LATAM to fly MEL-SCL

[AviationNZ]

Interesting move - LATAM LAN Melbourne-Santiago Boeing 787 flights start October 2017 - Australian Business Traveller

There has been lots of capacity growth to South America lately from AU/NZ!

 

[moa999]

Direct as well.
More ammunition for QF to get higher ETOPS on the 789, possibly opening up its usage on JNB and SCL.

 

[coyote25]

Liking this service being Melbourne based and planning on one day doing back to South America. Definitely think I'd use this service at some point.

 

[jb747]

Direct as well.
More ammunition for QF to get higher ETOPS on the 789, possibly opening up its usage on JNB and SCL.

The ETOPS approval depends upon CASA. I think some of the battery and engine issues need to be settled before being 5 hours from anywhere on one engine becomes a good idea.

 

[Quickstatus]

Whats the rush /or attraction to get the 787 to fly in parts of the world far from an alternate airport?
In the end its just another aircraft with some new and hyped? features.

 

[whatmeworry]

Why didn't they have this route for World cup and Olympics?

 

[bismarck]

Somewhat surprising. The syd-akl-scl flight didn't seem that heavily loaded and prices are always quite reasonable. Hard to see how they're making a dollar.

 

[anat0l]

That's a lot of capacity on the SWP to SAM direct market (don't forget to add AR and NZ to the mix). Are you really ready for this, MEL?

 

[AviationNZ]

That's a lot of capacity on the SWP to SAM direct market (don't forget to add AR and NZ to the mix). Are you really ready for this, MEL?

AR stopped flying a number of years ago. But yes, I agree. Between LA, QF and NZ, a lot of capacity to South America!

 

[juddles]

Just a warning to anyone over 5feet tall, the LATAM 787 business seat is the SHORTEST lay-flat seat I have ever felt on ANY airline. I was so disappointed with them.

As for capacity, I am sure that the scientists in LATAM have studied the numbers. I fly that trans-pac route every month or so and pax numbers seem reasonably high.

 

[anat0l]

Just a warning to anyone over 5feet tall, the LATAM 787 business seat is the SHORTEST lay-flat seat I have ever felt on ANY airline. I was so disappointed with them.

As for capacity, I am sure that the scientists in LATAM have studied the numbers. I fly that trans-pac route every month or so and pax numbers seem reasonably high.

Well, that is a surprise, especially with the competition with NZ (although they hit the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires directly as opposed to LA, NZ might have slightly more issues with connecting flights throughout South America, admittedly).

However, a direct flight to MEL...

 

[Boca68]

Just a warning to anyone over 5feet tall, the LATAM 787 business seat is the SHORTEST lay-flat seat I have ever felt on ANY airline. I was so disappointed with them.

As for capacity, I am sure that the scientists in LATAM have studied the numbers. I fly that trans-pac route every month or so and pax numbers seem reasonably high.

Really? I'm 6' 2" and flown the LA800/801 SYD-SCL in J several times. I didn't notice anything like that. The only thing that bothered me with LATAM 787 J seats was the rather silly seat adjust. Its weird, getting to lay-flat was convuluted at best. Not very intuitive. But a small gripe. Other than that, the J product is fine. And usually beats QF in price comparsion.

But the news of direct MEL-SCL is perfect for me. Regularly fly to LIM and the new route avoids a stop in either SYD or AKL.

 

[soorox]

Flights have now been loaded into the GDS:

LA805 SCL 12:55 - 17:55+1 MEL 146 789
LA804 MEL 19:55 - 19:00 SCL 257 789

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Flights have now been loaded into the GDS:

LA805 SCL 12:55 - 17:55+1 MEL 146 789
LA804 MEL 19:55 - 19:00 SCL 257 789

Sounds like "it's on" in that case.

Three times weekly it appears ?

It's fantastic MEL will host an exciting route like this, although as others have said, the capacity on the route appears quite heavy when factoring in the SYD & AKL options too. Will be interesting to see if any changes occur to capacity at SYD & AKL.

 

[anat0l]

Flights have now been loaded into the GDS:

LA805 SCL 12:55 - 17:55+1 MEL 146 789
LA804 MEL 19:55 - 19:00 SCL 257 789

Interesting timing. Finish the day in MEL and once you land in SCL, time to get to the hotel and clock off, hopefully ready enough for work the next day.

On the return flight, no time to finish work in the morning; up early, head to the airport and jump on. Once you get to MEL, maybe a light supper and then turn in.

Timing works decently for anyone wanting to make connections in either direction, including those connecting to/from PER. Also, those who want to splurge in the MEL T2 QF F Lounge, there's plenty of time available before the flight to SCL.

It's now just up to MEL to prove that it can sustain the route, even if it is only 3 times a week.

 

[Denali]

Do they still charge a reciprocal fee for aussies when they arrive at SCL?

 

[JohnM]

Do they still charge a reciprocal fee for aussies when they arrive at SCL?

Yes.......

 

[dajop]

I note quite a few people suggesting capacity is quite heavy on the route (SW Pacific-South America) , but for at least 10 years, capacity has been very much consistent between the two regions (at least in terms of # services), whilst between most other regions traffic has been growing (except SW Pacific - Africa). 10 years ago you had AR & QF serving EZE ex-SYD and LAN serving SCL . Today you have QF and LATAM serving SCL and NZ serving EZE, so still three airlines serving EZE/SCL between them.

So an extra three services a week would not seem to be that significant - and arguably MEL serves a population base of 11m for traffic heading east (i.e. everywhere but NSW & QLD), and SCL serves the whole of South America. (Also FWIW, timetable almost matches with SQ 207/8 - if it weren't for alliances - would just about the quickest way between SE Asia and SCL if they code-shared).

 

[Boca68]

Do they still charge a reciprocal fee for aussies when they arrive at SCL?

Yep, only us and the Mexicans. But we get slapped with $117usd and Mexicans is $21usd (I think?) I usually fly straight on to Lima, so avoid it. But have a wedding next year . Pray its gone by then. Last time I crossed the border into Chile, I think the fee was $85usd? About 5 or 6 years ago.

Noting the new flight times for the MEL-SCL route, for me the return is perfect, but the outward, not so good. But not awful either. Depends on which days. Do we know yet which days of the week is proposed?

 

[bismarck]

Yep, only us and the Mexicans. But we get slapped with $117usd and Mexicans is $21usd (I think?) I usually fly straight on to Lima, so avoid it. But have a wedding next year . Pray its gone by then. Last time I crossed the border into Chile, I think the fee was $85usd? About 5 or 6 years ago.

Doubtful it'll be gone. To be fair to them, they only charge it because we charge their citizens. They'll drop it when we do.