What is LATAM Airlines' carry-on weight limit?

LATAM Airlines allows one cabin bag up to 8 kg with dimensions of 55 × 35 × 25 cm in economy class, plus one small personal item (laptop bag or handbag) that must fit under the seat. The 8 kg limit is enforced at check-in and gate on most LATAM routes.

How strict is Sky Airline's 6 kg carry-on limit?

Sky Airline, Chile's main budget carrier, enforces a 6 kg cabin bag limit with dimensions of 45 × 35 × 25 cm. This is one of the lowest carry-on weight limits among South American airlines. Sky Airline enforces this at the gate and will check overweight bags for a fee. Budget carefully if flying Sky between Santiago and other Chilean cities.

When is winter in Santiago de Chile?

Santiago is in the Southern Hemisphere, so seasons are reversed relative to the Northern Hemisphere. June, July, and August are winter — temperatures in Santiago average 6–14°C and the Andes ski resorts are in full season. December through February is summer, hot and dry. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are mild and popular travel months.

Can I bring wine from a Chilean winery in my carry-on?

No. Wine bottles cannot pass through airport security in carry-on luggage under the 100 ml liquid rule, regardless of where you purchased them. Wine from Colchagua or Maipo wineries must be transported in checked luggage, ideally in a padded wine shipper. Duty-free wine purchased airside at SCL is allowed in tamper-evident bags on direct flights.

Is Uber available in Santiago?

Yes. Uber operates in Santiago and is widely used by both locals and visitors. Taxis are also available and metered. The Centropuerto bus service connects SCL airport to the Pajaritos Metro station for a low flat fare, from where the metro covers most of the city. Uber from the airport to central Santiago takes 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.

Carry-On Only for Santiago de Chile: LATAM, Sky Airline, SCL Tips

Santiago is a long way from almost everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere — around 14 hours from Europe, 10 hours from the US East Coast. That makes carry-on only packing a serious undertaking for a trip that may span wine country, the Atacama Desert, and ski season in the Andes. LATAM Airlines operates an 8 kg limit from its Santiago hub, while Sky Airline — the budget domestic and regional carrier — applies a tighter 6 kg limit. Southern Hemisphere seasons mean you need to plan your clothing layers for the opposite of what Northern Hemisphere travellers expect from the same calendar months.

Airline Rules at a Glance

Airline	Weight	Dimensions	Personal Item	Notes
LATAM (Economy)	8 kg	55 × 35 × 25 cm	Allowed	Main hub at SCL
Sky Airline (Economy)	6 kg	45 × 35 × 25 cm	Allowed	Budget, domestic focus
JetSMART (Economy)	8 kg	55 × 38 × 20 cm	45 × 35 × 25 cm	Chilean LCC
Iberia (Economy, long-haul)	10 kg	56 × 45 × 25 cm	Allowed	Via Madrid

If you are flying internationally on LATAM to Santiago and then connecting domestically on Sky Airline for the Atacama, be aware that the domestic segment applies the stricter Sky Airline 6 kg limit. The dimensional difference also matters — Sky Airline's 45 × 35 × 25 cm allowance is considerably smaller than LATAM's 55 × 35 × 25 cm.

SCL: Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport

Santiago's Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) is a functional, modern airport located about 17 km northwest of the city centre. It is Chile's main international gateway and handles all major long-haul routes.

Getting to the city. Options from best to most expensive:

Centropuerto bus from the terminal to Pajaritos Metro station: around CLP 2,000, takes 30–40 minutes. From Pajaritos, the metro connects to most of Santiago in another 20–30 minutes.
Uber: 30–45 minutes to Providencia or Miraflores, depending on traffic. Reliable, metered, and significantly cheaper than conventional airport taxis.
Conventional airport taxis: significantly more expensive, require negotiating or using an official taxi desk inside arrivals. Not recommended when Uber is available.

Terminal layout. SCL has one international and one domestic terminal, connected by a short walk. If you are transiting between an international LATAM arrival and a domestic Sky Airline departure, allow at least 2.5 hours for the connection — different terminals, separate check-in and security.

Southern Hemisphere Seasons

This is the single most important context shift for visitors from the Northern Hemisphere:

Month	Santiago Season	Conditions	Best Activities
June–August	Winter	Cold (6–14°C), Andes snow	Ski resorts (Valle Nevado, El Colorado)
September–November	Spring	Mild (14–22°C), wine harvest begins	Vineyards, hiking
December–February	Summer	Hot (28–35°C), dry	Atacama, beaches, Patagonia
March–May	Autumn	Mild (12–24°C), grape harvest ends	Wine region, city sightseeing

If you are travelling in June through August expecting the warm South American sun, pack winter clothes. Santiago at altitude in winter is genuinely cold.

Packing for Santiago

For a winter trip: layer-friendly pieces — a mid-layer (fleece or down gilet) and a windproof outer layer are more space-efficient than one heavy coat. Ski resorts are 90 minutes from the city centre by bus and rental gear is widely available, so you do not need to pack ski clothes.

For a summer trip: Santiago in December–February is hot and dry. Light cotton and linen work well. The city does not require any specific dress code for most tourist activities.

Atacama trips. Day trips or weekend excursions to the Atacama Desert (usually flying from SCL to Calama on Sky Airline or LATAM) involve dramatic temperature swings — very hot by day, cold at night even in summer. A good base layer and a light insulating piece are worth packing alongside summer clothes.

Wine region day trips. The Colchagua Valley (about 2.5 hours south by bus) and the Maipo Valley (30 minutes from Santiago) are the two most accessible wine regions. Winery visits are casual dress. The main packing implication is the wine-home problem: bottles cannot travel in carry-on. Ship wine home via a winery's export service, or accept that you are only tasting on the trip.

Practical Santiago Notes

Uber works reliably across the city and is how most visitors move around. The Santiago Metro is excellent and covers most of the city's tourist areas — Providencia, Las Condes, Lastarria, and Baquedano. Spanish is universal; English is less common outside tourist businesses and large hotels.

Altitude note. Santiago itself is at relatively low altitude (520 metres) and causes no acclimatisation issues. Excursions to the Atacama (2,400 metres at San Pedro de Atacama) may cause mild altitude effects on the first day. Ski resorts outside Santiago reach over 3,000 metres — the same caution applies.

Bottom Line

LATAM's 8 kg limit is manageable for a Santiago trip with careful packing. Sky Airline's 6 kg domestic limit is the tighter constraint if you are continuing to the Atacama by air. The Southern Hemisphere season reversal is the most important mental model shift — pack for winter in June even though it feels counterintuitive. Wine can only come home in checked luggage, so either accept that or budget for an extra checked bag on the return leg.