2016 - FIP Buenos Aires and Iguazu: Day 2: Fri 26 Aug - Brisbane to Auckland to Santiago to Buenos Aires

I caught the hotel shuttle bus to the International terminal and was checked-in by 7:30am. I was lucky enough to get a points upgrade to Business Class for the Brisbane to Auckland and Auckland to Santiago legs, so was feeling really good about that. Went through the obligatory security checks, Customs and Immigration which are both very flash and new. No lining up to talk to the man behind the window; scan your passport, stand on the "feet", camera takes your picture and compares to your passport and that's it. Then you just put your passenger departure card in the box and off you go!! Plenty of Feds about though, so you need to get it right!

They have also changed the way you go through the Duty Free area - you have to walk the whole way thru, just in case you see something you might like! There was no tempting me, I was a little bit hungry as I missed a proper dinner last night and wanted to find the Plaza Lounge (QC undergoing renos so using this Lounge in the meantime, not as big nor flash as the QC though) to have some breakfast and a coffee. I did however, stop at the Currency Exchange to change my Chinese money to Pesos. That done, I made it to the Lounge with about an hour to spare before having to board. I had a couple of pieces of toast and a good flat white (coffee) and felt like new again.

Well, I thought it was an hour to go. However, apparently there were massive headwinds on the way over from New Zealand and that delayed the arrival of our aircraft. So, after an extra 50 minutes, we boarded and then had to join the queue for take-off. Luckily the strong headwinds were now strong tailwinds and we made up the time and landed one minute late. This leg to Auckland was only 3h10m long, but I got to watch one movie - Mother's Day - funny and moving. If I had eaten all they had to offer, I would not have been able to fit through the exit; it was a bit OTT. But the staff were all very attentive and happy.

As they couldn't give me a boarding pass in Brisbane for the Auckland-Santiago-Buenos Aires legs, I had to find the ticketing office in Auckland International airport. So, found that, no-one was home. Decided to go to the QC and made it there only to be told that I had to go back to where I had come from but only at 3:30pm. So, I had a cool drink (water) and then made my way back to the ticketing desk, queued for about 15 mins only to be told that the airline personnel from the operating aircraft (LATAM) would only be on deck at 4:30pm. Back to QC and the nice ladies at the QC desk asked me how I went. Told them I was not happy, so they made a phone call and told me it was 4:15pm that the desk would be open!! They also informed me that the flight from Sydney was delayed and therefore the flight from Auckland would not be leaving until 7pm, instead on 6:10pm!! I finally got my boarding passes and felt a lot happier and more relaxed. Seat 2H from Auckland to Santiago and 5B from Santiago to BA.

We didn't end up leaving until about 7:30 pm and there were only 13 pax in Business Class for 36 seats. So, as I was one of the only ones who had someone next to me, I moved to seat 3H. The other lady was appreciative as well. Had a glass of champagne before take-off, then a glass of SB with a very yummy dinner - beef of some description. Watched 3 movies: Eye in the sky, Money Monster, and Demolition. Slept and dozed between Money Monster and Demolition. It was then time for breakfast and it was a full cooked breakfast, and of course I couldn't eat it all!! Shortly after breakfast we landed in Santiago. I walked the entire airport looking for the Admirals Lounge which QANTAS uses in Santiago. Steve and I have been there in 2006 on our way to Salvador for FIP. The walk was good, and I eventually found it (opposite gate 19-20 for future reference), had a shower and a relax.

The flight to BA was delayed by about 40 mins, and it was standing room only!! We made up a bit of time in the air and were only 20 mins late arriving into BA. Immigration was a breeze. Luggage took forever to arrive and Customs was a breeze. I found the taxi rank with not much effort and was soon on my way to the hotel. Cost me 240 Pesos and I arrived about 8:30 pm.

The first room they gave me (on the 1st floor) was right on the road, and the buses, cars, and pedestrian traffic was very loud, so before unpacking anything I asked to be moved. Got a room on the 6th floor in the middle of the hotel so was happy with that. Unpacked and waited for Jane, Ann, Sylvain, and Trudy to get back from dinner and met them in the lobby before showering and sleep.