Air Travel

Traveling between the Americas is usually less tiring than traveling to Europe or Asia because you cross fewer time zones. Miami (8½ hour flight), New York (11 hours), Dallas (9½ hours), and Atlanta (9½ hours) are the primary departure points for flights to Chile from the United States, though there are also frequent flights from Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., and other cities. Other international flights often connect through other major South American cities like Buenos Aires and Lima.

Arriving from abroad, Australian citizens must pay US$117 on entry as a "reciprocity fee." Credit cards and cash are accepted for payment. Since 2014, U.S. and Canadian citizens are exempt from paying the fee.

Always confirm international flights at least 72 hours ahead of the scheduled departure time. This is particularly true for travel within South America, where flights tend to operate at full capacity and passengers often have a great deal of baggage to process.

LAN offers the LANPASS program, where customers can earn miles (actually, kilometers) by flying with LAN or other members of the One World Alliance (American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, and others) or through car rentals or hotel stays with affiliated companies.

Airports

Most international flights head to Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) about 30 minutes west of the city. Domestic flights leave from the same terminal. Expect long customs queues on arrival and remember that it's prohibited to bring fresh produce (dairy, fruit, meat, jams) into Chile.

Airport Information

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. Pudahuel, Pudahuel, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, 9040423. 2/2690–1796; www.nuevopudahuel.cl.

Flights

The largest North American carrier is American Airlines, which has direct service from Dallas, New York, and Miami; Delta flies from Atlanta. United flies from Houston. LATAM flies nonstop to Santiago from Miami, Dallas, and New York and with a layover in Lima from Los Angeles. Air Canada flies nonstop from Toronto. Most of the major Central and South American airlines also fly to Santiago, including Aerolíneas Argentinas, Avianca (Taca), and Copa.

LATAM and Sky have daily flights from Santiago to most cities throughout Chile.