Two errant lines intersect in Chile, a TR with two perspectives.

[JohnM]

I can’t fault EK with their sorting of the delay. Timely text messages, emails with updated itinerary and just now a call from an agent in DXB to confirm things.

She was also checking about CD to my hotel there, but I pointed out that I had cancelled that hotel to avoid a likely no-show charge. At that point, last night, it didn’t look like I would need a hotel in DXB.

Now, scheduled to arrive at 2330h tonight, it looks like EK will sort tonight in a hotel, rather than me snoozing in the lounge.

They’re onto it. Full marks.

 

[JohnM]

It’s now 1115h and the EK-donated bacon is settling nicely . They are providing a bus to take the Novotel denizens back to PER at 1200h.

Incidentally, at the Novotel I’m a whole 7.4 km from home . Danged if I was going back home - I’d emptied my fridge of bacon and milk for the coffee .

BTW, they had Veuve, not just Moet, in the PER EK lounge .

Life is good... .

 

[JohnM]

Deja vu...

Shall we try one more time?



Hang in, there mate! I’m still coming....

 

[love_the_life]

I hope Juddles doesn't leave without you.

 

[JohnM]

Now where is the unfunny button....

 

[JohnM]

An interesting phenomenon has come out of this delay. There’s a pervasive social vibe with people mixing and mingling in the lounge that ordinarily wouldn’t be evident.

 

[JohnM]

Baby steps....

 

[jxv]

Just stumbled across this TR, luckily before it gets to the real travel in Chile. Between 2008 and 2012 I visited La Serena several times for work and one more time on a holiday trip with Mrs jxv. Weekends were spent exploring the Valle Elqui and the places along the coast, including Guanaqueros.

My time there has left me with a soft spot for Chile, so I am looking forward to reading about your exploits!

 

[JohnM]

I lost 7A in this. Ah well, 11K will have to do.

So that’s what an A380 wing looks like .

 

[JohnM]

BREAKING NEWS

I have just woken up - in Dubai! I’m back on track !

The delayed flight arriived here at 2300h, EK swiftly produced a hotel voucher and CD there and I was ensconced in bed within the hour.

It’s now 0530h and the CD will be here at 0700h to whisk me to my 0900h DXB-SCL flight - the same flight as originally scheduled.

In the end, the delayed flight saved me the cost of a hotel in Dubai .

 

[juddles]

..........I have just woken up .....It’s now 0530h and the CD will be here at 0700h to whisk me to my 0900h DXB-SCL flight .....

OMG! These are details of a "visitor" not initially clear - so even when travelling you get up 1 and a half hours before necessary leave-hotel time?? My habit is oft to arise two days late for anything!

 

[juddles]

Just stumbled across this TR, luckily before it gets to the real travel in Chile. Between 2008 and 2012 I visited La Serena several times for work and one more time on a holiday trip with Mrs jxv. Weekends were spent exploring the Valle Elqui and the places along the coast, including Guanaqueros.

My time there has left me with a soft spot for Chile, so I am looking forward to reading about your exploits!

jxv, what brought you to this region?

 

[JohnM]

Total elapsed time of 20:55 coming up... .

 

[jxv]

jxv, what brought you to this region?

The Gemini South telescope on Cerro Pachon, 1 hr 45 mins drive East of La Serena and their office in town.

Australia is a 4.67% partner in the international Gemini project (Gemini North is on Hawaii), giving Australian based astronomers about 15 observing nights per year on each of these 8 m telescopes. Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, where I spent most of my working life, was awarded two multi-million dollar contracts to design and build specialised cameras for both telescopes. As project manager/engineer I was involved in the on-site testing and commissioning. It was great to see years of hard work come to fruition!

On our Chilean holiday Mrs jxv and I visited Santiago, La Serena, Valparaiso and the Atacama Desert. I would like to explore some of Southern Chile, but there are so many places still on our list that I am not sure whether/when we will make it there. Your TR will probably bump up Chile's place on the list. I am looking forward to it.

 

[juddles]

The Gemini South telescope on Cerro Pachon, 1 hr 45 mins drive East of La Serena and their office in town.

Australia is a 4.67% partner in the international Gemini project (Gemini North is on Hawaii), giving Australian based astronomers about 15 observing nights per year on each of these 8 m telescopes. Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, where I spent most of my working life, was awarded two multi-million dollar contracts to design and build specialised cameras for both telescopes. As project manager/engineer I was involved in the on-site testing and commissioning. It was great to see years of hard work come to fruition!

On our Chilean holiday Mrs jxv and I visited Santiago, La Serena, Valparaiso and the Atacama Desert. I would like to explore some of Southern Chile, but there are so many places still on our list that I am not sure whether/when we will make it there. Your TR will probably bump up Chile's place on the list. I am looking forward to it.

If all goes to plan, we will be visiting the La Silla astronomical site next week! (my father worked there which was the reason I lived in Chile to start with) I visited Tololo a few times but this was years ago - way before the Gemini project.

 

[JohnM]

The eagle has landed in SCL .

 

[juddles]

The eagle has landed in SCL .

Did you arrive too?

 

[JohnM]

Spot on time .

 

[JohnM]

John M if you have to transit via Santiago any tips of payiny the airport Australian charge would be great. Thanks

The upstairs desk was open last night and looking around down below, it seems that only the upstairs desk may be in operation these days. It’s impossible to miss, being clearly marked with Australian flags and signs to pay the reciprocity fee. It appears that Australians are the only people subject to this impost (my hazy recollection is that some others also had to pay in the past.)

The biggest PITA last night was that my flight arrival coincided with several others. Stopping to pay the RF (the only person needing to do so) put me at the back of the long line at paaport control. The line did move quickly though.

A word of warning if you come in from elsewhere when they expect very few Australians is that most of the booths will be closed. The agent on duty, instead of occupying the booth nearest the concourse, was in the middle one of five. Initiatially it looked like they were closed but closer examination revealed a diminutive agent lurking under not particularly bright lighting.

This impost and its attendant bureaucracy really is an archaic nonsense that both governments should have their heads banged together about IMO.

 

[RooFlyer]

The upstairs desk was open last night and looking around down below, it seems that only the upstairs desk may be in operation these days.

Yes, this was reported elsewhere on AFF a few weeks back. Apparently some renos or re-organisation going on in the down-escalator location.

I agree re the PITA - even if it has to be paid, you'd think they could organise an on-line payment,like the Argentinians.