Plan Ahead To Avoid This Common Scam Tourists Fall For At Santiago Airport

In a way, the rush that comes with traveling somewhere new may make us a bit vulnerable. We're thrilled to be seeing a different place while staying slightly anxious about all of the details, constantly checking if the passport is still in our hip pocket the whole time. Once the stress of the flight is over, it's easy to get a false sense of security and let our guard down. Everybody knows there's a whole industry of thieves that prey on tourists, meaning you have to avoid getting scammed by fake tour guides, watch out for stealth pickpockets, and stay wary of classic distract-then-snatch grifts. No country or destination is completely immune. Unfortunately, we often have to be watchful right from the airport. While seasoned travelers know you have to avoid common taxi scams in Europe, at the Santiago Airport in Chile, thieves go even further. There've been enough visitors scammed by unlicensed taxi drivers that the UK government even added a "Taxi Scams at Santiago Airport" section to its Foreign Travel Advice page for the country. 

Scammers wait at the arrivals area dressed as authorized drivers with jackets, official-looking lanyards, and a printed price list. They offer their services to unsuspecting tourists. Once in the cab, these taxi pirates take advantage of tourists' lack of knowledge about the area or local currency to charge exorbitant amounts. Or, riders swipe their card and enter the PIN without seeing the display screen, and a 50,000 CLP (~$50) ride turns into an insane 5,000,000 CLP (~$5,000) overcharge. According to the UK government, people have been taken for over $10,000 to this con. But proper planning can ensure you stay safe from predatory taxis and these airport scams. 

Although scammers try to dress like reputable taxi companies, avoiding this trick is straightforward. The first thing to do is ignore anyone who offers you a ride near the arrivals gate or baggage claim. Some might offer great deals and be aggressively persistent, but the official and authorized taxi services are hired at a counter in the arrival area near baggage claim (before the public arrivals zone). There are two types of taxis, black and yellow ones that run with a meter, and blue "tourist" cabs that are fixed rate. The blue ones are the safest bet for a visitor, because you can pay in advance at the counter — a typical trip to downtown Santiago usually runs around CLP 15,000 (about $16).

After paying, you get a voucher with the taxi information and destination address. A representative escorts you to the general area of your awaiting taxi, where you can find the car, give the ticket to the driver, and cruise into the city with peace of mind. That's the easiest option. Uber and Cabify are available and also help to avoid getting hustled. But if you order one, don't expect the driver to come to the main area because the rideshare apps operate in a legal "gray zone," and there have apparently been incidents between app drivers and airport staff. The meeting points for the apps are close but outside the arrival and departure areas. For a budget option, there are bus companies that bring passengers to various stops in the city with tickets available on the bus or at airport booths. There are various ways into the city, and planning ahead and paying attention to common airport scams will ensure a stress-free trip to your destination.