If there was ever a “dream route” for me, it would be an SFO/SCL route. But really, to anywhere nonstop to South America providing for easy SCL or EZE connections would make me happy. When the SFO/LIM route was announced, I decided that I should be on this flight. It would provide a good opportunity to visit a friend in Santiago, and tend to my vast international real estate holdings in Buenos Aires (an 80m2 apartment). While my initial thoughts were that I would have preferred this flight to be serviced by a LA (Lan Chile) crew, it is a LP (Lan Peru) designated flight. But you takes what you gets, and when life gives you any LAN plane from SFO, you take it. And so, the purchase for the discounted business fare earned me the appropriate sum of miles on my Alaska Airlines Visa, and so the miles to be earned for this trip would have me that much closer to MVP Gold on Alaska. And so it was good, or so I thought. But after nearly 20 times to Chile, I have learned that when life may throw you lemons, you make Pisco Sours.
Finally, the day arrived. Finally, a trip to South America when I could sleep until my normal time, get up, have coffee, check FT, the normal morning routine, and then go to SFO after the morning commute. Finally, a trip to South America where I don’t have to go to that third world pit of an airport about 340 flight miles to the southeast of here, to be able to fly LAN. I arrived at SFO approximately 2:45 prior to scheduled departure time, as there were absolutely no tacos (traffic congestion, for the chileno-impaired) whatsoever.
Check-in was quite slow but very friendly. First day issues. I recognized a member of the LAX ground staff at the counter. I received my SFO/LIM and LIM/SCL boarding passes, and a lounge invitation to the BA lounge. However, she told me to use the AA lounge (in a different terminal altogether, and not accessible. I politely corrected her, and she apologized.) SFO WELCOMES LAN boards, with an appropriate llama in the picture were in a few places. While I personally think that a guanaco would have been cuter, one cannot complain when LAN begins service to SFO.
Given the amount of time I still had, I thought I’d visit the museum in the international terminal. I don’t think I’d been in there since the terminal initially opened. Oh well, a private LAN event was going on. So, I went through security, and didn’t realize I selected the (shortest) line that lets you be an exhibitionist in the name of keeping the skies safe. I don’t know if my visit through that line provided a cheap thrill for anyone, but I didn’t feel any more violated than any other visit to the airport security theater.
Off to the BA lounge. It is at basement level, yet somehow is “Terraces.” So, despite going down in the elevator, I must have been on the Terraces (plural, no less). I’ve never been in there. It was a pleasant space, and provides for boarding right from the lounge, and LAN uses a gate that permits such boarding. [All the international terminal boarding areas @ SFO are in sunken areas down escalators, set apart from the shops/restaurants, making for a generally pleasant experience. I suppose those, too, are Terraces.] The lounge selection of food and beverages was ok, but (and this is difficult to admit), the Oneworld LAX lounge has better pickins. I was LAN’s second passenger ever in this lounge. There was a dedicated LAN rep, who was a pleasure to talk to.
Dimsum and other misc. crap from the BA lounge SFO
Boarding time - no announcements. Delay, delay, delay creep. Finally, we get the word to go, but alas, the lounge exit door boarding isn’t working, so it was up the elevator, a 30 second walk, down a long escalator, and then, to the gate. This was a horrible inconvenience of at least two minutes! As each passenger embarked, the ground crew handed him a certificate commemorating the Inaugural Flight 2609, and also, another gift, in a silver cardboard box. Alas, it was a nice scarf. Off to a great start, although my 55 minute LIM connection time was making me a bit nervous (which would normally be ample time for a LIM intl/intl connection).
Onboard, in seat 2D, my seat of first choice on the LAN 763, the crew comes around with newspapers and magazines, and a choice of water or juice. LAN apparently doesn’t have a ground alcohol license @ SFO (and they variably haven’t had one from time to time @ LAX either, so this was no surprise). The crew already seemed polite, but uninspired. The menu seemed somewhat appealing, and I knew I had about 35 movies and 500 CDs to choose from, and the wine list looked good.
LAN generally has a wine list which contains 1 mid-range Champagne, 3 reds, 2 whites, and a port. Every flight always has all of them. Well, until that day. As I’ve only flown this airline somewhat less than 200,000 miles (but definitely more than 100,000), maybe I just am not experienced enough. LAN also generally doesn’t do a pre-meal beverage service. However, they gladly bring you one if you ask when they are taking orders. Well, they did, until that day. I asked for a champagne aperitivo and it didn’t arrive until exactly when the cart came with the regular “starter” beverage service.
The Starter Tray - a shrimp, the salad, and the cheese plate - note the champagne to the right and the white wine in the middle, both served at the same time.
Now, the white wine I wanted to try was not onboard, as they only had one of the two whites. Oh well, no biggie, but irregular for LAN. I ate my salad and single shrimp quite slowly, as I had a long while to go, and I wanted to enjoy my meal. Others were almost done with their mains before I even had mine served, although the crew was really trying to perform a three course lightning round. They mostly had that cabin (28 pax) served 3 courses and cleaned up within 45 minutes. They kept checking to see when they could bring my main course. (I was not eating particularly slowly, but since they didn’t provide a shovel, I saw no need to shovel my food.) Finally, they cleared the salad and shrimp plate (I saved the cheese for later, to their disfavor), and brought the main.
The meat - tasted better than it looked.
The most premium of the red wines on the menu was something I wanted to drink with this. Alas, this was not to be, as they just didn’t have it. Nope, a much inferior substitute. Now, I have been on some LAN flights where they eventually run out of one selection or another, but to have one not even boarded, and another replaced with a poor substitute, oh well. After a couple of glasses of “Tinto Inferior” it was time for my cheese and crackers (much to the chagrin of the crew). I was going to enjoy my meal at my pace.
Cheese and Crackers with Tinto Inferior
The crew, eager to put this “leisurely” meal to an end, brought me my dessert, ready or not.
Tasty Tiramisu - again, better than it looked. It was quite yummy.
Finally, I finished (I was eating at a normal restaurant pace) and they could clean up and hide in the galley. Midflight, I asked for some more wine and dark chocolate. Out came wine, and two pieces of milk chocolate. I ate one of them, but really didn’t want the other. Later, I asked for a piece of dark chocolate from another crew member. Out came another piece of milk chocolate. I replied with a “this isn’t dark chocolate” (or similar) and she replied that they didn’t have any. Why they didn’t tell me this previously, I do not know. While seemingly petty, these things just don’t happen on LAN (or not until this particular day). I then continued with my movie, listened to music, and tried unsuccessfully to snooze.
A good two hours outside of LIM, they decided to serve the pre-arrival snack. Why so early? I don’t know. They wanted the cabin cleaned up a good hour and a half prior to arrival, so it seemed. I picked at it, but didn’t finish. Of course, it was served with milk chocolate!
The pre-arrival snack - more like midflight snack.
Finally, LIM arrival, with only about 30 minutes before my next flight to SCL was about to depart .....