SASS GLOBAL TRAVEL 2012 ARRIVAL DOCUMENT PART 1 - SGT CONTACT INFORMATION PART 2 - DEPARTURE DAY PART 3 - BUENOS AIRES ARRIVAL PART 4 - DOMESTIC TRANSFER & FLIGHT **MAKE TWO COPIES OF THIS AND YOUR PASSPORT! BRING THEM WITH YOU IN SEPARATE BAGS** You are about to embark on a life-changing experience in the mountains of Northern Patagonia. This document is your guide to getting there. Again, print two copies of this and 2 photocopies of your passport -- put one set in your carry-on and another in your checked bag. We really mean it. See you in Argentina! The SASS Global Travel Team REMEMBER... You are responsible for knowing your flight itinerary and flight status. SGT tracks all client flights, but because flight status changes quickly, we need your help! NOTIFY SGT OF ANY FLIGHT DELAYS, MISSED CONNECTIONS OR CANCELLATION FLIGHT UPDATE? EMAIL US FIRST! info@sassglobaltravel.com WE HAVE STAFF ON-DUTY 24/7 ON TRANSFER DAYS
PART 1 - SGT CONTACT INFORMATION It s easy to reach us! We use VoIP technology to provide easy and effective communications with our team in the United States and Argentina. Better yet, we ve simplified the process. Have questions? Call the Primary Contact first! PRIMARY CONTACT: SECONDARY CONTACT: SGT MAIN OFFICE -- NEW HAMPSHIRE, USA 1.800.851.4660 (US Toll-Free) 1.603.838.3335 (US Direct Dial) SGT FIELD OFFICE -- BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA 1.970.387.8666 (US) (54) 11 5246 5933 (Argentina) *Note: When calling from within Argentina, you may need to omit the country code 54. BUENOS AIRES TRANSFER: TOMAS SALAS -- BUENOS AIRES COORDINATOR URGENT CALLS IN BA ONLY 15 3151 4445 (Argentina) DIRECT LINE: URGENT CALLS ONLY SGT AIR: AIR TICKETING CHANGES & CUSTOMER SERVICE DAVID BURG -- ARGENTINA LOGISTICS & OFFICE NINJA 1.970.387.8980 (US - Forwards to Argentine Cell Phone) DANIEL FREITAS & ANNA SANT ANNA -- TRAVEL AGENTS 1.800.672.7470 (US) (54) 11 5239 1344 (Argentina) How do I call a client? You can reach a client by calling the Secondary Contact -- our Bariloche Field Office. Please try email or Skype first! Who is meeting me at the airport? Our Logistics / Transfer Team is made up of bilingual American and Argentine staff members. See the Buenos Aires Arrival section later in this document, but here s who you should expect to see at various points during your journey:
PART 2 - DEPARTURE DAY Double Check Packing List & Equipment You should have received a packing list in a separate email / document. Pack smart -- if you have questions, call or email! In case you already forgot, make two copies of this document AND your passport, and place them in separate bags! Leaving for Argentina Be sure to plan on arriving at the airport at least 2 ½ hours early for your international flight. Upon arrival at your domestic departure airport, you will check in with the airline listed first on your itinerary. This may be LAN Airlines or another carrier. If you have two separate tickets with different confirmation numbers (for example: Southwest Airlines from Denver to Los Angeles, and LAN Airlines from Los Angeles to Argentina), you may need to claim your bags and re-check them for the international portion. If you have any doubts, just ask an airline representative! About Ski/Snowboard Gear Nearly all international carriers allow for two (2) checked bags, one carry-on and one personal item. We recommend bringing your boots on board as a carry-on item. If your bags are lost... at least you have boots. Beware of overweight bags (usually over 50 pounds) -- fees are hefty. Pack light and weigh your bags with a bathroom scale prior to departure. Missed Connections, Delays and Cancellations IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY US! We track all of our clients flights very closely, but sometimes flight change at the airport and do not immediately update online. The more you try to communicate with us about your flight delay, the better we can assist you when you arrive. Email, phone, skype, text. All good! SGT has ground crews available to meet clients who have flights that arrive late, and can assist clients that miss connections elsewhere. On Board / Filling out Customs Declarations If you must change planes in another country (e.g. Peru, Chile), you may be handed a customs declaration form. In most cases, you will not need to fill this out -- you will simply be directed to a different gate to make your connection to Argentina instead of going through customs. In all cases, at least one LAN flight attendant will speak English, if you re not sure, just ask! LAN Airlines staff are extremely helpful. If you have a question about whether you need to fill out a form to make a connection, simply ask your flight attendant and listen closely to the instructions upon landing. On your flight to Buenos Aires, you will receive an Argentina customs declaration. It should be in both English and in Spanish. Fill it out to the best of your abilities. Above all, you should not be traveling with anything to declare. If you don t understand a question -- the answer is probably No. But, if in doubt - ask once you land. You will need to provide the address where you are staying in Argentina on your customs form: Complejo Base 41, Base Cerro Catedral, Bariloche RN 8400 Tel +54 2944 460263 SGT Clients on the Same Flights SGT has clients flying on nearly every LAN Airlines flight leaving the U.S. on Tuesday for the next five weeks. We also have several clients flying on other airlines, including American, Delta, Aerolineas Argentinas and United. Feel free to email the main office (info@sassglobaltravel.com) to find out if there are other clients on your flight! SGT Ground Teams As part of ensuring the best travel for all clients, SGT has standby Ground Staff at several locations in case of major flight delays or cancellations. Adults are free to seek their own lodging, Under-18 participants will be met and accompanied on transfer to a safe overnight hotel location with staff.
