I just returned from a trip to Easter Island. I reserved flights from TPA to MIA to Lima, Peru to Easter Island, and return. However, once in Miami, the plane bound for Lima was delayed due to "mechanical problems" for 4 hours. I booked everything through American Airlines, but Lan had control of the flights once I got to Miami. Due to the limited number of flights to Easter Island, and with that being my final and only destination on this trip, and a delay with this flight would mean missing the connection in Lima to Easter Island, they decided I should be re-routed through Santiago on a later flight that night, and fly from Santiago to Easter Island the next day.

That put me in Easter Island at 4:30 in the afternoon the next day instead of 6 AM so I lost nearly a full day of potential activities on Easter Island. As if that wasn't enough of a disappointment, I had to pay the (now) $160 Reciprocity Fee for flying through Santiago, Chile, even though I was in transit and never left the airport. Had I flown from Lima to Easter Island, I would not have had to pay the fee. I realize that this is simply because Easter Island isn't set up yet to collect the fee, and that technically I owe the fee by visiting Easter Island, which is part of Chile, but since it was not my intention to pass through Santiago and I was not prepared to pay the fee, I was wondering if anyone knows if there is there any possibility of getting reimbursed for that (from the airlines?) or am I the lucky owner of a good-for-5-year slip stapled into my passport? The travel insurance company says any reimbursement would be the responsibility of the airlines since the issue was due to "mechanical" failure and the travel insurance would only pay for any expenses such as meals, hotels, prepaid tours, etc. that were incurred as a result of the delay.

Thanks!

Who do you think would reimburse you? LAN?

Hahahahahahaha.

MAYBE if you had trip insurance you could file a claim.

Oh I see they said No in your last sentence. I would say you are out of luck. Welcome to Chile.

You landed in Chile at Santiago and were joining a domestic flight to EI there so it was a connection but you were not really in transit. It is bad luck but I can't see anyone reimbursing you. Travellers who make an international to international connection in the USA, without ever entering the country, have to get a visa beforehand just in case. The fee is good for the life of the passport.

No airline is going to reimburse you for this particular expense. Airlines pay for lodging and meals during your delay if it's a mechanical issue, but they take no responsibility for what happens once you get to your destination. It's bad luck, of course, but you entered Chile at SCL airport and the fee applies.