Easter Island - is this possible?
 

I'm trying to finalize my OW award booking to South America. As it stands right now: MIA-GRU-EZE-SCL-LIM-MIA, just under 10K miles total which gives me an F award for 120K AA miles.

I decided to throw in Easter Island. I thought of doing it on a seperate ticket either revenue or miles. Well after I discovered the cost I changed my mind. ~$800 or 100K for Y, 125K for J and 150K for F.

But, if I were to throw in Easter Island(IPC) between SCL and LIM on my OW ticket, the total mileage would go up to around ~13.5K, which would only raise the price of the OW award ticket by 30K miles to 150K AA miles total and for F to boot.

This seems like the obvious way to go, but I'm thinking there has to be some kind of a catch.

Anybody has some info or suggestions, are there restrictions for this destination? I will call AA and request the addition but before I do I just want to be armed with knowledge that it's possible.

Thanks

The only minor issue is that you are paying for F and getting J on the segments SCL-IPC-SCL. Other than that SCL-IPC-LIM is within the rules, backtracking and all.

Although if you ask nicely enough at the counter on both ends (useful to get to the airport a bit early) they'll put you in the F cabin on the IPC run. :)

Especially to IPC. On the way back, the flight originates in PPT and, in my experience, the F seats are all snagged by the folks originating in PPT.

I got there about oh, 90 minutes before the flight, and the guy at the J counter was really surprised I knew to ask for it (thank you to some Flyertalk IPC thread!). Probably helped I asked partially in spanish, but I guess I got lucky too given the PPT issue. Not as much fun full as it was on the way out where I think it was just two of us up front...then again, not as much fun as the way down where the two of us had two FAs (and their great reputation is well deserved, even si hace diez anos que estudiar espanol!)

Well, it is possible. Here is the itn:

AMERICAN AIRLINES
1805 TPA Tampa 02/28/2006 08:27 PM MIA Miami 02/28/2006 09:22 PM First 3E

AMERICAN AIRLINES
995 MIA Miami 02/28/2006 11:20 PM GRU Sao Paulo 03/01/2006 09:20 AM First 2A

AMERICAN AIRLINES
951 GRU Sao Paulo 03/01/2006 11:30 AM GIG Rio De Janeiro 03/01/2006 12:27 PM First 2A

BRITISH AIRWAYS
247 GRU Sao Paulo 03/09/2006 07:00 AM EZE Buenos Aires 03/09/2006 09:40 AM First 2A

LAN CHILE
622 EZE Buenos Aires 03/16/2006 11:40 AM SCL Santiago 03/16/2006 12:55 PM Business 6D

LAN CHILE
833 SCL Santiago 03/22/2006 05:05 PM IPC Easter Island 03/22/2006 08:25 PM Business 1D

LAN CHILE
842 IPC Easter Island 03/25/2006 01:20 PM SCL Santiago 03/25/2006 08:05 PM Business 2D

LAN CHILE
600 SCL Santiago 03/25/2006 09:35 PM LIM Lima 03/26/2006 12:15 AM First 1D

AMERICAN AIRLINES
2110 LIM Lima 03/31/2006 08:36 AM MIA Miami 03/31/2006 02:10 PM Business 1E

AMERICAN AIRLINES
1266 MIA Miami 03/31/2006 06:05 PM TPA Tampa 03/31/2006 07:10 PM First
3E

Total cost = 150K miles and $164 taxes and fees (~13,500 total miles)

I was able to get 1D on the IPC outbound, but not on the return.

I eliminated the London longhaul. I do get to try BA F for about 3 hours on the GRU-EZE segment.

Was it not possible (or did you not want) to use LA on the USA/South America flights? Although it would add a bit to your travel time, I'd have tried to route MIA-SCL-GIG (via GRU, but same flight number) on LA and, on the way back, LIM-SCL-MIA on LA.

In any event, a great itinerary! I'm jealous.

Either MIA-SCL-GIG or LIM-SCL-MIA, yes, but not both, I think, because of the max 2 connections 1 stopover rule, since the OP is already doing EZE-SCL and IPC-SCL.

The EXP agent was great and I wasn't sure about the rules so I believed her. She said that I'm only allowed 2 connections in the same city, including a stopover. I thought, still think (I'm researching it now) that I'm allowed 1 stopover AND 2 connections in the same city. If she's correct I can't use SCL anymore because of IPC. If I'm right (anybody wants to chime in here :D ), I will change the return to LIM-SCL-MIA on LAN.

The return has been changed :D ^

LAN CHILE
563 LIM Lima 03/31/2006 03:10 PM SCL Santiago 03/31/2006 07:30 PM Business 2D

LAN CHILE
500 SCL Santiago 03/31/2006 09:25 PM MIA Miami 04/01/2006 04:55 AM First 1D

AMERICAN AIRLINES
1724 MIA Miami 04/01/2006 07:50 AM TPA Tampa 04/01/2006 08:48 AM First 3E


And the taxes and fees dropped to $135 ^

Does anyone know the AA codeshare flight #s for SCL/IPC? AA.com states that IPC is a codeshare destination, yet I can find no AA designator for this route either on AA.com or oneworld.com (but there does appear to be one for IB).

AA7707

Thanks, and IPC/SCL?

AA7706

does anyone know what type of oneworld award would be needed to do a similar itinerary from SFO? SFO-LAX-GRU-SCL-IPC, etc?

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?

I was on the 17:05 flight and I was told the gate setup is always the same. I don't know if they meant for all the flights or just for the IPC-PPT flights. Sorry.

This was not my experience. We both have status and were on paid F & J tickets (AONE5 and paid J). We tried 2 times to get through immigration and they would not let us through even though we were "washed." That's why we had to get the escort from LAN staff. You were just lucky.

I wasn't the only one. There were 3 more passengers at the AC going to IPC, on the same flight, just like me, and I also saw few more at the LAN lounge that later were in J on our flight.

Were you on LA833 (SCL-IPC-PPT 17:05 on Wed/Sun) or LA841 (SCL-IPC 08:30 on Tue/Sat)? Did your flight depart from the domestic or international side?

841 on the international side.

Perhaps after my discussion with the supervisor of the immigration office they have cleaned up their act.

I am thinking of burning some of my AA miles for an award ticket to IPC. How difficult is it to find seats for either a Y or J-class ticket? How many months in advance do I need to call to expect availability?

I was able to get seats about 2 months out. You can check for yourself if you open an LA FF account.

Just in case you are planning on visiting SCL & IPC on an all partner award: IPC is in SWP, not South America. :td:

The oneworld award, on the other hand, is just right for this purpose. ^

Exactly....

You can get to IPC from US in J on a AAll Partner award for 125 miles,

or for 130K miles you can fly in J up to 20K miles to anywhere in the world and include IPC as part of the trip(s).