mahasamatman

Hi all. I'm just looking for a bit of advice on a potential itinerary for a trip involving Argentina for March 2015.

We're taking an Antarctic cruise out of Ushuaia on 12 March, and since we're going all that way, we figured we should spend at least a little extra time in the country. We've been to BA before (for a Cow Do a couple of years ago), but we'd also like to see some of Iguazú Falls and Ushuaia/Tiera del Fuego while we're there. I was thinking of the following:
The reason to do BA first is to avoid one of the transfers between EZE and AEP. I'd like to get all the intra-Argentina flights on LA using AA miles - at 6K per segment it seems like a real bargain, and the baggage policies on LA look better than AR.

Some questions.Thanks.

moronic50

From the general consensus around 2 nights in Iguazu is about right.

LAN offer flat bed and AA are currently rolling out their own flat bed which I would have thought would be ready in time for your trip.

mahasamatman

Others who are more knowledgeable about AA than I am have told me that they don't think AA will deploy the flat-bed on this route in the forseeable future. I'll have to search to see if there are any reasonable routings that involve LA.

Gaucho100K

Iguazu looks fine.... 2/3 in Ushuaia seems a little too much, unless you have a specific game plan. Have you considered building in a trip to Mendoza...???

mahasamatman

We hadn't considered Mendoza, but we'll look at it. Unfortunately we wouldn't really have the time to do both Iguazú and Mendoza, though, so we'd have to choose between the two.

Gaucho100K

Mendoza trumps Iguazu only if you are quite serious about Wine. Else, its Iguazu, no contest.

IceTrojan

Wow... now I feel dumb. I've NEVER paid attention to that part of the AA award chart before, just the pyramid portion. That's a great ROI on AA miles. Thanks for making my honeymoon planning that much more awesome! ^

upinsmoke

The current AA 777-300 that have the flat bed in J and the suite in F will not be deployed to EZE runs in the forseeable future. However, AA has announced that they will be changing the configuration of the 777-200 fleet (which does the EZE flights, among others) to 2 class of service. No more F, but flat beds in J, and Main Cabin Extra plus 10-across in the back.

Flights are supposed to start in September 2014.

Check out this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-moved-16.html

Gaucho100K

Does this mean that American will offer only 2 class service to EZE for all its flights.... even the JFK to EZE will no longer be 3 class...?

IceTrojan

Yep... 772s will be 2-class birds (with C being something of a C+)

I would guess that sometime during the transition, the F suites on the unrefurbished flights will be sold as C. I would put my money on first come/first served, but perhaps they'll marked in the system as being preferred seats for elites and full C only.

Gaucho100K

Gotta love that handle....

upinsmoke

If they keep flying the 772 to EZE, then yes. If there's enough demand for F, they could switch to a 77W (777-300ER) which has 3 class service including horizontal full-flat on both F and J.

boar

I would also consider El Calafate, close to the excellent Perito Moreno Glacier,
as an option. It is only just over an hour by plane north of Ushuaia.
Very impressive, especially as I visited the glacier after a 10 day Antarctic voyage.

Itaipu dam, just over the border in Paraguay ,is worth considering as a half day trip from Iguazu.

PatoLoco

I would take LA over AR any day based on my own experiences in Argentina. The AEP-EZE transfer depends on the time of day on which you'd arrive but I'd say give yourself at least 4 hours. The trip should only be like an hour between the two airports, but you really just never know.

Finally, I think an overnight in BA is worth it. Target a great steakhouse you want to visit, and make that overnight count!

Enjoy Argentina and as others said, Iguazu is amazing but if you find a way to sneak in some time in Mendoza, it's a great place to visit!

mahasamatman

Unfortunately, they have a terrible schedule making it impossible to get from IGR to USH in one day, and they don't even operate a flight out of USH on the date we need.

Thanks, I'll check out that thread. If they can guarantee a flat bed for next March, it's a definite possibility.