Written on: 21/05/2013
Customer service is unacceptable. My parents were flying from Buenos Aires to Miami for my wedding. They purchased the ticket many months before the day to make sure that they will get to the US in time. When they got to the airport in Buenos Aires, they found that their flight with LAN was cancelled. LAN personnel at the airport left the desk and told customers to call a call center. My parents called a call center and waited for over 30 minutes but nobody answered. My parents had to... (read more)
Written on: 25/03/2013
I wanted to change my flight. I called them. They answered and asked me to stay on hold. I was then disconnected. I called back and waited for over an hour for them to answer. I am extremely disappointed by this airline's lack of customer service. (read more)
Written on: 17/02/2013
Worst airline i've ever flown. Dummest staff as well. Lost my luggage, i hate them (read more)
Written on: 07/02/2013
LAN has been my nightmare from day one I bought my ticket. I purchased my ticket on LAN. com 4 months before my flight. Few days after the purchase, I received an email from LAN asking me to contact them to confirm my ticket. After several hours of being put on hold and after being transferred to 4 people, finally someone tells me that yes my flight is now confirmed and the payment was received. A month later, I received my monthly credit card statement showing double charges for the same... (read more)
Written on: 20/01/2013 by Alexsh1
There are not many choices for air travel in South America, but if I had a choice I would NEVER fly with LAN! We had a terrible experience with several employees of LAN airline while trying to catch a flight between Ecuador and Chile. We arrived to the check-in counter 1 hour before our flight, and we were told my the firth person we spoke with that our flight (which we had booked two months in advance) was closed 1 hour before and there was nothing she could do to let us in, even though... (read more)
Written on: 11/01/2013 by Thacker
LAN cancelled 3 flights in Buenos Aires on December 10th, 2012. One of them was my flight to New York via Peru. The customer service was unacceptable. They had One (Uno) LAN representative (who could make any decisions)serving all three cancelled flights. All passengers were repeating the same questions to him. I was informed that my flight was transferred to American Airlines with a direct flight. He does not even tell me the flight number. Then LAN would not even give me food voucher when... (read more)
Written on: 01/01/2013
I was changing a flight booking in accordance with the description on LAN's website. The website noted that if the rebooked flight was at a lower price, LAN would issue a voucher for the balance. I couldn't rebook on the website (directed to call the customer service centre), so I called the customer service centre. They quoted me a price several hundred dollars more for the flight than the price I had found on the LAN site (the same cost as the original ticket). I told them that I had... (read more)
Written on: 26/12/2012 by sairam327
LAN Santiago staff go out of the way to ensure all luggage from Australia are stolen. Cant believe Singapore Airlines one world would alllow such poor quality operation in this ceentury. Never recommend travel by LAN. It is a poor ambsador for the Chillian people and its country. Suggest as a last resort travel with hand luggage only and hope for the worst. Customer service does not exist in its culture, it is exactly the opposite, how to ripoff the custoner is its motto. (read more)
Written on: 21/12/2012
Of the reviewers or is it a few people writing multiple entries. Yes I agree LAN have slipped some in the last years and need to bring their tel customer service up to scratch as well as their check in staff and process at the airport. But having said that I fly to South America a minimum of 4 times a year and will always pick LAN. They are generally efficient on time and they have new planes. Have you flown an american carrier recently to S AM. Your flight delayed? Boo Hoo .... over 50% of... (read more)
Written on: 02/12/2012 by Ringleader (1 review written)
LAN used to be one of the best airlines in the world: friendly, efficient, clean. Today they are simply terrible! The customer service is so bad that I wonder if it isn't staffed by ex-convicts. They are rude, slow, and incompetent. (Apologies to ex-convicts for the comparison). The LAN website never works well, reservations made online are often lost. If you call, you'll be put on hold for upwards of 30-40 minutes. I have no idea how this airline stays in business. Avoid it if you... (read more)
