Flights to Argentina can be expensive and long as the country is literally at ‘the end of the world,’ but there are ways to be strategic in purchasing tickets that take into consideration budget and comfort.
Scoring Cheap Flights to Argentina
Budget travelers may consider flying into nearby hubs like Rio, Santiago, or Montevideo, and then booking a separate flight to your final destination in Argentina.
This can be significantly cheaper than flying directly into Argentina due to the high tariffs on flights here.
Be flexible with your travel dates – flights are often cheaper on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
November is considered a “dead zone” in the airline industry, so you may find deals during this spring month in Argentina.
October and early December are also good times to score discounted fares.
Luckily for tourists, the cost of the initial flights can be offset by the fact that Argentina is still a (mostly) budget travel destination.
Buenos Aires International Airport
Most international flights land at Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini International Airport.
This airport services the majority of international commercial flights to and from Argentina.
Locals call it ‘Ezeiza,’ after the district where it is located.
The airport code is ‘EZE’.
There are now 32 airlines flying into Buenos Aires international destinations.
Ezeiza is located about 45 minutes by car to the south of the city and unfortunately is not serviced by Buenos Aires train or a metro service.
Popular International Routes into Buenos Aires
Low-cost airlines started offering many new international routes to Buenos Aires in 2019.
They were eager to get into the market, as Argentina is a country that attracts a lot of tourism but has a chronically underdeveloped airline industry.
Before Covid struck in 2020, Argentina’s long-neglected domestic aviation sector was finally taking flight.
The old Palomar military airbase near Buenos Aires was transformed into a thriving low-cost hub, attracting airlines like Fly Bondi, Norwegian, Avianca and Ryanair.
Suddenly, affordable flights became a reality for millions of Argentines who previously relied on buses for domestic travel.
Palomar quickly became the country’s 4th busiest airport, welcoming 1.5 million passengers annually.
But the budget airline boom was short-lived.
Palomar shut down in 2020 after just two years, much to the dismay of airlines who had invested heavily there. Argentina’s state-mandated minimum fares make it the only Latin American country where domestic flying remains a luxury for just 7% of the population.
Before the pandemic, there were new planned flight routes from Istanbul, Barcelona, Helsinki and even secondary European cities such as Kefalonia and Split.
Norwegian was also trying to establish routes between Buenos Aires-Honolulu and Buenos Aires-Johannesburg, South Africa, and Buenos Aires-Singapore via Perth.
And then the pandemic hit.
Turkish Airlines did away with their direct flight in 2020.
Qantas also scrapped their 17-hour direct flight between Sydney and Buenos Aires, although in 2022 they did schedule special flights for sporting events.
By 2022, there were 50% fewer international flights into Argentina compared to 2019, according to a study conducted by the city of Buenos Aires.
Iberia has increased the number of weekly flights between Buenos Aires and Madrid to 21.
Now that the airline industry is being liberalized there is growth and competition.
Major international routes into Buenos Aires include:
North America: Flights from cities like Miami, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston (USA), Toronto (Canada)
Europe: Connections with Madrid, Barcelona (Spain), Rome (Italy), London (UK), Frankfurt, Munich (Germany), Paris (France), Amsterdam (Netherlands)
South America: Numerous connections with major cities in Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Uruguay, and other neighboring countries
Middle East: Some routes from Dubai (UAE) and Doha (Qatar)
Asia/ Australia: This is a rough one! Breaking this trip is recommended. A proposed flight from Syndey may return. but in. the meantime most fly to Santiago, Chile (usually with LATAM or Qantas) and then taking a connecting flight to Buenos Aires.
Seoul, South Korea: Korean Air has operated flights to Buenos Aires, typically with a stop in a third country. Tokyo, Japan may also be a convenient point of departure. There are an average of seven 24 hours+ flights a week from Seoul, with stops in Atlanta or New York.
Major airlines serving these routes included Aerolíneas Argentinas, LATAM, American Airlines, Delta, United, Air Canada, Iberia, Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, among others.
If you see a good price on a flight, bite the bullet and buy, or set a price alert.
Purchasing Tickets: Strategies for Savvy Travelers
Fly into nearby hubs like Rio, Santiago or Montevideo, then book a separate flight from there — this can be significantly cheaper than flying directly into Argentina.
Be flexible with your dates, as prices can fluctuate widely. Tuesday afternoons are often the best time to find discounted fares.
November is known as a ‘dead zone’ in the airline industry — this is a month when flights generally cost less (except for around America’s Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.).
