Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 359 posts, RR: 2 Posted (6 years 4 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5180 times:
In an effort to escape the cold and snow to Cleveland, Ohio, I decided to spend a few weeks on my favorite continent, South America. I traveled with friends from Brazil to Uruguay to Argentina and back to Brazil. The highlight of this trip was a five-day stay in Punta del Este, Uruguay; it it Latin America's most stylish resort... really the St. Tropez of Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.
However, all good things must come to an end, and it was time to take PLUNA to Buenos Aires Aeroparque. The pain of leaving Punta was eased by flying on a vintage Boeing 737-200 of PLUNA, Uruguay's national airline.
This report will mainly consist of photos since there is not much to say about a 50-minute flight. I wanted to post this flight since I could not find a Punta (PDP) or a PLUNA (PU) flight in the database.
January 4, 2007
PU 117
PDP - AEP
Boeing 737-200
CX-BOO
Lv. 1215 (1220)
Ar. 1200 (1215)
Price with tax: US$117 in Y Class
We arrived at PDP only 45 mintues before departure, and we were able to check in without delay.
The airport.
The check-in area.
My boarding pass...
We had to pay a US$25 departure tax for flights to Argentina.
Then we proceeded to Immigration.
To access the departure lounge, one had to pass through a duty free store in which the prices were comparable to Saks stores in the United States. We did get another copy of the all important "Verano" magazine, a glossy combination of 'People' and 'Town and Country' for the Punta set.
We proceeded directly to Gate 3 for boarding, at which a bus awaited us to take us to the plane.
The B 732.
The rear entrance to the B 732.
A shot from the reat stair...
We settle in...
We found that the safety card on board was for a Boeing 767-300 ER, not the B 732.
The engines started at 1220 rather than 1215, and the crew completed the safty demo. We promptly taxiied to the active and departed to climb out over Chiauahua Beach and the Rio de la Plata.
Rio de la Plata
The crew served a huge 100g pack of salted peanuts and drinks for the short flight to Buenos Aires.
Before we knew it, it was time to land at Aeroparque.
Belgrano Centro on final to AEP
Landing
Thrust reverse
Guess who is big at Aeroparque.
The bus arrives to take us to Aeroparque's small international arrivals hall.
Aeorparque's only international flights currently are only from Uruguay. The immigration area is quite small, but it only took about 10 minutes to pass through. Then we were on our way in the the city!
PLUNA was a great way to get from Uruguay to Argentina. The total time door-to-door was only about 2.6 hours as compared to 6 or more it you tak the ferry.
BPS3458 From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 520 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 5084 times:
Nice report and great pictures. Boy, did I freak out when I saw the thrust reversers on a 732 deployed for the first time as a kid (was in HAM on a PanAm flight from LHR). At that time thought the entire plane was going to fall apart.
UairFokker From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (6 years 4 months 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4964 times:
Nice report!
I hope you enjoyed your time in Punta del Este, and I am glad you had a very nice trip with Pluna. I dont know if you know, but recently, Pluna is in the process of being in part purchased by international investment group "Leadgate", which promise 20 additional planes, including 5 intercontinental ones. Between this and the construction of the new Carrasco airport, these are exciting times for Pluna.
We paid US$117 for a Y fare. There is also a US$25 departure tax at PDP.
Quoting UairFokker (Reply 4): I dont know if you know, but recently, Pluna is in the process of being in part purchased by international investment group "Leadgate", which promise 20 additional planes, including 5 intercontinental ones. Between this and the construction of the new Carrasco airport, these are exciting times for Pluna.
I am happy to hear that Carrasco will be improved. We arrived on a Gol flight from POA, and the customs hall seemed full with just 1 B738!
Flyboy36y From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3039 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 4599 times:
Cgnnrw From Germany, joined May 2005, 1074 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (6 years 4 months 22 hours ago) and read 4346 times:
Nice report.
I visited Argentina 10 years ago and loved the country. We had an airpass with Austral and went in/out of AEP several times. The airport is great because of its location to downtown B.A.
COSAMICLE From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 4174 times:
Who is that hottie in the pic with the mozas? But seriously, great trip report. Thanks for taking me along! Oh, and you left out all of the fabulous Europeans on the flight!
B737100 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 131 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (6 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 4148 times:
Very nice report and great pics, very nice detail! Thanks for sharing!
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