Originally Posted by
urww
You put too much weight into SkyTeam. It's the only SkyTeam lounge in Santiago. It's the only SkyTeam lounge in Santiago. So what? If they close it down there would be other options in place. There are hundreds of airports with SkyTeam flights in and out where there is no a SkyTeam lounge. There are dozens of airports where SkyTeam airline A operates a lounge, but SkyTeam airline B directs their passengers to a partner lounge (and that's actually happening at SCL, at check in AR and AF direct their passengers to an airport lounge, not SkyClub).
I mean the fact that it's the only SkyTeam lounge in Santiago doesn't explain why it exists. There are probably a couple dozens of airports overseas with significantly heavier DL presence and without SkyClub in place.
I'm all in for a SkyClub in Santiago, why not? I just wish they would invest $30,000 in new furniture.
(1) They are making more money by keeping it and charging the other ST members for use than they'd save by closing it and paying for their own pax to use alternative lounges (oh, just a hunch but no personal knowledge of same); and
(2) The entire international terminal is moving within 2 years or so, and I doubt they'll spend an extra luca on maintenance unless absolutely necessary.
(3) I've been there (and welcomed) as a premium pax on other ST carriers, even when it wasn't the lounge of choice for the airline. I've been to some of the alternatives, and as bleak as the SC is, it isn't the bleakest.