LAN LANPASS - lounge access in SCL when flying to Easter Island

We are about to our next leg of the LAN journey and will head to IPC in a couple of days. I think I know the answer to my question, but would like confirmation from someone who has been through this before. Since I am on a domestic flight from SCL to IPC, we will not have lounge access? Is that right? I was hoping to go to the lounge before we go to eat and hang out for a bit, but it seems the lounges are only on the international side of the terminal. What have you all experienced? Thanks!

Correct. No LAN domestic lounges. Only VIP Pacific which you can enter with Priority Pass or other cards. I was through SCL domestic and international - six times in the last two weeks. Easter Island is very nice. Have a good trip.

Thank you for the confirmation. I am glad to know because now we won't arrive quite so early.

Is it true on the domestic flights LAN does not care about liquids in your carry on?

I think I've read somewhere that flights to IPC depart from the international side of the airport...if that is the case, if you're elite or in J you'll have lounge access. Membership will also give you access to the Admirals Club.

The Priority Club lounge isn't too bad; I've purchased a day pass before and it's not too bad, but overall SCL is light on the food/drink options both domestic and international.

I don't know about liquids, but even at the international security points they are much more relaxed than in the USA (shoes on, laptops in bags). Flights to the USA, however, have a secondary security revision for all passengers at which time all liquids are confiscated, even if purchased in the airport.

Hi,


My flight to IPC from SCL in 2010 left from the domestic gates.
I'm not sure about liquids in hand luggage though sorry.

Regards

TBS

Is it true on the domestic flights LAN does not care about liquids in your carry on?

it would,t be a LAN rule but an airport rule. don,t know about Chile but in Peru liquids are allowed on domestic flights for sure, only restricted on international flights (and double restricted on usa flights as zpaul says )

On our flight this past November to IPC, we left from the domestic gate (we were flying Economy), taking a shuttle to the plane.

If business class really is treated differently, they would have to be escorted in and out of the lounge with preventions taken so they would not "contaminate" the sterile international area. If that is the case, the Admirals Club with not be doable in that situation.

Chile domestic, no problems with liquids from my recent experience.

We had no problems on our domestic flight with liquids. Now, I only wish I would have brought more with me!

I don't think business class is treated differently. We flew business class to IPC in Aug 2011. As others have said the flight left from the domestic gates.
We didn't really have time for any lounge, as we overslept and woke up 47 minutes before the flight was due to leave. :eek:

Somehow we made it, although we had to leave our luggage behind.

The bar "the last pisco sour" is on the international side.

Awfully cheesy but I regret not having bought one because they just aren't available in north America.

The bar "the last pisco sour" is on the international side.

Awfully cheesy but I regret not having bought one because they just aren't available in north America.
Off topic, but...
Huh? Chilean and Peruvian pisco are exported and a pisco sour is just a sour drink with pisco instead of vodka, whiskey, etc. The most basic of recipes: squeeze half a shaker cap or more of lemon juice (IME, the riper and pulpier the better), add a shaker cap full of pisco, two slightly heaping tablespoons of powdered sugar, puncture the top of an egg and extract a gob of egg white, add maybe 10 small-medium sized ice cubes, shake till the ice is gone and strain into a chilled glass.

Salud

Or for those who don't have the patience to shake - just drop the whole lot into a food blender. :cool:

Or if you're really lazy - get one of those satchets and just mix with pisco and ice :eek:

Chilean and Peruvian pisco are exported

But not widely available in all markets. In the larger cities in the US, sure, and OP is from Vancouver so it's probably available at some liquor store in the city, but it's still not something that you're going to find everywhere, especially if you live away from a large international market (market as in demographics, not stores). Denver, my home city, has some great Peruvian restaurants, but only in the last year or so has pisco itself become a regular feature in some liquor stores. When I visit my family in the Chicago suburbs it's impossible to find.

I know flights to Easter Island in business clas cannot access a lounge due to domestic side. But why? Why not provide a separate lounge or as a minimum vouchers to buy a drink and some food?

Surely this could be possible, considering the price they charge.

Why is it not explecitly mentioned on the website that lounge access is not included?

Why is it not explecitly mentioned on the website that lounge access is not included?

:confused:

There is an entire section on the website about their VIP lounges and where they are located...

As much as I would love to have a LAN lounge in the domestic terminal, too, I don't think there is an entitlement to lounge access when one buys a business class ticket...

There is an entire section on the website about their VIP lounges and where they are located...


Sorry, should have been more specific:

Only 1 intra-Chile flight has business class, so one normally expects that this comes with lounge access (international standards).

As this is not the case I would expect a specific statement saying that Easter Islands flights, although in business class, do not enjoy business class check inn nor lounge access.