Written on: 26/11/2012 by khoon (1 review written)
One of the worst airlines in the world - and I haven't even flown them yet! They have made multiple changes to my reservation - indiscriminately canceling flights and changing the timings of the other ...without any explanation. I travel extensively and am used to changes but these clowns take the cake for their lack of professionalism! (read more)
Written on: 22/11/2012
I had reservations to fly from Miami to Mendoza to climb Aconcagua, around Christmas. Unfortunately, I sustained an injury which will require surgery and unable to travel for up to 3 months. I called LAN and here is the senario that resulted. Just to let other people know, if you have a medical problem or any other reason to cancel a flight that you purchased with LAN miles (not AA miles), they will charge about 33% penalty of the kms used, which will be about $700USD to replace in my... (read more)
Written on: 22/11/2012
I called LAN today to change a return flight from Santiago to Miami. Something you'd expect would take 10-15 minutes at the most from even a lousy airline. I spent an hour and a half on the phone - most of which was 20-40 minute stretches on hold while the agent "made the changes", without any break ins to tell me they were in fact working on it - until the battery on my cordless phone died and the call was disconnected. Now, when I try to call back, all i get is a rapid busy signal. ... (read more)
Written on: 14/11/2012
Here's my terrible experience with LAN airlines when I was traveling for my wedding to Ecuador: 1. They weigh carry on luggage (8kg limit). I had two carry ons with me and I was transferred from Delta to LAN. They both weighted 11 kgs, which is OK for carry ons, but they made me move items from one carry on to another so they could check it and CHARGE ME for it!!! terrible. 2. Lost luggage service is AWFUL They (of course) lost my luggage where I had wedding items that I needed within... (read more)
Written on: 25/10/2012
I bought to flying tickets to Peru over LAN's website, I paid and when I went to pick the seats i couldn't do it, then I call LAN and they told me that I will not be able to pick my seats untill 48 hours before the fly. I couldn't believe that. I asked why not if your company already process the payment and got the money, I would like to choose my seats, their answer is that I paid a economic Fare or price and that wouldn't allow me to pick seats untill 48 hours. OK, more than $2000 is a... (read more)
Written on: 12/10/2012
WENT TO NY FOR VACATIONS ON MY WAY BACK TO MY COUNTRY ECUADOR I DROPPED MY PASSAPORT IN THE PLANE, I ASKED THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT FOR HELPH AND SHE TOLD ME SHE COULD NOT HELP ME INSTEAD CREW MEMBERS CALL THE SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE DANNY BARCIA WHO TOOK ME OFF THE PLANE BECAUSE I DID'T HAVE DOCUMENTS TO TRAVEL....CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY TOOK ME OFF THE PLANE INSTEAD OF HELPING ME TO FIND MY PASSPORT.THE PLANE LEFT WITHOUT ME THE SUPERVISOR TREAT ME LIKE A CRIMINAL IS NOT THE KIND OF CUSTOMER... (read more)
Written on: 25/10/2012
That's true I agree LAN is the worst airline, use american companies, they treat you good and they care about you. LAN just cares about money.
It should not have a permit to work here in USA. They just bother people and steal their money !
Written on: 02/10/2012
7 days,5 times a day, cannot buy airtickets for 3 people online! Website keeps saying "try again later", telephone assistance worthless. " Just pay $25.per ticket and buy via telephone" - so $3,000. plus $75.!! No where to go for help, will have to go to a different country." I'll stick to American based airlines. (read more)
Written on: 26/08/2012 by talparis (1 review written)
LIM-CUZ-JUL Booked & paid 7 month in advance but received at the last moment a short e-mail saying that the flight was changed. In fact it was canceled and calling 12 times the customer service yelled nothing. No refund, no flight cancelation attestation for the insurance company, no compensation and no overnight hotel. I was only told to write to customer service, which did not help me, being stranded and had to buy another ticket. So always take the alternative: Peruvian, star or Taca. (read more)
Written on: 26/11/2012
Had the same thing happen to me. The FAA should revoke their license to fly into the US! They have cancelled and changed every segment of my flight from NYC to EZE and on to El Calafate. Never again .....SHAME ON YOU LAN! They obviously don't give a damn about their customers.
