I'm in the process of making air reservations for July / August. Will be returning to BA from Iguazu (AEP) and leaving for Santiago from EZE the same day. Scheduled to arrive on LAN-Argentina at 12:20 in the afternoon, and I'm wondering: 1) Does LAN Argentina run as notoriously late as the Argentine national carrier, and 2) how much time should I allow before my flight leaving from EZE to Santiago? It will be a Saturday, and I'd like to fly to Santiago on an Air Canada flight scheduled out of EZE at 4:55PM. Thanks.

Hi EdEdwards!
Im Sophie, Im a tour guide in Buenos Aires and have worked in various agencies for several years, at the moment I'm taking some time off since I'm a full time mom now since my baby was born last December.
The national carrier (Aerolineas Argentinas) is not running late at all and on the contrary, it has proved to have a very high level of punctuality in the past semester so at this moment both airlines are running well. Also, as it is a Saturday, it wont take a long time to get to EZE since there will be much less traffic than during week days.

For international departures you are suggested to be at EZE airport at least 2 hours prior departure so if your flight to Santiago leaves at 4:55 PM that means you should be there at around 2:55 pm. If your flight from Iguazu is on time, you will be just fine.

I hope this is useful info!

Although my single LAN and Aerolineas Argentina flights were both more or less on time, it seems that allowing only 4 hours between flights at different airports is cutting it rather close. A late flight coming back would mean you would miss your flight to Santiago.

One thing to keep in mind is that flight schedules also do change in advance fairly often. This happened for both me and my friend. So what seems like perfect timing now might not be so if they change the time of your flights.

Sofi, how long does it take to get from AEP to EZE? Also, I just realized that I will need to make my connection on a Sunday, not a Saturday -- so how will that affect the time needed? As WillTravel points out, I may be cutting things close. To be on the safe side, I'd like to figure that the LAN flight to AEP could be up to 2 hours late, leaving me 2 hours and 20 minutes before my flight out of EZE. Thanks.

I took that Air Canada flight last month. The lineup to check in was fairly long, although I don't remember how long I stayed in line. I then had to go into another lineup to pay the departure tax.

WillTravel, did you really need a full 2 hours before the flight?

I have to admit that I never cut it close at airports, so I can't say for sure. But I think that with 90 minutes, I would have been very rushed.

Early afternoon on a Sunday should be a comparatively good time to go from AEP to EZE. Estimate about an hour, maybe less. Avoid the cabs outside AEP and take a prepaid "remise".

In more general terms, I feel you are cutting it too close.

Have a great time in our country.

Thanks, avrooster. I'm also looking at an Aerolinaeas Argentinas flight, which leaves EZE an hour later -- so that would give us 5 hours 35 minutes between flights, instead of 4 hours 35 minutes. Do you think that will be safe enough?

Also, we're planning 7 nights in Buenos Aires and 6 nights in Santiago. Since we've never been to either (and are limiting ourselves to the 2 cities and day trips to surrounding areas), does it make sense to spend that much time in Santiago in the middle of winter?

Lastly, how do we arrange a prepaid remise?

Well, it's one hour more, which is better, but you never know...

Doesn't LAN have a good flight to Santiago?

The last question is easy: just go to one of the booths that offer "remises" and ask for one. You can reserve online with http://www.tiendaleon.com.ar/home/home.asp

It costs 141 pesos, which is on the expensive side, but they are the most reliable company.

LAN has a few good flights later on August 2, but they cost US$260 more for the 2 of us. The other possibility is to stay overnight and leave on the morning of August 3. Given that it will be winter there, I'm wondering if we really want to spend the 6 nights in Santiago.

I believe staying in BA overnight or even for a couple of days is your best choice.

We're starting our trip with 6 nights in BA, so we're not anxious to stay the extra days in BA again, unless Santiago doesn't have enough to interest us for a full 5 days.

I am definitely an Iguazu fan (and since I'm not so much a nature person, I had to be talked into going) so I would tend to favour giving it an expanded treatment, particularly if you can go to Brazil for the day.

I don't know much about Santiago, because I've only been in the airport. I do notice that while many Chilean destinations are favored, Santiago doesn't seem to be at the top of most people's lists. It may have a devoted following I haven't noticed.

I think the idea here is that you run a certain percentage risk of your flights not working out if you plan a relatively close connection. What you need to do is figure out the cost of buying new flights on the spot if things fall apart. E.g. would a 5% chance of having to pay $1000 bother you? (I don't know if the numbers are accurate, but that's the general idea.)

On a return trip to Buenos Aires, you wouldn't necessarily have to stay in BA. You could do an estancia stay, for example.

Thanks, all, for your suggestions. Of course, we will be flying to Santiago after 3 nights in Iguazu, after 6 nights in BA.

Given the hassle of the connection to Santiago, we're now wondering if we should simply spend the last week in Argentina, since there's so much to see right there. Is Salta worth a trip in the winter? Where else might we go in the cold weather?

Salta is very nice in the winter.

I believe by the time you are here there should be an Iguazú/Salta flight, but I'm not sure.

I'll ask for some qualified help on the subject.

To EdEdwards and to Avrooster :

There is already a company flying between Iguazu and Salta on Mondays Wednesday and Fridays, leaving Puerto Iguazu at 4 pm and arriving in Salta at 5:45 pm. This is no doubt the most needed conexion for these two very demanded destinations. No need to come to Bs.As. Avoids time and money ANDES COMPANY

I will butt in the thread on Salta s behalf:
nobody regrets visiting Salta and the whole area, even the ones who were not very convinced during the planning. When people make a second trip to Argentina, Salta is the area they go back, and this time for a longer stay.
It is their landscapes,their culture,their typical Spanish Colonial style lodgings, their cuisine but essentially the people who live there who are proud of their land more than anybody else in the country. This being said by a "porteña" means a lot.

That's what I mean by "qualified help".

Thanks for the information, Milla. I've looked up the Andes Company, and it appears that the flights have to be purchased in Argentina. They don't seem to have a way to buy them through their web site.