I did not want to overburden the already-long Buenos Aires (EZE) - the ultimate Q&A thread, so I am posting a new thread here specifically pertaining to this topic.

Here is the transportation dilemma that I currently face:

• Should I wait until I get to Buenos Aires before booking a round-trip to Iguazu and back?
• If I do wait until arrive, will seats still be available?
• If seats are available, will they still be cheaper than if I had purchased the fares in the United States?
• If all of what I asked is possible and in my favor, from whom would I purchase either the airfare or the bus fare?

I believe that I have several options in terms of transportation between Buenos Aires and Iguazu:

• Pay the ridiculously high airfares on Aerolineas Argentinas now
• Either wait until I arrive in Argentina and try to obtain a cheaper airfare, or at least get a travel agent in Buenos Aires to book a lower airfare for me
• Pay a lower airfare on Southern Winds airlines and take a chance, or
• Take a luxury bus (cama class?) on an 18-hour overnight trip.

At first, I immediately dismissed the option of taking a bus versus a flight, but I thought about it and realized from the accounts of others:

• The seats are comparable to first-class seats on an aircraft and can actually lie flat for sleeping
• Meals are included in the bus fare
• If both bus rides are overnight, that would save me on two nights’ hotel room rate accommodations
• I understand the bus fare costs approximately the equivalent of US$40.00 or so.

Can someone please answer the following questions and give me further details, as I am now considering this option?

• Which bus companies service the Buenos Aires—Iguazu route?
• What is the actual cost of the bus fare, either one-way or round-trip?
• Would taking a bus be a better option than flying on an airplane?
• Could I purchase the bus fare via the Internet, or do I have to wait until I get to Buenos Aires?
• Is the bus ride comfortable?
• Are the meals, the service and other amenities any good?

Just for kicks, I called the United States office of Southern Winds airlines.

I was told that a round-trip flight between Buenos Aires and Iguazu (AEP-IGR) would cost US$299.70 if the flight were on Southern Winds airlines, but due to the constant schedule changes which Southern Winds is undergoing, being scheduled on a Southern Winds flight would be similar to showing up at an airport and being on stand-by status. I could still earn American AAdvantage miles on Southern Winds flights.

They could also book me on an Aerolineas Argentinas flight, which would be on a definite schedule, but it would cost US$344.70 for a round-trip flight and I would not earn American AAdvantage miles.

I informed the Southern Winds agent that — when www.fly-sw.com was functioning properly — I would have been able to secure a one-way fare of US$86.53. She responded that that was a conversion of the Argentine fare from pesos to dollars, and that the United States of Southern Winds airlines cannot book Argentine peso fares.

She advised me that I should be able to book a cheaper fare once I arrive in Argentina, although there is a chance that I may be charged the United States dollar rate as I would obviously be a foreigner.

Even if I wanted to take the bus option instead of the flight option, it appears as though I will not be able to secure a round-trip between Buenos Aires and Iguazu until I get to Argentina.

One other note: interestingly, I used the ITA Software Trip Planner Internet web site.

• When the sales city is set to BOS (for Boston), the least-expensive round-trip flight between Buenos Aires and Iguazu (AEP-IGR) prices at US$216.08, including all taxes and fees. However, I have not found a bookable airfare for less than US$299.70.
• When the sales city is set to BUE (for Buenos Aires), the least-expensive round-trip flight between Buenos Aires and Iguazu (AEP-IGR) prices at US$97.00, including all taxes and fees, for the exact same itinerary.
• When the sales city is set to BUE (for Buenos Aires) and I change the dates of the itinerary to later this week or early next week, the least-expensive round-trip flight between Buenos Aires and Iguazu (AEP-IGR) prices at either US$382.00, including all taxes and fees, if the round-trip itinerary began tomorrow, or US$211.00, including all taxes and fees, if the round-trip itinerary began late this week, or US$169.00, including all taxes and fees, if the round-trip itinerary began early next week.

Thank you in advance for offering me the best advice pertaining to this perplexing and very frustrating situation...