Santiago and Easter Island / IPC meetup thread
Apr 21, 2013, 5:37 pm
#76
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD 1MM DL PLT
Posts: 351
I back from my 48 hours in IPC. It is a really cool place and a great trip.
Stayed at the Tupa, and as pointed out it acceptable but basic. My biggest complaint was the hot water which was not very hot in my room.
Internet access was very, very slow.
Had a crazy day getting down there.... first the evacuation of Terminal D at LGA due to a bomb scare and then with AA's systems going down. Just as I was ready to scrap my trip, I was able to be rebooked on the JFK-SCL direct on LAN. Although when I tried checking in at JFK, the agent said I was not in business and actually quoted the fare I paid for the segment. I think AA had overbooked business class when rebooking. But I got my seat (at the gate).
On the way back I also had trouble... I could not get a boarding pass at IPC for my SCL onward segments. I think this was due to a schedule change that gave me only a 1 hour 10 min connection in SCL. Others got their connecting boarding passes, and I tried twice more. The agents in IPC were pretty poor and blamed it on first an AA codeshare and then with their systems. When we landed, I was paged, rushed though immigration and security to the gate. Waiting for my boarding pass for 15 mins as the agent kept calling people, I was finally told that since I did not check in for my flight, my seat was gone. They took me to a transit desk, I got a biz class BP for the later flight, but after 30 mins of trying to get me onward connection on AA I told them I would handle it. I skyped AA from the lounge and rebooked immediatedly.
Met a bunch of FTers (including whackojacko) but most seemed to be handle-less lurkers... 3 of us rented a car for the day and did an island tour.
Stayed at the Tupa, and as pointed out it acceptable but basic. My biggest complaint was the hot water which was not very hot in my room.
Internet access was very, very slow.
Had a crazy day getting down there.... first the evacuation of Terminal D at LGA due to a bomb scare and then with AA's systems going down. Just as I was ready to scrap my trip, I was able to be rebooked on the JFK-SCL direct on LAN. Although when I tried checking in at JFK, the agent said I was not in business and actually quoted the fare I paid for the segment. I think AA had overbooked business class when rebooking. But I got my seat (at the gate).
On the way back I also had trouble... I could not get a boarding pass at IPC for my SCL onward segments. I think this was due to a schedule change that gave me only a 1 hour 10 min connection in SCL. Others got their connecting boarding passes, and I tried twice more. The agents in IPC were pretty poor and blamed it on first an AA codeshare and then with their systems. When we landed, I was paged, rushed though immigration and security to the gate. Waiting for my boarding pass for 15 mins as the agent kept calling people, I was finally told that since I did not check in for my flight, my seat was gone. They took me to a transit desk, I got a biz class BP for the later flight, but after 30 mins of trying to get me onward connection on AA I told them I would handle it. I skyped AA from the lounge and rebooked immediatedly.
Met a bunch of FTers (including whackojacko) but most seemed to be handle-less lurkers... 3 of us rented a car for the day and did an island tour.
Also, do you think renting a car was best, or would you have preferred a tour guide in the end?
And one more question - I need two beds at Tupa. I mentioned this when I booked through Orbitz, but I'm not sure if it will be honored. Any suggestions?
Apr 21, 2013, 6:03 pm
#77
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Minnetonka, MN, USA
Programs: DL Diamond 2MM, AA ExPlt
Posts: 936
This does not bode well for me. I think I have the same connection; it's LA842 connecting to AA7700 (a LAN codeshare) on the way back with only a 1:10 connection time (1:20 in SCL on the way down). Can you see any way to have avoided the situation?
Also, do you think renting a car was best, or would you have preferred a tour guide in the end?
And one more question - I need two beds at Tupa. I mentioned this when I booked through Orbitz, but I'm not sure if it will be honored. Any suggestions?
Also, do you think renting a car was best, or would you have preferred a tour guide in the end?
And one more question - I need two beds at Tupa. I mentioned this when I booked through Orbitz, but I'm not sure if it will be honored. Any suggestions?
I met another FTer who called AA and got rebooked prior to the trip. They dropped the IPC-SLC to Y and he didnt notice but got the seat at the airport.
I would do that if you can. I am not sure it is a legal connection.
As to car vs tour... you need to one or the other. We had a good tour book (the one written by James Grant-Peterkin). Half the drive was easy, half a challenge.... I would probably get a one on one tour.
I would email the Tupa. They did not seem at capacity when I was there.
I dont think it will be a problem.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:05 pm
#78
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Minnetonka, MN, USA
Programs: DL Diamond 2MM, AA ExPlt
Posts: 936
I remember gas to be relatively cheap, like the equiv of $5/gallon. But I dont think there an ATM there. There is only one station and they pump and you pay the pumper. We did not go inside.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:13 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL
Programs: AA GLD 1MM DL PLT
Posts: 351
I met another FTer who called AA and got rebooked prior to the trip. They dropped the IPC-SLC to Y and he didnt notice but got the seat at the airport.
I would do that if you can. I am not sure it is a legal connection.
As to car vs tour... you need to one or the other. We had a good tour book (the one written by James Grant-Peterkin). Half the drive was easy, half a challenge.... I would probably get a one on one tour.
I would email the Tupa. They did not seem at capacity when I was there.
I dont think it will be a problem.
I would do that if you can. I am not sure it is a legal connection.
As to car vs tour... you need to one or the other. We had a good tour book (the one written by James Grant-Peterkin). Half the drive was easy, half a challenge.... I would probably get a one on one tour.
I would email the Tupa. They did not seem at capacity when I was there.
I dont think it will be a problem.
