Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) is the one and only airport in San Esteban.

Step through the glass doors of Santiago International Airport and your San Esteban trip will have begun! The city’s main airport, it’s located 80 kilometers from the downtown streets.

There are 18 airlines that fly to San Esteban from 52 airports across the globe.

San Esteban receives the majority of its flights from LATAM Airlines, Sky Airline and JetSMART with LATAM Airlines being the favorite choice of airline. Calama is the most popular city for passengers to depart from.

Flying to someplace new is much easier when there aren’t any annoying stopovers to slow you down. If you’re traveling to San Esteban, the good news is that there are around 1,162 direct flights operating every week.

Flights to San Esteban from Calama, Antofagasta and Iquique airports are highly sought after.

If you’re going to San Esteban from Calama, you’re looking at a flight time of 2 hours and 2 minutes. Those setting off from Antofagasta can expect to be in the air for 1 hour and 51 minutes. From Buenos Aires it’s approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes away.

We’ve all come across those lucky travelers who manage to land super cheap airfares every time they fly. Want to know how to do it for your San Esteban vacation? Don’t leave it until the last minute to secure your flight. Also, shop around and compare your options. If your destination has several airports, you may be able to pick up an excellent deal by flying into one that’s farther away. Lastly, another simple way to save some cash is be ready to book at a moment’s notice. If you find an irresistible deal, don’t hesitate — grab it while you’ve got the chance.

Wherever you’re coming from, flying can be an enjoyable experience if you’ve prepared well enough. We’ve compiled a list of handy tips and tricks that will get your San Esteban vacation started on the right note.What to pack in your hand luggage:

• A plane ride can be a pleasure if you carry the right gear. Firstly, you’ll want some basic toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and lip balm, a spare pair of socks and a good novel. Secondly, find a spot in your hand luggage for your phone and charger, your medications and perhaps a comfy neck pillow as well. Lastly, and most importantly, don’t forget to bring your passport, travel papers and some money.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Check carefully that you don’t have sharp objects (like a pocket knife) lurking in one of the zippers of your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable goods, such as fuel and matches, and gels and liquids in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• Comfort should be your highest priority when picking what to wear on your flight. Consider your footwear choice with care too, as swollen feet are quite common. Flat, slightly roomy shoes are always a sensible way to go.
• It’s likely you’ve heard about DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of sitting. There are many ways to mitigate your risk. Wear compression socks, drink lots of water often and move your legs and feet. Wander up and down the aisles of the cabin or perform some stretches in your seat.

The secret is to be prepared before you reach security. That way, you’ll be boarding that plane to San Esteban in a flash. Follow these helpful tips and get your trip off to a spectacular start:

• Keep your boarding pass and ID close by. They’ll be the first things you’ll be asked for by security.
• Time to strip down. Well kind of. Your belt, jacket, keys and other items in your pocket, like coins, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them as it gets closer to your turn.
• All electronic gadgets, including your phone and tablet, are also required to be scanned.
• Don’t forget to remove gels and liquids from your carry-on luggage. They usually need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit in a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• The right choice of footwear can save you several precious minutes. Boots and heavy shoes are often required to be removed and separately scanned. Lightweight sneakers usually aren’t.
• Knives and other sharp items can’t be taken on board. They’ll be confiscated at security, so pack them safely away in your checked baggage.