How to.....fly to Argentina

[browski]

Hi there,

I have a trip to Buenos Aires in a few weeks and seem to have 2 flight options - Aerolinas Argentinas or LAN Chile. I will be flying economy from Melbourne.

Flight connections aside, can anybody recommend one carrier over the other?
Is there a third carrier worth considering?

Cheers

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

LA is supposed to be much better than AR (I've never flown AR so don't have personal experience).

Otherwise some US-based airlines have fares via US that may be roughly comparable (south america is an expensive flight any way you go) - eg QF/AA, UA.

 

[bigjobs]

i have never flown there or with those carriers. i have heard though that LAN are much better. they are part of the OW alliance too.

going via LAX might be worth while investigating too. i know several people who do that.

 

[ColinP]

If there were no other considerations (price, connections etc) I would choose LA over AR. I have flown with LA a few times (PPT-IPC-SCL-GRU) and they are at least as good as QF and probably better. I haven't flown with AR but haven't heard any good reports about them either.

 

[browski]

Thanks to everyone.

I will fly Lan Chile. Its about $700 more than Aerolineas Agentinas but as I'll have to fly this route a bit, I guess I'll get to try both at some stage.

Maybe Qantas will start flying to South America now that we have become a Soccer mad country.

 

[sully]

I'm currently in Chile, having flown over on LAN. I haven't flown AR but have heard stories that the staff are quite snooty.

If you are in zoo class try to get rows 12 or 26. The former is the one behind business class while the other is in the next section of the cabin on the exit.

My company has a firm policy of flying us in zoo as the difference in that to J is phenomenal.

 

[attimo]

I also flew with LA to B.A. earlier this year, but was lucky enough to go in Business. No flat beds unfortunately but the rest of top notch.
I would go LA again, no question.

 

[HardieBoys]

I've flown Sydney to Buenos Aires on LAN. Sydney to Santiago involves a stop-over in Auckland, and then you change in Santiago to Buenos Aires, so it's several hours longer. LAN are a pretty good airline, and I'd fly them again.

Also, Aerolineas have a reputation amongst Argentines for being rude. Over the New Year period there were problems with their flights, with flight cancellations. An acquaintance of mine was delayed in BA for a week (Aerolineas) and said the staff were really unhelpful.

 

[kpc]

I'm currently in Chile, having flown over on LAN. I haven't flown AR but have heard stories that the staff are quite snooty.

If you are in zoo class try to get rows 12 or 26. The former is the one behind business class while the other is in the next section of the cabin on the exit.

My company has a firm policy of flying us in zoo as the difference in that to J is phenomenal.

I flew LA last year: Syd-Akl-Scl-Gru-Gig return (in J), and agree that the price difference bet J and Y is phenomenal ($6500 IIRC). I did have a sneak peek at the zoo behind...and it did look like a zoo with the cabin being packed. I supect that both LA and AR would be equally uncomfortable in Y on the long haul so may be best to go for the cheapest (and splash out a bit on nice accommodation at your destination)? Advantage with LA is that you get QF points and SCs