Totally agree.

I've flown LA in all 3 classes as well as LP and XL (Lan Ecuador) and would rate the overall experience as where BA was at around 7 years ago - no coincidence given that BA provided support on how to set up the operation.

Was reading andrzej's post with a wry smile as it's a not entirely unfamiliar experience; I've read in other posts that pax have received last-minute UGs, on the basis of OW status, but have neither had first-hand experience nor witnessed (ever).

If BA and LA have anything in common its inconsistency of service - whether on the grond or in the air. However, unlike BA, with LA I've had ok flights and pretty awful flights.

The new premium immigration facility for SCL departing flights is a welcome enhancement (to borrow from BA lexicon) and even the premium check-in area seems a little more sparky than it has been of past (anyone who has ever been asked to pay the airport tax will relate to this).

After my last experience on XL - even J felt like an internal Russian flight in Y - I thought never again, but premium competition in this market is non-existent; other than the fifth freedom routes flown by the likes of AC (SCL-EZE-SCL), BA and LH (EZE-GRU-EZE).

The one thing LA really misses out on is understanding that premium pax expect (and are willing to pay for) a J experience on internal flights (which to take SCL-PUQ as an example, can be pretty long). However, given that it struggles to deliver a consistently decent service on its long haul routes, sharp intake of breath.

That's not to say that LA isn't capable of delivering a good service in the air -I'll withhold my judgment as the new J product rolls out.