Earliest access to Lounge at Santiago airport

[frequentflyr]

Hello,
I have a question about Lounge Access at Santiago airport. What is the earliest you can get access to a lounge if you are not between connecting flights? I am currently on a 16 hour layover before I fly to Australia. However, I flew to Santiago on a separate flight so I have collected my bags and passed through immigration into Chile.
The earliest I can check in my bags for my next flight to Australia is 3 hours before departure. I would like to access the American Airlines lounge. How can I do this? If I pass through the exit immigration out of Chile and into the departure gates can I come back out to check in my bags 3 hours before my flight?
Or am I stuck outside until I can check in my bags?
Also I am using a complimentary entry to Qantas Club card that I received from my credit card. I am assuming I can use this at the American Airlines lounge considering my flight has a QF flight number?
Hope someone can help!
Thanks!!

 

[JohnM]

While you may be able go in then back out - what would you do with your bags while you were inside? You can't just leave them lying around outside in the check-in hall.

 

[opusman]

Qantas Club one-time entry passes are usually not valid anywhere except Qantas Clubs. The card itself would say where it is valid, I suggest you read it carefully to avoid possible disappointment.

The Holiday Inn at the airport is quite nice and might be worth investigating for such a long layover.

 

[frequentflyr]

The complimentary pass states that is valid at 'any Qantas Club or Qantas operated International Business Lounge'. I had assumed the Admiral's Club fell in this category but I guess this International Business Lounge is operated by AA. So I couldn't have used it anyway lol. Perhaps I could have bought a day pass.
Anyway, I had planned to leave my bags in storage at the airport and go through to the departure gates but I was told that is impossible. Once you pass through immigration to the departure gates/lounges you can't come back out.
So I ended up just sitting at a restaurant outside the departure hall and will go through at the earliest possible time. Holiday Inn was US$175 for the night or until 6pm for $110 which at the time only gave me about 4 hours in the hotel so thought I'd pass.
Thanks for your help anyway!

 

[opusman]

16 hours is more than enough time to go into Santiago for the day; beats sitting in an airport terminal!

 

[frequentflyr]

Yes very true, and in hindsight I regret not doing so. Although I spent 12 days in Santiago 2 months ago and saw pretty much everything I wanted to see. But you're right, even sitting in park and people watching beats sitting in an airport restaurant!