|
|
Argentina
Pre-Arrival Essentials:
Making Your Travel Arrangements
|
Booking Your Travel
You must arrange for your U.S. domestic and international flights to Buenos Aires to participate in your IFSA-Butler program. Read all flight information carefully and do not purchase a ticket until you have been accepted into a program.
Click here to download tips for international travelers.
Advantage Travel arranges an optional group flight to Buenos Aires for some IFSA-Butler programs in Argentina. Below are some details about the group flight option:
- The group flight goes to Buenos Aires and arrives on the program start date. If you want to fly to Argentina with the group, you must reserve a spot and pay for it by the deadline listed. Please note that group flights can sell out before the deadline.
- Fill out the Advantage Travel group flight reservation form for your program and submit your payment online, or download the form and mail it to Advantage Travel with your payment.
-
The group flight fee includes a return fare to the group flight U.S. city of departure. Add-on tickets for other U.S. cities are available for an additional fee. Be sure to specify a return date when booking your group flight ticket.
- Students travel as a group on the outbound flight to Buenos Aires only and choose their own return date to the United States, as well as make their own way to the airport for their trip home.
- Check out more FAQs about taking the group flight.
Advantages of Taking the group flight:
- IFSA-Butler staff will meet you at the airport upon arrival and transport you to the orientation site.
- You will meet other students on the program before arriving abroad.
- An experienced travel agent will work on your behalf to re-issue your ticket if you miss a flight.
- Ticket change fees may be lower than tickets you buy independently
- We have representatives monitoring flight departures to ensure that you make the group flight. If you are delayed for any reason, we will contact our office abroad so our staff know when to expect your arrival. IFSA-Butler staff do not monitor return flights.
- IFSA-Butler staff do not travel on the flight, but they will be at the airport to meet group flight participants.
- Advantage Travel can also assist with booking domestic travel.
|
Independent Travel Option:
If you don't choose to participate in the optional group flight or one is not offered for your program (there is no group flight option for the Area Studies in Buenos Aires program), you'll be considered an independent traveler and you'll need to make your own travel arrangements. Things to keep in mind if you book your own travel:
- You must meet up with your program group at the designated meeting point and time in Buenos Aires on the program start date.
-
You must attend the mandatory IFSA-Butler orientation at the start of your program.
-
You must arrange your own transportation from the airport to the meeting point. IFSA-Butler will not be able to meet you at the airport or pick you up.
-
Directions to each program's meeting point will be provided in the Travel Essentials newsletter prior to your departure.
Advantages of traveling independently:
- While you won't have the additional services provided with the group flight, it could be a more budget-friendly option to purchase flights on your own.
- You can set your own flight schedule that works best for you, as long as you meet up with your program group at the designated meeting point and time in Buenos Aires on the program start date.
- It may be more cost effective to fly directly from elsewhere if you live farther from the group flight departing airport.
- If you plan to arrive early, you'll be able to explore Buenos Aires on your own prior to IFSA-Butler orientation. See the 'Arriving Early' section below for further planning details.
Be aware that students flying Delta and American airlines, in the past, have experienced issues while trying to board their international flight. These airlines have required students to purchase a new ticket with a 90-day return to enter on a tourist visa. If this should occur, ask to speak to a manger and show your travel documentation. Explain that students receive their visas after they arrive in country. Contact Donnetta Spears for assistance at 317-940-8094.
Argentine Universities Program students: if you arrive at the
Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires by
1 p.m. on February 27, you will be met by IFSA-Butler staff at the airport.
Mendoza Universities Program students: if you arrive at the
Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires by
11 a.m. on February 27, you will be met by IFSA-Butler staff at the airport.
Area Studies in Buenos Aires students: if you arrive at the
Ezeiza International airport in Buenos Aires by
1 p.m. on March 1, you will be met by IFSA-Butler staff at the airport.
Return Flights:
You must schedule a return flight that leaves no earlier than your program end date. See the Dates and Fees tab on your program's page of the IFSA-Butler website for the program end date, but remember dates are subject to change. Be sure to confirm the exam schedule and the last date of your program once you arrive at your host university.
|
Arriving Early?
If you arrive before the program start date, you are responsible for your own accommodation and luggage storage until the start of orientation.
You can take a shuttle from the airport to your hotel or hostel if you arrive early, but be sure to take a Manuel Tienda Leon shuttle, which is the safest shuttle service available. From anywhere else in Buenos Aires, call a radio-taxi at 4956-1200 or 5238-0000. While you are in the city, never hail taxis on the street.
For Argentine Universities Program students: If you arrive before
February 27, you must meet at the IFSA-Butler office in Buenos Aires by 3 p.m. on February 27 (address and directions will be provided in
Travel Essentials). Please contact your host family in advance in order to leave your luggage at their home prior to coming to the office. Our staff can arrange for transportation back to your host family after your visit to our office if you need it.
For Mendoza Universities Program students: If you arrive before February 27, you must meet the group by 12 p.m. on February 27 at the Wilton Hotel for the start of orientation. You are responsible for your own transportation to the hotel:
Wilton Hotel
Callao 1162
Buenos Aires, Argentina
For Area Studies in Buenos Aires students: If you arrive before March 1, you must arrange your own accommodation and luggage storage, and plan to move in with your host family the morning of March 1. Neither our Buenos Aires office nor our host families can meet students who arrive before March 1.
|
|
Log Your Travel Plans
Have your travel plans squared away? Be sure to share the details on your
student portal
as soon as you've finalized your plans so our Argentina staff will know when to greet you!
|
|
|
|
|
