Experience getting into South America

[Milboo]

Hi

Hoping to call on some collective wisdom.

We are contemplating a trip into Peru in August or October and have been using ITA Matrix to look at flight options.

There seems to be 2 choices only:
- using LAN/ Qantas either direct to Chile and then on to Lima or the same but via AKL - is much shorter time wise
- using Delta or United up through LAX and ATL or Houston and back the same or via EWR and SFO

Question for people who have done the trip - any experiences one way or the other with the routes? We have no issues with a couple of days in US on the way home (the longer trip). Or experience with LAN long haul (I've only done SYD- AKL a few years ago and was not overly impressed).

FWIW I am gold VFF (applied for QF status match). Star Alliance - will have dropped from silver by trip time.

Thanks!!

 

[JohnM]

I've travelled to and through LIM many times. Take your pick; I doubt there's much in it regarding quality of service - but what class are you travelling? I stick with QF/OWA, so have done SYD-SCL direct and also on LA via AKL - all in J. Similarly JFK-LIM-SCL back in the B767 days

To me, QF and LA are both equally excellent - happy to travel on either. But I can't speak about LA in whY long-haul - but no complaints in whY short-haul.

Can't comment about DL or UA.

 

[Milboo]

Hi

Thanks for your response! Sadly it is in whY class - but means planned trip can be upscaled to luxury

I've only flown DL and UA domestic in the US too.

 

[docjames]

Back in 2008, mrsdoc and I did in Y:

AA CUN-DFW-SCL

Then LA SCL-ANF-SCL-EZE-SCL-AKL

THEN QF

AKL-BNE


The QF flight was the worst of the lot!

Happily fly LAN again - go for schedule and price. Way better than AA Y.

(We actually did prior to that BNE-LAX-JFK in J on QF, JFK-CUN-HAV-CUN on MX).

 

[JohnM]

Hi

Thanks for your response! Sadly it is in whY class - but means planned trip can be upscaled to luxury

Understand - but I do the reverse. However, I travel solo, so I have no SWMBO pressure .

 

[Milboo]

Thanks!! Downside of travelling with a friend is I can't just put a foot down and say we're doing it my way!

Actually giving some thought now to postponing this trip until next year once Air NZ go into BA as want to get into Argentina too. So Plan B is Morocco...

And continuing to derail my own thread...very jealous of the TR you shared of the aerial African safari. I was there in August and am itching to return - to Botswana and Tanzania this time. One of the highlights was a private flight from the Thornybush Reserve in Kruger back to Nelspruit instead of a road transfer - flying out over the Kruger, the townships and then into the lush horticulture areas of Nelspruit.

 

[Mattg]

Hi Milboo,

If the price is the same or cheaper, I would fly to LIM via SCL on QF or LA. I'm not a big fan of most US airlines, especially in Y and the travel time is significantly longer that way. Qantas and LAN both have great in-flight service in my opinion, so don't worry about that. Having said that, I did fly back to Australia via the USA after my last South America trip and it wasn't too bad (except for the AA flights!) and it was nice to stopover in the USA.

I see that you're now considering Morocco though. I was there late last year and it was AMAZING! Make sure you do a tour out to the Sahara Desert that is at least two nights (the one night tours only scratch the surface) and includes camel riding. And make sure you spend a bit of time in Marrakech - lovely city!! Oh and one tip for tours in Morocco - book at your hotel after you arrive, or even at a local tourist office, as they will be a half to a third of the price!

 

[Milboo]

And I've circled back to my original plan!

After a few other ideas were not panning out I threw myself at my usual travel agent today begging for inspiration - mentioning Peru had been scrapped because of high airfares.

Turns out LAN released a special yesterday - 1 week only. $1599 SYD - SCL return in Y and have managed to work the dates to get QF both ways so it is off to South America for us!

 

[Mattg]

And I've circled back to my original plan!

After a few other ideas were not panning out I threw myself at my usual travel agent today begging for inspiration - mentioning Peru had been scrapped because of high airfares.

Turns out LAN released a special yesterday - 1 week only. $1599 SYD - SCL return in Y and have managed to work the dates to get QF both ways so it is off to South America for us!

That's good timing. Have a great trip!

 

[quokka77]

Hanging out for the Air NZ flights.