- Introduction: Vacation Run to Santiago, Chile
- Review: American Airlines First Class – DFW to Santiago – 777-200
- Review: Grand Hyatt Santiago – Executive Suite with Terrace – the Shakespeare Suite
- Trying some Chilean Staples
- Review: American Airlines Admiral’s Club, Santiago (SCL)
- Review: American Airlines First Class – Santiago to DFW – 777-200
- Conclusion: Vacation Run to Santiago, Chile
We opted to get to the airport roughly 2 hours before the flight. It seemed like a happy compromise, to leave a little extra time, in the event of traffic, or long lines at immigration or security.
International Terminal at SCL.
Ultimately, we didn’t really need the time, but it did allow us to have a pretty relaxed experience. I thought security was particularly interesting, because they were testing a couple dozen new security scanners. So we have ~20 folks watching on, 2 people (1 instructor, 1 student) at the x-ray machine, calling out each notable item in the suitcases, and another pair outside the metal detector conducting secondary. Now, every few passengers, they would switch the students out, which took a bit more time.
More interesting to me, was that my wife and I seem to be so well trained by the TSA, that we removed the metal items from our pockets, and walked through, to the surprise of both instructor and student, with no beeps or anything from the metal detector. This was after 3 people in front of us required additional screening.
Once we made it airside, we browsed through some of the duty free shops, and eventually made it to the lounge.
A rather apt sign for the Patagonia Cafe.
Note the no Priority Pass sign?
The Admiral’s Club had it’s own unique flavor to it, which was cool.
There were plenty of beverage options, and an area with some food selections. We were on the last American Airlines’ flight out, and had come in after the Miami bound flight started boarding, so the food was pretty well picked over. But, there was wifi, a level of privacy, and as I mentioned, a good drink selection, which was all we really needed for the half hour or so that we were there.
Really the last Pisco Sour before boarding.
It is important to note that there were also showers available.
Overall, the lounge was pretty lack luster, but, its a lounge. Probably not the best, certainly not the worst, other than a really, really slow elevator.
