Shareholder

Has anyone out there travelled on IB's flight between Buenos Aires and Montevideo? I am considering using it for the oneworld 100K promotion while in that part of the world. It is a full-fare economy ticket, significantly more expensive than other carriers offer on the route. But worth it since I can't get over to Europe to pick up Iberia and/or Finnair. (Can get BA also in South America on their Santiago-Buenos Aires service.)

Is this a 5th Freedom flight? It is a 737, so not a through flight from Europe.

Is it a valid, bookable flight for non-Iberian transAtlantic customers?

I have since discovered this is indeed a code- share with Aerolinas Argentina. Will it still qualify for the 100K promotion?

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited 10-13-1999).]

doc

Sticky situation. If the flight is Aerolinas Argentina designated, it probably will not qualify, but I'm really not sure.

You might post under the oneworld threads for a greater number of and more knowledagle responses. Good luck!

3544quebec

THE FLIGHT DOESN´T APPEAR IN THE iberia timetable which I WOULD TAKE TO MEAN THAT IT IS ONLY SOLD AS mad-MVD

Shareholder

I have since discovered it is a code share operated by Aerolines Argentinas, so it will not qualify (not a oneworld carrier). The price on AA is almost 50% less as well. I still plan to use the BA segment between SCL and EZE, but may take United's 5th Freedom flight which is very reasonably priced and I can get 1,000 AC Q-miles for the return trip.

Thanks for your comments.

Boris

What is a 5th freedom flight?

Shareholder

5th Freedom means an international airline can make an intermediate stop in one country enroute to its final destination, and pick up customers during that stopover to take them onward to the country where the flight terminates. These passengers do not have to have flown that airline into the country in which the board the inward leg.

In this case, UA has the right to fly from the US to both Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Passenger loads would not justify two separate planes departing for this part of South America, so the destinations are combined on a single flight. When the plane gets to Montevideo, the first stop, many passengers get off, but UA is permitted to sell those now empty seats to local passengers wanting to go to Buenos Aires. UA can also do this on the return, between Buenos Aires and Montevideo.

Hope this answers you querry (There's a more technical and legalistic way of defining what "1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Freedoms are under the IATA agreements, but I'd rather not bore you with them.)