Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport is Chile’s largest airport. It is also known as Pudahuel Airport. Nineteen 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 other domestic airlines. www.aeropuertosantiago.cl
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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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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 center. Limousines: Limousines are available from Lujoleasing (tel: +56 231 2495; Web site: 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 claim area.
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Short- and long-term parking is provided at the airport. The long-term lot is served by a shuttle service that transfers passengers directly to the terminal building. Short-term parking is located directly in front of the terminal building.
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Money and communications: The airport has ATM machines and bureau 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 jewelry 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. Luggage storage 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 center on the first floor of the International Terminal.
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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 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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The airport building is designed with visual, hearing and tactile facilities for disabled passengers. These include wheelchair-accessible Braille elevators 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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A business center 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 rent (tel: +56 (0)2 690 1752/3). A press room can also be rented. United Airlines, Lan Chile, American Airlines and Pacific Club all have VIP lounges.
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