Exito Travel Official Blog !

Whether you are an experienced world traveler or the ink is barely dry on your passport, there are a few things that are well worth remembering when planning, and taking, your next international flight.

Plan ahead
Airlines have reduced the frequency of many domestic flights, making many of the remaining flights fill up faster. This capacity-crunch, combined with the fact that availability of “cheap seats” is already limited on any given flight, means waiting too long to book could result in less desirable flight connections, while bringing on a classic case of fare “sticker shock” from missing out on the lower-tiered fares. As always, being flexible about travel dates and departure cities can sometimes yield surprisingly good savings. Booking online is fine, but don’t be afraid to check with a travel agent for creative ideas and hidden deals.

Are Your Papers in Order?
Having a passport is (hopefully) an obvious first step to traveling abroad, but it’s important ascertain if there any additional entry and/or documentation requirements for your destination(s). Is your passport valid for several months beyond the foreseen end of your trip? Stopping in Costa Rica on the way back from South America? You’ll need proof of Yellow fever vaccination. Flying to Argentina? Chile? An entry tax of over $100 may be collected, in cash, upon arrival. Heading to Brazil? US citizens must obtain a visa, in advance, and it could take weeks. For details, US citizens can start here: http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html or or otherwise review the information on each destination’s consulate website.

Get Seat Assignments
Not only will this give a better chance of sitting where and possibly with whom you prefer, it can also reduce the chances of getting “bumped” when the airline has overbooked the flight. Some airlines or flights restrict the ability to assign seats at time of purchase. Check with your agent, or the airline, to verify that you have seats, whenever possible.

Checking Bags?
While most major carriers still do not charge for the first checked bag for passengers traveling on international itineraries, many do charge for the second bag. Weight and dimension limits apply, depending on the airline and the specific route. Avoid having to pay unexpected baggage fees or otherwise be faced with re-distributing or even (yes, we’ve seen it) ditching personal items at the check in counter, by consulting with your travel agent, or the airline’s website for details.

Get Travel Insurance
Why? Refundable tickets are practically a thing of the past. Most likely, your medical insurance doesn’t cover you when you are outside of your home country. Unexpected trip delays, cancellations, and medical issues can equate to a baffling amount of expenses and logistical hassles. These days, travel suppliers are less willing to bend rules or waive fees for canceling part or all of a prepaid trip. Travel insurance can protect you from absorbing the cost of many kinds of travel-related surprises, from lost baggage to . Most policies automatically cover emergency medical care, medical evacuation and a list of extra services related to handling the unexpected.

Confirm, then Reconfirm
Don’t be the last one to know if the flight you booked 5 months or even 5 days ago is suddenly leaving an hour earlier than originally scheduled. Although airlines and travel agents make an effort to notify passengers of major changes, it’s ultimately up to the passenger to verify the flight details, and arrive at the airport with plenty of time to check in. Confirm flights by viewing the itinerary online at the airline’s website, on another website provided by your agent, or by simply contacting the airline by phone.

Ready for more tips? For more details, including tips for a diverse set of circumstances and situations, check out some of the links below. Last but not least, don’t forget to leave home without even amounts of scruples, and excitement.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html

http://www.exitotravel.com/resources/helpful_links.htm

As of Monday, Nov. 17th, the international departure tax from Quito will increase from USD $40.30 to USD $44.30.  This fee must be paid in cash, in either US dollars or Euros.  All international travelers must pay the departure fee, so be sure to save some cash for the airport.

For domestic flights (including the Galapagos), the departure tax is included in the ticket price - no additional payments are needed at the airport.

Aeroparque, one of the two airports of Buenos Aires, will be closed from noon on Saturday, Oct 25, until 1 am on Monday, Oct. 27th.  The 36-hour closure is to allow “preventative maintenance”.  Aeroparque is used primarily for domestic flights.  Flights to and from the United States operate from Ezeiza airport, which is will remain open.

During the closure, most carriers will reroute flights to Ezeiza airport.   Passengers traveling on Aerolineas Argentinas flights that usually depart from Aeroparque should check in at Ezeiza terminal A, counters 104 through 113.  All travelers are advised to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to their flight.