Written on: 10/08/2012
We flew LAN to get to Bariloche to ski. All 3 of our checked on bags didn't arrive. We were promised: "tomorrow at Noon they will be at your hotel". They didn't arrive. "Senor, tomorrow at Noon, guaranteed!". No show. 3rd day - "Tomorrow at noon, for sure." No show. Finally, by the third night at midnight a courier delivered them. No communications, no offer of compensation. Because of the promises, we didn't rent replacement ski clothing and sat it out losing 3 of 7 ski days which... (read more)
Written on: 30/07/2012
Flying a lot in between Europe and S-America I know from experience avoiding LAN is not easy, still I recommend, pursue and underline: DON'T fly LAN. I've used a lot of international airlines from Europe to and from Asia, North, South and Central America, etc, etc, but never had such a dreading experience as with LAN. I booked a flight Europe-Lima at Iberia.com, I paid through the website of Iberia, but the flight was operated - partly - by LAN. However, it turned out not even the... (read more)
Written on: 15/07/2012 by Deannored
They charged my credit card twice while booking online. Emails and phone calls to customer service have gone back and forth but they DO NOT refund my money, even though they recognized it was charged twice. STAY AWAY FROM THIS THIEVES!!! (read more)
Written on: 04/06/2012
Prebooked and paid for flights to and from Australia to Buenos Aires, and another 4 flights in South America with LAN airlines. At beginning of our tour from Buenos Aires, we turned up at airport at 0605 hrs for an 0840 flight. Lined up and waited till 0735 hrs, at which time we reached the check-in desk to be told there were no seats! despite protestations, there were no seats. They had overbooked the flight and left several ( based on the number of people I could see), in the same... (read more)
Written on: 05/06/2012
LAN responded to my complaint basically offering to pay for the taxi fare in LIMA!! Forget the inconvenience and the suffering and the ruined holiday! Arrogant airline.
Written on: 23/05/2012 by copter (1 review written)
la800 syd-scl via auckland on 26-04-2012 economy .. boarding at 09:20AM ... ready on board at 09:35 the captain says there is an issue with a computer board that control internal communications...have to wait until 10:15..the plane takeoff and arrived into auckland by 15:20PM...board the plane again for the next long haul leg of the fligth at 16:30PM.. push back ...the plane on the tarmac ready to taxi..no way..again the captain says there is an issue with a door sensor that affect the... (read more)
Written on: 06/04/2012
If you compare it to US airlines, of course it's beter. But even compare to non US airlines it is well over! In economy, seat are confortables, all with AVOD, food is nice, still serve with real cutlery and glass! No plastic there! All drinks are free. Crew is very pro. Even during the domestic flights you have free drinks, free luggage allowance,... Moreover, the flights are 95% on time, if not in advance! So I cannot understand all the critics I see here! Maybe, as usual, you only have the... (read more)
Written on: 05/06/2012
I guess that depends on whether they let you on the flight! Or whether they overbook the flight, then bump you by 14 hours and subsequently threaten to cancel the rest of your tour because you were allegedly a 'No Show' for the flight they bumped. Would not recommend it to my dogs!! Is the author of this review a LAN employee?
Written on: 02/12/2012
You must be referring to the LAN of 10 years ago. I've flown LAN for 20 years. It used to be a good airline. Now it is one of the poorest in the world. Dozens of employees have said the same. It gets bad reviews on most major travel sites. Even in Chile it has a terrible reputation.
