Santiago Chile - best Airline to travel with .

[majordad]

Me and Mrs Majordad are planning to travel to Santiago Chile . Can anyone who has done it recently recommend an Airline either via UK or perhaps Paris/Frankfurt etc.

[AndyACB]

When are you going, economy or business/first. An airlines you want to avoid?

I went a few years back but was already in South America so just took a short flight. I got to South America via BA to Rio then hopped about all over mostly with LAN.

Loads of different ways of getting there but price generally is steep for the quickest one stop routes from England.

[Puggit]

Don't do BA/AA via Miami unless there is no other route possible including walking through the Amazon Jungle.

[AndyACB]

Puggit said:

Don't do BA/AA via Miami unless there is no other route possible including walking through the Amazon Jungle.

Why, what happened to you?

[BrabusMog]

MIA is one of the sttest airports you could imagine transiting. Personally I would like via AMS with KLM or CDG with AF. I'd avoid IB via MAD like the plague.

[Puggit]

Looking at the Wiki site the major one-airline routes would be:

Air Canada via Toronto (and possibly Buenos Aires)
Air France via Paris
American via Dallas or Miami
Delta via Atlanta
Iberia via Madrid

Of course there are various BA flights in to other S American cities (Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio...) and then local airlines too. Also LAN flies to JFK.

Out of that lot...? Air France has to be the easiest. I like Air Canada too, but that's a long way round. Due to the previously mentioned Miami problems, I'd try and avoid any US transits (you have to enter the US, luggage and all. And then leave again).

[David A]

Iberia via Madrid, 2hrs in Madrid.

BA via sao paulo - the benefit is the long leg home finishes in LHR. Whereas the Iberia via MAD you have another 4+hrs after the long flight. Downside of GRU is the being in the airport which is crap in every respect.

Lan flights SCL->GRU are very very good (in business anyway!)

Iberia busines is also very good other than not fully flat beds.

Iberia/LAN/BA are all one world and bookable via BA.

Note on return - no liquids in hand luggage as they get taken in MAD.

[majordad]

Thanks for the replies so far. One thing I did not say is that we are coming from Cork in Ireland, so going to Mardrid or Paris is not as much an inconverience as for you in the UK but we had heard about Air France and the Pitot Tubes and also that maybe Iberia was not as good as it could be.

[David A]

Business, Prem Economy or Economy?

Business in iberia is fine btw.

[majordad]

Premium Economy or maybe Economy, we are paying ourselves.

[BrabusMog]

Iberia don't offer Premium Economy and their Business Class on that route is, quite frankly, st! I fly that way quite a lot, I would strongly recommend using any airline other than Iberia.

[David A]

BrabusMog said:

Iberia don't offer Premium Economy and their Business Class on that route is, quite frankly, st! I fly that way quite a lot, I would strongly recommend using any airline other than Iberia.

Compared to who though - I'd say its better than the american carriers and different to BA but feels roomier? Lounges at either end are the same whether BA or Iberia.

Now to the important thing - if you do that route a lot - can you answer my question about the rugby!

[BrabusMog]

Sorry, what was the rugby question?

I usually use AF for that route, they have much more up to date cabins. The last time I flew IB in business the laptop connections weren't working and one of the toilets was out of order before take-off. Not what I expect in business.

[David A]

BrabusMog said:

Sorry, what was the rugby question?

I usually use AF for that route, they have much more up to date cabins. The last time I flew IB in business the laptop connections weren't working and one of the toilets was out of order before take-off. Not what I expect in business.

Where can I watch it on Saturday! Other than flannerys.

[BrabusMog]

I would try the Catina California, at least I think that is what it is called. It's a sports bar that shows American stuff mainly but they have the Premier League stuff although I'm not sure what time they open at to show it or even what time the rugby is on at

Sorry I can't be of more help!

Seriously OP, I wouldn't recommend IB in economy.

[AndyACB]

majordad said:

Thanks for the replies so far. One thing I did not say is that we are coming from Cork in Ireland, so going to Mardrid or Paris is not as much an inconverience as for you in the UK but we had heard about Air France and the Pitot Tubes and also that maybe Iberia was not as good as it could be.

That's a tricky starting point. All of your routes will involve 2 stops and most will start with you heading in the wrong direction for an hour or two.

I wouldn't worry too much about who you use for the short hops as you're only on the aircraft for a short period and it doesn't matter if the service isn't great.

You really need to make sure that all the sectors are on the same booking, that way if one flight is late you are protected and they will find you another onward flight if you connection is missed.
If you book all the sectors separately then you'll be risking a very stressful journey indeed.

Air France are ok but have a very dubious safety record even if you discount AF447, service is average at best and they do like a good strike. Iberia are basic but safe, economy short haul is extremely basic but I've never flown long haul with them.

The American carriers vary a lot, some have great legroom in economy but on the whole they have very poor service standards in economy by European/Mid East carrier standards.

I'd spend some time looking at connections on sites like opodo.co.uk and go over and join the flyertalk forums and get their opinions.

I agree with the sentiments of transiting through the USA but if it turns out to be greatly quicker or cheaper it will be worth doing as there are a lot of connections from North to South America.