ordaxa

Hi all - longtime reader, first time poster!

Will be flying between Buenos Aires and Mendoza in early December. Having read this board going a ways back, it seems that both LATAM and AR have mixed feedback.

Any thoughts/red flags/things I haven't considered with my initial plan?

AEP to MDZ - Dec 2 - LATAM 7644, 9:10 - 11:05am
We have no plans in Mendoza upon arrival other than checking into the hotel, so not too anxious about this one

MDZ to EZE - Dec 7 - AR 2423, 3:30 - 5:05pm
We will be flying back to the US that same evening, on UA 978 that departs to IAH at 9pm. Will ~4 hours should be enough given we will be flying into EZE not AEP? The other options would get us in by late morning, which seems too early... but of course, don't want to risk missing the flight back to the US! What would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!
-Jennifer

Marambio

The return flight sounds very reasonable. I would try to get an AR flight on the way to Mendoza - both ways are usually cheaper than single tickets. Other than that, your itinerary is good.

HIDDY

Bonus of the AR flight is it gets you into EZE thus avoiding the transfer from AEP. ^

However if the connecting UA flight is on a separate ticket you're taking a hell of a risk. I'd prefer to head back to Baires the evening before just to be on the safe side.

Eastbay1K

Four hours is plenty of time if you are on time. I'd expect the UA counter to open at T-3 hours, and there will already be quite a line. If you aren't in a premium cabin or otherwise have status for a special line, plan on an hour for check in/bag drop. Then plan an hour for exit migration and security. It could take 30 minutes. It could take a lot more.

On separate tickets, I wouldn't risk it. You probably have 90% odds of comfortably making the flight. But can you afford the 10%? Maybe you can.

Flying Machine

Welcome to FT ordaxa..OP is UA Platinum if something goes wrong on the MDZ-EZE leg you could do SDC to another's flight (space pending) EWR and IAH are options now

ordaxa

Thank you all for your replies!

It will be a separate ticket and I'm pretty risk averse, so I think the new plan will be to take one of the morning flights into AEP and then make a stop in the city for lunch and a last stroll around, before heading to EZE. (Though I had forgotten about the SDC possibility, which is good to remember!)

MSPeconomist

Will UA let you SDC an international long haul segment? DL won't even for top tier elites, although DL will informally protect you on separate PNRs/tickets.

Flying Machine

Yes, UA permits SDC on international long call. I do it all the time, otherwise I wouldn't have suggested it as an alternative.