Originally Posted by acf573
Oh man, heading to Argentina in two weeks and bought my tickets a week or two ago. I wonder if it's too late to buy travel insurance that covers for airline bankruptcy. Is there a formal bankruptcy system in Argentina, or do companies just cease operating? Are walk-up fares on Aerolineas pretty much the same as advance purchase fares?
Also, any idea how long it takes to cross from the Argentina side of Iguazu back to the Brazil side (customs, immigration, and all that)? Is it easy to go back and forth? Thinking about just staying on the Brazil side, but we are flying out from the Argentina side to Mendoza (hopefully!).
Gaucho, just want to say thanks for all of your information in this thread. It's helped a lot as I've lurked here planning my trip!
Im afraid Im not an expert on travel insurance. While there is a formal BK system here, Im not sure SW would be able to get protection from the courts that helped it to continue operations..... my guess is that if things get really tough for SW the oil companies will simply cut off all fuel deliveries than cannot be pre-paid, effectively grounding SW birds. It seems to me like a very long shot that SW could get some government back-up on the grounds that they are providing a "public service". Their image is so torn to threads that at this point the government wants to have nothing to do with them.
Perhaps travel insurance is a good way to go, also... have you checked with your credit card company? Maybe you can get them to reverse the charge if SW doesnt provide you the service you paid for.
In any event, can you tell me what segments you have already issued on SW tickets...? Like I said, until now the affected routes have been the secondary services, so maybe you will get lucky although its really hard to tell for sure at this point.
AR walk up fares will be higher than advanced bookings, but it will of course depend on the loads on the flights you are looking for. In any event, since you are a non-resident the fares you qualify for less likely to be heavily discounted, so in this sense your potential savings are also curtailed.
As for border crossings.... remember that if you are on a US passport you need a visa for Brazil (if you play by the book).... so things may not be as simple as you think. Im not too sure on the times needed to cross.
Sorry I cannot be of more assistance.