Just my two cents...

I now frequently connect through EZE on my way from SCL to the US, with a 7-8 hour layover. The first few times I did that the girls in the LAN lounge told me that pax could not stay in transit for more than six hours, and I would have to leave.

I have an old school sticker for reciprocity in my passport but there was no way I was going to spend hours at EZE landside so I just lied and said that I hadn't paid the fee, and they reluctantly let me in. My last two flights they haven't said a word, so either they know me or the rule has changed.

I suppose you could avoid this by staying out of the lounge for the first few hours, too, since transit security doesn't even check BPs, they just ask where you're going. But it's something to keep in mind if you'll have a longer layover.

For things like IRROPS and other involuntary overnight or extremely long delays requiring a hotel stay there is a system in place where pax who haven't paid the fee are allowed in the country on a "limited" waiver and receive a special stamp.