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-   -   Connecting in EZE (staying in transit) (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/argentina/782113-connecting-eze-staying-transit.html)

Eastbay1K Sep 5, 2008 10:49 pm


Originally Posted by RxCapt (Post 10320459)
Just curious if the OP (or anyone else) knows if AA has a counter to handle check-in in the transit area? I plan to fly SCL-EZE on LAN then EZE-MIA on AA. AA agents usually do not show up at the gate until one hour prior to departure. Thanks!

Go to the AA lounge. They'll issue your BP.

TrickMcDave Dec 10, 2024 2:34 am

I bump this thread, hoping for some current information abount international transiting in EZE.
Currently I have two separate bookings which give me - if both flights are punctual - only like 20 mins. before the gate closes for an int./int. transfer in EZE.
I am travelling only with hand luggage and expect to have an online board pass for the connecting flight. Arriving with LH510 in F, continuing with KL701 in J (being Sky Plat).
Reasons why I thought this was a well, not good but at least acceptable idea is because LH510 is early/punctual, KL701 is often delayed and that I do not need to go through immigration.

Now with the int. departures terminal, I would need to walk from terminal A to this new int. departure terminal, which is supposedly only short walk.

Has anyone recent experience with int./int. transit in EZE? There is a transit security screening, right? What is your experience when walking from int. arrivals terminal to int. departure terminal?

Eastbay1K Dec 10, 2024 8:06 am

There are no more lettered "terminals.". It is probably no more than 10 minutes from the furthest arrival gate to transit security and then back up to int'l departures.

Connecting airline will probably offload you for not being at gate a prescribed pre-departure time, and they'll probably be paging you again and again for doc check.

TrickMcDave Dec 10, 2024 8:36 am


Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 36728160)
There are no more lettered "terminals.". It is probably no more than 10 minutes from the furthest arrival gate to transit security and then back up to int'l departures.

Connecting airline will probably offload you for not being at gate a prescribed pre-departure time, and they'll probably be paging you again and again for doc check.

Where does the Doc check take place? Right at the gate? And is it necessary in each case? KL required me to provide all passport details in the booking, hence they should basically know whether I fulfil the entry requirements to Chile (no visa required for my citizenship). I expect to arrive with a mobile boarding pass.

Do I understand correctly that you see the transit security as bottleneck? Is there a fast track?
Assuming we arrive on time with LH510 and KL701 departs on time, there is 45-50 mins. Offloading should in my view only happen shortly before gate closing time, or is your experience that they offload people much earlier?

Eastbay1K Dec 10, 2024 9:36 am


Originally Posted by TrickMcDave (Post 36728237)
Where does the Doc check take place? Right at the gate? And is it necessary in each case? KL required me to provide all passport details in the booking, hence they should basically know whether I fulfil the entry requirements to Chile (no visa required for my citizenship). I expect to arrive with a mobile boarding pass.

Do I understand correctly that you see the transit security as bottleneck? Is there a fast track?
Assuming we arrive on time with LH510 and KL701 departs on time, there is 45-50 mins. Offloading should in my view only happen shortly before gate closing time, or is your experience that they offload people much earlier?

I doubt any airline would fly you to Chile without having physically reviewed your passport. I've been paged at the gate for various reasons (such as connecting on another airline and they've not seen my passport, or proof of onward travel if my ticket doesn't show onward travel). I don't think transit security is a bottleneck, although I've never taken that route.

If everything is on time, I still think you're hosed. Others may differ. I'd not risk this on separate tickets.

TrickMcDave Dec 10, 2024 9:54 am


Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 36728364)
I doubt any airline would fly you to Chile without having physically reviewed your passport. I've been paged at the gate for various reasons (such as connecting on another airline and they've not seen my passport, or proof of onward travel if my ticket doesn't show onward travel). I don't think transit security is a bottleneck, although I've never taken that route.

If everything is on time, I still think you're hosed. Others may differ. I'd not risk this on separate tickets.

