Overview of Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL)
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport is a regional hub in Santiago, Chile, and a sizeable regional gateway with steady year-round service. With approximately 79 documented airline-route pairings on file, it links Santiago to roughly 25 direct destinations across the network. The airport operates on the America/Santiago timezone, which is worth noting if you are arranging a same-day onward connection.
Terminals & layout
Like most airports of its size, Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport consolidates check-in, security, and departures along a single landside-to-airside flow. Signage is colour-coded by airline alliance at most major hubs and by carrier at smaller fields. If you are flying with one of the low-cost carriers listed below, double-check the terminal, at multi-terminal airports, low-cost flights often depart from a remote pier with a longer walk and fewer dining options, so allow extra time.
Online check-in for most airlines opens 24 to 48 hours before departure and closes 60 to 90 minutes before takeoff. At Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, plan to arrive at the terminal at least 45–60 minutes before a domestic departure and 2 to 3 hours before any international flight. Bag-drop counters often close earlier than the printed cutoff, especially for low-cost carriers. Being late to bag-drop is the single most common reason budget passengers miss otherwise on-time flights. Pre-print or download your boarding pass before leaving home; some carriers charge a fee for airport-printed boarding passes.
Lounges & airside amenities
Expect at least one or two contract lounges accepting Priority Pass or LoungeKey, plus a pay-per-use lounge for walk-ins. Day passes typically run USD 25–45. Most travellers can also access free seating areas, water-bottle refill stations, and at least one quiet zone away from the boarding gates. If you arrive significantly early, scan the terminal map for a chapel or family room, these are often the quietest spots in any airport.
Baggage policy notes
Several low-cost carriers serve this airport, and their baggage rules are stricter than legacy airlines. Most LCCs include only a small under-seat personal item in the base fare; a full overhead-bin cabin bag and any checked luggage cost extra. Pre-pay your bags online. Gate-side excess bag fees are typically two to four times the online price. If you're connecting between two LCCs, treat them as separate journeys: bags will not check through, and you must clear security again.
Ground transport
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport sits at coordinates -33.393°, -70.786° at an elevation of 1555 feet, serving Santiago and the surrounding Chile region. Travellers usually reach the terminal by a combination of public bus, regional rail, ride-share, and licensed taxi. Where rail service is available it is almost always the cheapest fixed-fare option; ride-share apps tend to be the next cheapest and most predictable; metered taxis are the most expensive but the most direct. Verify the published rates posted at the airport ground-transport desk before agreeing to any non-metered fare. Quoted prices to and from the airport are a common source of overcharging in any country.
Budget travel tips
- Fly mid-week. Tuesday and Wednesday departures from Santiago are statistically cheaper than weekend departures across all carriers.
- Consider nearby alternative airports where they exist. A one-hour bus or train transfer can shave 30–50% off your fare.
- Book accommodation with free cancellation for the night of arrival in case your inbound flight is delayed and you miss the last public transport.
- Check the official airport website for live security wait times before you leave home. At peak departure banks the queue can swing from 5 minutes to 45 minutes within an hour.
Airlines serving SCL
LAN Airlines (LA)
Chile · Active
Sky Airline (H2)
Chile · Budget · Active
American Airlines (AA)
United States · Active
TAM Brazilian Airlines (JJ)
Brazil · Active
Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia (AV)
AVIANCA · Active
Air Canada (AC)
Canada · Active
Aerolineas Argentinas (AR)
Argentina · Active
Korean Air (KE)
Republic of Korea · Active
Qantas (QF)
Australia · Active
US Airways (US)
United States · Active
Pal airlines (5P)
Chile · Active
BQB Lineas Aereas (5Q)
Uruguay · Active
Air France (AF)
France · Active
AeroMéxico (AM)
Mexico · Active
Alitalia (AZ)
Italy · Budget · Active
Copa Airlines (CM)
Panama · Active
Delta Air Lines (DL)
United States · Active
Iberia Airlines (IB)
Spain · Active
Japan Airlines Domestic (JL)
Japan · Active
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
Netherlands · Active
Top destinations from SCL
| Code | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| LIM | Lima | Peru |
| EZE | Buenos Aires | Argentina |
| ANF | Antofagasta | Chile |
| DFW | Dallas-Fort Worth | United States |
| MIA | Miami | United States |
| PMC | Puerto Montt | Chile |
| GRU | Sao Paulo | Brazil |
| IQQ | Iquique | Chile |
| MVD | Montevideo | Uruguay |
| JFK | New York | United States |
| CDG | Paris | France |
| MEX | Mexico City | Mexico |
| AEP | Buenos Aires | Argentina |
| BOG | Bogota | Colombia |
| ATL | Atlanta | United States |
| CCP | Concepcion | Chile |
| CJC | Calama | Chile |
| CPO | Copiapo | Chile |
| LSC | La Serena | Chile |
| ZCO | Temuco | Chile |
| MAD | Madrid | Spain |
| GIG | Rio De Janeiro | Brazil |
| AKL | Auckland | New Zealand |
| ASU | Asuncion | Paraguay |
| SYD | Sydney | Australia |
Recommended reading for flying through Santiago
- How to actually find the cheapest ground transport from any airport
- A 2026 comparison of every major budget airline's baggage fees
- Online check-in cutoffs, airport-printing fees, and the bag-drop trap
- Walk-in lounge prices around the world
- Why airport currency bureaux are the worst place to exchange money