Luckily, when it comes to travel to Latin America, some recent airfare and flight changes make it one of the best times to get up, and out of town.

Select “fall sale” fares have completely eliminated fuel surcharges.
Save an average of $300 per ticket by booking right now. Sales end soon.

SAMPLE ROUND TRIP FARES, TOTAL COST, INCLUDING ALL TAXES

At these rates, spending a week abroad could cost less than a holiday weekend flight in the US!  Subject to change. Restrictions apply. Availability is limited.

Groups of 10+:  Call : 800 655 4054, or complete a Group Request Form
1-9 passengers: Book Online or call 800 655 4053

For travelers, particularly groups, added flight service equates to better itinerary choices, and more lower-fare seats available to more destinations

Featured Changes For Latin America:

• Delta adds service to Tegucigalpa, Honduras
• TAM Brazilian Airlines adds direct service from Orlando to Sao Paolo
• TACA adds connection service to Paraguay
• Delta adds direct service from New York to Buenos Aires
• American and Delta add new flights to Brazil, to such popular destinations as Salvador, Manaus, and Fortaleza.

American Airlines is offering double Aadvantage miles on flights to Salvador de Bahia, or Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Date and registration restrictions apply. Book an applicable flight with Exito and find out how to earn double miles when flying round-trip between Nov 4th 2008 and Feb 15th 2009.  PLUS, ask an Exito Group Specialist about how to save over $50 off of the lowest, published fare for groups of 10+ traveling to these Brazil destinations, and more.

Now, more than ever, you can’t take it with you - or if you do, it’s going to cost you.

In their constant quest to reduce costs, most airlines have severely restricted luggage allowances for trips to Latin America. Most airlines now only allow one piece of luggage to be checked for free. That piece must weigh no more than 50 pounds, and must be no larger than 62 linear inches in size (if you add up the length, the width, and the height the total is the size in linear inches)

The silver lining is that this brings US baggage allowances more in line with the baggage allowances for flights within South America. For years, the standard allowance there has been 20 kilograms, which is approximately 44 pounds. So if, for example, you are flying from the US to Lima on American Airlines, then continuing to Cuzco on Lan Peru, you can check one bag up to 50 pounds for your American flight, and one bag up to 44 pounds for the Lima-Cuzco flight. With the new, lower allowances from the US, passengers are less likely to suddenly be hit with excess baggage fees for their flights within Latin America.

There are still a few carriers that do allow 2 checked bags - if baggage is important, be sure to check an airline’s baggage restrictions before you purchase a ticket. Your Exito travel agent will be happy to advise you on current baggage restrictions.

New!   Fortaleza • Manaus • Recife • Salvador • Belo Horizonte

More direct flights from the US to Brazil is especially good news for groups

Cities in Northeastern Brazil are best known as the gateways to beautiful beaches, treasured World Heritage sites, and the lush expanse of the Amazon rainforest. Delta and American Airlines are adding direct service from their respective hubs in Atlanta and Miami to these diverse destinations, making them easier to reach, and harder to resist.

Previously, flying from North America to Northern Brazil involved at least 2 airlines and multiple plane changes. Most routings required flying to a southern city like Rio or Sao Paolo before changing to a local airline going north. Itineraries involving two airlines can obviously add travel time and inconvenience to anyone’s trip. For groups of 10 or more people, working with two airlines to make one trip requires double the number of bookings, deposits and payments, while doubling the potential pitfalls.

Direct flight options will now make arranging a group as simple as booking a flight across the nearest border.

Benefits for groups traveling on a single-airline:

• Fare: One fare from home to your destination, guaranteed in advance
• Routing: One connection, even no connection when traveling via Hubs in Atlanta or Miami
• Deposit: One deposit per person cuts the initial outlay in half
• Reservation: One booking keeps schedules and reservations synchronized
• Ticket: One ticket minimizes service fees and effort related changes or cancellation
• Baggage: One international ticket minimizes baggage fees, as well as avoids confusion if a bag is lost
• Service: One airline, one network means simpler solutions to unexpected delays or cancellations

Whether it’s for recreation or research, now is the time to make plans for your group to travel to Brazil.

