Taxi update:
As of today, EZE -> City
Manuel Tienda Leon is $141
Most others are about $115. I took World Car ($115) and had a pleasant air conditioned ride in a car with telepeaje (except for the HORRENDOUS traffic on a Sunday eve - it took over 30 minutes just to get to the first plaza peaje). (They also told me the return would be $90 if I used them - I'd expect that taxipremium is about the same now.)

141p is ridiculous, really. I guess they've taken the devaluation to heart, and are just upping it in comparison to dollars, perhaps? Fuel should be affordable, so I don't know what other cost would make it increase so much.

It is ridiculous and pure profiteering. For my last few trips I have used a local remise service to get to/from EZE. Last week it was still $60 plus return tolls so $70 all in (this is what they have been charging since November last year). They are obviously making a profit by charging $70 so $141 is obscene.

Is it? They probably have a high airport rent, and have a fleet of drivers with reliable and relatively comfortable cars, and at certain times, it takes over an hour (like tonight) to get to San Telmo, which is on the "close to EZE" side of town. For a lot of people, reliable and safe is worth extra $. Most people are not equipped to handle a local remise service upon arrival. I used a $115 service, but knew I might not end up with the best car (however, I did). I also know where I'm going. You figure the average North American visitor here has paid $1000 for airfare, $150+/night for hotel, and spend way too much eating at Infierno de Turista Loca. Under US$40 for a ride averaging 45 minutes (by the time you get in the car, get out with your bags, etc) on a toll road in a place where fuel isn't really cheap, in a reliable air conditioned car isn't a horrible thing. If people weren't paying it, they wouldn't charge it. And there are options.

Wait, what? And you didn't notice my egregiously displayed FlyerTalk tag?

My +1 and I were in the C cabin as well, in row 10. We were also in the EZE RCC prior to departure, on the left-hand side, seated roughly between a lady with a shopping bag, and two bodybuilders who appeared to be a couple. (Wait! Was that you?)

Where did you get off? We went all the way to LGA on the continuation, in the F cabin, and connected there for the US Shuttle to BOS. (And amazingly, UA->US correctly interlined our bags, despite the separate ticketing of the US Shuttle segment).

To make this post on point, we left the hotel around 6:20pm for the ~9pm departure. I think we arrived about 7pm and completed all of the steps and line-waiting in about an hour. (Except that then we both got sucked into the duty free maze and tried on a few shirts and ties, which took another 20 minutes.) It did help that we could use the 1K/C line. (Which in EZE, actually has a line checker who has a name list of eligible passengers!! Fortunately, there were no manifest snafus, and my +1 and I were both on the list.)

However, UA's regular Y line, while somewhat long, was much shorter than DL's Y line. DL's line filled the entire winding queue area and then stretched down the terminal past many other airlines' check-in desks. As we walked past the DL line to get to the departure tax booths, a DL passenger actually said to us: "Be glad that you didn't fly Delta here!"

As I mentioned on another recent thread, I paid AR$95 4 days ago using the taxi stand outside on the left as you exit.

I've always used this service without a problem, and they give you a receipt in advance at the booth. You probably need to speak a little Spanish, or at least have something written down. I remember back in 2002, the driver had a problem with my pronunciation of "Hilton" ;) My most interesting driver was an older German expat who was pleased that I could communicate with him in Germanl

John

A car service that I use from time to time is charging AR$110 for service between EZE and Palermo/Recoleta/Belgrano, this includes all Tolls.

Of course, its important to point out that prices in Argentina are quite mobile (upwards), so its good to check periodically and not assume that the price will be the same.

I agree with you that at AR$70 they are making a "profit"... but then the devil is in the details. For someone that drives a car for a living, profit is not simply income minus direct operational costs. If someone is driving a new car and is making proper arrangements to be able to replace his vehicle in 2-3 years, then the math gets more complicated..... you have to add regular maintenance costs plus vehicle amortization, etc. etc.

If on the other hand someone is driving a 5 year old car and just looks at current income, and uses LNG instead of Gasoline... then maybe AR$70 is indeed a profit. Else, I can assure you they are making a loss.

I agree that the airport rent needs to be factored into the fare charged but $141 is still a high fare. The service I use is both safe and reliable with decent cars so I'm not cutting corners there but yes, you're right, it wouldn't really be an option for a tourist who doesn't speak Spanish.

That doesn't excuse overcharging. Exiting international passengers at any airport in the world are pretty much a captive market. If I arrive in an unfamiliar country for the first time and can't speak the lingo, I will go with an airport-autorised taxi and pay what they charge, knowing that there are probably cheaper options. Global Exchange's $3.11/$ exchange rate is another airport rip-off. They offer such a crap rate because they can get away with it but it doesn't make it right.

LOL, no, we're not the bodybuilders. We were in row 8, left side of the plane. Were you right behind the obnoxiously loud snorer??? That dude woke me up multiple times throughout the night.

At the RCC we escaped to the small little room with a tv (they were showing Tiger's round of golf), which was nice because the big room seemed really really crowded. That's probably why I missed you.

IAD was our final for this trip. Immigration was pleasantly smooth and we only had to wait about 15 minutes for the moon buggy to fill up. :mad:

To make this post on point: folks, check your currency often!! We got ripped off by two cab drivers. One exchanged a good 100 for a bad one and another gave us a bogus 10. The hotel said this happens all the time with cabbies. You have to keep your eye on your bills at all time and make sure they don't do a switcheroo. We had been out, were a bit tipsy, and easy to take advantage of.

Rule #1: Try and have exact change for the cab fare (or as close as possible). Don't give them large bills;
Rule #2: See Rule #1.

John

For people staying at hotels it is always a good idea to get smaller bills before you go out. I often end up with way too many small bills because I get change for 50s and 100s wherever I can, like the supermarket.

In most airports, I would say yes. However, @ EZE, the various prices are posted right in the middle of the baggage claim carousels. Then, before you are bombarded with the outside world, there are a series of booths, and you can ask at each one, the fare. There is competition to some degree in the authorized taxi business here.

With all due respect, I think this advice is almost impossible to accomplish. Short of carrying around only 2 peso bills, I have no idea how this would be accomplished.

With respect also... the chances of bill swapping is much much lower if you only have $20 and the odd $50 peso note... its the $100 that are the ones to avoid.