Well, probably not. I'm AA ExPlat and was traveling on an AONE5 with preassigned seats (through AA) in row 1. LAN switched me to row 5. :td:

Yes, it happens, and it is not nice; you were -probably- pushed back to make room for a Comodoro (LAN's version of an AA EXP). If that was the reason then it is hard to be too critical of an airline that looks after its own as well as LAN does for its Comodoros.

Yes, but as has been mentioned in this forum before, LAN's ground service simply sucks. They were rude to us. Then there is the whole situation with boarding the SCL IPC flight. The check in desk told us to go through immigration, but immigration wouldn't let us through cause we were on a "domestic" flight. We went to 3 different places, no one knew what was going on, finally we had to go back to the check in desk to have them escort us. Ridiculous -- I mean, the flight doesn't leave like 3 times a week (or more during certain seasons)... :mad: :td:

Not a good experience by all account Japhydog, but then given what I've encountered with with certain ground stAAff, it makes me pretty grateful for LA. The whole thing with lounge access when travelling to IPC [for the uninitiated these flights leave from the domestic part of the terminal, while the lounge is inexplicably only for international flights] can be a pain, but I rather liked it when it comes to boarding time: a personal escort to take you from the lounge to the plane. You didn't even get that on Concorde...

VIajero see your point re making room for LA's top tier - but four rows?

All I know is LA have learned the art of being sno**y from BA's finest. Part of it's that Chilean way of being a little off and superior (Europeans: cf the Swiss), but if only this matched up to unparalleled excellence in the air - my overall experience is not.

Still, I'll probably be very grateful for LA's shortfallings after a few legs of Varig... ;)

Well, there's only one "F" row, so once they kick you out of there into the "J" section, who's counting? :)

If row 5 is the first row in the business class cabin, you have only been moved back one row :).

But SCL-IPC is 2-class only...

2-class service yes, but on a 3-class aircraft, hence the interest on row one: five "F" seats at J price, given by LAN to elites and other VIPs.

I had some PM requesting clarification of the check-in process at SCL for IPC-bound flights. So here goes...

As the SCL-IPC leg is officially a domestic flight (though it continues on to PPT) you'll need to use the domestic check-in area. LA Comodoros or OW Emeralds can use the Comodoros check-in desk (alternatively, if you're flying business class I suggest asking if you can check-in here too and bypass what can be long domestic queues).

NB Don't attempt to use the premium check-in area at the end of the terminal building as this is for international services only.

At check-in ask if it would be possible to use the lounge. Your BPs should be stamped accordingly so that you can pass through international immigration controls to the Sala VIP. As observed by others on this thread, that doesn't mean you won't face a challenge from immigration officials - many of whom don't seem to understand that LA has this arrangement to let departing IPC pax use its Sala VIP, which is located in the international departures area. All that should be needed is the correct stamp on your BP, however occasionally you'll need to go back to the check-in area and request an escort.

When it's time for boarding, someone will come and collect you from the lounge and walk you to the plane.

While I've no doubt that this should work, my wife and I asked 3 or 4 different people (including both comodoros check-in folks) and were unable to get anyone to budge on this. I believe their excuse was that that day's IPC flight did not continue to PPT. Anyway, be prepared possibly to hear "no." Of course, if I had it to do over again, I would fight harder. Starting in MRY at 6:00am left me with little fight, though. ;)

The flight is both directions was on a 2 class 767 when I flew to IPC in Nov 05 :(

LAN Salon VIP & SCL-IPC
 

I agree with virtualtroy, although judging from my experience today, if one isn't persistent in speaking to the right people, you won't have access to the lounge.

Prior to joining the check-in lines, we asked the lady at the entrance to the lines if we could get access to the lounge. Her response was that it was not possible. She suggested we ask at the Comodoros check-in. When our turn came up in the Comodoros line, the open desk was down to the right from the actual Comodoros check-in desk.

At the completion of check-in, when I asked about getting our BP's stamped to get thru immigration, all we received was a blank look and a "That's not possible for a domestic flight." When I mentioned that I "spoke" to someone who recently accessed the lounge while on this flight, again he replied a little more forcefully that this was a domestic flight and there was no domestic lounge at SCL. When I pointed out once again, that I spoke to someone who recently accessed the lounge while on the Easter Island flight, he gave up and suggested I speak to the Comodoros check-in agent.

At the Comodoros desk, there was no problem. The lady quickly stamped our BP's "Isla de Pascua" in big bold red ink, and "Access to Salon VIP" was written in pen. We were off to immigration to see how our luck would hold up.

The first immigration officer looked puzzled when he handed him our BP's. He asked the officer next to him if this was possible. I understood the first part of the response "Si", but didn't quite get the rest of it. Our immigration officer didn't quite believe his colleague, so a supervisor was called in. Again, the same resonse was understood "Si", and we were thru.

I am typing this form the Neruda Lounge in SCL (with a glass of great Carmenere at my side!). Proof position that with a little persistence, you can get in to the lounges on the SCL flight.

Cheers,

BdaDiver

Just as an aside on this, if you've got a Diners Club card it gets you free access into the general lounge found on the Domestic side of the terminal. Whilst it's no Neruda Lounge, it does have a shower, internet connection, drinks provided and some comfy chairs to relax in. It certainly served me decently enough while waiting between flights in the early morning.

For future reference:

I met a nice young British couple and we both went through domestic side security. When we were "almost" at the gate, we walked into a locked glass door and our gate was just on the other side. So, we figured this was treated as an international flight. We walked all the way back and to the other side of the airport. Went through security again, stood in line for passport control. I invited them over to the AC and/or the LAN club. Finally it was my turn for passport control. Went up, the immigration officer looked at my passport and BP, put a little mark on my entry form and informed me that I wasn't really leaving the country so nothing to worry about. He wished me a safe trip. I get to the Duty Free area and wait for the young couple who were right behind me. After 15 or so minutes I gave up as they were not coming. Walked over to the AC, had a drink, but the curiosity got better of me and decided to find out what happened. Left my luggage and walked over to the gate and sure enough, they were on the other side of the door with about 100 more passengers.

Walked back to the AC and asked what happened.

Here is the explanation:

Anybody flying in J or having status with LAN or OW or a member of AC and flying to IPC can come through the international side as that's where the clubs are located and the immigration officers will know and let you through.

The "unwashed" :D have to go through the domestic side and wait until boarding time when the LAN agent will open the door and let you board.

Sure enough when boarding started, the door was open for the passengers on the other side with security keeping an eye that they walk right to the jetway which is the first gate.

Hope this helps future IPC visitors.

Do you know if both LA833 (SCL-IPC-PPT 17:05 on Wed/Sun) and LA841 (SCL-IPC 08:30 on Tue/Sat) depart from the international side, or just the SLC-IPC-PPT flights?