Santiago via QF 5027 (LA 804)

[pn1]

I am booked (QF 5027) to fly from Melbourne to Santiago on LA 804 later this month. Returning the same route 12 days later. Limiting my time to Santiago and Valparaiso.

I wonder if anyone has had recent experience at Santiago Airport?

My queries:

1: Can one definitely use an Australian credit to pay the Chile reciprocity fee? I've seen conflicting reports; some saying credit cards are OK but other saying its cash only and then in unused $US.

2: Can I assume I can withdraw Chilean cash from an airport ATM using my Australian Visa debit card? (This has worked for me countless times elsewhere but I've not previously been to Chile).

3: My hotel has suggested a pre booked taxi using either Transfer Delfos or Transvip

I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

Paul in Melbourne

 

[JohnM]

1. Yes - make sure you head over to the far left at the bottom of the escalator in the immigration hall to pay the recip fee first (if the desk at the top of the escalator is not open - which is usual IMO) before presenting at an immigration desk.
2. Yes
3. Depends on the cost, I guess. Getting a taxi into the city in the past was a scrum-fight and there were plenty of rip-offs. Things have improved greatly at SCL so it may be that the taxi operators are a bit more controlled than before.

 

[bertflyer]

I am booked (QF 5027) to fly from Melbourne to Santiago on LA 804 later this month. Returning the same route 12 days later. Limiting my time to Santiago and Valparaiso.

I wonder if anyone has had recent experience at Santiago Airport?

My queries:

1: Can one definitely use an Australian credit to pay the Chile reciprocity fee? I've seen conflicting reports; some saying credit cards are OK but other saying its cash only and then in unused $US.

2: Can I assume I can withdraw Chilean cash from an airport ATM using my Australian Visa debit card? (This has worked for me countless times elsewhere but I've not previously been to Chile).

3: My hotel has suggested a pre booked taxi using either Transfer Delfos or Transvip

As per JohnM above, no worries to use your CC to pay the inbound fee and I have used my debit card to withdraw cash at ATMs all over Chile (CBA Master Card Debit card in my case) as well as paying in shops and restaurants etc.

 

[SYD]

Passed through just before News Years. Flew in from MDZ and fortunately QF was running late and three booths with no queue waiting for QF to arrive.
1. Paid fee with Oz CC
2. ATM ok but nasty fees. There is a Santander ATM airside at baggage claim (far righthand end)
If you have or can get an ING Visa debit use it - they will rebate fees.
3. I got the prepay taxi (I read that on QF travel insider). No one else seemed to be using it, but it was a nice, clean car and pretty straight forward. Fare was about $40 / 20.000 CP. The desks are just on the wayout for the doors to landside.

Heading back from the CP Santiago, we got a hotel car/limo for $25.000.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure if the taxi companies named by the OP's hotel are the standard airport ones, or otherwise. As mentioned above, add you head out of the customs area, desk is on your right. I think two companies there. There are standard rates to various parts of SCL. Last year I paid 23,000 pesos to Viticura.

I always use them when arriving SCL from Australia, a bit tired and jet lagged. Easy and straightforward.

 

[pn1]

I had a successful flight on LA 804. I’m not sure if this is the place to report but I’m having trouble doing almost anything due to slow wifi at my hotel.

LA 804 departure Melbourne and arrived Santiago pretty well on time.

Latam cabin service would be described as adequate. Service was matter of fact but not surly.

The evening meal was lovely but that’s all you got. One hot dish accompanied by an Australian Tim Tam as “dessert”.

There was no separate drink service before “dinner”.

Breakfast was similar a small Belgian waffle and a small carton of yoghurt.

One left the 13 hour flight feeling hungry.

The Recipricocy fee of $US117 per person was collected by a very traditional public service type counter attendant. No problems using a credit card but there were locally produced signs saying if paying by cash in USD then only clean notes accepted.

Customs staff were there to check baggage but were more interested in playing on their smart phones and talking among themselves!

The Transvip tip worked well and we obtained door to door service very similar to Uber. However it was a little unclear that there were separate departures points at exit 4 for private and shared services.

The local touts were very much in evidence but did not bother us.

The ATM machines took a few minutes to find but served us well.

 

[Denali]

Yeah, I found LAN FAs a bit on the bare min side but nothing dramatic to complain but was a bit peckish after our flight to Santiago (from Easter Island).

Did you try that lemon lighter fluid drink, Pisco or something like that?

 

[SYD]

Did you try that lemon lighter fluid drink, Pisco or something like that?

The Pisco Sours on my AKL - SCL flight were yum! Possibly better than some we had in Chile.

Our FA was also aloof, but generally I thought the F&B was good.