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I heard it only applies to flying on an Ecuadorian airline.

Smitty, your flights must originate in Ecuador with a return to same. Forget American or any other US carrier they don't honor the 50% discount.
You must fly with a SA carrier LAN Copa and the others. Book your flights through an agent until you get a better understanding and can CAN DO THIS ALONE. Are you fluent in Spanish? If not all the more reason to use one. If you have the correct documents they'll get the rate you seek.

Mugsy, Ecuador manages this discount arrangement with the SA carriers not just an Ecuadorian carrier.

Thank you

I confirmed this with LAN, and American airlines at their offices in Quito. It is CLEAR that it applies to ALL flights beginning and ending in Ecuador and I have used it twice but am surprised that there seems to be either no interest in this topic, especially from people who have used it or tried to do so (as opposed to RUMORS).My Next planned trip is UIO-Madrid.....Morocco-Venice-UIO so I will repost after I buy. The basic idea is clear but the application (details) fuzzy.

Smitty88 you are right there are many who are not interested in getting discounts not really.  Then why give them to them?  If they don't need Tax Refunds why have them get them $170.00 a month is like a cocktail for some people so don't give it to them personally I am thrilled with both gifts.  But with the airplane tickets here is the catch..you must buy tickets at airport or you don't qualify and you have to have the original Cedula Card with you and your orginal Passport when Purchasing Ticket.  Now some people don't want to go to air port to purchase fine don't qualify.  Some one else told me that you could purchase through Expedia on line and you could qualify.  Now remember you will get the discount plus later if you have filed previously for Tax Refund like I have I will take tax if any on ticket and claim tax on my monthly
so I will make sure on Airplane ticket my Cedula Number Appears Bright and my Name just like it is on my Cedula Card you know how they love detail so if my Cedula Card Says Smitty Ann Smith they my Ticket must say the same...details details details this I think will pass for Tax Office.  Now we don't know about Expedia for sure.  But two people told us you have to buy tickets at airport to qualify.  Otherwise we have heard people say you can qualify buy it and take it but where????

Smitty I think they are right you have to be flying SA Lan yes and back I have heard this too makes sense.

No, it is not necessary to buy the tickets at the airport. At both the LAN and American Airlines offices in Quito I was told directly by an agent there that I could buy the tickets at the Quito offices. I think I did get the discount once through Expedia on my last trip to the US but am not positive. Last trip UIO-Manta I got the discount at the airport before departure. i think TAME but maybe it was Aerogal. All you need is cedula showing you are a legal resident over 65.

smmr, a fountain of knowledge

insanelycheapflights.com has senior rates

mug, don't be bitter be sweet that's not like you

smmr wrote:

mug, don't be bitter be sweet that's not like you

your cup runeth over

I flew Copa with a 50% discount from GYE to WAS.  I had to buy my ticket at Copa sales office in GYE and show my cedula.  Lan local office told me they honor the discount except for promotional fares. 

American Airlines sales office did not have any information on it.  Has someone actually flown AA and gotten the discount?  If so where did you buy your ticket?

Has anyone else flown any other airline and if so where did you buy your ticket.

As I posted before:" It is not necessary to buy the tickets at the airport. At both the LAN and American Airlines offices in Quito I was told directly by an agent there that I could buy the tickets at the Quito offices. I think I did get the discount once through Expedia on my last trip to the US but am not positive. Last trip UIO-Manta I got the discount at the airport before departure. i think TAME but maybe it was Aerogal. All you need is cedula showing residency and age 65."

When I bought tickets through Expedia I later checked with the Quito LAN office, confirming that I had gotten my discount for a flight to Buenos Aires in April. I learned that the discount is only for legs beginning or ending in Ecuador and does not include taxes and fees (the leg from Buenos Aires to Cusco did not get the discount) I recently flew UIO-JFK with my grandson, paying $386.38 for me and $570.43 for him (high price for one way but was stuck with the date).

Thank you again for the response.  I bought a ticket from Taca for half price(excluding taxes etc) at the Taca office in GYE.  I had already made the mistake of trying to buy tickets at the airport...they don't sell most tickets at the airport...Silly me!!  I am still trying to definitely confirm which airlines give the discounts..

I had American sales office tell me they would give me my discount after I lived here ten years.  The young lady really had no idea what I was talking about.  So again, I am interested in people who have gotten the discount on especially American.  So far I have confirmation of Copa, Lan and Taca/Avianca.

My wife and I are from the United States, and have been living in Quito for 9 months on a pensioners visa, we are both 65+. Copa airlines had us submit our passport and cedula by email  while we were on the phone with the agent and we were approved for a 50% seniors discout. In fact we were each given a unique seniors discount code and instructed to provide this when we are booking flights.We were also instructed the personalized  discount code would be good for life. we have used it to fly Quito to Tampa return, Quito to Panama return. I‘ll keep you all posted about longer flight intineraries with longer segments and stopovers!

@nanclev Hi, I have also has success with Iberia from Ecuador to Europe particularly Spain, AeroMexico from Quito to Puerto Vallarta via Mexico City, LATAM to Peru, Avianca to Europe or elsewhere in South America. I think I also had success with the Brazilian company GOL. I have never tried tried any American airline but I think they are legally required by Ecuador to offer this discount on the base ticket to all persons aged 65.  I am sure that any of the other airlines can tell you of the legislation requiring this so you can have it for an American company. The discount is only valid for tickets that start somewhere in Ecuador and can include the return if the same route. These include tickets all over Ecuador as well as departing out of Ecuador. So if you want to go to Galapagos a little cheaper, this can apply. The discount does not apply if you were booking a ticket say from Mexico City to Los Angeles. Because of the way the ticket is calculated, usually you can save around 40% depending clearly on the type of ticket and what other services you are buying. Linda

@smitty88  Hi Smitty, I have flown a number of times from Quito to Madrid and the best flight is Iberia because of the hours that they fly. It's an overnight flight but easy to get on to in Quito, lands in the morning in Madrid and arrives back in Quito on the same day. Normally I just go to the Iberia offices in Quito and arrange the ticket and pay for it there with a credit card.

I am 79 years old, am an expat, and have a permanent residency visa.  These make me eligible for the discounted tickets originating in Ecuador.  I have flown with American, United, and Delta Airlines from Quito to the U. S. and back.  These American airlines comply with the Ecuadorian requirement to allow those expats 65 and over who also have a permanent residency visa (or are Ecuadorians and 65 and over) to benefit from the discounted airlines' tickets.  So, don't be afraid to use U. S. airlines.  I hope this has been helpful.

@timo31750

It is the LAW that all airlines, including American ones, comply with the discount to those over 65 who are either Ecuadorians or those expats who have a cédula and are 65 or older.  It is strictly a rumor that certain airlines don't comply with the LAW.

When my father turned 65, he was thrilled about the 50% senior discount for flights within Ecuador. Armed with his cedula, he booked a trip from Quito to Guayaquil without any issues—the savings were significant. However, last year, when he planned a more complex journey—Quito to New York, with a stop in Los Angeles—he wasn’t sure if the discount would apply to the entire route. After speaking directly with the airline, he learned that the discount only covered the domestic segments within Ecuador. For the international portions, he paid the standard fare. The lesson? Always check with the airline when your itinerary involves international travel, even if you’re booking it all at once.