Airline Profile: LATAM Airlines Group
In this article, I am covering both Latam Chile (formerly LAN) and Latam Brasil (formerly TAM) and all of the other airlines in the LATAM group. Featured Image: A LATAM Boeing 787-9 at Lima Airport.
The Facts:
| Founded | 2016 (merger between TAM and LAN) |
| Alliance | Oneworld |
| Hubs |
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| Headquarters | Santiago, Chile |
| Fleet Count | Around 300 |
| Skytrax Rating | 3 (out of 5) |
| Parent Company | LATAM Airlines Group |
| Travel Classes |
Economy Premium Economy (Short Haul Business) Premium Business |
| Frequent Flyer Program | LATAM Pass |
| Website | latam.com |
| Type of Airline | Full Service |
| Competitors |
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| Divisions of the LATAM Airlines Group |
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| Logo |  |
A TAM Airbus A320
Analysis:
Understanding The LATAM Group:
The LATAM airlines group formed in 2012 when both the LAN (Chile) and TAM (Brazil) airline groups started merger talks. The two airline groups slowly merged to create a larger airline in 2016 called LATAM. The new(ish) airline called LATAM consists of all of the two major airlines’ former subsidiaries, and each subsidiary is called LATAM [Country Name]. Also, with the merger, the two airlines are now under a unified livery (see featured image), and not just the old TAM livery (see above) or the old LAN livery (see below).
The airlines are all technically still separate, and all of the individual subsidiary airlines still have their routes with either the former LAN or TAM, although the airlines are still working to incorporate the airlines together fully. Now, LATAM pretty much has a subsidiary airline in every country in South America and is the largest airline group in South America. Again, as I stated at the very beginning, this airline profile includes all subsidiary airlines of the entire LATAM Airlines Group; I am treating the whole airline group as one airline here.
A LATAM (Then LAN) Airbus A320 in Lima
What to Avoid:
Boeing 777-300ER: On all Boeing 777-300ERs (operated by LATAM Brazil) business class features angle flat seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. These aircraft are flown on long-haul flights from Sao Paulo to North America and Europe, so to have only angle-flat seats on those aircraft is extremely sub-par. If you would like to have a better business class experience on LATAM, try to fly on a 787, A350, or 767 which all have flatbed seats in business class. Also, economy class is in a 3-4-3 configuration on the 777-300ERs, which is much more cramped than the 3-3-3 configuration on the 787s or A350s.
Travel Classes:
Economy:
On all LATAM airline brands, on all Boeing 767s, 777s, 787s, and Airbus A350s, economy class features personal on-demand entertainment. On all short-haul aircraft (the Airbus A319, A320, and the A321), economy class features personal device entertainment which you can access via the LATAM Play app. Economy class is in a 3-3 configuration on A320 series aircraft, a 2-3-2 configuration on 767s, and is in a 3-3-3 configuration on all 787s and A350s, and is in a 3-4-3 configuration on 777-300ERs. On flights over 3.5 hours, passengers receive full warm meals in economy class. Passengers can also reserve Space + seats (seats with extra legroom/that are in an exit row) for an additional fee. Finally, passengers are allowed to check one 23 kg bag for each flight. Passengers traveling in economy can purchase access to the LATAM VIP Lounge (more on that below) for $40-$60 per person.
I flew LATAM economy class from Cusco to Lima to Santiago in 2016, and it was both not memorable and not bad either. I don’t know what to say about it, because it was a pretty bland experience – the food was okay, the seats were not too uncomfortable, the flights were on time, and the personal device entertainment was pretty good. I wouldn’t go near to saying that LATAM has a world-class economy product, but it probably is better than what you would get on LCCs or maybe even some mainline US airlines.
Premium Economy:
Premium economy is not what you would at first think it is on LATAM. It is short-haul business class on some Airbus A319 and A320 and features seats similar to that of on European airlines – the same economy class seat but with the middle seat free. You also get free meals on all flights longer than 1 hour, priority check-in and boarding, and have access to LATAM VIP lounges. I honestly would probably not recommend premium economy because you get the same seat as in regular economy and get slightly better food and service. Please note that premium economy is not available on Airbus A321s and some Airbus A320s/Airbus A319s.
Premium Business:
Premium business class is featured on all wide-body long-haul aircraft. On the Boeing 767s, 787s, and Airbus A350s, business class features flat-bed seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. On the Boeing 777-300ER, business class features angle flat seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. All seats feature personal on-demand entertainment on all aircraft. Passengers also receive amenity kits, food better than that of economy, and access to LATAM VIP Lounges. VIP Lounges operated by LATAM are located in Sao Paulo, Santiago, Bogota, Buenos Aires Ezeiza, and Miami. They feature comfortable seating, showers, Wi-Fi, snacks, and business centers.
LATAM also recently announced a new business class hard product which features flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and uses the Thompson Vantage XL business class seat. The seat is one of the best in the market and is similar to the seats found on SAS’s A330s and A340s or Qantas’s A330s and 787s. This new seat also is a huge step up from the current seats that LATAM has which do not feature direct aisle access. The seats will first be retrofitted onto some of their Boeing 767s and will be installed onto LATAM Brazil’s Boeing 777-300ERs next year. Please note that LATAM has no current plans to introduce this business class seat on Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s in the immediate future.
LATAM’s New Business Class Seat (Photo Credit: LATAM)
LATAM’s New Business Class Seat (Photo Credit: LATAM)
Future/Recently Commenced Routes:
- São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport – Begins December 12, 2018 – Boeing 787-8
- Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Santiago) to Salgado Filho International Airport (Porto Allegre) – Begins January 15, 2019 – Airbus A320 Series
- Jorge Chávez International Airport (Lima) to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (Cali) – Airbus A320 Series
Have you ever flown on LATAM? Share about your experience below in the comments section!
