Connection time in SCL
 

We are flying ORD-SCL and SCL-PUQ in mid-February, then doing the reverse in early March. What is a realistic amount of time to allow between flights, especially given the new extra screening being implemented for pax going to the US?

For example, we have an option of a SCL-PUQ flight departing 2'10" after the scheduled arrival of the ORD-SCL flight. Is that enough time? How about a PUQ-SCL flight arriving 4'15" before the scheduled departure of the SCL-ORD flight?

Never been to SCL so we're not sure what to expect, and the search I did on this topic returned threads that were years old.

The 4:15 northbound is definitely enough time. The 2:10 meets MCT but if on separate tickets you're not necessarily protected. I'd still probably book it, though.

When is the next SCL-PUQ flight on the outbound? If not more than 4-5 hours after the arrival of your AA flight from MIA/DFW (AKA 2-3 hours after the one you're currently looking at), I'd probably pick the later one, especially if on separate tickets.

1.5h is generally enough in Santiago. There are often very long lines in the domestic check-in/bag drop area, so if you see them just tell the personnel that you're getting late -- they'll let you cut the line. Same applies to the return trip: the bottleneck is immigration in the LATAM Elite area (security is very fast) or security in the general boarding area (passport control is fast): if you feel you're getting late, tell the agents. There is additional security control just before you board the plane, but once they've scanned your boarding pass it's not a problem.

I've never missed a connection in SCL even with a 1h long layover. I go there a few times a year

We ended up choosing a much later SCL-PUQ flight just to be on the safe side, and to give us a chance to regroup after our int'l flights. It's a long layover, but it ended up saving us significantly cost-wise to fly SKY over LATAM.

We kept the return flights as stated in the original post, thinking that a 4:15 layover should suffice after our PUQ-SCL flight.

Thanks to all for your advice.

Another piece of advice for the future: if you purchase LATAM on the Chilean version of their web-site with prices in pesos, it will normally be a factor of two cheaper than the US web-site for domestic flights. No Chilean credit card/address is needed -- just purchasing a ticket from a Chilean web-site and paying in pesos (the country of issue of the ticket should be Chile)

You're absolutely right. I'd read about the discrepancy on FT, so when we were looking at LATAM for a different itinerary, I went on the Chilean site and priced out the tickets at just under $80USD each. (The class was one step up from the lowest available, enabling us to choose seats, check a bag, etc). I then went on the LATAM.com as if I was from the US and checked the same itinerary. Interestingly enough, only the top class was available to book (even though there was plenty of inventory on the Chilean site). The price for the US tickets? $699USD each!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Great advice...we are looking at flying LATAM from syd to akl..its the continuation of the flight to scl..and this is certainly something to check out...you can confirm no Chilean credit card or address is required for ticketing?

I didn't use a Chilean ccard or address. Used US passport.

What is the flight # and date you're looking at for SYD-AKL?

I'm not sure of flight number. Jan 2d leaving Syd in the morning. I'm not seeing it available on LATAM. Tried the Chilean website last night don't know if it is fully booked.

I see a flight LA800 that leaves SYD at 11:00. If I choose that flight via GF, I can price a o/w ticket for $264 USD for an Economy-M ticket that will book through to LATAM. If I directly use the LATAM website (Chile, Argentina, or US), the same flight prices at $517 USD for an Economy-Y ticket (only option offered).

Interestingly, if I ask for 2 tickets via GF to LATAM, there is no problem with booking two at the $264 rate. If I ask for 2 tickets directly on the LATAM site, it says that the tickets are not available (implying only 1 ticket in inventory).

Based on this, I suggest you get to LATAM via GF. ;)

We tried to book the flights on LATAM but could not. Got through to the payment page but didn't process. Same thing we were told when we called LATAM..no availability..ended up buying on QF for more .. a definite FT no no hut we waited too long to decide what to do during a busy travel season and quite literally paid the price. Supply and demand at work

Hi guys!
I will be travelling to Chile soon and right now I am preparing the itinerary. During the process I came across a question for which I couldn't find the answer yet. I hope you guys can help me with this.
So I saw a lot of topics about the MCT (minimum connection time) between international and domestic flights in SCL but none of them was about the domestic - domestic MCT.
Can you maybe help me out with this question?
We will be flying from Punta Arenas to Santiago and then from Santiago to Calama where we would have around 1.5 hours layover in SCL. Is it enough to change from domestic flight to domestic flight if we assume that they won't have any delay?
Thank you very much for your help!

According to Expert Flyer - Results from ExpertFlyer.com
LATAM

Minimum Connect Times:
Connecting at SCL
Incoming airline LA
Outgoing airline LA
Flight type Domestic to Domestic

STANDARD.D/D...D/I...I/D...I/I.
ONLINE .30 1.30 1.30 1.00
OFFLINE .30 1.30 1.30 1.00
** OR * ARE ALL
LA-LA DD 1.30 ALL - IPC
LA-LA DD 1.00 ALL - KNA
LA-LA DD 1.00 KNA - ALL

You'll want to move this to the South America forum or perhaps LATAM forum if that is who you're flying.