Argentina - Paying the Reciprocity Fee in Chile

I've looked around a little about paying the Chile reciprocity fee upon arrival in Santiago. But I have the following question.

I have a reservation from LAX to Cordoba, Argentina with a transfer in Santiago. When I transfer do I have to pay the reciprocity fee? I won't be leaving the airport, just transferring on both the flight to Cordoba and from Cordoba.

Thanks for any insight.

If you are on an int'l/int'l ticket, simply connecting @ SCL, and not "exiting" the secured area of the airport (i.e., entering Chile) you will go through the int'l connections area and not pay anything. You will also not pay @COR the Argentina fee.

if I get off a cruise ship in Valparaiso,
then depart SCL, does the fee get collected on exit ?

RE bakoboy's question:

Not on going via Santiago but coming back, possible gray area if it is like Mendoza airport

As close as I can get to a personal experience: last year (mid-year sometime) a friend was doing the connection to the USA via SCL and starting in Mendoza. She called LAN (they were both LAN flights) and was told that she would have to pay the fee and collect her bags and check in again. Reason given was the one mentioned above about Mendoza not having sufficient security for a connection ending in the US etc. Needless to say, she was not happy. But on checking in at Mendoza they told her it was no problem and checked the bags all the way through. YMMV, but I would smile nicely at the counter in Mendoza and hope for the best. If it is a rule, it appears to bend.


RE MrHalliday's question:

NO

If you are on an int'l/int'l ticket, simply connecting @ SCL, and not "exiting" the secured area of the airport (i.e., entering Chile) you will go through the int'l connections area and not pay anything. You will also not pay @COR the Argentina fee.

This was exactly my experience last August. My destination was Cordoba and transited through SCL.