Flights from Wellington (WLG) to Santiago (SCL)

The best time to visit Santiago is from September to November or from March to May; these months mark the spring and autumn shoulder seasons in Chile. Temperatures in spring and autumn range from 10°C to 18°C. These are the best times to visit The Lakes District with its lush foliage and the wine country has it's harvest. The wild landscapes of Patagonia are most accessible to adventurers from November to February. Summer (December to February) can reach over 38°C in the day, though it’s a good time to visit the beaches.

What is the main airport called?

Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL). Also known as Santiago International Airport and Nuevo Pudahuel Airport, located in Pudahuel, 15 km north-west of downtown Santiago, Chile.

Arriving in Santiago

The helpful staff at Santiago Airport will greet you when you land and assist with your travel needs. Once you collect your bags from the arrivals area, there are various transport options available to get you on your way.         

Getting into Santiago from Santiago Airport  

Getting into Santiago is easy with a range of transport options available, depending on your travel needs. Choose from bus, taxi, ride share, hotel transfers or rental cars. A couple of different bus companies operate from Santiago Airport, TurBus Aeropuerto and Centropuerto. Buses depart every 30 minutes and it takes around 45 minutes to get to downtown. Taxi is the most convenient option with a journey time between 20 and 45 minutes depending on the traffic. Santiago Airport has a controlled route system known as “Vía Controlada” that provides a taxi service. It lets you know the fare before taking the taxi and ensure the driver has a licence to operate at the airport. Black and yellow are the regular metered taxis and blue are the tourist ones that charged a fixed price according to the destination, so it’s best to take a yellow taxi. The taxi rank is outside the main terminal building. Uber is a reliable way to travel, if your Spanish is not up to speed and can be booked through the app. You may wish to organise a hotel transfer to get to your destination.

Getting around Santiago

With a public transport system consisting of a metro, train, buses and taxis, getting around in Santiago is relatively easy. When using public transport, its best to buy a bip card, a contactless smart card to use on the bus and metro. Santiago’s metro system is the easiest and fastest way to get around the city. The trains are clean and reliable and serve all the main attractions. The bus network is extensive with easy to navigate routes and modern green and white buses operate on all the main lines. Taxis are abundant in Santiago and its best to take the black and yellow taxis, as they are metered. You can hail them on the street or call ahead. Ride share services such as Uber operate the city, and a good option if you don’t speak Spanish. It is possible to hire a car, though with reliable transport options it may not be necessary. As a relatively flat city, it’s easy to walk short distances, or you may wish to hire a bike and cycle along the paths to take in the sights.

Fly from Wellington

Once you’ve purchased your tickets from Wellington, there are a few things you should know to ensure you’re as prepared as possible for your upcoming trip.  

What is the main airport called? 

Wellington Airport (WLG). It is an international airport located in the suburb of  Rongotai in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Wellington Airport is located just a 20-minute drive from the Wellington CBD.  

Baggage allowance

 Passengers on Qantas flights from Wellington are allocated checked baggage. If you need more luggage, you can purchase an additional baggage allowance online prior to departure.      

Checking in 

Ensure you check-in online or via the Qantas App before you arrive at the airport from 24 hours before departure.