Written on: 01/04/2012
the service is great,the food is very good,they treat you like first class in economy seat,friendly, very clean. I love to travel in Lan, very educated and trained people (read more)
Written on: 05/06/2012
Guess all is good as long as it is good. When it is wrong it is terribly wrong! will not be touching LAN if it is the last airline in the world!
Written on: 20/02/2012 by lvillaran (1 review written)
This to review LAN reservation line. I called to make a flight change. My first surprise was that one of the legs of my original flight - a non LAN flight sold by LAN, was cancelled and if I wouldnt call I wouldnt know. Then, I went with the representative through the process of changing my original flight, gave my credit card number, and was told that the change will take effect in 48 hours, and that I will be notifiied. Never got a notification, and when called back to follow up, there... (read more)
Written on: 05/06/2012
Fascinating! they only take minutes in cancelling the flight because they have overbooked the plane! Guess rules only apply to customers! I cannot believe this airline won any awards anytime. Perhaps they have deteriorated, and got complacent with their reputation. Pity, reputations are so much harder to build up then to destroy.
Written on: 25/12/2011
Worst airline in the world. Would not let 7 persons on a plane that were there 55 minutes ahead becasue no 60 minutes. TIcket agent laughed at our predictment and was clearly anti USA. Cost our group over $6500 to purchase last minutes ticket to another destination to catch a cruise. Plane went off without us and we sat for 10 hours in the airport and lost a day of our vacation besides the money. Sent in a complaint but never heard from them (read more)
Written on: 05/06/2012
This is the same airline that overbooked my flight and bumped my family at the checkin desk.
Written on: 02/12/2012
I've watched LAN agents treat their customers with total disdain. The rudest, most unhelpful staff in the business!
Written on: 03/12/2012
I took a picture of her after she was laguhing at us, she was not happy then.
She proceeded to call security in LIma.
I would like to post her picture somewhere on the internet.
Written on: 29/10/2011
this airline is running by bunch of dumb and lazy people, the flight attendants like to stand around and chat or laughing about everything, a typical latin thing, they make fun of people on the plane, I can hear them!!! rude and stupid and lazy!!! worst airline I have been on...another thing is that their price is very high due to the only airline goes to Peru from LA, so they can charge whatever they can and offer a poor service!!! I wish korean air will start going to Peru so they can put... (read more)
Written on: 23/08/2011
ON July 20, 2011 I flew LAN from Santiago, Chile to Lima, Peru, lickily I got an upgrade for Premium Business on this 4 hour flight which departed Late because of arriving late from JFK. Inflight service was just regular, the (read more)
Written on: 05/06/2012
Guess you should feel lucky. It sounds like they overbooked the plane! I wonder if some poor passenger was denied boarding which LAN has been known to do.
Written on: 24/01/2010
Seats were uncorfortable
Airport service = awful.
But the worst thing was cabin crew, they were very unfriendly and rude.
(read more)
Written on: 23/05/2011
Take notice that Lan, operating within Peru, has a two tier price policy. Foreign or "extranjero" pay 2/3 more than Peruvian or "nacional". For example a two way flight from Lima to Cusco, it will cost a Peruvian $117 while a tourist will pay $419. This is like Peter robbing Paul to give Juan a price break. Lan is the only international airline that I know that practiced this discriminatory and biased tariff. Avoid Lan while traveling within Peru....Look for Star Peru or Taca airlines that... (read more)
Written on: 28/06/2012
Agree. The same experience in Ecuador. Was charged $168 at the airport because I was a NONRESIDENT.
Written on: 25/04/2011 by lancomplaint (1 review written)
My experience with LAN with exchanging their travel voucher for money has been absolutely poor. Both my travel companion on that flight and I are going on four months trying to get LAN to exchange the travel vouchers (for overbooked flight) for money. There does not seem to be any process and they refused to send confirmation email / case numbers until several months have passed. The staff are rude and dismissive and although they are more than happy to take all of your information it does... (read more)
Written on: 21/04/2011
The customer service is appalling. Not just unprofessional, but actually rude and dismissive. I would expect the international counter in a major US city, such as Los Angeles to be somewhat professional. The customer service representatives that you can phone are equally appalling. There is a complete disconnect between the counter representatives and the phone representatives.
