Last week of December I was thinking about my summer vacation. I decided to visit a South American country that I hadn't been before. And there were 2 options: Ecuador and Colombia. As you can guess, air tickets fares for the first week of January are incredibly high. Nevertheless, I was lucky to find a not so expensive fare with LAN Airlines from Córdoba, Argentina to Cartagena, Colombia. Last 2 days of 2013 were a bit crazy for me. On Dec. 30th I had a lot of work to do, and on Dec. 31st. I had to fly from my current city Comodoro (CRD) to my hometown Córdoba (COR), where I arrived at 5:30 PM to spend New Year's Eve with my family. Unfortunately there's no flight report because my camera's battery was discharged. Next day, Jan. 1st., I started my summer trip to Colombia with a lot of expectations to discover a new country. Cordoba is the second largest city of Argentina (pop. 1.5 million) and Cartagena is a worldwide known tourist destination (pop. 1.2 million). For most of you -Europeans-, it must be difficult to understand that to travel between 2 major cities in South America you need 3 different flights… COR-SCL with Lan Airlines (Chile) A320, SCL-BOG with Lan Colombia (B763) and BOG-CTG with Lan Colombia (A320). So this is the first of 3 flight reports. That afternoon (Jan. 1st) I was sleepy although I didn't go clubbing the night before in order to enjoy flying :P I got the COR Airport, Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella, 2 hours before the departure time and in 20 min. I passed security and immigration. COR is the Argentina's 3rd. airport in terms of passenger traffic. Unfortunately the terminal building has been under refurbishment longer than Brandenburg Airport, thanks to Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 S.A… :P Passengers queuing to board LA943 flight meanwhile I enjoy a cup of coffee… Pay attention to the naked ceiling a la FRA :P
Not much to spot at that time. Just an AR B73G wearing the Aerolíneas old livery
And a tiny Learjet 35A.
Seat pitch, fine for my height.
In the meantime a Lan Argentina's A320 arrived from Buenos Aires (AEP).
Colombia, there we go… OK, not so easy. First step: Santiago de Chile there we go…
Last view from COR terminal building
COR's 2 runways clearly visible
The Sierras Chicas (Small sierras). I used to go there mountain biking when I was living in Cordoba…
The A320 new cabin
There was no inflight magazine (In) in this flight. Just the duty free shop catalog. A small ham and cheese sandwich was served. I asked for a glass of Coca Light. OK for a 1 hour flight.
Mendoza city and its airport (MDZ)
Music was played, apparently, but no headphones were distributed
And the best part of this route: we crossed the magnificent Andes, along with the Aconcagua (almost 7,000m), the highest peak in the whole America. Enjoy…
Spoilers deployed and we began the approach to SCL, Santiago de Chile Airport
SCL control tower
I don't know why the American carriers group their aircraft together in South American airports. I guess it's national security…
Most of the passengers had connecting flights with LAN or Oneworld Alliance members (AA or QF the next day). End of the first leg of my trip to Cartagena, Colombia. I hope you enjoyed reading this South American FR.
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Verdict
LAN Airlines
5.5/10
Cabin6.0
Cabin crew6.0
Entertainment/wifi4.0
Meal/catering6.0
Cordoba - COR
6.5/10
Efficiency7.0
Access7.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness7.0
Santiago - SCL
6.2/10
Efficiency7.0
Access6.0
Services6.0
Cleanliness6.0
Conclusion
A connecting flight with amazing views from the Andes. LAN should deliver headphones and magazines in this flight, at least for those passengers seating in the middle and aisle seats... The sandwich was ok for a 1 hour flight.
0 LIKESLIKE TO THANK THE AUTHORTHANKS ! FLIGHT-REPORT LIKED
LAN's product seems a bit lame, considering it is an international flight. I guess their product got better on the 6h hop to Bogotá and even in the domestic run. Looking forward to the rest of the trip's reports and to know how my country treated you.
Muchas gracias! (thank you very much) The second leg of my trip is already reported... Colombia treated me so well that I want to return as soon as possible :) Saludos! (regards)
Nice FR! Felicitaciones! The meal looks much more better that the one that Lan's partner, TAM, offers in ROS-GRU flight I hope there'll be more international flights departing from other argentinean cities than Buenos Aires! Saludos
Great pictures and didactic text on an area far away from my usual playgrounds - I did not know about the Aconcagua, that tells it all. The catering is not much, but the gringos don't even give that on a hour flight. Maybe they should park their planes closer to the catering truck ^^ Thanks for this FR !
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65 reviews
10 Comments
Looking forward to the rest of the trip's reports and to know how my country treated you.
Otra vez, gracias por compartir, saludos!
The second leg of my trip is already reported...
Colombia treated me so well that I want to return as soon as possible :)
Saludos! (regards)
Nice routing : I don't like direct flights ;)
It's always a pleasure to have a FR from our Argentinian or Colombian Flight Reporters :)
Great aerial pictures
Looking for your next leg
Next leg is ready ;)
The meal looks much more better that the one that Lan's partner, TAM, offers in ROS-GRU flight
I hope there'll be more international flights departing from other argentinean cities than Buenos Aires!
Saludos
Let's make a real federal Argentine commercial aviation ;)
Saludos!
The catering is not much, but the gringos don't even give that on a hour flight. Maybe they should park their planes closer to the catering truck ^^
Thanks for this FR !
I guess the American airlines, with the lack of catering, are trying to help gringos to reduce overweight... :P
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