£81 Find Cheap Flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Buenos Aires to El Calafate:

• Earliest: departs at 04:05 and lands at 07:24
• Latest: departs at 17:15 and lands at 20:34.

The flight takes about 3h 19m.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate:

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class

A direct flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate takes 3h 19m, covering 1,282 miles.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

Return flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate range from £141 to £284, with an average of £199 over the past 12 months. Anything below £141 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 36% above the £199 route average. Book 14 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average £158 return via San Carlos de Bariloche Teniente Luis Candelaria (BRC), compared with £198 for direct.

JetSMART is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Aerolineas Argentinas has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Buenos Aires to El Calafate flights are:

• JetSMART: 95% on time
• Aerolineas Argentinas: 73% on time
• Flybondi: 72% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 75% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge £8–£75 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Buenos Aires to El Calafate flights, with 38% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 37%, Night flights for 25%, and Evening flights for 0%.

Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, return flight prices on this route showed a wide range, from about £146 to £983. That means the highest observed fare was about 7x higher than the lowest one.

One-way fares from Buenos Aires to El Calafate are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about £90, which is 10% below the typical average for this route.

El Calafate Airport (FTE) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around £23 for economy cars. Top options include:

• Hertz
• Street Rent a Car
• FlexWays
• Localiza
• Sixt

Flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate may depart from several airports in Buenos Aires area, including Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery (AEP) and Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini (EZE). Flights usually arrive at El Calafate (FTE).

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Buenos Aires to El Calafate route, 25% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 38m.

One-stop flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate most commonly connect through:

• Ushuaia Malvinas Argentinas (USH) – 63% of one-stop connections
• San Carlos de Bariloche Teniente Luis Candelaria (BRC) – 14% of one-stop connections
• Cordoba Pajas Blancas (COR) – 14% of one-stop connections
• Trelew (REL) – 9% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 10% on flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate. Tuesday is the cheapest departure day at £197 return on average, while Saturday is the most expensive at £217, a difference of £21.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

2 airlines operate flights between Buenos Aires and El Calafate. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• JetSMART

Flying via Trelew (REL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 4h 59m, compared to 7h 23m via Ushuaia Malvinas Argentinas (USH) and 7h 58m via San Carlos de Bariloche Teniente Luis Candelaria (BRC).

Among airlines operating Buenos Aires to El Calafate flights:

• JetSMART: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Aerolineas Argentinas: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• JetSMART: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Flybondi: a checked bag in Economy class class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

There are a few different lounges that you can rest in if you have some time to kill before your flight takes off from Ministro Pistarini International Airport. The Aeropuertos VIP Club can be found in Terminal A, while both the Star Alliance Lounge and the American Airlines Admirals Club are in Terminal B.

Every terminal in El Palomar Airport is accessible for travelers that have disabilities or limited mobility. The airport is also equipped with wheelchairs that passengers can use at no cost. If you will need assistance while navigating through the airport, make sure to contact your airline ahead of your departure, and an employee will be present to help you with anything you need.

There are several ways that you can travel from El Calafate Airport to the city’s downtown area. If you choose to drive, the trip will normally take you anywhere from 20 to 25min. You can also take the VES Patagonia Airport Shuttle, which will bring you to the city center in around 35min. A one-way ticket for this shuttle bus costs around R$500 ($87).

While there is no on-site hotel at El Calafate Airport, there are a few hotels that are just a short drive away. For example, the Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate is less than a 20min drive from the airport.