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Here’s a recap of my recent experience on a long domestic flight with Aerolíneas Argentinas from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (the southernmost city in the world). I flew this route in Premium Economy (domestic Business Class) many times. This time I was flying Economy. The plan was full, as it was close to Christmas, and plenty of people were traveling for the holidays. The overall experience was smooth and nothing surprising. The crew was warm and friendly. I didn’t get any of the spectacular views this time because it was cloudy on arrival.
| Route | AEP-USH |
| Flight | AR |
| Cabin | Economy Class |
| Equipment | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Aircraft | LV-GVD |
| Flight Time | Approx. 3h 10m |
How I Booked This Flight
This flight was a regular revenue ticket I paid with cash. Flights within the Deep South cone tend to be much more expensive than in Europe or Asia, and even more so on dates close to the holidays. I paid about $500 USD for the round trip. This was the last flight of my EuroBonus Millionaire challenge, and even though this was my 16th airline in the challenge, it was nice to wrap it all up with our national airline
Map
Check-In & Security
The flight departed conveniently past noon, so I arrived early at Aeroparque (AEP) with enough time to go through security and grab a bite while waiting. This airport is Buenos Aires’ City Airport, which is a short 15-20 minute ride from the center where I was staying. As it was getting close to the holidays, the airport was busy and noisy, but at the same time, everything was surprisingly efficient. I could use the dedicated check-in desks for SkyPriority with no queues. In under 5 minutes, I checked my luggage and boarding pass (the first one in AR with my EuroBonus number 😊).
I took the stairs and went through the recently opened and rebuilt boarding and security area. Going through security also took about 5 minutes.
Lounge (Failed)
Once on the airside, I tried getting into the AMAE Lounge, but there was such a long queue that I desisted. There was a 40-minute waiting time. Instead, I decided to grab a bite at Starbucks with views of the tarmac.
Boarding & First Impressions
Boarding started on time, and I could leverage my SkyTeam Elite status to use the SkyPriority lane. However, it was all a trap. We were sent to a bus as the plane was in a remote position. It was really warm, sunny, and humid that day, so boarding by bus was something I definitely wasn’t looking forward to.
The plane was a 7-year-old 787 MAX 8, which, interestingly, I had already flown once (according to Flighty). It was also nice from Flighty that the plane icon was a Christmas tree 😂.
Cabin & Seat
Luckily, the plane was prepared beforehand with AC, so it was fresh and clean. As we boarded, the crew greeted us warmly. The Economy Class cabin has a typical 3-3 layout after 6 or 8 seats of domestic Business Class. The plan looked new, and the Sky Interior made it look fresh and modern. Legroom is above the average Asian legroom I have experienced recently, on par with European airlines, and definitely more than low-cost airlines. It’s fine for a 3-hour flight. I’m unsure if it would be comfortable to do a 6-8 hour flight as AR flies to Punta Cana (PUJ) or Copa to Panama (PTY). On these planes, there’s also no IFE.
Taxi & Takeoff
The boarding process finished on time, and since we were close to the runway, it was a short taxi. The takeoff was beautiful, with views of the Rio de la Plata. The cabin was quiet. It took roughly 15 minutes to reach cruising altitude.
Snack
About 1.5 hours into the flight, the crew served a complimentary snack. In this case, they gave us Pita chips, but sometimes they hand out cookies as well. They also offer tea/coffee, soft drinks, and water (no alcoholic drinks). Note that Aerolíneas Argentinas is not a low-cost airline but only serves snacks on flights over 2 hours. On shorter flights, you only get complimentary drinks. You always get a full breakfast or sandwich on Premium Economy (domestic Business Class).
Approach & Landing
As we descended into Ushuaia, the day was cloudy and a bit windy, so we couldn’t get any of the stunning views crossing the Andes mountains. Ushuaia is the only city in Argentina on the opposite side of these mountains. If you are ever flying there, remember to sit on the right side to get the best views when landing. We arrived on time, although it took quite a while to get my luggage.
Summary
Aerolíneas Argentinas does a solid job when flying domestically within Argentina. The crew is incredibly professional, warm, and nice. They help passengers as they board and are always willing to help. The service is decent, and legroom is more than fine, but keep in mind there’s no IFE. The complementary snacks are a nice touch, but at the same time, something you would expect when paying $500+. While not necessarily the cheapest option, Aerolíneas also has the best backup network in case of delays or cancellations. They have many flights a day, plus backup planes if something goes wrong. The airport experience at Aeroparque is not the best, but it does a great job because it is extremely close to the city.