Josh Cahill has never been one to pull punches, and his latest video is no exception. In a video titled An Airline so BAD even their own President REFUSES to fly them!, the veteran aviation YouTuber takes aim at Argentina's flag carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, delivering what amounts to one of the most comprehensive takedowns of a South American airline seen on the platform in recent memory. The destination: Buenos Aires. The verdict: deeply, painfully negative.
The Flight That Broke Cahill's Spirit
This marks the first time Cahill has covered Aerolineas Argentinas on his channel, and based on the experience, it may well be the last time he books with them voluntarily. The flight, operated on an Airbus A330-200, came with a price tag of over $600 — a figure that stings considerably given what Cahill says was delivered in return.
The catering situation drew immediate fire. According to Cahill, passengers on long-haul flights were served nothing more than a light breakfast and a single pasta option for lunch — a combination he described as woefully inadequate for the duration of the journey. At around the six-minute mark, Cahill catalogued the food situation in detail, noting that the airline's offering fell far short of what any full-service carrier charging premium prices should be providing.
The crew situation was arguably worse. Cahill noted that cabin crew were rarely visible throughout the flight, effectively leaving passengers to fend for themselves in the cabin. For a reviewer who has praised airlines like Air Astana and Nepal Airlines for proactive, passionate service, the contrast was stark.
I felt very ripped off as a customer.
The price-to-value ratio was perhaps the most damning element of the review. Cahill pointed out that the $600-plus fare did not include checked baggage or adequate meal options — a combination that would be unacceptable on a budget carrier, let alone a national flag carrier operating long-haul routes. Fellow aviation creator Noel Philips reviewed the same airline approximately one year prior, also criticising the catering and price point, though he acknowledged the flight arrived on time — a nuance that Cahill's experience appears to echo in terms of the core product failings.
Pasta, Silence, and a Desperate Landing
Cahill's tips for anyone considering Aerolineas Argentinas are blunt: bring your own snacks and your own headphones. The airline apparently provides neither adequate catering nor the kind of in-flight entertainment setup that would make a long-haul journey bearable without personal preparation. For a reviewer who has spent years documenting everything from Lufthansa First Class to the world's most dangerous airports, the bar Cahill sets is informed by genuine global experience — which makes his frustration with Aerolineas all the more credible.
The video's most telling moment comes near the end of the flight segment. At approximately the 11-minute mark, Cahill described his relief upon landing in Buenos Aires — not with excitement about the destination, but with sheer relief at being able to disembark. It's a sentiment that speaks volumes about the onboard experience.
I was glad that we finally landed in Buenos Aires and couldn't wait to get off this plane.
Verdict: A Cautionary Tale for South America Travellers
Cahill's overall verdict on Aerolineas Argentinas is unambiguously negative across all three pillars he examined: catering, crew service, and price. The airline's Airbus A330-200 hardware may be a capable widebody, but Cahill's review suggests that the soft product — the food, the service, the value proposition — is failing passengers in a significant way.
For travellers planning a trip to Buenos Aires and weighing their airline options, Cahill's message is clear: at over $600 without baggage or decent meals, Aerolineas Argentinas is not delivering value commensurate with its pricing. Alternatives operating into South America — including LATAM Airlines and Avianca, both of which Cahill has reviewed — may be worth considering for passengers who want more than pasta and an absent crew for their money.
The video's provocative title — referencing the airline's own president allegedly refusing to fly with the carrier — sets the tone for what is a genuinely alarming portrait of a national airline that, at least in Cahill's experience, appears to be struggling to justify its existence as a premium product. Whether Aerolineas Argentinas responds to the criticism or continues business as usual remains to be seen. But with Cahill's channel reaching a global aviation audience, this is the kind of review that tends to stick.
