Aerolineas Argentinas (AR) Domestic Experience?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 249
Aerolineas Argentinas (AR) Domestic Experience?
Good Afternoon Everyone.
Has anyone had any recent experience with AR's domestic service? I'm setting up a trip in November and just booked AEP-REL-FTE-USH-AEP all in Coach. These are all pretty short flights... but what kind of service should we expect on these? They're on Boeing 735's & MD 83's... will they have a soft drink service on the flight? Any snacks at all? If we had a chance to purchase up to business for a discounted rate on the day of flight for our longest flight, say USH-AEP (2.5 hours) would you suggest it? What additional services would they offer in business? Just free Drinks?
I can't find any seat guru or seatexpert seatmaps for this airline so I'm just curious how it will play out... any experience or thoughts are appreciated.
Has anyone had any recent experience with AR's domestic service? I'm setting up a trip in November and just booked AEP-REL-FTE-USH-AEP all in Coach. These are all pretty short flights... but what kind of service should we expect on these? They're on Boeing 735's & MD 83's... will they have a soft drink service on the flight? Any snacks at all? If we had a chance to purchase up to business for a discounted rate on the day of flight for our longest flight, say USH-AEP (2.5 hours) would you suggest it? What additional services would they offer in business? Just free Drinks?
I can't find any seat guru or seatexpert seatmaps for this airline so I'm just curious how it will play out... any experience or thoughts are appreciated.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 249
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: 40° 41' 45" N - 74° 10' 18" W
Programs: UALCO Holdings General Member
Posts: 18,784
AR in business will give you a snack or meal depending on the duration of flight. Y on the MD is very tight, also they constantly swap planes and some do not have a C class, I have been on paid C and had to sit in coach because equipment was changed.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ZRH / MUC / VIE
Programs: M&M basic / happy Wizzair+ user :-)
Posts: 6,490
I have some recent experiences with AUSTRAL (the airline who operates the MD8x on behalf of Aerolineas).
Legroom in coach is not that bad - most European carriers have a tighter seating.
On AEP-RES (one hour), a sandwich was served - on AEP-MDZ (about 50 minutes) just some chips. Of course this snacks (and the drinks as well) were free.
Biz on the Mad Dog looks like on the pictures above (I did not try it) - but only a few planes of AUSTRAL have a biz cabin. Most are single class.
Overall, the flights were not unpleasant at all.
Legroom in coach is not that bad - most European carriers have a tighter seating.
On AEP-RES (one hour), a sandwich was served - on AEP-MDZ (about 50 minutes) just some chips. Of course this snacks (and the drinks as well) were free.
Biz on the Mad Dog looks like on the pictures above (I did not try it) - but only a few planes of AUSTRAL have a biz cabin. Most are single class.
Overall, the flights were not unpleasant at all.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 249
Do they charge for alcohol in Y on AR? I'm thinking about seeing if we could upgrade the day of the flight, assuming it's available for the USH-EZE segment. Thanks again everyone for your comments.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern Ireland
Programs: MR Lifetime Titanium, United Silver
Posts: 625
Anyone know when they will contact you regarding cancellations?
I booked a ticket for December 09 back in March and found out by chance that my flight was cancelled. When i called them to confirm if it was true, they said it was, but never bothered to inform me! And they wouldn't send the new flight ot me in writing....shady!!
How often does this happen with them? Should I call and verify all my flights every day in the month leading up to them? I'm flying 3 segments with them throughout Argentina.
I booked a ticket for December 09 back in March and found out by chance that my flight was cancelled. When i called them to confirm if it was true, they said it was, but never bothered to inform me! And they wouldn't send the new flight ot me in writing....shady!!
How often does this happen with them? Should I call and verify all my flights every day in the month leading up to them? I'm flying 3 segments with them throughout Argentina.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Priority Club Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 249
No online seating?
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Platinum MM; DL Silver; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 24,251
I'm trying to check my brother and myself in online for an Austral-operated AR flight (AR #2742) from AEP-IGR tomorrow, and the seat map only shows one seat available for selection: 7D. What, is my brother supposed to sit on my lap? I can't even continue the check-in with 7D selected for one of us and no seat selected for the other traveler. Should I take this as a worrying sign that the flight is oversold?
#14
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Seattle, WA USA/Punta del Este, UY
Programs: AS 75K, AA EXP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 919
Flying AR
Expect a late departure/late arrival, or even a cancellation. Fly anyone else if possible. Enroute from EZE to BsAs take a look at all the AR aircraft sitting on the ground. I doubt 20 percent of them could get into the air.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PBI / JFK, ISP, LGA
Programs: AA, AS, AV, B6, DL, F9, WN
Posts: 866
My Argentine friend told me that he will never fly AR again because the last time he flew to EZE from JFK the plane seemed to have loose floorboards and he could hear wind entering the cabin.