I would give the article a passing grade... although there are some important historical issues that are not properly portrayed, and this does leave many key issues in the wrong context.

Regardless, I will say that Alfonsin was a real Statesman, and that aside from his various important mistakes, in light of the caliber of leadership that this country is now suffering from.... current events only make the figure of Alfonsin greater.

My hope is that his passing a few weeks before a very important election will help voters understand and finally realize that the current K regime needs to get a royal thrashing at the polls.... this would be the best tribute that Argentina could offer Raul R. Alfonsin.

Has this ever been implemented?

Yep.

We are flying down this week from SYD.

I've been to Argy a half dozen times and no visa fee.

Fares to Brazil on UA cost same $$$s as EZE.

Guess which one we chose as Brazil charges us over $US100 each - even tho visiting Brazil again appeals a little more.

Ditto Chile - about $100 each ... guess where we are not flying internally.

These fees to folks in first world countries are insane -- it DOES hurt tourism.

Each hotel night is costing me $US30 in VAT and taxes alone .. not to count waht the Sheraton etc pay in income tax.

They get the lack of visa fee fast enough.

Looks at the taxes and fees just on 2 intenal tickets!

First one pays: Pesos $ 1856 + 52.65 XR + 92.32 DL + 4.00 TQ + 59.38 QN = TTL ARS 2064.35 APROX US$554.- The actual dollar value will depend on the ticketing date as it is done in pesos.

Second one pays: $ Pesos 928 + 52.65 XR + 46.16 DL + 4.00 TQ + 29.70 QN = TTL ARS 1060.51 APROX US$284.-[/I]

So $US838 for 2 persons and 4 flights each.

I'm going to redeem ff miles to take my family of 5 down to Patagonia next year. Since we don't have valid Chilean tax stamps, it would cost us more than $650 in fees to do it through Chile. If Argentina does not impose this fee, we are going to do it through Argentina (and almost certainly stop in BA for a few days).

I'm sure I'm not alone. This fee is high enough to impact travel decisions.

Luckily, this is still not implemented.... lets hope the government looks the other way and continues to ignore this....

A visa fee in any of the southern cone countries does not bother my partner. Nice to have a passport issued by an E.U. country (so we'll split the difference).

BTW, I noticed a fair number of people working in Basque Spain and Venice with very obvious native American features. I guess they must have some right by descent (even if it's not obvious) to Spanish and Italian citizenship (among others).

As they do with most of the things they announce...

Indeed... this K regime is great at announcing all sorts of programs and iniciatives. Implementation is of course another issue... :rolleyes:

My problem is that I will buy my next Argentina tickets well in advance (to get ff seats on AA) and then I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that I don't get hit for the $650. Not much I could do, because AA's change fee would be $500.

I'm sure nobody outside the flyertalker world will feel sorry for me if Madame K hits me up for the dinero.

Well.... keep those fingers crossed.... my guess is that there is a good chance you will be able to enter without this nasty fee.

Considering that this has still not been implemented, I dont think its going to fly anytime this year.... maybe not ever...??

Looks like it's gone the same way as the tren bala ;)

Amen..... else you can ask the bozo De Vido... :rolleyes:

This is what I did this past year. Flew into EZE, spent a few days here, then down to Patagonia, where I crossed into Chile by bus. Then flew up to SCL and enjoyed that area for a few days before heading home.

This is a very fun trip...although the only downside is the increased difficulty/cost of bringing back Argentine wine!

Actually, cost is only an issue if you want the wine shipped back to the USA... else, its quite easy actually. All you need to do is find a retailer you trust and ask them to pack the wine properly (so as to not be troubled by the airlines) and then check the wine as luggage. US customs is very lenient with wine.... just declare what you have and you will be fine... ^