Terminal A

Most long‑haul non‑SkyTeam flights still check in at Terminal A

Terminal A at Ezeiza (EZE) is the older international hall and still handles Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, KLM and several other long‑haul carriers. Check‑in is on the ground level, with numbered islands spread along a long corridor. After bag drop, you head up one level by escalator to reach security and passport control, then continue upstairs to the main departures concourse and gates.

Build the buffer for arrivals: immigration can hit 60+ minutes

On arrival into Terminal A, passport control sits directly ahead after you leave the jet bridge and follow the main flow down a ramp. Multiple travelers report 45–60 minute queues at peak times, especially when several Europe and North America flights land together. Lines closest to the main entry doors into the hall clog first, so walk to the far right side of the passport area for slightly shorter queues.

Baggage claim and landside layout in the older hall

After immigration you descend to baggage claim, with numbered carousels serving specific flights; some reviews mention 45–60 minute waits for bags from long‑haul services here. Customs is a straight walk past the carousels, then sliding doors put you into a crowded arrivals hall with taxi booths and ride‑share pickup signs. ATMs and currency exchange counters sit just off to the left once you exit customs.

Departures: check‑in downstairs, security and duty free upstairs

For departures from A, regulars arrive at least three hours before long‑haul flights because check‑in queues and security in the older area can be unpredictable. After check‑in on the ground floor, escalators and elevators near the middle islands take you upstairs to security and exit immigration, which then spill directly into the Duty Free Shop corridor leading toward the gates. If lines look short, go straight up rather than lingering near the desks.

Food and coffee: from Hard Rock to medialunas

Post‑security in Terminal A you’ll pass a McDonald’s and Burger King near the main duty‑free cluster, plus a Hard Rock Cafe further along toward some of the international gates. For coffee, look for Starbucks, Illy Café, Air Coffee and the local chain Havanna, where a café con leche and alfajor combo rarely tops a few US dollars equivalent. La Banderita, Florida Garden, Natural Break and Le Pain Quotidien add sandwiches, salads and pastry options around the concourse.

Lounges: dense cluster serving most alliances

Terminal A packs in lounges: Aerolíneas Argentinas Salón Cóndor, Star Alliance Lounge Buenos Aires, American Airlines Admirals Club, LATAM VIP Lounge, VIPClub Ezeiza, American Express Centurion Lounge Buenos Aires, HSBC Premier Lounge and Banco Galicia Lounge all sit airside near the international gates. Most are on upper mezzanine levels above the main concourse, accessed by elevators or stairs off the central duty‑free zone. Don’t waste a premium lounge visit on a 35‑minute connection; give yourself at least an hour inside.

Shopping: duty free spine plus local brands

The Duty Free Shop runs as a central spine right after passport control in Terminal A, with perfumes, liquor and chocolate priced in US dollars. Beyond that, ShopGallery, Farmacity and Kiosco Open 25 cover basics like toiletries, snacks and SIM cards. For local labels you’ll see Havanna for boxed alfajores, leather at Rossi & Caruso and La Martina, plus big sports names like Nike, Adidas and a Sunglass Hut and Swarovski near several of the long‑haul gates.

Seating, restrooms and quiet corners

Evening departure banks between roughly 19:00 and 23:00 leave gate areas near the main duty‑free zone packed, with seats hard to find. Travelers report that gates at the far ends of the older concourses have more open seats and power outlets late at night, so check monitors and walk 5–10 minutes down the pier if your flight departs from a higher gate number. For bathrooms, skip the landside restrooms near check‑in, which reviews call crowded and not very clean, and use the ones just past security upstairs instead.

Ground transport and one last tip

Outside Terminal A’s arrivals hall you’ll find the official taxi booth and ride‑share pickup points; locals suggest pre‑booking or using the airport‑approved taxi desk rather than haggling at the curb, especially after midnight. Traffic to central Buenos Aires can run 45–70 minutes depending on time of day. Final tip: on arrival, if you see immigration lines spilling back into the hallway, keep walking to the far right end of the hall before you commit to a queue; that small detour can save 15–20 minutes at passport control.