Patagonia?
 

Since this forum still seems to be quite charitable to questions somewhat lightly related to Miles and Points, can anyone comment on their experiences with LAN domestic services to Patagonia, and the area as a destination?

I recently flew LAN from Santiago to Punta Arenas via Puerto Montt on an Airbus 319 . The flight was completetly full on the first leg, pretty empty on the second. It is all economy and very tight. On the way back (from Mount Pleasant on a 320) the whole flight was perhaps half full. The best seats are, naturally enough, the bulkhead and the second row of emergency exit. Sandwiches and drinks (including beer and wine) were offered on both legs. LAN has no domestic lounges, but there is a lounge that accepts Diners and other cards in Santiago (and one in Punta Arenas that opens only very rarely according to LAN staff at the airport).

The Punta Arenas area itself has few points of interest, aside from two Penguin parks and a 19th century fort. It has a so-called Zona Franca that seems to import mainly from Argentina. The principal tourist destination is Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park, as well as some areas to the south of Punta Arenas. The best car rental is Alamo; the agent there claims internet rates are much cheaper than what is locally available. You could rent a car at the airport and drive directly north to Puerto Natales without missing too much.

I've flown Lan to Punta Arenas twice (once when it was a business class service, and once late last year). I have also flown to Puerto Montt at least 4 times. On my first trip, I was in the cockpit of a 767 over Torres del Paine, and it was a memorable special never-to-have-again flight.

If you can get on one of the 319s or 320s, you will be just fine and figure better service than any US carrier on a flight of similar length. Be prepared for strict baggage weights. Avoid the 737s if possible (they are refurbished just fine, but have old and tiny overhead bins, and have no IFE).

I've had moderately good success renting from Econorent, but finding an automatic in Punta Arenas is very difficult.

(I still have 4 open days in next month's trip and am thinking of going back to Chiloe).

Wow, Torres del Paine from the cockpit on a clear day. No wonder you keep going back. I envy you, I've done it from a C-130 Hercules, but never on a clear day. Next time... <sigh>

I had no difficulty in getting an automatic from Alamo in Punta Arenas, or anywhere else in Chile. Alamo also has had the best rates, at least recently. The counter in the PUQ airport is new and was not yet on the Alamo web site in October. You can reserve for the in-town location and the counter receptionist will take you to their office.

If you are down the bottom of Chile, you could do worse than to take a run across to MPN. The Falklands are a stunning place to visit. Check out the mine fields and how the sand dunes around Stanley are in great shape where there are mines, but somewhat degraded in the cleared areas (because of human access).

There are the war cemetaries (Goose Green), offshore islands (eg Sea Lion Island) and flights on FIGAS.

In Stanley on the weekend, be very careful of meal times at the club - they close very early (like 6pm).