noturbulence

First time visiting Argentina – just a brief question on immigration and customs wait times at EZE

Across various threads here in this forum there is sometimes an indication or hint that wait times at EZE immigration and customs both inbound and outbound can be long and unpredictable so I wonder how much wait time I should be prepared for and what to expect.

Basic data: Arriving from Europe around 8am on a EU passport
Return: Leaving for Europe around 5pm a couple of days later

Also. are there by any chance any priority/fast track lanes for C passengers (e.g. similar to what sometimes can be found at airports like DXB, BKK)?

GUWonder

I come in as a business class passenger reasonably frequently into EZE and there is no general fast track passport control for business class passengers. But as I am pretty quick off my flights, I usually get through at that time in the morning with lines that take anywhere from no time to lines that take me 15-20 minutes. The passport control lines leaving EZE in the evening are slower/worse than my morning arrival lines when coming in from NAFTA countries or the EU.

Most all of the time, I get to the EZE baggage claim belt before checked luggage arrives on the belt. The customs line can sometimes be a bit of a wait but that moves within minutes too when I come into EZE from the Northern Hemisphere.

Eastbay1K

8 AM arrival - plan for an hour, although you might be out in less than 30 minutes (with checked luggage). If you arrive on time, you should miss the worst of the North American arrivals. My baggage claim experiences range from nearly first on the belt, to nearly last off the plane, all with decorative "premium" tags.

5 PM departure - you beat the worst of it. But be there at 3. The immigration and security isn't well-staffed at that hour, but those processes shouldn't take much more than 15 minutes at 330p.

Gaucho100K

The only priority/fast track option at EZE is buying the VIP Package from AA2000 (the airport operator). This will get you escorted through immigration and customs with no standing in line, plus some other "perks" that aren't worth writing home about.

Im not sure the overall service and convenience it provides justifies the cost but that is a very personal consideration. Check out the AA2000 website, last time I sent someone over there it was available in English.

HIDDY

Our departures and arrivals waiting times at EZE over the last few years have always been acceptable and have certainly improved compared to years gone by. We used to order the taxi for one after after scheduled arrival time now we make it half an hour. Immigration is certainly no worse than many major International airports I've been through.
Security can be either empty or packed which it was the last time we were there. However it was very fast moving and took no longer than twenty minutes.....probably the longest I've ever had to wait. Should say although I've arrived at so called busy times I've never departed in the evening when it's at its busiest.

Marambio

Haven't tried the AA2000 service myself but according to friends it's worth it when travelling to Buenos Aires (you sip your tea at the lounge while they clear formalities and fetch your luggage from the carousel - very fancy). On the way out of EZE they say it's okay but nothing extraordinary. Personally I think it's just too expensive.

Other than that, the only fast-track at EZE is for diplomats and crews I think.

Last times using EZE immigration and customs were quite smooth, much better than EWR a few weeks ago for instance. OP should bear in mind he's landing and departing during EZE's two peak hours, but I don't think it will matter, especially because customs people mostly focus on Argentines and let foreigners go.

Last December I was having a cigarette outside some 20 minutes after setting foot on the jetway (and I had to retrieve my bag from the belt), a new record for me.

Eastbay1K

But it does matter because everyone zig zags through the customs line, where there is no segregation, save for crew/diplomats. Sometimes it is backed up to the baggage claim. Other times, I've got no more than a few minutes' wait.

By the way, for departures (you first go through security, then migraciones), both sides while waiting for your passport stamp are the same. There are two roped lines. People are always confused which they should enter. Either.

Gaucho100K

I use the AA2000 because a couple of my local issued ccards have the service refunded to me (there is an annual limit use but each plastic has its own limit). Having said this, I only bother using it when I fly with the entire family. Aside from the incoming bag service, the outbound has a special dedicated immigration which can also be useful and then you are escorted to the jetway through the internal corridors of the airport, so you do get a side tour of the "dark" side of EZE.

starlanet

sounds nice, but a little expensive

http://www.aeropuertosvipclub.com.ar...id=592&lang=en

Gaucho100K

The pricing is geared towards big-corporate travel type budgets. I know from clients that if you also book a fair number of services all together and pay up front, the discounts can get relevant. Still, waste of $$$ in my view and I only use them because of the black plastic I have offers the perk.... (and the benefit has been reduced since it was launched, it is now limited whereas when first offered you had unlimited use).

infoguy

How are the immigration queues normally for the last set of arrivals in the midnight-1am time frame?

Gaucho100K

Not a problem most of the time..... EZE is a zoo mostly early AM when a bunch of "heavy" birds come in from North America.

fedechat

Even a peak hours (7~9), the line for EU/NA passport holders are shorter than Mercosur/argentinos.

Arriving at midnight is not a problem at all.

besunman

Hi,

Do you guys recommend the following:

- I will be arriving from SCL on a LAN flight at 5PM into EZE (I have a European passport)

- I will depart again at EZE at 8PM to ATL via Delta in business class

Question:
I understand I will need to go trough immigration and customs at EZE, and then change terminal?
Will I have enough time and this with checked luggage.

Thx for any advice.
Regards,

Eastbay1K

If your luggage is checked through, you have plenty of time. You will simply go through transit security and then back to the gate area. Even though LA and DL operate from different terminals (A and C), the gate areas are combined and all behind the same airside area.

If your luggage is not checked through, you should still have time to go through all the tramites as it is a slower time for arrivals.