If you encounter even the smallest problem, expect the customer representatives to treat you with disdain....
(read more)
Written on: 17/03/2011
Only one of our cases arrived in Miami.When we spoke to the LAN rep at the airport, he said that our case had gone on to Toronto ( We had a connecting flight the following morning). We thought this strange and when we spoke to the Air Canada representative the following morning, she said that there had been no flights to Toronto and there was no way that the case could go on to Toronto without clearing U.S Customs. She said that they would try to trace the case for us. Just before our flight... (read more)
Written on: 06/03/2011
LAN has the worst customer service I have ever experienced! My expectation with a larger airline such as LAN is that they will be professional and understand the basics of customer service. LAN staff is very rude, refused to serve us in English (lying, and claiming not to know English although working at the international counter), and they are very unprofessional. Our flight was cancelled but no notice was provided online, and only once at the airport for about an hour did we become aware... (read more)
Written on: 01/03/2011
I am on a trip through an escorted tour group who partners with LAN so I didn't fly with them by choice. I flew from LAX to MIA for what was supposed to be a 6 hr layover to Buenos Aires. All monitors and THE GATE'S COUNTER said the flight was on time. It was only a half hour before departure that we noticed nobody was at the gate. The LAN rep rudely told me that she had made ONE announcement at the crowded gate area 1 hr before, telling everyone the flight was grounded and that we'd be... (read more)
Written on: 23/02/2011
While the overall flight and service was ok, the customer service is terrible. I had an article stolen from my checked bag and the company is not doing anything to address the situation. Their excuse is that because the final leg of a three leg flight was with a partner airline, they are not responsible. I purchased the ticked from LAN, they checked my bag, and two of the three legs were with LAN. They are telling me to seek redress with the partner airline. If they won't address the... (read more)
Written on: 22/02/2011
Flew from New York to Buenos Aires, and from Montevideo back to New York. Requested gluten-free meals 2 days before the flight. Even though the first dinner tasted edible, it was contaminated and gave me severe food poisoning for my whole vacation trip. The following lunch and dinner that were supposed to be gluten-free were confused with Veggie. Couldn't eat. For breakfast I was served boiled apples that tasted so bad that I couldn't eat either. A replacement was denied. On a domestic... (read more)
Written on: 22/02/2011
Every westerner coming to Peru take notice!! Booked a return flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado for $140 with LAN. This was a very good price compared to other offers I could find. Only four days later - actually about an hour ago I got an email saying this price was for Peruvian's and that the price instead would be $800+. A bit of a kick in the teeth but also they told me if I dont want this new price, then they are going to charge me an extra 25 pounds. Nowhere on this website was this... (read more)
Written on: 08/02/2011
if you can bring an apple and crackers.....food was pretty bad. good wines and soft drinks at not additional charge. free entertainment! first run movies, games, music. liked the clean almost new planes, but found bathrooms lacking "sparkle". will definetely fly lan again when opportunity arises....can't beat the price, the leg room in economy is great, even in the non-emergency seats!....can only imagine what the "bed seat" must feel like in first class (very pricey)we fly once yearly... (read more)
Written on: 03/02/2011
I was very hesitant in flying with LAN as I've never heard of it. Prior to booking I asked a couple of people if they've ever flew with the airlines and was told that it was fine. My experience was a very pleasant one from JFK to Toronto. The flight both ways were early! This rarely happens with any airlines! Besides, the fare was the cheapest. The crew was very friendly and pleasant! I would highly recommend this airline. (read more)
Written on: 10/01/2011
