Flight Options- Australia to Buenos Aires

Hi All,

I am looking to travel late next year to Buenos Aires. 

What would you consider some decent options for getting there in J? 

Based in Adelaide, however don't mind departing from other cities in Aus!

Thanks in advance :)

Doing the opposite trip in December with Air New Zealand - EZE->AKL->BNE.

The Air New Zealand 787 has a great 1-1-1 seat configuration on the main leg, and looks to have a great wine list as well. I picked it up relatively cheaply as part of a round the world trip ($6k BNE->SYD->DEL->FRA->LIS->GRU->EZE->AKL->BNE) so I'm not sure what the costs are like for a return trip.

Your other bet is LATAM/Qantas via Santiago. Latam's product is good, though Qantas' is dated on that route. I think LATAM might also stop in Auckland. 

Other luxurious options would be Qatar/Emirates via the Middle East, but that is a ridiculous detour.

aerolineas argentinas used to fly to sydney via auckland from Buenos Aires but not anymore :( 

Air NZ is your best bet, as it is the only option that has 1 stop from Adelaide to BA

Air NZ is a good product, flew last year June in Premium Economy... comfortable seats, good food/service and auckland airport is a breeze

Flown this route from SYD many times via LAN, Aerolineas (when they used to fly to SYD, I still have nightmares about their aircraft) and Qantas.

My personal preference is Qantas on the 747 as it's a straight hop to SCL then connect to anything headed to AEP or EZE (AEP makes for easier transit to down town in Buenos Aires IMO). I prefer this route rather than LAN which is SYD-AKL-SCL-EZE/AEP.

It's really about what preference you want in relation to alliance and hard product, I would say LAN with 787 would probably be the best of the 3 options if you don't mind the stop in AKL. Service as with most South American airlines is generally OK in J and hit and miss in Y, don't expect anything out of this world on that side of things.

 

Air NZ would get my vote too. Tried and tested, would recommend it.

@jimmy0210,

seems that everyone is tipping for an 'eastward' journey ex ADL, with either QF/LAN or NZ (all good choices). Since you've not indicated your primary FF preference or how 'time-specific' your trip is, here are some additional, different suggestions:

• If your primary FF card is with Virgin, you have the option of flying ADL-PER on VA, then VA partner SAA PER-JNB and SAA from JNB to GRU (Sao Paulo Brasil), connecting to EZE on any number of carriers of your choice.
• Another option is QF/EK to DXB (Dubai) and then EK either direct to EZE or, alternatively via GRU.
• Finally, you could also connect through LAX (QF/AA) or JFK (QF/AA or AR).
• QR might also be an option (via DOH).

I use Air NZ from BNE. Even if you flew LATAM you have to fly through Santiago as well as another stopover. At least with Air NZ you can fly ADL/AKL/EZE.

Remember Air NZ is switching some of their ADL-AKL flights so the 787 so you may be lucky and get the Dreamliner the whole way! 

Do note with Air NZ that unless you join their FF (Airpoint $) system, you won't earn any VFF points past NZ to South America.

So yes, the 787 on some days from ADL - AKL direct is good, and from AKL to EZE bypassing MEL/SYD/BNE, but you have to join Airpoint $ to make it worthwhile.

VFF has made a change that flying on any route, that is apart from TT on (Air) NZ, no VFF points, worst no VFF SC!

Flying even on transit via the US needs you get an ESTA with a fee of USD$14!

One lesson that I learned (the hard way) is that domestic flights in South America are very expensive - far more expensive than you may be expecting.