HIDDY

Sounds a heck of a palaver no matter which route you choose JC.

If it were me it'd be enough of an excuse not to go to Mendoza.

JohnnyColombia

Yes HIDDY, sounds like a total ball ache doesn't it? I think the current option is the best bet for getting between El Calafate and Mendoza but that final flight COR to MDZ only looks to be about an hour and a $50 add on to the rest of the itinerary. That would be much preferable to a 10 hour bus ride. The question is, might it come up as an option? Aerolineas Argentinas clearly thinks the airport is open for "some" flights during that period.

HIDDY

I've tried several routes and haven't seen any flights available.

JohnnyColombia

Right you are. I had been searching on Google flights but when clicking through to Aerolineas.com the flights are not available

Eastbay1K

Here's what I've found for 1 Nov for BUE and SCL searches:
(Accordingly, it shows some things being loaded)

1* AR2484 W4 S4 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4|AEPAFA1230P 343P E90* 1
NO MORE LATER FLIGHTS 01NOV
(This is a 1 stop RSA)

1* AR2281 W4 S4 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4|SCLAEP1005A 1200N E90* 0
2| LA4288 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 X7 S7 N7| UAQ 245P 440P 320* 0
3| LA 439 W7 P7 Y7 B7 H7 K7 M7 L7 V7 X7|SCLAEP 810A 1020A 320 0
4* AR1434 W4 S0 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4| UAQ 105P 303P 73W 0
5* AR2283 W4 S4 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4|SCLAEP 755A 950A E90* 0
6* AR1434 W4 S0 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4| UAQ 105P 303P 73W 0
7* AR2285 W4 S4 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4|SCLAEP 140P 335P E90* 0
8* AR1436 W4 S0 Z0 Y4 B4 M4 U4 K4 H4 L4| UAQ 800P 958P 73W 0

David Beach

Just a update on this immense cl#sterf#ck. You cannot even buy air tickets tickets to and from Mendoza for these dates, diversions or not. LAN and Aerolineas just say there is no availability, without explaining why. LAN does not list any flights from Santiago to San Juan. Aerolineas has not yet increased the number of flights available to places like San Juan or San Rafael. The travel forums are full of confused enquiries, and travel agents have no idea of what is going on. If anything is being done, there is no indication of when the issues will be resolved, over a month after the official announcement, and several months after the unofficial announcements. I have heard that the airlines are balking at the suggestions of Argentina 2000 to provide free buses to and from the points of diversion. I have family visiting in November who are trying to find cheap tickets right now. The best I can say is , fly to Santiago, BA, Cordoba or San Juan (from BA), and take the bus. How badly is this disorganization going to hurt the Mendoza tourist industry, both in the short and long terms?

HIDDY

Should we be surprised? This country is highly competent when it comes to taking one step forward and two steps back.

David Beach

LAN,now LATAM, now selling tickets for daily flights from Santiago, Chile, to San Juan, Argentina, for the Sept 7 - Dec 7 period.

Gaucho100K

Thanks for reporting this... at least there is now an alternative. I understand that the ground transfer from San Juan to Mendoza will take approx. 2 to 2.5 hours.

I guess its safe to say that LAN will take you only to San Juan, with the ground transportation leg open to whatever the pax cares to arrange, or...?

Any update on the situation with Aerolineas...?

David Beach

No, Aerolineas Argentinas will apparently be rerouting people who presently have "Mendoza" tickets through San Juan, San Rafael or San Luis, but they have not set on more flights, nor have they notified customers yet. Neither they nor LAN/LATAM have any reason on their site why flights to Mendoza for Sept 7 - Dec 7 are "unavailable". For those that have had tickets to "Mendoza" for a while, the rerouting may left as a nice surprise to customers when they check-in for their flights to "Mendoza".

Anybody planning on traveling to Mendoza during this period should be prepared for anything.

David Beach

Update> Aerolineas has started notifying, by email, the people who have bought tickets directly from them of the change of destinations, some to San Juan, some to San Rafael and some unlucky ones all the way to
San Luis *es como un otro pais!* . However, people phoning Aerolineas for information speak to people who know nothing about the change.

AlwaysOnTheRoad

Aerolineas has updated GDS/Sabre. Now all of my MDZ flights show as "Unconfirmed". They did change our MDZ-EZE to depart from San Juan but it would arrive after our international flight departs. I have noted numerous changes to other AR sectors in terms of flight time and routing. Sadly we will eliminate MDZ from our itinerary. I suspect Aerolineas might continue to make changes which makes planning our trip difficult.

Gaucho100K

Thanks to all for these updates... please keep them coming !!! ^ ^ ^

David Beach

It was just announced that the government will provide free transfer to and from Mendoza from San Juan , San Rafael and San Luis airports.

They say that in the following weeks the airlines will inform passengers the details.

http://www.diariouno.com.ar/mendoza/...160528-n795930

Gaucho100K

Good news, thanks for posting this !!! ^ ^ ^