PART 3 - BUENOS AIRES ARRIVAL Arriving at Ezeiza Your flight will land at the Ministro Pistarini / Ezeiza International Airport. This is a modern airport with THREE TERMINALS (A, B & C). Most flights will arrive in Terminal A, however some flights may change gates and arrive in Terminal B. SGT staff members will be monitoring flight arrival locations, and will be outside customs when you arrive. Here s more about moving through customs: 1. When you land, you will be required to go through customs and immigration. There is no right way to go - just move quickly and get in line as fast as possible. 2. First is Immigrations, where an officer will collect the $141 Visa Reciprocity Fee (if you are a US Citizen). Credit cards are accepted. Another officer will stamp your passport. 3. Then, you ll go through the only doors possible to the Baggage Claim area. You ll claim your bags and get in line for Customs. Again, it s the only way to go. 4. Proceed through the Nothing to Declare line if available, nobody coming should need to declare. The customs officer will scan your bag, may ask a few question and then will let you through! 5. EXIT THE CUSTOMS AREA (above) -- Do not stop to change money or shop inside customs. Look for a person from our photo list above holding a SASS Global Travel sign and t-shirt. More than anything, look for other skiers/riders and people with snowboard and ski bags. We re very identifiable amongst the typical Buenos Aires crowd. At this time, SGT will assist you with calling family or friends to let them know of your safe arrival. If you are on American Airlines Flight 955 from New York (JFK): You have a tight connection. Traffic in Buenos Aires can be tough -- and we want you to make it on-time! We will have our transfer team ready to go, but you need to do your part to make this happen. Get off the plane and MOVE to customs / immigrations as quickly as possible. No duty free shopping, no money changing. Move quickly and you ll be fine! WHAT TO DO IF... I made it out of customs, but I can t find my group! It s extremely unlikely, but it is possible that a last-minute gate change or an emergency situation makes it impossible for an SGT staff member to meet you outside customs immediately. Don t panic! Look for a MANUEL TIENDA LEON sign (name of a transportation company, not a person) on one of the ground transportation desks. These desks are staffed 24/ 7 and nearly all staff speak English. Provide your name, and identify yourself as part of the SASS Global Travel group. AGAIN, IF YOU REALLY CAN T FIND US... Wait at the MANUEL TIENDA LEON transportation desk outside customs. This is the first place we will look for you. I lost my group somehow and missed the transfer or something crazy happened and I need help! If you re in a situation where you can t find help from Manuel Tienda Leon, and you still can t find our ground staff: Use a cell phone to call the Primary Contact on Page 1. You can also call the Secondary Contact. If you can t use your cell phone, look for a Telecentro Communications Center, also called a locutorio, and ask to use one of the phones (usually in booths or cabinas ). If the attendant does not speak English, tell them: Necesito usar un teléfono para llamar a un número celular en Buenos Aires The attendant will point you to a numbered phone booth and activate the phone. Show the attendant the phone number if needed! Call Tomas Salas and/or David Burg (see Part 1 - Contact Information) for immediate assistance.
PART 4 - DOMESTIC TRANSFER & FLIGHT Ground or Terminal Transfers If your connecting domestic flight to Bariloche leaves from the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) airport, SGT staff will meet you outside customs and bring you to exclusive ground transportation. If your connecting domestic flight leaves from the Ezeiza International Airport (the same airport you just arrived at) -- this is not common -- you ll need to change terminals. Make contact with SGT staff before changing! Money Exchange If you need cash, don t go to an exchange booth -- withdraw from an ATM (cajero) in the airport. Layovers If possible, a SGT staff member will accompany clients to the boarding gate for domestic flights. However, because of constantly changing airport gates and security restrictions, a SGT staff member may simply accompany you to security and assist you with any questions about finding your gate. Remember, things work differently in Argentina. People move slower, and things will not happen as quickly as they do in the United States. This sometimes means longer waits than expected -- take a deep breath, and relax. Domestic Flight Cancellations & Flight Changes (IMPORTANT) It is possible that inclement weather may close the Bariloche airport. If your flight is cancelled, don t panic! Meet with the SGT team and assess the situation. If you booked with SGT Air, we are most likely already in contact with LAN Airlines and have made advance arrangements for another flight, or a flight the following day. If you have questions about your flight or cancellations, and you booked with SGT Air, call 1.800.672.7470. If you are making any changes to your flights, and you did not book with SGT Air, please contact us first! Alternate Domestic Transportation Although the air transportation system in Argentina is extremely modern and reliable, it is possible that weather, work-stoppage (labor strike) or climate issues may result in cancelled or delayed flights. SGT attempts to have alternate transportation on standby -- this may include options for overnight bus travel or an overnight stay in Buenos Aires. SGT Air will assist clients in obtaining new tickets. Overnight Stays in Buenos Aires SGT has an On Duty staff member for every arrival day in Buenos Aires. We will notify you and emergency contacts (if Under 18) if alternate transportation or an overnight stay in BAis being considered. If this happens: SGT staff will accompany clients to safe, group lodging available in Buenos Aires, at the Icaro Suites Hotel or another reputable property in the city. SGT will make every effort to assure that lodging is secured as economically as possible. If you are an adult and prefer to seek your own alternate lodging or transportation, inform SGT and we will notate your account. Otherwise, SGT will arrange overnight lodging on your behalf. Arriving in Bariloche SGT staff will meet you as you exit the baggage claim area of the much smaller Bariloche airport. Look for staff members with SASS Global Travel signs and ski/ride gear. Once all clients have claimed bags, you ll board a bus and enjoy the short, 30-minute ride to Cerro Catedral. Arriving at Base 41, Villa Cerro Catedral You will likely arrive in the afternoon or evening at the base of Cerro Catedral, at SGT s exclusive property, Base 41. We will make every effort to get you checked into your rooms quickly. You will have access to a U.S. phone and internet on arrival. Bariloche International Airport