And as a minimum do give your passenger then a voucher so they can buy something to eat and drink in the domestic terminal !

FWIW on Easter Island itself there was a business class check in, although no lounge.

Only 1 intra-Chile flight has business class, so one normally expects that this comes with lounge access (international standards).



I have to admit that I also got used to always having access to a lounge during my time in Europe, but really... This is more of a personal standard than an "international standard".

ANA for example has a business class section on most of their domestic flights, but no lounges - at least for the majority of the provincial airports. When you fly Business on Avianca/Taca ex SCL, there is no lounge access either. And that is international. I also remember a few domestic Air China lounges that I should have better avoided...

Yes, we have gotten used to lounge access when we fly Business, and I would be a little disappointed, too, if I was in your situation. But it is by no means a total exception that there is no lounge (less so for a domestic terminal), nor is it an obligation for the airline to accommodate and feed business class passengers before the flight.

When you fly Business on Avianca/Taca ex SCL, there is no lounge access either. And that is international.

Are you sure about this because on the website of Santiago airport it is mentioned that Avianca uses the Mistral lounge?

http://www.aeropuertosantiago.cl/english/internancionales/lineas-aereas-internacionales.html

True maybe I am spoiled in Europe, but still I cannot understand that a 5,5 hour flight in a longhaul airplane does not come with lounge access.

Luckily my flight is an Avios redemption, sure would have been pissed off when I see what they charge for a business return to IPC ;)

I am pissed off when I see what they charge for a business class ticket, full-stop - even with lounge access. ;)

Suppose that's why I fly Avianca... Tried ALL the lounges (Mistral, Neruda, Delta, American...), then proceeded to ask Avianca/Taca staff who confirmed that they don't have an agreement with any lounge at SCL.

I have to conclude that we're spoiled in Europe, aviation wise (sounds weird!)

Whilst I'm moaning: why does the Madrid flight land at 9.30am and does the IPC flight leave at 9am? Nobody in charge of schedule coordination?

I'm about to make the SCL-IPC trip later this month, in business class. What about the Pacific Club salon on the domestic side? Does LAN have any agreement with them?

On that note, does LAN operate any other domestic routes out of SCL with business class, or is IPC the only one? I haven't traveled domestically with LAN within Chile before, just internationally, and domestically within Colombia.

No other domestic LAN flights have business class. The only other thing close to it were the (for now gone) JFK-YYZ and MAD-FRA Flights

I know flights to Easter Island in business clas cannot access a lounge due to domestic side. But why? Why not provide a separate lounge or as a minimum vouchers to buy a drink and some food?

Surely this could be possible, considering the price they charge.

Why is it not explecitly mentioned on the website that lounge access is not included?

(1) Why would they? They have a monopoly on the route. Are you going to fly someone else if they don't give you extras? (I am not saying that it wouldn't be nice to have, but they've got no reason to do it.)

(2) It is a domestic flight. For comparison's sake, where in the USA do you get access based upon the fare and class? Only on a handful of selected transcon routes (with competition) and on Alaska Airlines.

You can always buy a day pass to the Pacific Club.

No other domestic LAN flights have business class. The only other thing close to it were the (for now gone) JFK-YYZ and MAD-FRA Flights

Business Class disappeared just about a decade ago. The A320s had pretty nice seats (albeit not in great shape near the end), and the 767s were in the old 3-cabin config. As the only J pax on a 767 (SCL/PMC/PUQ), they put me in Row 1. Of course, I was the only J pax on a 767, and there you probably have why the domestic flights have 1 cabin now. (I should try and find the menu from that trip - I do recall a substantial lunch on the SCL/PMC segment, and then a much larger meal on the PMC/PUQ segment).

On the other hand, I didn't have lounge access courtesy of the airline. ;)

When connecting from LIM-SCL to SCL-IPC (rebooked off original LIM-IPC direct that was cancelled after booked), is it possible to stay in the international area and access a lounge, before going over to the domestic side? Or is it separated pax flow for incoming vs. outgoing for int'l and we'll have to go through to the domestic side right upon arrival?

When connecting from LIM-SCL to SCL-IPC (rebooked off original LIM-IPC direct that was cancelled after booked), is it possible to stay in the international area and access a lounge, before going over to the domestic side? Or is it separated pax flow for incoming vs. outgoing for int'l and we'll have to go through to the domestic side right upon arrival?

You'll be funneled directly to immigration and customs from your international flight, and won't be able to re-enter the international side with the BP for IPC.:(

You'll be funneled directly to immigration and customs from your international flight, and won't be able to re-enter the international side with the BP for IPC.:(

Oh, that's really disappointing. After flying for two days and two nights thus far, during this 3.5h layover I had planned to catch up on work and take a shower. Now it sounds like the only option is the pay lounge in the domestic terminal... :(

Now it sounds like the only option is the pay lounge in the domestic terminal... :(

Which is nothing to write home about.

