Hey Guys,

Hoping this is the right place to post...

I'll be traveling to South America quite a bit.

Anyway, I need to decide if I want to travel on LAN or TACA. I don't care about the miles, but want to know which airline is nicer (go forbid i pick the NWA of SA). Quality is my top priority.

I see that LAN has won SA airline of the year a few times but can't find much on TACA. Any insight from those with 1st hand experience is appreciated.

Cheers!

Where in South America? And from where will you be traveling? I have plenty of LAN experience, none with TACA, but when I've seen their flight times/connections/aircraft types for rather long journeys, I've passed.

Ya, the routings are pretty similar in terms of time and distance & I'm pretty sure I'll end up flying both a few times, I'm just wondering which one has a better overall experience/newer planes.

looks like the TACA flights use:
Airbus Industrie A320-100/200 and
Airbus Industrie A321

while LAN uses:
Boeing 757 and
Boeing 767-300

I'm more concerned with coach since that where my guys usually sit & want them to be comfy. Things up front are always great

Lan has no 757s. Again, what are the city pairs you will traveling to/through? Without that info, it is hard to give decent advice.

SFO>LIM
&
SFO>EZE

Going both places for the next 6-9 months

I have been flying LAN somewhat frequently (every 3 months or so) between LAX and SCL and/or EZE. The major PITA is the SFO/LAX connection, especially on the northbound. That last "hour" usually takes 5, between immigration, changing terminals, and the inevitable delay or cancellation.

Unfortunately, the LAX/SCL nonstop will be suspended at the end of March. Hopefully it will return. However, the EZE/LIM/LAX routing is good, except for the miserable hour of the connection. But on the northbound, once you get on in LIM, you have 8 hours to relax.

LAN's 763s are all (except for 1 aircraft) reconfigured with an excellent IFE system in all seats. All the LAX/LIM segments will be on 763s or A340s (which should complete their reconfigurations within 6 months). Within South America, you can end up with A320-family flights, which are basically 1 cabin now, with a Premium Economy portion in the front (a la Euro business class).

I really don't want to jinx myself, but since late 2001, I have flown LAN on somewhat less than 100 flight segments (but probably more than 75), between North and South America, within South America, and within Chile, and recall only 2 delays of substance. I'm probably due for a biggie, but so far, so good.

I cannot speak for TACA except for second-hand, and it just seems like 24+ hours of travel time in narrow body planes and not appealing connection airports (like the 7 hour SAL connection on the southbound, and not much shorter on the northbound) doesn't sound like something I'd like to do very often.

I am based in SJO and around here we refer to TACA as take a chance airlines. You will find poorly trained customer service and crappy attitudes at TACA. In the air they are ok. I only have one experience on LAN and it was wonderful. You might also want to look at COPA as an alternative. They are Panama based and connections are a breeze.

I have only flown TACA once, but it was a mess. Not sure who was to blame, but no one in the airport knew where the plane was once the inbound didn't show up at the appointed time. Or if they did know where it was, they were not telling us. Either way, it is was a bad sign. I would rather be told my plane is going to be 6 hours late then just hoping that the next plane that landed would be the one I was waiting to get on.

For such a long trip, you are better off with LAN. They have larger planes and very decent service. My experiences with LAN so far have been great. They are very image conscious and respond positively to customer feedback / complaints etc., especially if you are North American. Whenever I had a choice between TACA and LAN, TACA seemed to have the more expensive tickets, and odd flight times and connections. LAN cover pretty much all of South America and has good connections all over. Hope this helps.

Ive flown Taca/Lacsa numerous times , never flew LAN. If I had teh choice LAN wins hands down!

Taca uses the 320/319/321 all narrow bodies. Id rather fly on LAN that uses mainly wide-bodies from most US Cities. Could be a narrow body out of say MIA or any place by the border. I would imagine if they fly into the SF area its with wide-bodies only

Taca is a really a no-frills Carrier. They arent bad I flew mainly in Biz but its not real Biz. When I had the chance I jumped onto Avianca! But Id assume LAN should be be good also

Another vote for LAN. Especially since you're going to the Southern Cone. Nonstop widebodies from USA on LAN vs. multi-hops and narrowbodies.

Also, LAN is in oneworld, which means miles earned can be credited to or redeemed on American and the other oneworld carriers, and count for elite status. Depending on travel patterns, you may be better off crediting them to LANPass or to AAdvantage, if not already committed to a oneworld program.

Some intra-country LAN discount fares don't earn any miles on AAdvantage, while they do earn kilometers on LANPass. One of the reasons I accrue on LAN instead of AA. Also, LANPass does not have the restriction against earning/redeeming on British Airways for USA-UK flights that AAdvantage has. Like AAdvantage, LANPass also has non-oneworld partner Alaska in the program, and not-yet-oneworld Mexicana, so you have a lot of North American options.

Finally, and without giving too much away, LANPass seems to have a bit of a problem with the miles-to-kilometers translation for minimum miles on AA flights under 500 miles. Which is a good thing

I'm based in MVD and have flown TAM, Taca, LAN, AA, Copa, and who knows how many others. Going from Uruguay/Argentina to California. Right now i choose AA... LAN is nicer, the long haul planes they use for south america are nicer, the crews nicer, etc... But AA gives better miles, full miles on discount fares vs %33 on LAN.

Some days of the week LAN has great connection times, just an hour layover, but unless you're careful, some days they'll give you a 8 hour layover in Santiago.

Taca and Copa are not great airlines... avoid.

I have flown both in the last week.

I think LAN has a more consistent product...plus you get AA miles.

Taca, however, has improved a lot in the last few years.

I'd pick LAN

Thanks for the excellent feedback everyone. Great points about wide vs. narrow body & consistency of service. Plus looks like the BA OnePass will actually come in handy for a change.

Much appreciated

LAN over Taca. Over AA and UA. LAN long-haul business class outclasses SQ: seat turns flat at 180, thick white duvets, hard-bound menus with every dish paired with a wine. Boeing signature interior (a la 777) on LAN business.

I've also flown LAN EZE-GRU in coach. You get the same IFE in coach (except you get noise-canceling headsets in business). And they serve wine in regular 750 ml bottles in coach.