Thanks for your view, with which I do not completely disagree. Many things would need to turn out in my favor for making this connection.

But I'm having a hard time believing they would close the gate while we are standing like 2 meters there at the document check booth (travelling in J).
So either we are at the gate before gate closing time and then they can do the check right away, or we are late anyways and the gate is closed irrespectively whether the document check has been made or not.

I do have a backup connection, but the KL flight is much more favored for several reasons.

Eastbay1K Dec 10, 2024 10:21 am


Originally Posted by TrickMcDave (Post 36728412)
Thanks for your view, with which I do not completely disagree. Many things would need to turn out in my favor for making this connection.

But I'm having a hard time believing they would close the gate while we are standing like 2 meters there at the document check booth (travelling in J).
So either we are at the gate before gate closing time and then they can do the check right away, or we are late anyways and the gate is closed irrespectively whether the document check has been made or not.

I do have a backup connection, but the KL flight is much more favored for several reasons.

Per the KL website:

What time is last boarding?

Boarding closes around 15 minutes before scheduled departure.
Remember that KL does not know that you're even at the airport.

TrickMcDave Dec 10, 2024 10:29 am


Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 36728483)
Per the KL website:

What time is last boarding?

Boarding closes around 15 minutes before scheduled departure.
Remember that KL does not know that you're even at the airport.

15 mins is even better, I calculated with 30 mins :-)

KL should know when checking in online. In my view, this is the same with any other pax that does OLCI at home and then goes straight to the gate.
According to the KL Plat hotline, OLCI for KL701 (only the segment EZE-SCL ticketed) should work. And I did not find any contradicting information so far.

Edit: KL Hotline says document check takes place either at (landside) check in or, when already being in transit at departing airport, at the gate. We'll see.

TrickMcDave Dec 10, 2024 11:05 am

Different thought: would a VIP service be of help to make that transfer? Googled some of the offers, most of them offer either arrival or departure services, but some also transit service (but the transit service seems to be meant as combination of arrival and departure service, not the "rush support" I am looking for).

Nevertheless, I'll check it out. Does anyone have experience?

Marambio Dec 11, 2024 3:26 am


Originally Posted by TrickMcDave (Post 36728591)
Different thought: would a VIP service be of help to make that transfer? Googled some of the offers, most of them offer either arrival or departure services, but some also transit service (but the transit service seems to be meant as combination of arrival and departure service, not the "rush support" I am looking for).

Nevertheless, I'll check it out. Does anyone have experience?

I'm not sure the VIP service covers your scenario. If you are a Skyteam Platinum, could you call KL and ask them to make a note on your booking so that staff at the gate wait for you? I've seen that work in the past. KL will definitely want to do a passport check at the gate in my experience but this shouldn't take more than a second.

I am also of the opinion that this is too tight, but please let us know how it worked in the end!

TrickMcDave Dec 11, 2024 4:30 am


Originally Posted by Marambio (Post 36730198)
I'm not sure the VIP service covers your scenario. If you are a Skyteam Platinum, could you call KL and ask them to make a note on your booking so that staff at the gate wait for you? I've seen that work in the past. KL will definitely want to do a passport check at the gate in my experience but this shouldn't take more than a second.

I am also of the opinion that this is too tight, but please let us know how it worked in the end!

Agree that the VIP services I checked so far seem useless and rip you off quite good...
What I believe is most important is a fast track/dedicated/private line at the transfer security. Does anyone know, whether there is such a fast track? What I have not done so far is sending an eMail to AA2000 to see if they are able to help. Especially if we run only a few minutes late, it would greatly pay off to have somebody that can call the gate announcing us hurrying there.

I will definitely check if the Plat hotline is willing/able to make a note into the booking mentioning our short connecting time.

