LAN questions about a few Peru- Chile airports
Mar 30, 2015, 4:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
LAN questions about a few Peru- Chile airports
With my first South American trip only weeks away, I had a few more questions about LAN and the various airports in Peru and Chile. Sorry this is a long post, but I'm basically looking for any advice on the LIM and CUZ airports. I guess the main question is how organized are these airports in terms of directing you to the right terminal/gate, managing the lines, security procedures, etc.
As always, thanks to all my Flyer Talk friends for their guidance.
We begin in LAX and arrive at LIM just after midnight. We stay one night at the airport Wyndham, and the next day we continue on to JUL at 11:00 am. These are both coach flights.
Just to confirm, when we arrive at midnight, we will go thru immigration/customs, and then we can proceed to walk to the hotel?
The following day, the flight to JUL is domestic, so no customs lines to worry about, but any advice about LAN lines or different terminals that you can "warn" me about?
A few days later, we go from CUZ-LIM-SCL-IPC. CUZ-LIM is coach, but LIM-SCL and SCL-IPC is business. I imagine CUZ will be busy and we have coach seats, so we will plan to get there extra early. Any advice about the CUZ airport? Well organized or confusing to navigate?
After CUZ-LIM flight, then we have about 2 hours in LIM before our next flight, which is Business to SCL. Will there be immigration lines to go through because we're about to leave Peru? And are there separate, faster immigration lines if we are in Business? Some have said that 2 hours is not enough time between my flights, but will Bus. Class make it faster?
LIM-SCL arrives at night, then we stay at the airport hotel and leave for IPC the next morning. I understand that SCL-IPC is considered international and we'll have to allow extra time. Any final advice about SCL airport?
thanks again!
(by the way, as many of you already warned me about, LAN has rescheduled 5 of my 6 flights already. Nothing too bad...just an hour here and 40 minutes there. But still. My inbox is filling up with the dreaded "your flight has been rescheduled" notices!)
As always, thanks to all my Flyer Talk friends for their guidance.
We begin in LAX and arrive at LIM just after midnight. We stay one night at the airport Wyndham, and the next day we continue on to JUL at 11:00 am. These are both coach flights.
Just to confirm, when we arrive at midnight, we will go thru immigration/customs, and then we can proceed to walk to the hotel?
The following day, the flight to JUL is domestic, so no customs lines to worry about, but any advice about LAN lines or different terminals that you can "warn" me about?
A few days later, we go from CUZ-LIM-SCL-IPC. CUZ-LIM is coach, but LIM-SCL and SCL-IPC is business. I imagine CUZ will be busy and we have coach seats, so we will plan to get there extra early. Any advice about the CUZ airport? Well organized or confusing to navigate?
After CUZ-LIM flight, then we have about 2 hours in LIM before our next flight, which is Business to SCL. Will there be immigration lines to go through because we're about to leave Peru? And are there separate, faster immigration lines if we are in Business? Some have said that 2 hours is not enough time between my flights, but will Bus. Class make it faster?
LIM-SCL arrives at night, then we stay at the airport hotel and leave for IPC the next morning. I understand that SCL-IPC is considered international and we'll have to allow extra time. Any final advice about SCL airport?
thanks again!
(by the way, as many of you already warned me about, LAN has rescheduled 5 of my 6 flights already. Nothing too bad...just an hour here and 40 minutes there. But still. My inbox is filling up with the dreaded "your flight has been rescheduled" notices!)
Mar 30, 2015, 7:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
With my first South American trip only weeks away, I had a few more questions about LAN and the various airports in Peru and Chile. Sorry this is a long post, but I'm basically looking for any advice on the LIM and CUZ airports. I guess the main question is how organized are these airports in terms of directing you to the right terminal/gate, managing the lines, security procedures, etc.
As always, thanks to all my Flyer Talk friends for their guidance.
We begin in LAX and arrive at LIM just after midnight. We stay one night at the airport Wyndham, and the next day we continue on to JUL at 11:00 am. These are both coach flights.
Just to confirm, when we arrive at midnight, we will go thru immigration/customs, and then we can proceed to walk to the hotel?
Yes. It used to be a Ramada when I stayed there last but I've stayed there a lot in the past.
The following day, the flight to JUL is domestic, so no customs lines to worry about, but any advice about LAN lines or different terminals that you can "warn" me about?
Domestic is a different terminal but they are both right there. Domestic check in at LIM can be really crowded though. If you are OW elite it helps a lot.
A few days later, we go from CUZ-LIM-SCL-IPC. CUZ-LIM is coach, but LIM-SCL and SCL-IPC is business. I imagine CUZ will be busy and we have coach seats, so we will plan to get there extra early. Any advice about the CUZ airport? Well organized or confusing to navigate?
CUZ airport is really small. LAN check in lines are moderate most times. Check in agents at CUZ don't know the OW rules well though.
