Thanks to experts on this forum, out trip to Argentina went fairly smoothly. Here is an update on the departure.

Tax: still $18 and they take credit cards!!!!!! It is pretty amazing for a cash based society.

For an AA coach pax without status, the check in process too over 35 minutes. It took a total of 1.5 hours to check-in, pay exit tax and got through immigration and primary security. For a continental coach pax, the total time is 30 minutes less. The entire check-in area was totally empty about 2.5 hours before the departure.

We flew out of EZE on Aug. 21st. We were on the LAN flt EZE to SCL that depts at 18:50. We arrived via taxi from AEP around 15:36. The LAN check in was closed until 16:00. In all my years of flying this was new to me. An int'l airport like EZE and a airline like LAN, and they are closed until 16:00? We used the down time to get a sandwich and a drink. Once we went through LAN biz class check in, paid our $18USD dept tax, we were through security and in the air side VIP lounge in about 30 minutes. I guess we hit the airport at just the right time. No lines any where to speak of.

Lan has a big gap of time w/no flights, and I've left on the same/similar flight a few times (and arrived before check-in opens). It is a great time to deal w/EZE. I'll be on it again in under 2 weeks.

along these lines. what time does AA check in open is it 4pm???..... we have ord flight which leaves at 7:35 .