Nice OW Emerald seat selection touch on LA

[kpc]

My itinerary ... (sigh). Far too long!

Start with a day in Santiago (arrival on LAN from SYD in J; been there before). Fly to UIO, then 4 days in Quito (including 1 or 2 in Cotopaxi area). 3 nights Sacha lodge. Spare day in Quito (day trip to Colombia? ). Week cruising Galapagos. 6 days Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu/Cuzco. Coupla days at Belmonde Hotel de Caratas at Iguazu Falls. 2 days Buenos Aires (been there before). 2 days Mendoza stocking Malbec. Last day in SCL. Back on QF.

Sensational itinerary....been to all these places (except Mendoza) but it took me 4 trips to Sth America

 

[RooFlyer]

Sensational itinerary....been to all these places (except Mendoza) but it took me 4 trips to Sth America

I'll let you know if I survive; I'm no spring chicken. I'll do a trip report but if it goes quiet 2/3 the way through, have a good red for me

 

[JohnM]

LAN was far more QF friendly when they used Amadeus until a couple of years ago.

I thought LA used Amadeus in the past. A few years ago I sat next to a person who worked for Amadeus on a BA flight SFO-LHR. I should have asked her more questions!

 

[JohnM]

I'm no spring chicken.

C'mon RF! Look at me before you say things like that!

 

[RooFlyer]

C'mon RF! Look at me before you say things like that!

OK, I'm no spring chicken AND have a lot of self-basting around the waist line! Seriously, a bit concerned about the elevations in a couple of places, and the overall lack of level! The Galapagos cruise sounds good in that regard, but Hyanu Picchu might be a bit of a slow and regal progress!

 

[JohnM]

OK, I'm no spring chicken AND have a lot of self-basting around the waist line! Seriously, a bit concerned about the elevations in a couple of places, and the overall lack of level! The Galapagos cruise sounds good in that regard, but Hyanu Picchu might be a bit of a slow and regal progress!

Macchu Picchu is pretty good for altitude - it's slightly lower than Cusco. I found at Cusco (about 3300m IIRC) I noticed a bit of light-headedness whereas at Macchu Picchu (about 2900m IIRC), I didn't. I know people's thresholds can vary considerably but I'd be surprised if you have any issues there.

Are you doing the trail or taking the train? The trail would take you quite a lot higher.

Hyanu is a solid climb, but worth it. Don't take too large a backpack as you need to squeeze through some narrow and low openings in the rocks at a couple of points. I was 56 when I did it. I think that qualifies as not a spring chicken .

 

[kpc]

OK, I'm no spring chicken AND have a lot of self-basting around the waist line! Seriously, a bit concerned about the elevations in a couple of places, and the overall lack of level! The Galapagos cruise sounds good in that regard, but Hyanu Picchu might be a bit of a slow and regal progress!

Hi RF...look forward to meeting you in Adel for the wine tour, and swapping travel tales....I didn't get altitude sickness in Quito (2800 metres) but the day after arrival, we took a cable car up some mountain near Quito...at over 4000 metres, I couldn't work out why I was so breathless, and had trouble climbing a few stairs. Heart was racing at about 150bpm...I had to descend almost immediately. At Cusco, which was over 3400 metres, i was fine for the first few hours, then started to develop a throbbing headache, couldn't climb stairs without getting breathless, and started to feel quite dizzy. I pushed on, and after 2 days of suffering, I then went to the hotel front desk to ask whether they had oxygen,,,,she just wheeled out a large oxygen tank from behind the counter, and after 2 minutes of oxygen, I was feeling a million dollars....(so don't be embarassed to ask for oxygen when in Cusco like me).

We climbed Huanya Picchu, and whilst only 300 metres higher than MP, it took me 1.5 hours (average is 1 hour), and towards the 2nd half of the climb, I had to stop every 5 minutes, gasping for breath (not too many people overtook us I have to say as we were staggered commencing the climb)....but the view at the top looking back at MP is to die for....

​

+1 did not get altitude sickness but got seasick on the Galapagos cruise whilst I never get sea sick....sorry to scare you!!

Ps: have you considered Diamox to prevent altitude sickness? I brought some but as it is a diuretic and I was flying a lot, foolishly didn't take it!!

 

[JohnM]

We climbed Huanya Picchu, and whilst only 300 metres higher than MP, it took me 1.5 hours (average is 1 hour), ...but the view at the top looking back at MP is to die for....

​

Great pic! I did it in about 1.25h, not trying to race, so I was pretty happy with my effort at about 6 weeks before turning 57.​

 

[kpc]

Great pic! I did it in about 1.25h, not trying to race, so I was pretty happy with my effort at about 6 weeks before turning 57.[/CENTER]

I should add that +1 carried the water, SLR camera, backpack....I thought I was reasonably fit, running about 15-20km per week back then but the altitude defeated me...

 

[RooFlyer]

On JohnM's suggestion following a tip in another thread, I went onto the QR site to see if I could get over the LAN seat selection hurdle. It apparently worked for JohnM for one recalcitrant flight leg he had.

I got in to the QR MMB OK with the QF PNR (the journey is on one QF ticket and one LA ticket, on the same PNR) and yes, it let me select LAN seats in Y, except for one leg for reasons unknown. Saved OK and displayed OK.

I'm pretty sure this is reaching direct into Amadeus, with just the airline front end. There were a couple of 'Amadeus re-directs' during the logging in process.

However, I soon got 2 e-mails warning that one or more 'special requests' could not be processed. Then another e-mail "confirmation of itinerary" (note none of the flying involves QR!) and of the 7 seats selected (mostly 1A or 2A), in 4 I had been bumped back to row 24 or 27!! I suspect somehow Emerald status wasn't recognised and where there were Emerald reserved seats (which is what I've been trying to access all along!!) its booted me backwards.

