merryfish

We are planning a trip to Buenos Aires in late November. United (using my USAir miles) says the plane is the same that is used for domestic flights with the same narrow seating. American says their seating is more spacious. Before I call more airlines, I thought I would go to the experts- YOU. Which airline do you recommend for a flight from the Baltimore/Washington area to Buenos Aires?

AAFrequentFlyer

AA with MRTC.

Out of BWI on MD-80 and connect in MIA to EZE. AA flies 2 different models on this route. Both models (767 and 777) are wide body, and have MRTC, but the 777 has individual screens in the seat backs, so try to pick your flights appropriately. Both, the outbound and inbound are overnight non-stops, about 9.5 hours from MIA.

Buenos Aires is great!

Have a great trip!

AAFrequentFlyer

I just re-read your post. This will also be an economic decision. Buenos Aires is very inexpensive, but flights there are not. If you have enough miles, obviously UA will be the cheaper option.

merryfish

What does "MRTC" mean? And thanks for the info.

AAFrequentFlyer

MRTC = More Room Throughout Coach

Between 33-35" seat pitch in all economy.

UA has 34-36" pitch in E+, but only 31" in regular economy. E+ is great, but it's only given to their elites or if you lucky to get upgraded, but that's never a guarantee.

Most other major airlines have 30-32" seat pitch in regular economy.

rkkwan

UA flies IAD-EZE non-stop, using a 767-300ER. From the seating plan I found on united.com, this flight uses their "763 Worldwide" model with International First Class and Business; not the "763 Domestic Market". But either way, there are Economy + seats on these UA planes if you're eligible.

Go to seatguru.com and look up UA's 763 Worldwide.

Since IAD-EZE is non-stop, I'll definitely take that over a Miami connection with AA, MTRC or otherwise.

mrwunrfl

The best seats on the on the Dulles - B.A. nonstops on UA, according to seatguru, are 16B and 16F in Economy Plus (extra knee room/seat pitch, I think). You can forget about getting 16F southbound on 11/24 or northbound on the 28th. If you are on those flights, then stop by and say hello.

The fares to B.A. are high right now. I wanted to book the trip and was ready to buy if the price was around $550. Bummed to see that the price at travelocity was $1100 on United. I clicked on it even though I was not going to buy at that price. I must have wanted to see if the nonstops would be listed as flight options or whethe travel would have to go via ORD. Then I noticed that you could add a hotel to the fare and get a package price of $680 for the cheapest of the several hotels. That is a single traveller price, not ppdo. I chose the Sheraton Hotel and Conv. Center and the air + 3 nights hotel was less than the air only price. Might be able to do better than this at some point, but it was good enough so I took it (I was planning to stay at that Sheraton anyway).

Same thing is still available today. Airfare is 1006. For $30 more you can get 3 nites at the Sheraton in Retiro.

mrwunrfl

Oh yeah: I did check the seatguru seat map against the United.com seatmap (the same).

First, I called travelocity to book the flight since I would not take the trip if I couldn't get an E+ seat. Just before buying the ticket, the agent said that the seats available in coach were at row 28 and back (not in E+). So, I called United and they told me that the flights were wide open and plenty of seats in E+, including 16E. Went back online and bought the package there and five minutes later called United again to get the seats I wanted.

merryfish

I got a quote from Carbone Travel (www.carbone-travel.com) of $760 plus $76 tax to fly from BWI on AA (one stop in Miami). This site was recommended by a Fodorite.

premobrimo

I just flew this and I chose American. The leg room wasn't bad. I was also lucky enough to have multiple seats open next to me due to the fact I am very good at going onto AA.com and choosing my seat very carefully! I started in Minneapolis and used miles on NW. My ticket price from Miami was $700 plus $62 in taxes. This was the cheapest fare I found in checking for over 1.5 months. Hope this helps!