South America - How big of a problem is weather at CUZ?

I am looking at flying LIM-CUZ and CUZ-PEM in mid-April / May and I am wondering how much of a problem weather can be. I have already read that flying in the morning is best as you are less likely to get cancellations, but how early are we talking - should I be booking the 7 am out of Lima or is the 10 am still reasonable? What about the PEM-CUZ-LIMA connection, that has me flying in and out of CUZ early/mid afternoon?

Next series of questions, Star Peru is the cheaper of the airlines and functionally practical for me (connections work) but I have heard LAN is the better airline to go with as there better able to accommodate if a flight is cancelled (including putting you up in a hotel for the night if required) - thoughts?

It's funny the more excited I get about this trip the more questions I have! :)

I am not a morning person but I would recommend the earlier flight anyway. The Andes get clouds and storms in the late a.m. and later and flights are cancelled for the most minor of reasons. That is the tail end of the rainy season so it could go either way. In 2010 Machu Picchu was fully closed in Feb. and March due to horrific flooding along the railway from Cuzco. Puerto Maldonado gets jungle rain every afternoon.

Next series of questions, Star Peru is the cheaper of the airlines and functionally practical for me (connections work) but I have heard LAN is the better airline to go with as there better able to accommodate if a flight is cancelled (including putting you up in a hotel for the night if required) - thoughts?

I am currently in Lima and just did the LIM-CUZ-LIM trip. We used Star Peru. Our flight out was at 6 am and on the way back we were on the last one of the day (1:20 leaving Cuzco). We didn't have any problems with delays or weather, etc., but we could tell they were hurrying us onto the plane on the way back so we could be the dark clouds rolling in. I don't have any experience with their response to cancellations, but one of my friends missed her connecting flight to Lima and subsequently her flight to Cuzco the next morning, and Star Peru rebooked her for only $30, even though the fare had gone up by hundreds of dollars.

Also, they let me check two bags on the way back to Lima, no questions asked (this may be the norm within Peru, so I can't comment on LAN's change fees/baggage requirements). Overall, we were very happy with Star Peru (especially the price - $120 roundtrip!)

Within the last few weeks I've used both Star Peru and Peruvian Airlines. Lima to Cusco was on Peruvian.

Based on the flights I had, if the Peruvian Airlines flights work for you, it was a much more enjoyable flight, newer leather seats, larger seat pitch, snack service, and a free Johnnie Walker and Coke.

I am tall, 6'4", and the Star Peru flight was the most uncomfortable I've been on a plane. Luckily the load was light and I moved to my own row...

Awesome! Thanks for all the help! I had started doing more research and was leaning more toward Star Peru, will have to check out the Peruvian Airlines.

The prices I was quoted by the travel agent were outrageous, I knew there had to be other reasonable options!

Just realized PA doesn't fly to Puerto Maldonado (connecting there in one direction) so I'm thinking it makes the most sense to go Star Peru both ways.

CUZ is the only airport I've ever been that posts signs warning you that weather can cause delays and cancellations. We all know that happens anywhere, but at CUZ it's enough of an issue that they post signs about it. :)

Afternoons can be the problem when high winds can start to pick up and cause problems with flight schedules. That's why there's so little scheduled flight activity in the afternoon and none in the evening.

There are plans to move the airport out to the Sacred Valley in about two or three years and that is expected to eliminate this problem.

Either Star Peru or PA should be fine. LAN is a little more polished airline but its fares are a lot more expensive. You're right. LAN does have a lot more flights than the others, so there are more options.