Domestic Flights & last-minute fares?

Still planning (over-planning, actually) my virgin trip in March.

I'm definitely considering an overnighter to Iquitos, and was wondering whether there was a severe price penalty for those who reserve seats 0nly a day or two in advance.

My preference would be to just kinda "wing it" and see if I felt like getting out of Lima for a couple days when I get there... but if last-minute fares are a LOT higher... I'd probably decide and commit sooner.

Insight from anyone with experience in such matter is welcome. Thanks.

 

It depends a lot on the day and the flight you choose and how full that particular flight is.

LAN, for example, has several fares, starting at US$46.50 for a one way ticket, including tax (0nly six seats per flight so you have to reserve months ahead) and going up to $153.50. If you had to fly the 16th ( tomorrow), you could find a seat Lima-Iquitos for $88.06 (the second lowest fare available), but the return flight on the 18th would cost you $105.90 since that day the flights are fuller. If you wait until tomorrow, you would most probably still find the same fare for the first flight, but if you wait until the last day for the return flight you would probably end up paying $126.15 or maybe more; since that seems to be a "high" day.

With AeroCondor and WayraPeru it is more or less the same, so you see, it's all a matter of luck, and timing.

March, however, is not hight season for Iquitos so, if you choose to fly between a Tuesday and a Thursday, chances are you will find the second lowest fare the same day you fly. Just DON'T BUY YOUR TICKET AT THE AIRPORT, at the airport you will ALWAYS find 0nly the highest rate. Go to any travel agency (lots and lots of them in Miraflores or San Isidro) and buy your ticket there, or buy on line (I usually do that).

Check the sites:

- LAN Peru : http://www.lan.com
- AeroCondor : http://www.aerocondor.com.pe/home.htm
- WayraPeru : http://wayraperu.reservaweb.com.br/empresa/site/mapadesitio wayra.htm

 

At LAN.com, the entry screen says "su pais" (your country).

Choose Peru and the round-trip Lima-Iquitos (Mar 9-11) is $39 each way.

Choose USA/Canada, and the fare (same route and dates) is $111 each way.

My question, if I book with Peru as my country, will they honor the $39 each way fare when I show up with my USA passport?

 

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I book my internal flights here - http://www.apunake.com - they had much better prices than LAN (at least for US residents)