This program was reviewed and rated by our editors in August 2009. Changes in the program past this date are possible, especially program partner information. We recommend you subscribe to the #1 source of frequent flyer information, Inside Flyer Magazine, to get the most current information possible.

Out of Buenos Aires, Aerolineas Argentinas is the largest domestic and international airline in Argentina. Its forerunner, Aeroposta, began operations as a mail and passenger carrier in 1929 and the author who penned The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, was one of the company's first pilots. Aerolineas Argentinas was founded in 1950. Buenos Aires-based Aerolineas Argentinas currently flies to 56 destinations in the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South America. Aerolineas Plus has a new image and boasts 920,000 active members. The program is based on a points system and recently added Alamo Rent A Car Argentina to its partner roster and lengthened its expiration of points from two to three years. Any program that becomes more lenient in its expiration policy scores a few points with us. But a frequent flyer program with no airline partners, much less a membership in a global alliance, limits its usefulness for most business travelers.

Members earn points based on travel zones (called levels) and class of service for domestic Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral flights.

For international flights, members earn a set number of points based on the service class and destination country, so a flight from Buenos Aires to Madrid will accrue as many points as a flight to Barcelona. A member flying from Buenos Aires to Mendoza domestically would earn 30 points on a promotional fare, 45 points in tourist class, 55 points in discount business class and 75 points in Club Condor (business) class. A few fare classes do not accrue points, including G, L, O and S on domestic flights.

Aerolineas Plus members can also use the services of partner companies and earn points from car rentals, hotels stays, credit cards and other services.

Domestic roundtrip award flights with Aerolineas and Austral range between 650 and 4,000 points based on class of service and level. One-way awards are not offered.

Roundtrip flights between Buenos Aires and other countries in South America are between 900 and 3,900 points; between Buenos Aires and the U.S. is between 3,000 and 6,000 points; between Buenos Aires and Europe, 4,000 to 10,000 points and between Buenos Aires and Australia or New Zealand, 6,000 to 12,000 points.

Flight awards can also be flown between Australia and New Zealand for 2,000 to 4,000 points. One-way upgrade awards are also available starting at 200 points for a one-class upgrade on a level one flight.

Members are required to pay a fee for each award issued that is based on the destination. The fee for domestic awards is $15, the regional award ticket fee is $25 and the fee for international awards is $40. Other fees apply for reissuance of awards or award changes.

Award flights and upgrades are the only types of awards offered to members and Promotional Class awards (available for fewer points) are subject to blackout dates.

Aerolineas Plus has a handful of partnerships with which members can earn points. Hotel partners include Hilton, NH Hotels and NA Town & Country Hotels and members can earn 70 points per stay at most Hilton Hotels, 50 points per stay at NA Hotels and 40 points per stay at NH Hotels.

Car rental partners are Avis (50 points per rental), Europcar (18 points per day) and Alamo (10 points per day) for rentals in Argentina only.

Although Aerolineas Plus is a small program, it does offer a choice of co-branded credit cards by Banco Galicia. Members can open a Visa, MasterCard or American Express Galicia card and earn one point for every US$25 spent with the card.

Several tour operators also participate in the program and members can earn additional points when booking vacation packages from Marsans Internacional, OPTAR and Les Amis Viajes.

The program does not partner with other airlines, retail, dining or other types of partners.

Aerolineas Plus also offers exclusive offers to members, such as free sushi at SushiClub, 20 percent off ski rental discount at SnowParkCalafate and a 40 percent lodging discount at Del Bono Park Hotel in San Juan, Argentina.

The elite program has one tier and Platinum membership is offered to members who accrue 3,500 points in a 12-month period. Benefits include check-in at exclusive Club Condor counters regardless of class flown, complimentary VIP lounge access, 20kg additional baggage allowance and the ability to upgrade using your points 72 hours before departure.

Platinum members traveling in Club Condor class can receive a free one-way transfer to Ezeiza Airport.

Members also receive special offers and discounts, such as a free room upgrade at select hotels, free Tango group dance class and 30 percent discount on an individual class. Platinum members receive three complimentary cards for free upgrades and special discounts on ticket purchases in their welcome packages.

All points will expire in three years if a member's account has no flight earning or redeeming activity--points earned from partner activity will not extend the life of your points. No point refunds or changes are allowed on restricted Promotional Class award tickets. Members can request award tickets for themselves, relatives or a companion (companions can by anyone). Missing point credit must be requested within six months of flight. Points cannot be combined or pooled and can be purchased only in Argentina.

We haven't heard any complaints from members about customer service, but we haven't heard any compliments either. Frankly, we don't know anyone who has tried to contact the service center. Both times we called we received good service, although we were on hold for about five minutes during one of our calls. When we emailed a question to the service center, we received a response four days later.

Award booking can be accomplished online, via the call center or an Aerolineas Argentinas office. The award chart contains earning and redemption requirements in one chart, which would be impossible for a large program but works very well for Aerolineas Plus. Online registration is quick and contact information is easy to find and displayed prominently on the front page.

The partner opportunities include discounts and special offers. The program offers a co-branded credit card and members can earn points for purchases. Elite members receive complimentary lounge access.

The Aerolineas Plus program is very basic with only flight and upgrade awards available for members. There are no airline partners with which members can earn and redeem points and the elite program only has one level and does not include complimentary upgrades or the opportunity to earn elite bonus points. There is a fee to redeem points for awards, even when booking online, except for electronic tickets issued by a call center in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay or the U.S.

[800] 333-0276


Aerolineas Plus

578 Rivadavia Street

C1002AAP Buenos Aires

Argentina