Cheap Flights to Latin America
How to Buy a Cheap Plane Ticket to Central and South America
Aug 27, 2008
The skyrocketing cost of gas and the plummeting value of the dollar are making it harder and harder for Americans to afford to travel to Europe. Many are looking to Latin America as a low cost alternative to European travel. Getting there, however, still presents a financial burden. Here are some tips to lower the cost.
Get to a Hub
The cheapest cities to fly to Latin America from the United States are New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Washington D. C., and, the king of them all, Miami, Florida. Those who can get to one of these destinations conveniently (maybe a friend or relative that requires visiting lives there) should exit and enter the United States from one of these cities.
Look for Lesser Known Airlines
The major airlines of the United States are fast going broke, some of them staying alive from subsidies alone. Don't expect to find great deals from the big name American airlines as they struggle to maintain a massive and complex system of routes. Those companies are currently charging as much as they can for service of decreasing quality. Instead, look for airlines that specialize in service to Latin America. Spirit Airways, a low cost carrier based out of Florida, provides one option. LAN airlines is another reputable carrier that sometimes offers good deals.
Fly Latin American Airlines
Many Latin American airlines can provide the same ticket at a reduced price, but foreigners usually do not take advantage because they are unaware or because they do not feel comfortable flying on a foreign airline. If fact, the service on many Latin American carriers is often superior to that of airlines in the United States. Most travelers on a Latin American carrier can still expect a small ration of bland food and a nonalcoholic drink free of charge, for example. Taca, a Central American carrier, is currently offering great deals to Latin America, provided the customer can fly from one of its home destinations. Those who cannot can consult travel agencies, such as the online company Exito Travel, who can link customers to Taca's hubs using other airlines at nonpublished fares.
Get to the Country, Then Take a Bus
The last tip that can help to reduce the cost of plane tickets is to fly to the capital (the financial center and most populated city in every Latin American country with the exception of Brazil) and then take a bus. Bus travel in Latin America is ten times more comfortable than the pitiful service offered by American companies, as well as much cheaper. Those who have the time to leisurely take in the sights overland rather than bolting on a plane to the country's major tourist attraction will save themselves some cash and get a more nuanced view of their destination.
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