Possibility of luggage transfer with two international flights on different airlines

I'm flying Paris CDG to Santiago de Chile with KLM, then Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires with Jetsmart. Since these are two international flights, can I check my luggage in Paris so it goes straight to Buenos Aires?

Hi there,

If it's two separate tickets, no—your bags will be offloaded in Santiago, Chile (SCL). You’ll need to go through Border Control, collect your luggage, then head back to the departures area to check in with the low-cost airline Jetsmart. It’s the same terminal, and from what I remember, Jetsmart only has agreements with American Airlines. Make sure to give yourself enough time—at least 4 hours between these two flights. No visa will be required if you have a French passport.

Good evening,

If it's 2 separate tickets, no, your luggage will be unloaded in Santiago, Chile (SCL). You’ll need to go through Border Police, then collect your luggage, and afterward return to the departures level to check in for the low-cost airline Jetsmart. It’s the same terminal, and from what I recall, Jetsmart only has agreements with American Airlines. Make sure to give yourself enough time—at least 4 hours between these two flights. No visa will be required if you have a French passport.

Thanks so much for your reply. That’s exactly what I was afraid of. I only have 1 hour and 45 minutes between the two flights, so I’ll need to choose a connection that leaves later.

Yeah, it’s way too short, especially if there’s a delay. I took Jetsmart from Lima to Santiago de Chile two years ago—the check-in closes 70 minutes before departure. Four hours is good and avoids the stress of missing your next flight.

Hi there,

As @Patrick91230 mentioned, you should allow a minimum of 4 hours—or even more—between the two flights.

Upon arrival, from the moment the plane lands until you exit the international terminal (after immigration, baggage claim, customs, and health checks), you’re looking at a minimum of 1.5 hours.

(To avoid any issues, **do not** bring any animal or plant-based products with you to Chile.)

International departures take place in the same building, one floor above arrivals.

For international flights, you’re advised to arrive 3 hours before departure.

Be careful—both baggage check-in and exit immigration can sometimes be very slow.

Good luck!

Thierry