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Arturo Merino Benitez (SCL) Airport Guide

Airport Name

Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (Santiago)

Airport Location

The airport is located 17km (11 miles) northwest of Santiago.

Terminals

2

IATA Code

SCL

Telephone

+56 (0)2 690 1900 / 1752/3

Airport Overview

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Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport is Chile’s largest airport. It is also known as Pudahuel Airport. Eighteen airlines use the airport’s two terminals: one for international flights, one for domestic. It is a hub for Chile’s main airline – LAN – as well as several domestic airlines.

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Terminal Transfer

The National and International Terminals are housed in the same building and are internally connected by a passageway, lifts, stairs and hallways.

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Getting into Town

Taxi: Official taxis, marked blue with official identification, are available from outside the airport’s ground floor at both terminals, running to destinations such as Providencia, Las Condes, Vina del Mar and Santiago city centre. Limousines: Limousines are available from Lujoleasing (tel: +56 231 2495; website: www.lujoleasing.cl)

Bus: Buses serve uptown and downtown Santiago. The CentroPuerto bus stops at the Los Heroes bus terminal, close to the Los Heroes subway station, runs from both terminals. The Tour Bus stops at the Alameda bus terminal and downtown Santiago (journey time: 30 minutes). Minibuses departing from the airport offer a door-to-door service throughout Santiago and are operated by TransVip and TransCity; representatives are stationed throughout the terminal and tickets can be purchased in the baggage reclaim area.

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Car Parking

Short- and long-term car parking is provided at the airport. The long-term car park is served by a shuttle service that transfers passengers directly to the terminal building. Short-term car parking is located directly in front of the terminal building.

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Information Desks

The airport has two information desks (tel: +56 (0)2 690 1752/3), one on the first floor (Arrivals) and another on the third floor (Departures). A number of airport ambassadors are also available to assist passengers with flight schedules, flight gate information, shop and restaurant information, and any other services they may require. They walk around the terminal dressed in corporate colours. For real-time online flight information, visit the airport’s website or view the screens located throughout the airport. Only estimated times of arrival and departure can be obtained by telephoning the airport. A tourist information centre is located on the Arrivals floor of the International Terminal.

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Airport Facilities

Money and communications: The airport has ATM machines and bureaux de change located throughout the building. It also has three full service banks: two in the main building (Banco Santander) and one in the cargo area (Banco Santiago). The post office is located on the first floor. Telephones and internet kiosks are situated throughout the airport.

Eating and drinking: Licensed bars and restaurants, fast-food outlets, coffee shops and snack bars are located throughout the airport.

Shopping: There are gift shops, book shops, newsagents, wine shops, and jewellery and handicraft stores, as well as duty-free shops in the International Terminal and duty-paid shopping in the National Terminal.

Luggage: Trolleys are available in both terminals free of charge. Left-luggage is available 24 hours in the National Terminal (tel: +56 (0)2 690 1319).

Other facilities: There is a pharmacy on the third floor of the National Terminal public area and a medical services centre on the first floor of the International Terminal.

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Airport Hotels

There are no hotels located on site. The Hotel Diego de Almagro Aeropuerto (tel: +56 (0)2 230 5600) is a five-minute drive from the airport. Other hotels within 9 miles (15km) include the Best Western Hotel Los Espanoles (tel: +56 (0)2 232 1824), Best Western Hotel Majestic City Centre (tel: +56 (0)2 695 8366), Crowne Plaza Hotel Santiago (tel: +56 (0)2 638 1042), Four Points Santiago (tel: +56 (0)2 750 0300), Radisson Plaza Santiago Hotel (tel: +56 (0)2 203 6000), San Cristobal Tower (tel: +56 (0)2 707 1000) and the Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Centre (tel: +56 (0)2 233 5000).

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Airport Disabled Facilities

The airport building is designed with visual, hearing and tactile facilities for disabled passengers. These include wheelchair-accessible Braille lifts and telephones, adapted bathroom facilities, and elevators with speakers and emergency lights. Wheelchairs are available on request from individual airlines; passengers should inform their airline prior to travel.

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Airport Conference and Business Facilities

A business centre equipped with a meeting room and café is located in the International Terminal. Videoconferencing, fax, internet and computer workstation services are available. There are also four Internet access points located throughout the building. In addition, a large meeting room that can accommodate up to 40 people and offers a private bathroom, video, TV and transparency facilities is available for hire (tel: +56 (0)2 690 1752/3). A press room can also be hired. United Airlines, Lan Chile, American Airlines and Pacific Club all have VIP lounges.

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Top flight deals

Arturo Merino Benitez

London (LGW) to Santiago (SCL)
from£779rtnwith Opodo
London (LHR) to Santiago (SCL)
from£782rtnwith Opodo
London (LGW) to Santiago (SCL)
from£854rtnwith Netflights.com
London (LHR) to Santiago (SCL)
from£863rtnwith Netflights.com
London (LHR) to Santiago (SCL)
from£722rtnwith Air France

Directions

The best route from downtown Santiago is west on Alameda Street (the main avenue in Santiago which turns into Route 68), then right onto Circunvalacion Americo Vespucio, where the airport is located. There are plenty of signs signalling the entrance to the airport. From uptown (east) Santiago, the best route to the airport is Circunvalacion Americo Vespucio North.

Car Rentals

Car hire companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Econorent, Hertz and Rosselot. Car hire desks are located on the first floor of the airport in two areas: Arrivals (just before baggage reclaim) and the west side of the airport’s public area.

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Contributors to this guide: Word Travels, World Airport Guide, Cheapflights

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