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LATAM Airlines is a oneworld carrier so, if you’re a collector of American Airlines AAdvantage miles or British Airways Avios, this is an airline you should be aware of.
The airline offers service between South America and multiple major US cities (including LA, Miami & New York) as well as offering non-stop services between South America and various European cities too but, up until now, it has only offered service to one Australian city – Sydney.
That has now changed.
LATAM now connects Santiago with Melbourne using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and, as that aircraft has a decent Business Class offering, this could be a very nice way to get across the Pacific to Australia (or to route the other way)….especially as part of a round-the-world-itinerary.
The LATAM 787-9 Dreamliner doesn’t offer all-aisle access business class seats but, all other things considered, it isn’t a bad product at all:
Image courtesy of LATAM
Image courtesy of LATAM
The LATAM 787-9 Dreamliner offers 30 lie-flat Business Class seats, 51 “Space+” seats and 232 regular Economy Class seats.
Space+ isn’t a true Premium Economy product as the seats only offer 34″ of seat pitch (just 2″ more than regular economy) and a paltry 17.3″ of seat width (which is exactly the same as regular Economy) so I’m not going to be rushing to cross the Pacific in a non-Business Class seat.
The schedule for the new service between Santiago and Melbourne is as follows:
LA805 SCL 13:30 – 17:40+1 day MEL (Mon, Thu & Sat)
LA804 MEL 20:40 – 19:55 SCL (Tue, Fri & Sun)
A one-way Business Class award will set you back 82,500 AAdvantage Miles or 150,000 Avios.
The good news is that because fuel surcharges are restricted in South America you won’t pay the ridiculous fees we’ve become accustomed to on Avios bookings. In fact the BA website prices up the Santiago – Melbourne route as having just $46.32 in fees:
I can’t tell you what the taxes and fees will be for an Avios booing in the reverse direction because BA.com just offers up and error message when I check (nothing new there!)
Bottom Line
Considering how few options there are for travelers wishing to fly between South America and Australia this new route is a welcome addition…..and from a selfish point of view I’m glad it’s a oneworld airline providing the new route as that that’s the alliance I have most points with.
Featured image: Wiki Commons Media
