Long stopover in SCL - Options

[baarg]

Hi all, a few things here so bear with me, but would appreciate your views/advice or knowledge/info you may be able to offer.

I received a flight change from Qantas saying that my Latam flight LA476 departing EZE to SCL has been moved from a night departure (LA476) to 12pm (LA420), making my stopover in Santiago an 11hr one instead of 2hs. Disappointed is an understatement. I called Qantas since I booked the flights with them (reward seats) and they said it's a Latam issue and to call them :/ LA476 has indeed been cancelled for April. The flight is a regular one and will be until 31/03 but for some reason it's not from April, losing that connection to LA801 at night. I also know that there's a flight departing AEP at 8pm LA456 (actually, my original flight before it got changed to LA476 and now to LA420 was from AEP!) but Qantas says that they cannot move me to that flight and to again, call Latam. I haven't called Latam cos they are useless and I am hesitant as well given that I didn't book my original flights with them and I am afraid they'll muck up my flights and I'll just waste my time. So I am wondering a few things:

1) Is it possible to find out if LA476 will be up and running in April? History shows as abovementioned, that it's flying and has been until now for months.
2) Is it true that I need to call Latam? Cannot Qantas reschedule my flight?
3) If indeed I cannot change the flights and we have to stay in SCL, do you have any recommendations for things to do (with an 8 year old!)? We both have Argentinian passports so not an issue to leave the airport or pay for a visa.
4) This is a bit of another question, but would like to know, if in future, we decide to purchase tickets only to SCL to avoid all these waiting times with the partner airlines and fly to Buenos Aires making our own connection, can you enter Chile with a NZ passport if you're an Australian citizen?

Not sure if anyone here would know any of these questions, but I know sometimes people have access to Expert flyer or maybe has flown recently...or maybe they got the same message with the flight change and know something.

Thanks

 

[RooFlyer]

4) This is a bit of another question, but would like to know, if in future, we decide to purchase tickets only to SCL to avoid all these waiting times with the partner airlines and fly to Buenos Aires making our own connection, can you enter Chile with a NZ passport if you're an Australian citizen?

I’m pretty sure they would be okay entering Chile with NZ Passport being an Australian citizen. In fact, check whether New Zealanders need a Visa to visit to enter Chile. If not then whoever it is should definitely try to use it. Getting a Visa for an Australian citizen can be quite a trial. See the several threads about this.

I also suspect the Qantas' advice to contact Latam about your issue is not correct. Qantas issued your ticket and they’ll have to reissue it for any new flight.
However, being a reward flight, the availability of rewards seats on the other flights will probably be an issue.

There is a Holiday Inn right at the airport, 5 minutes from exiting the international terminal. It’s not bad and there are a number of little walks you can do around the Airport precinct. They should do day stays/rates.

Or you can book an official taxi when exiting the arrivals area to take you into the city - about A$32, from memory. There’s a funicular up a Hill near downtown. That might be good for an eight-year-old. Unfortunately I’ve heard from multiple sources that walking around downtown elsewhere isn’t the safe as it used to be.

 

[baarg]

Thanks for the advice. I'll look into the hotel options, etc. I didn't know that some hotels do day rates. There's a Hilton nearby that seems pretty good too. I will also try to ring Qantas again, maybe try to see if I can get an Australian call centre...but I'm not a high tier ff so who knows.