Recent LAN experience
 

We booked LAN through AA for our March 2012 cruise, using miles for business class, L.A. to Santiago, non-stop. Our experience was wonderful. We sat in the lounge at LAX until boarding and took off within 15 minutes of their scheduled time and landed on time. Thanks to Flyertalk members, I knew business class pillows and duvets were down, so right after boarding, I told a business class FA about my allergy and she gave my husband and I each, a sealed economy class non-down pillow and blanket set. Food, wine and service were very good. The FA's were great throughout the flight. Since our flight was 11 hrs., we slept comfortably on LAN's lie-flat seats. We would definitely book LAN again.

I agree. I did eight segments this week and I noticed a marked improvement in service standard across the board. My only complaint was the early morning EZE-LIM flight crew who thought it was OK to have loud conversations in the galley when it was obvious that the whole cabin was trying to sleep.

Of your 8 segments, would you please specify the route and whether the flight was LA, LP, 4M, XL, etc.? Mahalo!

Two were 4M and the rest XL. The problem crew was (not surprisingly) 4M EZE-LIM
The other legs were LIM-GYE, GYE-UIO GYE-JFK all on XL.

OK, recent LAN experience, a mid-year review of sorts. Based on 34 LAN segments this year to date: 18 Peru domestic, 6 Colombia domestic, 6 SA international, 4 SA NA international.

Ticket purchasing: Mostly by lan.com, rarely a problem. In office service, exemplary. Most often purchased very inexpensive fares or km sales (compete with the bus Peru fares or Colombia sales). ^ So much so that the 24 domestic segments flown earned me an astounding 3400 km!! (plus 3400 for the 100% bonus)... yup, 6400 km for 32 segments doesn't help much.

Flight services, on time rating: Over 90% of my flights departed on time, 94% arrived on time (because LAN builds in flex for arrival times). The late flights were due to airport problems in LIM and BOG, not LAN caused. In fact, only had 1 LAN flight seriously delayed arrival where LAN culpable. ^

Flight services, on board: Comfortable. Planes always spotless, FAs (with one exception) overtly cheerful and helpful, sometimes received special Comodoro welcome, beautiful out-the-window scenery. ^

Baggage problems: None whatsoever. ^

Ground problems: Rare, but due to ejectivos sticking to the rules, even if it makes no sense, or rules that make no sense. :td: Some checkin staff now greet me by name as I approach. Nice.

Lounge experience: Good (except terrible WiFi in Sumaq). Though not LAN lounges, many of Peru airports have small but nice private lounges. Best “lounge” experience - the SMR FT beach lounge. :D

C24 service: Although they advertise 1 hour response time, both times for me they took 4-6 hours. :td:

LanPass emails back and forth: a zillion, some without satisfactory results yet (for instance, still awaiting my Comodoro tarjeta after 6 months and a dozen emails/calls). :td:

General observations: My recent LAN flight experiences are head and shoulders above my experiences with NA carriers. ^^

Nice summary Bingo

I look forward to the year end results

I have only flown a single paid LAN segment this year. SCL to LIM on 1st Jan. Plus 10 reward segments and a bucketload of AA