Cheapest flight to Mendoza Argentina from SFO on OCT 25th or 26th
Sep 7, 2010, 3:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 12
Cheapest flight to Mendoza Argentina from SFO on OCT 25th or 26th
Hi all,
New to this forum so please bear with my lack of knowledge. Want to fly to Mendoza from SFO to MDZ last wk of Oct & return Nov 18th I want to spend 3 wks & dates are fleible I have searched various airlines but am unable to find a good fare. Is it that there just are'nt any or what am I doing wrong? Please give me any pointers & tips that can lead to some good fares and a ticket purchase. Getting max miles is not a priority!
New to this forum so please bear with my lack of knowledge. Want to fly to Mendoza from SFO to MDZ last wk of Oct & return Nov 18th I want to spend 3 wks & dates are fleible I have searched various airlines but am unable to find a good fare. Is it that there just are'nt any or what am I doing wrong? Please give me any pointers & tips that can lead to some good fares and a ticket purchase. Getting max miles is not a priority!
Sep 9, 2010, 7:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: US Silver, CO, DL
Posts: 502
Basically it's all about competition - that's what drives fares down - and there's not much of it at MDZ. Since a couple of airlines have most of the flights in/out of MDZ, don't expect any bargains.
Give Orbitz or Expedia a try. Sometimes they come up with some creative routings that may be a bit cheaper.
Give Orbitz or Expedia a try. Sometimes they come up with some creative routings that may be a bit cheaper.
Sep 20, 2010, 12:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: US expat somewhere south of Valpo, Chilezuela
Programs: On the way to lowly LATAM Gold, AA, MiClub Lider
Posts: 853
Do not forget to figure in the reciprocity fee into your calculation.
(1) Via EZE, as AEP will be closed, you will enter Argentina at EZE and be subject to the $140 reciprocity fee for USA passport holders.
(2) Via SCL, you will avoid the Chile reciprocity fee ($131 but may soon be $140) by doing an in-transit connection to your Mendoza flight. BUT if you return MDZ-SCL-USA, you will have to enter Chile at SCL due to MDZ not being trusted as a secure originating international airport for onward international connections.
Usually an AA to LA in-transit transfer at SCL to MDZ only costs $50-100 more (and sometimes less) than a termination at SCL.
The best price for such a combo can be found by using the aa.com site. Try Tuesday or Wednesday outgoing and return flights.
To avoid the Chile reciprocity fee on the return you can try pricing out an open jaw:
SFO-DFW (or MIA)-SCL-MDZ; take a scenic and comfortable bus back to SCL ($30-$35); SCL-DFW (or MIA)-SFO.
or
SFO-DFW (or MIA)-SCL-MDZ
MDZ-EZE-DFW (or MIA)-SFO
(1) Via EZE, as AEP will be closed, you will enter Argentina at EZE and be subject to the $140 reciprocity fee for USA passport holders.
(2) Via SCL, you will avoid the Chile reciprocity fee ($131 but may soon be $140) by doing an in-transit connection to your Mendoza flight. BUT if you return MDZ-SCL-USA, you will have to enter Chile at SCL due to MDZ not being trusted as a secure originating international airport for onward international connections.
Usually an AA to LA in-transit transfer at SCL to MDZ only costs $50-100 more (and sometimes less) than a termination at SCL.
The best price for such a combo can be found by using the aa.com site. Try Tuesday or Wednesday outgoing and return flights.
To avoid the Chile reciprocity fee on the return you can try pricing out an open jaw:
SFO-DFW (or MIA)-SCL-MDZ; take a scenic and comfortable bus back to SCL ($30-$35); SCL-DFW (or MIA)-SFO.
or
SFO-DFW (or MIA)-SCL-MDZ
MDZ-EZE-DFW (or MIA)-SFO