It also happens to be perhaps the nicest month during the height of spring in Argentina — so if you aren’t sure when to visit, November is a good bet cost-wise and weather-wise.
October and early December are other times when flights cost a little less and are a good time to travel to Argentina.
The day of the week that you travel matters more, but the day you search for tickets is a factor too.
Most airline tickets sold online are purchased on Sundays when people are off work and arranging travel.
But Tuesday afternoon is the best time to shop for flights online — this is when discounted fares are released and start making the rounds in the search engines.
October and early December are other times when flights cost a little less and are a good time to travel to Argentina.
The day of the week that you travel matters more, but the day you search for tickets is a factor too.
Most airlines tickets sold online are purchased on Sundays, when people are off work and arranging travel.
But Tuesday afternoon is the best time to shop for flights online — this is when discounted fares are released and start making the rounds in the search engines.
If your travel date is close, this does not apply.
In that case, it’s better to just purchase the ticket as soon as possible.
While some say that you should erase cookies every time you search for flights, the theory that flight prices go up every time a new search is conducted has been debunked.
The reason the cost goes up when you check the same search engine again is simple supply and demand — the tickets are being purchased, so demand is higher.
Maximizing Your Savings: Consider at Least One Layover
The more you are willing to suffer while in flight, the less you pay generally.
According to a historical analysis of data from Google Flights, direct flights are 20% more expensive than those with just one layover.
There are online tools such as Skyscanner that allow you to see which days have cheaper fares.
There are also newer tools such as WayAway that help you to do a multi-city flight itinerary to take advantage of the layover savings.
It’s true that dates and day of the week does influence cost. Early, mid-week and Saturday fares are lower.
When booking flights, consider the total cost of your trip, not just the airfare.
Factor in expenses like airport transfers, food, and any extra airline fees. It may be worth spending a bit more on a flight with more amenities to offset those added costs.
Also, be aware of baggage restrictions on budget airlines.
Stick to the free checked bag allowance to avoid hefty fees.
If purchasing the various legs of the trip independently, make sure to allow enough time to change flights during layovers.
Navigating Domestic Flights Within Argentina’s
Argentina’s airline industry has faced its fair share of turbulence, with budget carriers such as LATAM dissolving operations in Argentina during the pandemic.
Chile’s budget Sky Airlines, which merged with Avianca, will hopefully start offering intra-country routes in Argentina soon.
Until more airlines get back in the game, there are only three airlines to choose from for domestic flights in Argentina:
•Aerolíneas Argentinas (the state-owned airline)
• Flybondi (budget)
• Jetsmart (budget)
Aerolíneas Argentinas is the main domestic airline in Argentina.
It is a state-run airline that has been in business since 1950.
It has had its ups and downs but is now considered more reliable than the budget airlines.
A disadvantage of flying with Aerolíneas Argentinas is that it has a two-tier pricing system, charging non-residents up to 50% more than locals.
Some savvy travelers have found ways to work around this, by booking online, paying in cash to avoid the higher fares and only taking carry-on luggage.
Hacking Argentine Air Travel: Unofficial Ways to Save
To get the best price for flights within Argentina it pays to book them well in advance, either through a local travel agent or online from abroad.
This particularly holds true around Argentina’s vacation periods of December through February, Easter week and the winter holiday month of July, when prices are higher.
Since there are still relatively few internal flights within Argentina, the prices rise as availability goes down and the date of departure nears.
There is not a phenomenon of ‘last-minute flight deals’ in Argentina, so plan ahead.
It is particularly expensive to fly to remote areas of southern Patagonia.
While they don’t have many flights, if arranging your own travel it is worthwhile to check out the state-run Lade Airline, based in Comodoro Rividavia.
Norwegian Air Argentina was granted permission to operate flights to 72 Argentine destinations, creating 51 new routes within the country but now their grand plans have been put on hold indefinitely.
For now, travelers have Aerolineas Argentinas, Latam, Jetsmart, the Brazilian company Gol and others for flights around South America.
From Buenos Aires there are domestic flights available to:
• Bariloche • Córdoba • Iguazú • Jujuy, • Salta • Corrientes: • Mendoza: • Posadas • Tucumán • Santiago del Estero • Trelew • Neuquén
Like most budget airlines, Flybondi is cheap, but not that great. Jetsmart gets even more complaints.
Whether more low-cost airlines will be brave enough to reenter Argentina’s domestic market remains to be seen.
