A quick message from an internet cafe in Cuzco. Went ´relatively´ smoothly up to now although less so than my central American first half back in March. Two problems encountered:
Despite lengthy discussions with Aeropostal at Guayaquil, they categorically refused to allow me on board if I did not pay the USD25 departure tax even though I had arrived the same day. I talked to the check-in agent, then his manager, manager went to discuss the matter with the Civil Aviation authority at the airport and the final decision was that: if you return to your point of origin (viz do LIM-GYE-LIM), you are NOT in transit in GYE and therefore cannot be exempted from the tax. Aeropostal agent also added that civil aviation had issued them strict guidance on this recently. I am not convinced but, as a passenger, you have no choice but to accept their decision. I did NOT have that problem in Quito, though, where I was able to do LIM-UIO-LIM without aying departure tax in UIO.
Second hiccup was a confirmation problem on my CUZ-LIM with TA. Result: have to spend an extra day in Cuzco instead of LIM (probably just as well, anyway) to take the TA flight tomorrow.