rate (as noted above, Aerolineas does offer some tickets to foreigners at deep discounts). Similarly, I'm sure there are several "real" 4-star hotels in BA that I would stay in if I could pay the locals price. The higher prices they are charging foreigners is definitely altering my plans.

No Gaucho, I believe it is you who misunderstand me. I understand and accept that there is a two-tiered system. Again, I DID NOT try to buy a resident-only fare. I tried to buy a tourist fare. I found information on here that even though the fare I bought was through the proper tourist channels on the AR website as a non-resident, it is possible that I did unknowingly purchase a resident-only fare and that I would be stopped at the airport and required to pay more money. That seems like a bait and switch to me and the government should not allow this to happen.

While the airline confirmed that my fare was non-resident, the opinion on this board is that this is a resident fare because of the price point. I have read all the threads. That is the information that is presented. My income comment was that I could not afford for to pay an add-on charge at the airport for a last-minute ticket. The reason I planned to visit Patagonia was because I thought I would be able to pay a reasonable amount (like $273) for the flight. Paying a few hundred dollars more puts the trip out of reach for me.


Also to clarify, I am not blaming you for the issues with the airline or with the tourism industry as a whole. I just resent the fact that I was lumped into a group that was trying to get around the "rules" when that was never my intention.

No Gaucho, I believe it is you who misunderstand me. I understand and accept that there is a two-tiered system. Again, I DID NOT try to buy a resident-only fare. I tried to buy a tourist fare. I found information on here that even though the fare I bought was through the proper tourist channels on the AR website as a non-resident, it is possible that I did unknowingly purchase a resident-only fare and that I would be stopped at the airport and required to pay more money. That seems like a bait and switch to me and the government should not allow this to happen.

While the airline confirmed that my fare was non-resident, the opinion on this board is that this is a resident fare because of the price point. I have read all the threads. That is the information that is presented. My income comment was that I could not afford for to pay an add-on charge at the airport for a last-minute ticket. The reason I planned to visit Patagonia was because I thought I would be able to pay a reasonable amount (like $273) for the flight. Paying a few hundred dollars more puts the trip out of reach for me.

Also to clarify, I am not blaming you for the issues with the airline or with the tourism industry as a whole. I just resent the fact that I was lumped into a group that was trying to get around the "rules" when that was never my intention.

Curlyflyer-- English is not my first language, so maybe you are right and I just dont understand... alas, please allow me to say that I did not "lump" you into a group that was trying to get around the rules... you did so yourself because you concluded that I did not think your post warranted further discussion... which is again a (wrong) assumption on your part because I never addressed you or your post... I actually didnt see you post until after you noted your "resentment" towards something you thought I had said... Im sorry but your post was sandwiched in between others and sometimes I will miss posts. I try my best to answer everything thats posted here but sometimes things do escape me.

I did not judge your intention.... who am I judge? Believe me, had I had beef with you I would have posted so directly, and another thread thats now closed is a witness to that.

Not to beat a dead horse... but, again, your last sentence regarding the bait & switch is simply wrong... you are seeing ghosts where there is nothing. Aerolineas is not scamming, they just are poorly organized.

Im sorry this thread altered your travel plans, Im just here to help folks out and my posting of these issues with some resident only fares is just a heads up, that was/is my only intention.

While the airline confirmed that my fare was non-resident, the opinion on this board is that this is a resident fare because of the price point. I have read all the threads. That is the information that is presented.

I think this is the issue-- some of what is posted here is inaccurate. But I could be wrong.

You buy as a non-res, you pay with US credit card after talking to the Aerolineas rep, you should be okay. We and our group were on several flights and had no issue. They were Flex Tango fares on Aerolineas and whatever LAN calls their fare. Priced about the same as US non-Southwest fares for similar distances, not the high ($500 AEP-MDZ) fares I've seen reported elswhere.)

Local hotels, had no luck reserving in pesos - rooms "not available." I might have had better luck if I just showed up, or might not have.

You go to Argentina to take advantage of the inexpensive leather, beef wine, you have to realize those prices are based on the local economy.

I have no issue with local residents being given a break. The distances are great and the govt realizes citizens need to travel to visit family etc.

It is not a tourist scam. It's life anywhere and everywhere.

Ok I have spent the last 15 minutes reading this thread, and I still have one basic question. If I can't rely on the website, and I can't rely on the agent that I speak too on the phone making the reservation, how am I supposed to figure out whether or not the fare I purchase is one which is for non residents of Argentina.

Ok I have spent the last 15 minutes reading this thread, and I still have one basic question. If I can't rely on the website, and I can't rely on the agent that I speak too on the phone making the reservation, how am I supposed to figure out whether or not the fare I purchase is one which is for non residents of Argentina.

Issue is probably still unsettled. A recent post in Lonely Planets' thorne tree forums indicates that a person purchasing a domestic ticket at an Aerolineas office in Argentina can get the "resident" rate by being "nice" and trying to speak Spanish. Usual warnings apply and your mileage may vary.

I have a flight on Aerolineas from AEP on January 12. I can post my experiece for this ticket booked overseas, thru their website, at the cheap rate. I will call Aerolineas' (New York office, I think) to reconfirm soon.

I booked flex tango tickets several months in advance for our flights on Aerolineas to El Calafate and Bariloche in November. I booked the tickets, selecting the United States as my home country, via the website. No where on the website did it say that the tickets I boughts were for residents of Argentina. I had to call their customer service department to give them my credit card information and confirm the e-tickets. We had absolutely no problems using the tickets.

I booked flex tango tickets several months in advance for our flights on Aerolineas to El Calafate and Bariloche in November. I booked the tickets, selecting the United States as my home country, via the website. No where on the website did it say that the tickets I boughts were for residents of Argentina. I had to call their customer service department to give them my credit card information and confirm the e-tickets. We had absolutely no problems using the tickets.


Right -- as I think I mentioned before, there are some of the cheapest "flex tango" fares made available to foreigners on the for-use-by-foreigners Aerolineas websites. If you can find such availability there (I did, a couple months before departure), buy it. It will work. I think the real unsettled question is what you can do if no such deep-discounted tickets are still available for foreigners, but cheaper fares are still available for locals.