Laws such as that requiring the airlines to hire only Argentine pilots, union demands and inflation were already a challenge to the successful establishment of an Argentine budget airline industry.
It should also be noted that the state-run Aerolíneas Argentinas has a two-tier pricing system for internal flights in Argentina.
Non-residents typically pay up to 50% more than residents for the same routes on the state airlines.
This has led some expatriates and tourists to seek creative workarounds to access the lower resident fares without possessing an Argentine DNI (national identity document).
Some foreigners have found they can get around paying the non-resident price by purchasing flights online for the local price and paying in cash.
The strategy hinges on avoiding in-person check-ins, and traveling with only hand luggage to minimize interactions with airline staff.
While this approach contradicts official airline policies, it’s a low-risk method for budget-conscious travelers to explore Argentina more affordably.
If busted you will have to pay the difference to the non-resident fare on the spot before boarding. That’s the worst -case scenario that negates any potential savings. Life’s a gamble!
Those who are staying in Argentina have the option to pay for domestic tickets in cash after reserving online.
After booking online, go to Pago Facil or Rapipago with the payment information and your I.D.
These payment services sometimes conveniently offer Western Union and other money transfer services that foreigners are fond of because they pay out rates close to the Blue Dollar.
Buenos Aires Domestic Airport
Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery, commonly called ‘Aeroparque’ (airport code: AEP) serves as a hub for easy access to flights across Argentina.
It is a short distance north of downtown Buenos Aires and convenient for those staying in the Belgrano or Palermo.
Practical Flying Information within Argentina
Within Argentina, passengers are entitled to one piece of free checked baggage on the budget airlines.
The bag cannot exceed a maximum weight of 25 kilograms (55 pounds).
Additionally, the linear dimensions of the checked bag (length + width + height) can’t exceed 158 centimeters (62 inches) in total.
One carry-on bag and a personal item, such as a purse or laptop bag is allowed with you into the aircraft cabin.
Should you buy a Round Trip ticket to Argentina?
Argentina has one of the highest tax rates in the world, so even those who are moving here or coming for a few months to work remotely, often purchase round trip or onward ticket to avoid the astronomical taxes purchasing the return ticket in Argentina.
It is also required to show proof of onward travel if coming on a tourist visa.
If you think you might stay in Argentina longer than the maximum 180 days legally allotted on a tourist visa (with one renewal), consider reserving a round-trip ticket that can be changed — even if there is a fee to change the ticket, it will likely be less expensive than purchasing a new one-way ticket out of Argentina.
International round-trip tickets are almost always less expensive to purchase than two one-way tickets anyway
Flight Search Engines
Search for flights 💃🏽
A good tool to start your search is Google Flights, which is one of the fastest airfare search engines.
This gives you an idea of the availability, airlines that fly your route, and a starting price range.
You can also use the map tool on the upper left-hand pull-down menu to see alternate routes to and from nearby cities and sign up for alerts.
Another great tool from is Google Explore, which lets you set a variety of parameters, such as ‘flights to Buenos Aires in the next three months.’
You can filter by the cheapest fares and once in a blue moon maybe find a cheap mistake fare.
Once you have an idea of the cost and availability of the flight you want, use an airfare search engine retailer such Skyscanner.
Skyscanner doesn’t sell tickets directly and they don’t work with every travel agent and airline.
Once you spot a good deal on Skyscanner it is worthwhile to keep the tab open and check out a few other search engines to compare prices for the same itinerary before purchasing.
Booking directly on Flybondi lets you see the prices for different dates if travel times are flexible.
The whole system is run by AI though, so if problems come up with your flight you’ll find that the airline’s customer service is an AI chatbot that regurgitates messages that don’t quite address your specific problem.
The lack of empathy will be palpable!
Strategies for savvy travelers to save on airfare:
- Fly into nearby hubs like Rio, Santiago or Montevideo, then book a separate flight from there — this can be significantly cheaper than flying directly into Argentina.
- Be flexible with your dates, as prices can fluctuate widely. Tuesday afternoons are often the best time to find discounted fares.
- Consider at least one-stop itineraries, as direct flights tend to be 20% more expensive on average.
- For domestic travel, book as far in advance as possible, as limited routes sell out quickly, especially around peak holiday periods.
- When flying with budget carriers, pack light to avoid hefty baggage fees.
Ticket Consolidators
Sometimes it’s worthwhile to check ticket consolidator sites after using flight search engines.
