oneworld - Flying LAN in South America - what to expect?

Hey,

Am doing a South America holiday next month. Almost all flights within South America (Peru, Chile, Argentina) are with LAN. Some sectors economy, some premium economy and some business.

How does service/meals/beverages for J, W and Y classes compare with QF domestic/international classes?
How do the OW lounges in South America (specifically Santiago, Lima and Buenos Aires) rate compared to Aussie or International Qantas Clubs?

LAN J on the 767 was a very good hard product - lie-flat bed with duvet very good and entertainment system also good. J meals were OK. Service not that good - once they serve the meal, they vanish and it's often self-serve. We even had to find our own drinks in the galley.
Domestic economy was OK, but you may come up against the dreaded LAN sandwich. On shorter flights, no audio, so the overhead screens run visual comedy.
Lima lounge is OK, once you find it.
In-flight paperwork is tedious, with very little space for entries.
Keep your baggage tags, as you have to prove that the luggage is yours before exiting the terminal.

[mod hat] Since you are comparing two oneworld airlines I will move this thread to the OW forum as more people there can contribute. [/mod hat]

On domestic flights, beer is not offered, but is available on request (free) - it is not usually visible on the trolley as it passes. Don't expect any substantial snacks - Havana chocolate biscuits is as far as it goes - even on "lunchtime" flights. Eat in the terminal before hand. On short flights eg CUZ-PEM you get nothing.

On domestic flights, beer is not offered, but is available on request (free) - it is not usually visible on the trolley as it passes. Don't expect any substantial snacks - Havana chocolate biscuits is as far as it goes - even on "lunchtime" flights. Eat in the terminal before hand. On short flights eg CUZ-PEM you get nothing.

Thanks for the info:

Here's the list of flights I'm doing and classes:

SCL-LIM Premium Economy
AQP-LIM Economy
LIM-CUZ Economy
CUZ-LIM Economy
LIM-SCL Business
SCL-GIG Premium Economy (Business not available)
IGR-AEP Economy
EZE-SCL Premium Economy

As you can see, I've kept the short flights Y class and gone for either W or J on the longer sectors.

Flights in- out of CUZ can be delayed due afternoon weather build up. plan accordingly if you are connecting in LIM - ie avoid short connections.

I had a number of flights on LAN last year.. LAX to LIM to EZE to MDZ to SCL to LIM to LAX

Everything, except the to/from legs to MDZ were in J.

Service in J was truly superb. Very comfortable lie-flats, excellent meal and drink options. I really have no complaints at all.

Economy seat was meh... but it was an hour flight /w no meal. No biggie.

Flights in- out of CUZ can be delayed due afternoon weather build up. plan accordingly if you are connecting in LIM - ie avoid short connections.

Have avoided any connections when I return to LIM .. will stay overnight as I hear from many people including my travel agent of flight delays/cancellations in South America for late afternoon flights.

Thanks for the info:

Here's the list of flights I'm doing and classes:

SCL-LIM Premium Economy
AQP-LIM Economy
LIM-CUZ Economy
CUZ-LIM Economy
LIM-SCL Business
SCL-GIG Premium Economy (Business not available)
IGR-AEP Economy
EZE-SCL Premium Economy

As you can see, I've kept the short flights Y class and gone for either W or J on the longer sectors.Presumably you're not arriving in SA on a OneWorld carrier and thus can't use either the LAN or OneWorld Air Pass.

On domestic flights, beer is not offered, but is available on request (free) - it is not usually visible on the trolley as it passes. Don't expect any substantial snacks - Havana chocolate biscuits is as far as it goes - even on "lunchtime" flights. Eat in the terminal before hand. On short flights eg CUZ-PEM you get nothing.
Call it "LAN sandwich" or "Havana chocolate biscuits", the trolly will appear bearing a mountain of little boxes that contain stuff so far from tasty that you'll pray they run out before they get to your seat, lest you give in and take one in always-dashed hopes that this one just might contain something at least as yummy as uncooked rice. I had visions of a warehouse too big to see the end of it, stacked floor to ceiling with the boxes, and staff sent to fetch them to the aircraft going mad at the sight.

Besides that, the ground staff is tasked with ensuring that your carry-on fits the sizer, and that if you do miss a connection all your subsequent reservations are canceled.

Oh, and if you booked your flights other than with LAN, the OLCI page and most self-help terminals won't recognize the PNR. A LAN res agent will have no problem giving you the matching LAN PNR. (a problem with a number of ManyWorld carriers, not just LAN.)

Call it "LAN sandwich" or "Havana chocolate biscuits", the trolly will appear bearing a mountain of little boxes that contain stuff so far from tasty that you'll pray they run out before they get to your seat, lest you give in and take one in always-dashed hopes that this one just might contain something at least as yummy as uncooked rice. I had visions of a warehouse too big to see the end of it, stacked floor to ceiling with the boxes, and staff sent to fetch them to the aircraft going mad at the sight.


Oh, and if you booked your flights other than with LAN, the OLCI page and most self-help terminals won't recognize the PNR. A LAN res agent will have no problem giving you the matching LAN PNR. (a problem with a number of ManyWorld carriers, not just LAN.)

Oh ... is the LAN Sandwich like a chocolate sandwichy thing, rather than a bread based sandwich .. a bit like a sweet chocolate sponge cake with sweet cream between - like a sponge like oreo cookie?

Fortunately all my LAN and TAM flights are in the same PNR.

Oh, and if you booked your flights other than with LAN, the OLCI page and most self-help terminals won't recognize the PNR. A LAN res agent will have no problem giving you the matching LAN PNR. (a problem with a number of ManyWorld carriers, not just LAN.)

Every alliance has this problem.

Oh ... is the LAN Sandwich like a chocolate sandwichy thing, rather than a bread based sandwich .. a bit like a sweet chocolate sponge cake with sweet cream between - like a sponge like oreo cookie?

Fortunately all my LAN and TAM flights are in the same PNR.

We flew some 15 coach segments on LAN and its various incarnations last winter and never got anything bread-based. Or food-based, for that matter.