CALL NOW FOR YOUR GROUP AIRFARE QUOTE:

1-800-655-4054

or CLICK HERE to submit your request online

For a limited time, DOUBLE mileage credit is available for travel on American Airlines, when traveling on the new, direct flights between Miami and:

Belo Horizonte (BHZ)

Salvador da Bahia (SSA) or

Recife (REC)

Fly between November 2, 2008 and February 15, 2009

Advance registration is required. Contact an Exito Travel agent for details and flight reservations.

Phone:  800 655 4053                        Email: info@exitotravel.com

Delta Air Lines is slated to offer three new three new destinations in Brazil, with convenient connections from cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Service to Eduardo Gomez International Airport in Manaus will begin on December 19th, 2008. This flight will offer a unique opportunity for travelers throughout North America to reach Manaus with a single connectionat Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta. Previously travelers wishing to fly to Manaus were required to either change airlines in Miami or backtrack north from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo. This will make rainforest/Amazon river lodges much more accessible to most North Americans.

Delta is also offering service to two of Brazil’s most popular beach destinations: Fortaleza and Guararapes International Airport in Recife. This service will begin December 22nd and offers a unique opportunity to travelers from most major cities in North America to reach the beaches of northeastern Brazil in Fortaleza and Recife with a single connection at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta. The flight will travel overnight from Atlanta to Recife and continue to Fortaleza.

The newest destinations offered by COPA airlines from it’s hub at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama bring the total number of destinations served by COPA in 2008 to a total of 45 destinations. Service to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago began earlier this year, and the service to Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Aruba; Valencia, Venezuela and Santa Cruz, Bolivia are scheduled for later this year.

COPA airlines currently serves the following Airports in the United States:

Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Washington DC (Dulles) (IAD), Miami (MIA) and Orlando (MCO).

Connections can be made from any of these cities to any of the 41 destinations served by Copa in Mexico, Central, and South America.

“We continue to grow and strengthen Copa Airlines and Panama as the best connecting point for travel within Latin America,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines. “The new flights will facilitate commercial and business relations between the countries in our region, increase tourism, and foster economic development.”

It’s the same challenge for most groups: How to find a group airfare option that fits the total budget, without having to pay in full right away, or otherwise risk paying more later, as the fare, taxes and/or fuel charges continue to skyrocket?

In the current airfare market, there is an inherent risk of paying more tomorrow for what was quoted today. Even when a “guaranteed” group rate is available, this guarantee typically applies only the base fare, and not to taxes, or the ever-increasing fuel surcharges, which can be as much as $300 per ticket. A group fare booked today can end up being hundreds higher by the time the group is ready to issue tickets.

There is a refreshing exception. Exito group specialists can now offer a guaranteed rate on select group fares INCLUDING taxes and fees. Book today with a deposit, and lock in todays total price, even if the final purchase is months away. While other group bookings fluctuate from rising fuel costs and annual tax adjustments, Exito’s qualifying group rates stay put, allowing groups the chance of actually staying within a set budget.

Here’s how it works:

1. Contact an Exito Group Specialist and request a quote for a group flight, specifying an interest in a guaranteed total rate. Phone: 800 655 4054 . *Minimum group size is 10 people, traveling on an identical itinerary*

2. Once a suitable itinerary is confirmed for the group, pay a standard group deposit, up to $100 per seat, to lock in the space and the price for the group. Deposits are either refunded or applied to the purchase price, provided the group abides by the airlines stated cancellation and minimum utilization policy. Note: Flights departing within 90 days may have special deposit and payment requirements.

3. Provide all passenger names and payment by the airline’s quoted deadline; typically 30-60 days prior to departure. *No surprise fees or extra taxes will be charged on qualifying fares, according to the initial quote*

This option is available to groups of at least 10 people traveling together, on select airlines, subject to availability of group space and according to specific airline policies, which are subject to change. Round trip travel must originate in the US, and include select destinations in:

Mexico - Guatemala - Costa Rica- Honduras - Belize - El Salvador
Nicaragua - Ecuador - Peru- Venezuela - Chile - Argentina - Brazil - Colombia

Contact an Exito Group Airfare Specialist for further details and to find your guaranteed group fare, now.

Phone: 800 655 4054

Email: groups@exitotravel.com