Route taken: New York’s JFK to Lima
What it costs: $2,500, round-trip.
What you get: Starting last March, LAN introduced an all-new premium business class product now available on flights between the U.S. and Lima, Buenos Aires and Santiago. LAN’s new seats feature four different seating positions, including a sleep-inducing 180-degrees flat. Generous pours of premium regional wines and ultra-comfortable bedding make for flights that are among the most luxurious currently flying to South America — and conducive to a good night’s rest.
What you don't get: We found LAN both good and bad in dealing with unexpected complications during our January visit. On one hand, changing our return date proved a snap. On the other, a series of ticketing snafus was bothersome. Domestic flight numbers did not conform with actual flight times, confirmed upgrades failed to appear on our reservations and finding an empowered, English-speaking manager proved challenging. Ultimately, everything worked out — but it all felt most unnecessary.
What’s on the menu: Contemporary South American cuisine is developed by top chefs in Lima, Buenos Aires and Santiago, and features a range of fresh South American ingredients like Magellan lamb, Ecuadorian shrimp, Argentinean steaks, Andean potatoes and Peruvian corn. On JFK to Lima flights, dinner service includes starters such as duck carpaccio in a port wine and cherry sauce, brisket with mashed potatoes and Chilean salmon with fennel and quinoa risotto. Häagen-Dazs ice creams and panna cotta are a sweet ending to the meal. Express meals also are available for folks looking to sleep through dinner service; dishes include smoked deer, tomatoes and greens or a hearty cheese plate. Wake up before landing to tuck into a breakfast of fresh juices, yogurts and omelets.
Make yourself comfortable: Set in a 2-2-2 configuration and featuring more than six feet of space between each row, the seats are thoroughly comfortable and private, with a back shell and dividing panels to avoid unwelcome neighborly intrusions. Thick mattresses, down comforters and full-sized pillows help you get comfortable in your seat while watching one of 32 on-demand movies offered on the 15.4-inch monitors — made all the more entertaining by noise-reduction headphones.
What wowed us: The cocktails. Along with the usual range of top-shelf wines and liqueurs, LAN offers freshly made Pisco Sours, the national drink of Peru, served frothy and cool. The flight time — roughly seven hours — and its nighttime takeoff and early morning arrival allow well-rested passengers to easily connect with flights to key domestic destinations such as Cuzco, the gateway to Machu Picchu.
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