Hummm.... something doesn't up there. According to their last CBA, the base salary for an A320 CA is $5,175,611 chilean pesos which at today's rate exchange equals to 10,677. USD. That's gross off course (subtract a 30% roughly to figure how much you actually pocket)

You also get other very important benefits like:

- Company ground transportation to the airport at your base, so you don't actually need a car to go to work.

- Good health insurance

- Salary adjustment every 6 months according to the national "consumer price index" (you don't stress out about inflation)

-Other bonuses that add up like Christmas bonus, flying on holidays, longevity, child education. Each of these bonuses is not significant, but if you put them together they bring a decent figure.

- Longevity: you could add up 30% of your base salary (that's off course at the very end of your career)

- 30 days of vacation a year, right from your first year at the company

- Per diem: For day trips with no overnights they provide you crew meals. In case they don't provide you a crew meal, you get around $40 USD. That's also true for overnights .They have different scales for different countries, for example if you go to Europe, you get 60 Euros daily. Not bad at all....

Sonny Crockett: I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but what kind of deal were you offered in Miami? It doesn't sound right. Was that for LAN Chile? I mean LAN Chile is one of the best paying carriers in Latin America, definitely better than COPA (got friends there too)

Also, as far as I know, LAN Chile hasn't hired DECs in the past several years. Upgrade time is now running at about 6-7 years, and it looks like it's going to run like that or even longer for the next few years.

If you are really going after the money, you are better off in China or M.E.

Lan Chile is a good company to go there and stay. If you don't care about living in Santiago, then the company is only OK. If you do care about living in Santiago, then LAN Chile is a great company.

Personally, I'm not crazy about Santiago but is definitely one of the best big cities in Latin America. Relatively safe, modern, organized. Cost of living is about the same as Miami. Cars and electronics prices are about the same as the U.S. Easy access to loans (specially if you work for LAN).

Well, I hope this gives a better insight on LAN Chile. I'm also waiting for them to resume hiring expats soon. (at the moment only locals are getting hired)