After CUZ-LIM flight, then we have about 2 hours in LIM before our next flight, which is Business to SCL. Will there be immigration lines to go through because we're about to leave Peru?
I think so because you have to change terminals and go though passport control. The lines can be very long. As for myself, after getting stuck too many times (going back decades) I no longer do same day connections in Peru.
And are there separate, faster immigration lines if we are in Business? Some have said that 2 hours is not enough time between my flights, but will Bus. Class make it faster?
Honestly I don't remember. I don't think so though.
LIM-SCL arrives at night, then we stay at the airport hotel and leave for IPC the next morning. I understand that SCL-IPC is considered international and we'll have to allow extra time. Any final advice about SCL airport?
The last time I took the morning flight in 2013 we were routed to the domestic departures and then escorted though a security door to a gate in the international area.
thanks again!
(by the way, as many of you already warned me about, LAN has rescheduled 5 of my 6 flights already. Nothing too bad...just an hour here and 40 minutes there. But still. My inbox is filling up with the dreaded "your flight has been rescheduled" notices!)
As always, thanks to all my Flyer Talk friends for their guidance.
We begin in LAX and arrive at LIM just after midnight. We stay one night at the airport Wyndham, and the next day we continue on to JUL at 11:00 am. These are both coach flights.
Just to confirm, when we arrive at midnight, we will go thru immigration/customs, and then we can proceed to walk to the hotel?
Yes. It used to be a Ramada when I stayed there last but I've stayed there a lot in the past.
The following day, the flight to JUL is domestic, so no customs lines to worry about, but any advice about LAN lines or different terminals that you can "warn" me about?
Domestic is a different terminal but they are both right there. Domestic check in at LIM can be really crowded though. If you are OW elite it helps a lot.
A few days later, we go from CUZ-LIM-SCL-IPC. CUZ-LIM is coach, but LIM-SCL and SCL-IPC is business. I imagine CUZ will be busy and we have coach seats, so we will plan to get there extra early. Any advice about the CUZ airport? Well organized or confusing to navigate?
CUZ airport is really small. LAN check in lines are moderate most times. Check in agents at CUZ don't know the OW rules well though.
After CUZ-LIM flight, then we have about 2 hours in LIM before our next flight, which is Business to SCL. Will there be immigration lines to go through because we're about to leave Peru?
I think so because you have to change terminals and go though passport control. The lines can be very long. As for myself, after getting stuck too many times (going back decades) I no longer do same day connections in Peru.
And are there separate, faster immigration lines if we are in Business? Some have said that 2 hours is not enough time between my flights, but will Bus. Class make it faster?
Honestly I don't remember. I don't think so though.
LIM-SCL arrives at night, then we stay at the airport hotel and leave for IPC the next morning. I understand that SCL-IPC is considered international and we'll have to allow extra time. Any final advice about SCL airport?
The last time I took the morning flight in 2013 we were routed to the domestic departures and then escorted though a security door to a gate in the international area.
thanks again!
(by the way, as many of you already warned me about, LAN has rescheduled 5 of my 6 flights already. Nothing too bad...just an hour here and 40 minutes there. But still. My inbox is filling up with the dreaded "your flight has been rescheduled" notices!)
Mar 31, 2015, 5:18 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flew over the Equator 55 times last 3 years
Programs: LANPASS Comodoro (Emerald), others
Posts: 2,957
Just to add, technically it is really just a single terminal building but international and domestic arrivals are at either end. Check in at centre.
No, no Biz line for customs or immigration. If you are an old coot (60) there are separate lines.
Immigration has been fast recently. Security even faster.
No, no Biz line for customs or immigration. If you are an old coot (60) there are separate lines.
Immigration has been fast recently. Security even faster.
Mar 31, 2015, 8:31 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: Double OWE (AA EXP, QF Plat), FI Gold
Posts: 1,887
Only on Mondays are the SCL-IPC flights international, as those continue on to Papeete. On all other days the flight leaves from a gate accessed via domestic security. I have always been able to check-in at the Preferente check in at SCL if in Premium Business (also as Saphire or Emerald oneworld) even if the flight is strictly domestic. It's at the other end of the terminal, but it can be much faster than the regular domestic check-in, even with the walk (which really isn't that far compared to many other airports). There is no lounge access for the flight.
Mar 31, 2015, 11:47 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Thanks, everyone. I'm already working on changing flights to allow myself more than 2 hours to connect in LIM on my CUZ-LIM-SCL leg. That connection is the one that has me most nervous, given all the fun delays that LAN is known for.
Mar 31, 2015, 5:41 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
If I check my bag at LAX, fly to Lima, spend overnight at LIM, continue to JUL the next day (same ticket),,,whgt are the odds that my bag will arrive in JUL with me? I'm leery of my bag sitting overnight in Lima.
Last edited by cheaptom; Apr 3, 2015 at 12:51 pm