All of these seats, (ie my chosen ones and the 24/27 type ones) appear on QF and LN MMB areas.

I'll try their call centre again in the morning.

Saga update. I called LAN call centre again and asked the person to select seats. OK, can do it this time. However for the same 4 flights that I was kicked down the back, the agent said I couldn't have the seat I wanted (in the 'Emerald' section according to their web site seat plans, usually Row 1 or 2, or exit row), and the furthest forward I could get was Row 5 (yes, he knew I was oneWorld Emerald). OK, thank you.

Although I didn't want to I asked my TA to see if she could get my Row 1 seats. Yes! Except for one flight where it was row 4.

Now, to see if they all stick and I'm not shunted back to row 24 on check-in

Boy, that was harder work than it should have been.

 

[JohnM]

Saga update. I called LAN call centre again and asked the person to select seats. OK, can do it this time. However for the same 4 flights that I was kicked down the back, the agent said I couldn't have the seat I wanted (in the 'Emerald' section according to their web site seat plans, usually Row 1 or 2, or exit row), and the furthest forward I could get was Row 5 (yes, he knew I was oneWorld Emerald). OK, thank you.

Although I didn't want to I asked my TA to see if she could get my Row 1 seats. Yes! Except for one flight where it was row 4.

Now, to see if they all stick and I'm not shunted back to row 24 on check-in

Boy, that was harder work than it should have been.

Hmmnnn, I wonder what they have against you .

 

[juddles]

Hey there everyone! I had missed this thread.

First up, as John says, it is a really cool feature that LAN have. Within Colombia (where I live) the domestic aircraft have no PE nor J, but due to this feature, I can always get row 1 or the exit rows which are all reserved for one world emerald. BTW, seats 1J/K/L are never available online - they reserve those for unaccompanied minors / wheelchair pax, etc. AND, if I am travelling with other people, no matter what their status is, I can get them the emerald seats too, albeit at a minor cost ($5-$10 per sector) All in all it is a very good system, which despite the odd hiccup, works really well for me.

Regarding rest of thread, a small word of advice about Cuzco / Machu Picchu: please take a little extra care against petty theft - it is an unfortunate fact that many travellers there get their bags/wallets/passports stolen. Not at Machu itself so much, but certainly in the busy áreas of Cuzco, etc. Dont be alarmed, just be a teensy bit more alert than the tourist next to you I went there a few years ago (did Huayna Picchu too) and it was for me an amazing experience. And not just because of the ruins / mountains, but also because it is a true mecca for an awesome variety of interesting people from around the planet. Just take it easy - it is high and the air is thin.

Just for the record, as JohnM has stated, I consider Medellín/Colombia a jewel in any Sth American experience. But maybe I am biased because I have been here a while

 

[juddles]

...2 days Mendoza stocking Malbec.....

Now I´m jealous

 

[JohnM]

Now I´m jealous

You're definitely not the only one...:!:.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hey there everyone! I had missed this thread.

<snip>

Just for the record, as JohnM has stated, I consider Medellín/Colombia a jewel in any Sth American experience. But maybe I am biased because I have been here a while

Been waiting for you juddles . As JohnM says, not sure what LAN have against me ... the web site just wouldn't progress when I selected my Emerald seats.

I've actually had to trim my Sth American trip (and pay airline change fee ) because it got too long (a guy's still gotta work ... except JohnM, that is ... ) but I am trying to squeeze a day at Medellin in. Hope to see you there. Most likely to be 18th or 19th April, or the 24th. If I don't manage it that trip, I'll come down from Canada using some AA miles and spend a few days and if you are about, like typical geos, we can talk shop.

 

[JohnM]

(a guy's still gotta work ... except JohnM, that is ... )

Oi :!:. I did do some work yesterday - out in the field doing some physically hard sampling in 38 deg heat - and putting people half my age to shame ... but, mind you, I'll be on the beach tomorrow morning making up for it . Then Friday, it's lunch celebrating the end of a three-year part-time consultancy with my co-consultant and our client's two front-guys. I think Friday afternoon is gone...way gone .

 

[juddles]

...Been waiting for you juddles ......

Recently I have only had time for quick scans of AFF - unlike JohnM, I have to work too

In any case, let me know when/if you have firm travel dates for Colombia and I would be most delighted to try to see you, maybe even provide free airport transfer service (BTW that goes for any AFF members, except VA lovers)

 

[RooFlyer]

Saga update. I called LAN call centre again and asked the person to select seats. OK, can do it this time. However for the same 4 flights that I was kicked down the back, the agent said I couldn't have the seat I wanted (in the 'Emerald' section according to their web site seat plans, usually Row 1 or 2, or exit row), and the furthest forward I could get was Row 5 (yes, he knew I was oneWorld Emerald). OK, thank you.

Although I didn't want to I asked my TA to see if she could get my Row 1 seats. Yes! Except for one flight where it was row 4.

Now, to see if they all stick and I'm not shunted back to row 24 on check-in

Boy, that was harder work than it should have been.

No, I wasn't shunted back to Row 24. My seat selections for UIO-LIM, LIM-CUZ, CUZ-LIM and LIM-IGU (the problematical sectors before) have all gone!

This is really starting to bug me.

 

[JohnM]

I just checked one of my LAN Colombia reservations and my 1A selection is still holding.

 

[Swan]

No, I wasn't shunted back to Row 24. My seat selections for UIO-LIM, LIM-CUZ, CUZ-LIM and LIM-IGU (the problematical sectors before) have all gone!

This is really starting to bug me.

LAN kept giving me row 28. I called the Qantas premium line and after a bit of perseverance they got me row 2. So far its holding and I found it was a much more satisfying experience than LAN