Low Cost Airlines Fly South

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/travel/budget-airlines-fly-south.html?ref=travel&http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/travel/budget-airlines-fly-south.html?ref=travel&_r=0_r=0  Low Cost US Carriers are Heading South.  The Spirit model with its multiple means of "mugging" passengers for luggage, seat choices and itinerary changes will probably not be well-received south of the border.   Latin Americans, although increasingly web-connected, demand the availability of customer service through travel agencies and city ticket offices.  They also will not tolerate the bait and switch and shell games of the Spirit Model.  In Brazil, for example Azul Linhas Aereas, a LCC offers customer service comparable to Jet Blue.  That is not a coincidence, JetBlue founder David Neeleman also founded Azul (which means "blue" in Portuguese.)  Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes has expanded its presence in customer service kiosks in the Sao Paulo subway system and in other off airport locations.  LAN, Aerolineas Argentinas, TAM and Panama's COPA all offer customer service superior to what you might find on US network carriers. In Argentina, Aerolineas Argentinas and its affiliate Austral has undergone a renaissance of sorts with new airplanes, better maintenance, improved reliability and better customer service since it was renationalized in 2009.  Competitor on some routes LAN Argentina, part of the LATAM Airline Group also offers excellent service and deals.  Both offer great deals for those flying long hauls from the US to Argentina.  Aerolineas is part of the Skyteam Alliance and LAN is part of the Oneworld Alliance.  Both offer excellent reservations call center assistance either in English or in Spanish.  On a recent trip to Argentina I had to make several changes to my Aerolineas itinerary and the call center did its best to help me avoid change charges.