Which is nothing to write home about.

No, but it is something to write Flyertalk about ;)

No, but it is something to write Flyertalk about ;)

Indeed...
Maybe we should all chip in for somebody to buy access and report back how bad it really is.
Would surprise me if that lounge had showers, for example...

I am with 1 luca.

Indeed...
Maybe we should all chip in for somebody to buy access and report back how bad it really is.
Would surprise me if that lounge had showers, for example...

I am with 1 luca.

The old little crappy Pacific Club had a shower. (Marginal, but after traveling all night and prior to another few hours of travel, it was great to have.) I don't know if the new/remodeled lounge has one, but I think it does.

The lounge isn't bad at all. I was there in late December. An array of snacks and beverage choices, and some computer terminals. Better offerings than domestic lounges in the USA.

Which is nothing to write home about.

I presume no showers there.

But does it have at least proper work desks (where one can sit and properly work off a laptop) and fast WiFi?

Indeed...
Maybe we should all chip in for somebody to buy access and report back how bad it really is.
Would surprise me if that lounge had showers, for example...

I am with 1 luca.

I'm going there in a few days and I'm happy to be the "guinea pig" to go in and report back how bad (or not) it is. So where do I get all the "chip ins" for this? :D

Oh, that's really disappointing. After flying for two days and two nights thus far, during this 3.5h layover I had planned to catch up on work and take a shower. Now it sounds like the only option is the pay lounge in the domestic terminal... :(
• Day room Holiday Inn at the airport or the two other nearby airport hotels.
• With more time, other options would be a day room Tur Hotel or Ibis Hotel at the Alameda bus terminal (take the Tur airport transfer bus).

• Day room Holiday Inn at the airport or the two other nearby airport hotels.
• With more time, other options would be a day room Tur Hotel or Ibis Hotel at the Alameda bus terminal (take the Tur airport transfer bus).

Ah, now this is a good point actually. If for some 2-2.5 hour use Holiday Inn there charges something reasonable (and not like $199 USD per night as it is otherwise), that may be then indeed a good option to consider...though slower, going out of secure zone and then back in.

Ah, now this is a good point actually. If for some 2-2.5 hour use Holiday Inn there charges something reasonable (and not like $199 USD per night as it is otherwise), that may be then indeed a good option to consider...though slower, going out of secure zone and then back in.

If you are flying Int'l to Domestic, you are still leaving the secure zone.

I wouldn't expect much in the "negotiation" department with this Holiday Inn. I've gotten nowhere trying to price a day room

The national lounge is crappy. Not sure if they have a shower but this they do have:
- Grumpy Staff (save for the blonde lady at the entrance, she's great)
- Scary Bathrooms: One has a notice of what to do if you're locked in, which leads me to believe people do get locked in there.
- Grumpy coffee machines that make about one coffee an hour and claim to be restocking their water all the time (the machines have a lcd display saying so)

For claryfication purposes, I only use the lounge when I have a flight gone delayed, so my opinion is definitely biased and not based on facts but my perception. It is horrible compared to Mistral and Neruda though.

When my flight is on time, I usually use the smoking lounge, but it should be closed as of march 1st and the implementation of the new law regarding cigarrete smoke :/ bummer!

According to www.salonesvip.cl the lounge does have a shower.

Yes, I was stuck there for 6 hours once. Really a sad lounge. If one isn´t on a budget, the Holiday Inn would be a good alternative.

Yes, I was stuck there for 6 hours once. Really a sad lounge. If one isn´t on a budget, the Holiday Inn would be a good alternative.

How long ago were you there? It has been completely remodeled and enlarged. (I can't say exactly when, but sometime likely in 2012.)

In July 2012 and in Holiday Inn late Jan. this year. If they have done an upgrade since July then it might be worth the money. It wasn´t when I
was there.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn for one night last week before heading to Patagonia, it's a nice modern hotel, I wouldn't say it's luxury, but certainly does the job if you just need some rest.

The lounge in national departure is not very nice, I don't think they even got wifi, only few computers available if you need Internet. I would rather stay in the departure to watch planes going pass and talking off!

How long ago were you there? It has been completely remodeled and enlarged. (I can't say exactly when, but sometime likely in 2012.)

I am in the lounge as I write this. Not sure how it could have been enlarged, as it barely fits 30-40 people as it is. And yes it is crappy. Nobody buses the tables, "breakfast" consists of a few slices of toast brought out every few minutes and instantly devoured by famished lounge guests, etc.

Only good thing is desktop computers with decent internet speed.