Does AS check you in for the entire journey at your first check in point including the luggage? If so, can you "opt out" of this? (Its a long connection). The reason is that (1) if you don't get an LA Cabin Baggage tag you end up with issues in Chile, and (2) if you don't get a lounge invitation from the checkin counter, you don't get into the shared lounge - so no matter what I need to go to the checkin counter. Given this, I'd just as well make sure my luggage is checked in directly at the LA counter.