• Competitive prices for round-trip flights to Buenos Aires from Miami can often be found on sites like Cheapo Air (it’s right in the name!) .
Unlike some larger flight consolidators, they have old-fashioned human customer service if you need to call them.
They also specialize in round-the-world deals for those who are doing extensive traveling.
• Expedia sometimes has good deals, so it’s worth checking out. If there are problems, their overseas customer service can be a pain to deal with though.
Don’t miss your flight with Expedia unless you love talking (and waiting) on the phone — you’ve been forewarned.
Once you’ve checked out a few different sites, you usually have a good idea of what you will be paying and which websites offer the best deals.
It’s best to go ahead and pull the trigger after searching for an hour or two — if you wait the price will usually increase, and this is especially true for domestic flights within Argentina, due to its limited airline industry.
Also, buying something online that costs hundreds of bucks is stressful.
It’s easy to prolong the torture of searching for a few days, but, once you’ve searched in a few places, it’s unlikely that a lot of anxiety-filled hours waiting on more search results will save you enough money to make up for the time invested.
It’s also worth considering, not just the price of your airline ticket, but the value of it.
Consider the extra costs of travel transfers from far-flung airports, airport food and extra airline fees.
Is it really worth saving $50 to endure an 18-hour layover in a dingy airport?
Are you bringing so much luggage that you will get stuck with high baggage fees on a budget airline, thereby defeating the purpose of buying a cheap flight?
Will you earn miles and have more legroom if you take a flight that is slightly more expensive on a favored airline?
Practical Flying Information
Passengers are entitled to one piece of free checked baggage on the budget airlines.
It must not exceed a maximum weight of 25 kilograms (55 pounds). Additionally, the linear dimensions of the checked bag (length + width + height) can’t exceed 158 centimeters (62 inches) in total.
One carry-on bag and a personal item, such as a purse or laptop bag is allowed with you into the aircraft cabin.
Proof of Onward Travel
Even though Argentina is famously lax on immigration, they require proof of onward travel for those arriving to Argentina on a tourist visa.
Digital nomads or expats who plan to stay longer than the three months allowed under a tourist visa sometimes buy a refundable ticket out of the country and purchase one and cancel it within 24 hours.
Another popular alternative is to just book an inexpensive ferry ride across the River Plate to the charming town of Colonia, Uruguay, which will give you a brand new stamp in your passport, and another three-month visa (although we caution against using this option too much on our Living in Argentina page.
Recent Developments in Argentina’s Airline Industry
Before Covid struck in 2020, Argentina’s long-neglected domestic aviation sector was taking flight.
The old Palomar military airbase near Buenos Aires was transformed into a busy low-cost hub, attracting airlines like Fly Bondi, Norwegian, Avianca and Ryanair.
Argentina’s state-mandated minimum fares make it the only Latin American country where domestic flying previously remained a luxury for just 7% of the population.
Suddenly, affordable flights became a reality for millions of Argentines who previously relied on buses for domestic travel.
Palomar quickly became the country’s 4th busiest airport, welcoming 1.5 million passengers annually.
But the budget airline boom was short-lived. Palomar shut down in 2020 after an administration change and just two years, much to the dismay of airlines such as Fly Bondi, who had invested heavily there and fought the Palomar closure.
Still, there are signs of hope.
Aeroparque got a $500 million upgrade, adding an international terminal and longer runway.
Brazil’s GOL has resumed flights to the capital, while Chile’s SKY now connects Buenos Aires to Santiago.
Scrappy upstart Flybondi, whose motto is “The Freedom to Fly” has since grown into Argentina’s top budget carrier, adding direct flights from Bariloche to Rio, Cordoba and even Puerto Madryn.
While Argentina’s aviation renaissance is still underway, the desire to visit once remote domestic destinations remains strong.
President Javier Milei made international headlines for flying commercial as a money-saving measure/photo-op but his security team told him to knock it off in April 2023.
With continued infrastructure investment and liberalisation of the industry, a steady growth of the airline industry in Argentina seems likely.
Do you have any flight purchasing tips that we’ve missed? Let us know on the Wander Argentina Facebook Page or Twitter.
Buenos Aires Airport Transport
→ Book our safe, friendly and comfortable private transport from the airport.
→ Read about getting a shuttle or taxi from the airport here.
→ Don’t forget to check out our curated list of Buenos Aires City and Day Tours
→ Do you Need Travel Insurance for a Trip to Argentina?