I attempted to book my flight online and their website was having problems. At one point I thought my flight was booked and then it said to try again later and that my credit card had not been charged. So I tried calling the airline directly, sat on hold for 40 minutes and decided to try the website again. Got through, double and triple checked the dates and then booked. When I got my itinerary the dates were incorrect! So I called and sat on hold for 30 minutes to be told I had to call... (read more)
Written on: 09/01/2011
I flew on seven LAN flights in two weeks. To and from Miami and around South America. They were all one hour to three hours late. Not a single flight was on time. In addition the website doesn't work. LAN Needs help. I would find a different airline. (read more)
Written on: 07/01/2011
DO NOT FLY WITH LAN!!!! Trust me, if anything goes wrong, no matter how little (& it does often with LAN) you will regret trying to save that bit of cash & go with LAN because they will turn it into a NIGHTMARE for you!!!! Worst customer service I have ever experienced with ANY company!! Or no customer service at all!!! Lost baggage, flight cancellations, unable to get any kind of service over the phone after HOURS upon HOURS of phone calls, LITERALLY! No call backs, no reply to emails or... (read more)
Written on: 05/01/2011
My wife and I bought tickets MDE-UIO on July 26, 2010. The itinerary was to leave MDE on Dec 21, 2010. On Dec 20 we got a call indicating the flight has been canceled and that we were now scheduled to leave on the 22nd, that is a day later of the original plan. I called the call center, and inquired as to why the flight was canceled and if there is any other way I LAN can get me to Quito because we already had plans, hotel reservations, tour arrangements, etc. I was informed the company... (read more)
Written on: 28/12/2010
I was on a flight that was diverted from its original destination and arrived some 30 hours late. Customer services were frightful during the whole episode - new schedules were not informed to us ahead of time, etc.
Upon arrival, the worst happened - none of our connecting flights had been rearranged. I was told by the LAN attendant "fend for yourself"!! Totally unacceptable.
I later complained online and got a canned response 3 weeks later which did not address my complaint and even...
(read more)
Written on: 13/12/2010
We had a delayed flight from San Diego to San Francisco. We arrived at 10:45 when the flight was 11:45. The attendant in the check in counter told us to stand by the side and wait. After 20 minutes of waiting he left, I complained again and they told me I had to wait in the line. So I waited in the line and all this people in front of us who also had delayed flight where check in. But when it was our turn the counter attendant told us they cant check us in because we were too late, and we... (read more)
Written on: 08/12/2010
I took LAN from JFK, NewYork to YYZ, Toronto on 13th of Nov, 2010. It was one of the pleasant flights I had in years. Staffs were very friendly and even during 1 and 1/2 hr flight, they offer drink and a brownie. I haven't had any American airlines giving anything without a price. And I bought ticket in $150 total; would have gotten it with 104 + tax = $122. What a deal!!
Great Airline!!! Just try once, You wont regret!
(read more)
Written on: 07/12/2010
LAN basically ruined me, wouldn't let me fly because of visa requirements to the USA out of company policy, despite using the same visa to have entered the USA a month beforehand from Austraila. On one occasion(over trying to get out of Lima over a week) I could have sworn the staffmember was doing everything in her power to stop me from getting on the flight.
Never fly LAN, at least not unless you want to be barred from flying over a week for no good reason and arrive at the airport a day...
(read more)
Written on: 03/12/2010
WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!!! RUDE!!! NO CUSTOMER SERVICE, WILL LIE AND LIE AGAIN... NO RESPECT FOR PASSENGERS... DO NTO GO WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOW PRICE. THEY WILL CHARGE FOR EVERY LITTLE THING. (read more)
As rated by real users
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Mads1's Comment
Written on: 27/03/2013
This sounds terrible. Did you get your back in time for your wedding? I am in a similar situation where LAN lost my luggage for a trekking trip and didn't return it. I spent a lot of money replacing and hiring kit as well as missing several days of my trip just waiting for my bag. Have you gone through any sort of compensation process for the airline? I could do with some advice on how to pursue a claim with them.