flyerman770

In this post I will outline a procedure which if followed correctly can give anyone unlimited MR opportunities. It is comprised from various points which will be explained.

THIS CAN ONLY WORK IF YOU HAVE FAMILY OR FRIENDS IN VENEZUELA!

1) The Venezuelan Currency Control (CADIVI): A few years ago, due to a quick depletion of international currency reserves because of economical instability, the government established a currency control, allowing only certain companies to access "government dollars" at the "official" rate which was placed at 2,15 BF (Bolivares Fuertes), this gave way to the black market dollar prices to be sometimes more than double (it was at 7,15 BF at some point, now its holding steady at 4,80 BF).

2) The Airline connection: Airlines have access to dollars at the official rate, and they get their dollars at 2,15 each, and they sell tickets according to the official rate, which means that a $800 dollar ticket will be sold at 1720 BF. But really you are paying around $350-380 dollars for that ticket depending on the black rate (because you take your $800 dollars and sell them in the "black" market for 4,7 a piece and get 3760 BF).

3) Important Websites to remember:
The "Black" average exchange rate: http://venezuelafx.blogspot.com/
The cheapest Venezuelan Online Travel Agency: http://www.rumbo.com.ve/

4) The practical part:
Step A) Search (on KAYAK for example) for a cheap flight like EWR to HKG: Apr 15-Apr 22 which will price at $843.
Step B) Then do the same search on the above mentioned website RUMBO.COM.VE (in Spanish) and the price will come out to 1820,40 BF. This when converted at the 4,7 rate is equal to $388
Step C) Call your relative in Venezuela and tell him to go to the PASSARINI SUAREZ travel agency in CENTRO LIDO (http://www.passarinisuarez.com/contactenos.aspx) which run the RUMBO website and pay 1820,40 BF, and they will send you an e-ticket.
Step D) Check the VENEZUELAFX website and see the average price (its constantly going down, mainly due to the devaluation of the US dollar), it should be around 4,7 - 4,9. Send your family relative the $400 and let them convert it in the black market. They should get their money back with a percentage.
Step E) Enjoy your flight and the miles!!!

On MileCalc.com (http://www.milecalc.com/) the CPM showed at 2.4cpm

The R/T flight is 16130 Miles, and the price is $388

Play around a bit and enjoy yourself!

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The Information for the above mentioned flight I picked is:
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BTW, I hope this doesn't fall into the following category of the FlyerTalk guidelines...

Because it is fully legal... Its legal to buy tickets with Venezuelan Bolivares... Its legal to change Dollars to Venezuelan Bolivares (well, somewhat legal)... Its legal to call your family member or friend and have him pay for you...

WillTravel

Serious question - do you think someone can do this without endangering their friends or family who participate in the scheme? With Chavez as leader, I would not want to involve loved ones in some sort of currency manipulation which clearly goes against the intended purpose of their exchange scheme.

flyerman770

Two more points:

* This can technically work with any respectable Venezuelan Travel Agency. I picked the above mentioned example (RUMBO / Passarini Suarez) due to the fact that I have worked with them in the past.

* It will be easier to work if you are flying an airline which has an office in Venezuela like any of the following:

* Aerolíneas Argentinas
* Air Canada
* Air France
* Alitalia
* American Airlines
* Continental Airlines
* Copa Airlines
* Delta Air Lines
* Iberia
* LAN Airlines
* Lufthansa
* Mexicana
* TACA
* TAM
* TAP Portugal

bhatnasx

Step C seems kind of hard to do...

The whole thing seems kind of sketch.

aisleorwindow

Wow! That is some kinda loophole you have found there!!!

Anybody in Venezuela want to be my new friend??

flyerman770

Currency Controls have happened in my dear country a few times, and every time this worked. I have been doing it for flights to or from Venezuela (to visit my family) without a problem for quite a lot of time. And had my family members paying for it with Venezuelan BF

AvalancheZ71

Not to mention pumping funds into a dictator's hands.

flyerman770

I have had family do it quite a couple of times in the past. It ain't that hard if you know spanish (otherwise someone from the street will end up with your dollars... and you will end up somewhere outside the city without clothes)

flyerman770

He ain't a dictator. He is a socialist who has been pumping money to all the poor people in the country, and they love him. He has a average 75% approval rate in the country (according to his enemies' polls)

MyXa

This is a total scam. The websites don't even open and the current exchange rate is 1 USD for 2,147.5 Bolivares.

AvalancheZ71

I see the lock coming, in before the lock.

tcook052

And risk AC unilaterally cancelling & refunding your ticket?

flyerman770

Both websites work perfectly. The official rate might be 2,147.5 Bolivares. But I wish you luck trying to pay that price for even One Dollar anywhere in the world!

My family lives in Venezuela I know this.

DukieDrew

I have a friend dating someone from Venezuela. When they go to CCS, they get a travel agent in Venezuela to buy the tickets for this exact reason. I don't know if she has done this for flights not involving Venezuela though...

flyerman770

It was tested and confirmed for flights to/from Venezuela. I don't know about flights originating and ending in different countries not including Venezuela

I am not in Venezuela now. I don't think my family will be too happy to get themselves involved in this thing. When I will be there I will notify the FT'ers and try to do something