[QUOTE=Darren]As a subsidiary, but not as an independent. It would be like Comair or B-Med joining as actual carriers instead of subsidiaries of BA. That being said, however, I don't know the advantage of necessarily having Lan Peru as a member other than saying there is another member. I don't remember how Lan Peru works in terms of status recognition and lounge access as an LA subsidiary, but maybe you will get more of both with LP as a regular member. I don't know.

Just finished a trip to Peru that included 3 segments on Lan Peru. They specifically asked for oneworld emeralds and sapphires to board first. Lounge access is not much of an issue as there are no lounges except in Lima. My husband and I were both in business, so not sure if they would have let us in just based on our AA platinum status, but they did also allow our son (who is gold) to come into the lounge. Way better that BA in that regard.

I agree, LP honors OW status very well when ever there's a chance for it. Lounge access for all intl. flights, premium check-in and boarding all working well.

I never knew what the difference was between LAN Peru/Ecuador. When I check in at LAX, it's always the LAN counter. Never had I seen LAN Peru. Plus, they all use LAN metal. The only difference is the flight code.
But in terms of getting miles credited, there is a difference. LA coded flights get credited much faster than LP coded flights. On two occasions, I had to send my boarding pass and receipt to AAdvantage to get the mileage credited from LP.

I would like to see in oneworld -- LAN Brasil, but it doesn't even exist yet. Failing that, how about TAM?

Well, that's good news! I usually tell friends that LAN has the best J class wine list around... So extending the reach of OW makes this even more available :p "hic....."

So will LAN Peru and LAN Ecuador be seperate from LAN Chile for AA Partner awards that require travel on AA + 2 additional OW carriers?

Ownership and other difference.

LAN Peru is a fully-owned subsidiary. All long-haul flights are operated by LAN Chile with a LAN Peru code and often with a LA* code as well.

LAN Ecuador is not fully owned. All flights operate only with an XL* code with LAN Ecuador essentially wet-leasing the planes from LAN Chile.

LAN Argentina is the most independent. It can only use designated LAN Argentina planes, even though the exterior livery is the same as the others.

Yeah! me too!!

They are, in the same way American Eagle and Comair (South Africa) are.

Can't answer your question, but I need to correct your statements.

1. I believe your question is about OneWorld award, NOT AA partner award. I'm basing that on the second part of your statement which is also incorrect.

2. When using AA miles for a OW award, you ONLY need to use 2 OW partners and AA does not count nor is it needed. It is true that if you use AA you still will need 2 OW partners, but if you do not use AA at all, you will satisfy the rule by simply using 2 OW partners.