A minor but nevertheless positive aspect is that when making a mock booking for tomorrows flight (having provided all relevant information in the booking), I was able to complete the OLCI and receive the final BP, not just a checking confirmation or a document saying to pick up the BP at an agent. That means to me that if there is a passport/document check, it will happen at the gate, which should not be a showstopper.

Another question: when looking at the arrival and departure gates of LH510 and KL701, I see that both arrive and depart in "Terminal IA".
My understanding was that int'l departures is from the new international departures terminal while for arrivals there is an arrival terminal. So far, I imagined that as being two connected but separate buildings.
Considering both arrive and depart in "Terminal IA", does that mean that you stay within the same building but depart from a different level? That helps me to orient myself, whether I look for elevators/escalators or long hallways.
Unfortunately, I find only outdated maps of EZE (ifly.com for example).

Will definitely report whether we made the connection or not. Some elements are not in our hands, but I remain optimistic. If needed, I'll revert to my superpower of polite line pushing :)

Marambio Dec 11, 2024 5:56 am


Originally Posted by TrickMcDave (Post 36730276)
Agree that the VIP services I checked so far seem useless and rip you off quite good...
What I believe is most important is a fast track/dedicated/private line at the transfer security. Does anyone know, whether there is such a fast track? What I have not done so far is sending an eMail to AA2000 to see if they are able to help. Especially if we run only a few minutes late, it would greatly pay off to have somebody that can call the gate announcing us hurrying there.

I have never changed planes at EZE so I don't know if there is a fast-track access although I fear it is unlikely, I've seen the area and it is just a small corridor. You could probably check with AA2000 if their "fast pass" also applies to international transfers (note that it's not included with SkyPriority). I understand that all pax going from SCL to AMS will go through the connections security check at EZE, so you better leave the plane among the first!

300rwhp Dec 21, 2024 6:23 am

No airside connection from domestic to international.

arrive domestic. Leave secure area. Walk to international terminal go through boarding pass scanner and then security. Then proceed to passport control. Then into the international terminal.

TrickMcDave Jan 16, 2025 3:09 pm


Originally Posted by Eastbay1K (Post 36728364)
I doubt any airline would fly you to Chile without having physically reviewed your passport. I've been paged at the gate for various reasons (such as connecting on another airline and they've not seen my passport, or proof of onward travel if my ticket doesn't show onward travel). I don't think transit security is a bottleneck, although I've never taken that route.

If everything is on time, I still think you're hosed. Others may differ. I'd not risk this on separate tickets.


Originally Posted by Marambio (Post 36730198)
I'm not sure the VIP service covers your scenario. If you are a Skyteam Platinum, could you call KL and ask them to make a note on your booking so that staff at the gate wait for you? I've seen that work in the past. KL will definitely want to do a passport check at the gate in my experience but this shouldn't take more than a second.

I am also of the opinion that this is too tight, but please let us know how it worked in the end!

To follow up on whether the connection worked or not...
Flew it yesterday/today.
LH510 left FRA kinda on time and we arrived in EZE at 07:36 am local time (07:55 scheduled arrival). Then approx. 20 Minutes of taxi & airbridge manoevering. So we left the LH510 at 07:55 sharp. KL701 was marked on time, i.e. gate closure expected to be 08:25.

While inflight on LH510, I asked the purser, whether there is anything LH could do, helping us to make that connection. She sent our flight details and the details of the KL flight (different ticket, different alliance!) to the First Class Service team, asking for ground support in EZE. Before landing, she informed me a dedicated LH rep would pick us up. Very nice, but turned out to be rather useless...

Speeding towards transit security (LH rep couldn't/didn't want to match our speed), just to see that it was completely empty.
Passport check took 3 minutes, the security control 1 minute and then another few minutes walk to gate 10. Boarding hasn't had started and we were actually first in boarding zone 1.

All in all, it took 10 minutes from exiting LH510 until arriving at the gate of KL701. Quite happy that it worked out so well. Important was that LH510 left FRA on time, we flew F (deboarding as very first pax) and that the transfer security was empty.


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