We have two days (well, one half day and one full day). I've been hoping for tour guide recommendations in one of these threads but nothing yet. One final question - how much cash (USD) should we take for two people?
Apr 21, 2013, 6:23 pm
#80
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 4
I'm based here on IPC and happy to help organize things for people...sadly I don't get on to FT as much as I'd like, but google Easter island Spirit and I'm there.
I'm off the island for nearly all of April but back for May.
Wherever you stay, you'll love this place!
Best,
James
I'm off the island for nearly all of April but back for May.
Wherever you stay, you'll love this place!
Best,
James
Apr 21, 2013, 6:32 pm
#81
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Minnetonka, MN, USA
Programs: DL Diamond 2MM, AA ExPlt
Posts: 936
Our IPC-SCL segment is an LA flight number (this was an issue about a month ago when the AA codeshare disappeared) - was yours still an AA number? I assumed the short connection wouldn't be an issue, but we have to go through customs still at SCL??? (crap...)
We have two days (well, one half day and one full day). I've been hoping for tour guide recommendations in one of these threads but nothing yet. One final question - how much cash (USD) should we take for two people?
We have two days (well, one half day and one full day). I've been hoping for tour guide recommendations in one of these threads but nothing yet. One final question - how much cash (USD) should we take for two people?
Most of the tour guides I overheard seemed pretty good.... I am sure you wont go wrong... In terms of cash, stuff there is not cheap.... depends on how much you drink and where you eat quite frankly. Drinks were about $7 for pisco sours... little cheaper for beer....
Apr 21, 2013, 6:43 pm
#82
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA S
Posts: 1,335
This does not bode well for me. I think I have the same connection; it's LA842 connecting to AA7700 (a LAN codeshare) on the way back with only a 1:10 connection time (1:20 in SCL on the way down). Can you see any way to have avoided the situation?
Also, do you think renting a car was best, or would you have preferred a tour guide in the end?
And one more question - I need two beds at Tupa. I mentioned this when I booked through Orbitz, but I'm not sure if it will be honored. Any suggestions?
Also, do you think renting a car was best, or would you have preferred a tour guide in the end?
And one more question - I need two beds at Tupa. I mentioned this when I booked through Orbitz, but I'm not sure if it will be honored. Any suggestions?
Like cliburn said, I'd email Tupa about the room preference if they haven't already emailed you to ask, but it wasn't more than 1/3rd full when we were there, so its not a huge rush.
We did a full day tour with a company that the hotel scheduled. We definitely learned details that we would have missed just renting and driving around, however we also definitely saw less stuff in that time then we would have in a rental car due to some slower folks in the group, so YMMV. And if you do make sure another day you hike up to Rano Kau / Orongo, which the full day tours don't seem to cover
Last edited by whakojacko; Apr 21, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Apr 21, 2013, 8:16 pm
#84
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,184
I also missed that connection. If you don't have your boarding pass for your SCL-MIA flight its very tight, and if you do its still probably not that easy. In SCL, you have to go through exit immigration and re-clear security (admittedly much easier than in the US) The IPC agents aren't very good so you may not be able be to get connecting BPs in advance, particularly if you are on an AA codeshare for the SCL-MIA segment (as I was). I'd call AA res and see if you can change to the later SCL-MIA flight (+onwards to NYC) in advance, or at least a later AA flight from MIA to LGA/EWR/JFK so that if (when?) you misconnect to the later SCL-MIA you don't get too screwed with misconnect again in MIA. We ended 3 hours late into JFK which I actually consider not too bad given the circumstances...
Apr 22, 2013, 7:33 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
Posts: 1,480
Apr 22, 2013, 7:44 am
#86
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: UA MM, AA PPro
Posts: 1,480
ExpertFlyer lists LA-LA Domestic-International MCT as 1hr (1:15 LA-LA Intl-Domestic). LA-LA MCT is lower than general MCT for SCL. No margin for error here for sure.
Apr 22, 2013, 8:57 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,879
We are going next week, and while I haven't directly experienced this tour company yet, all of the reviews online are glowing.
Uncorked Wine Tours http://www.uncorked.cl/
Uncorked Wine Tours http://www.uncorked.cl/
Apr 22, 2013, 11:00 am
#88
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta PM 1MM™, Alaska MVPG75K, Marriott LTTE, United SE, Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 453
A clarification on this: Were all bags x-rayed in SCL upon arrival? Did they just confiscate what was declared, or did they search bags proactively?
Apr 22, 2013, 11:24 am
#89
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,952
Apr 22, 2013, 11:51 am
#90
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,879
Last month everyone's bags were X-rayed in SCL. Mine was immediatly flagged and I was asked if I had honey. I never occured to me my little travel size jar of honey (the kind you get from room service) would be a problem as I throw it in with my tea bags whenever I travel.
How they spotted that in a 70lb hardshell suitcase is beyond me.
I was put through the ringer along with two other women from my AA MIA flight -- one with few small boxes of raisens and one with a small bag of nuts.
We were escorted to a desk where we were told we'd probably be charged a huge fine as the agent filled out papers. He was polite, but unsympathetic when I pleaded for him to just TAKE the damned honey and let me go. Then we were made to wait (standing) until we were called into a small room and questioned individually by another agent. Name, age, address, occupation, marriage status... and the reason WHY I broyght such a dangerous substance into the country.
...everything meticulously typed into a computer then printed -- in SPANISH only -- and I was told to sign.
I was then lectured on the evils of bringing animal life into Chile and told I was lucky not to be fined, and that now they have me on "file".
I assume the other 2 women got the same treatment, but I was first and took off as soon as they let me. The entire process took nearly 2 hours.
I had such an urge to open the jar of honey and waft it around ala "12 Monkeys" ; )