Santiago, Chile in the lower portion of South America is a long way from North America. Our LATAM Business Class fare had us travelling back from South America on LATAM Business Class on an overnight flight in comfort and space. We enjoyed a great lounge service, a comfortable meal along with great bedding.

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This post is one chapter on our trip to Mexico City, Mexico and Easter Island, Chile. This trip was enhanced through Alaska Mileage Plan and through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: LATAM Preferente Business Class B787-8, Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez Airport – Mexico City International Airport

We departed the LATAM VIP One World Business Lounge Santiago. At about fifty minutes before our flight, with the boarding sign in the lounge flashing “Boarding”, we departed the lounge. We had to take the lounge elevator down a floor to the security checkpoint, then the semi private business class departure elevator back up, a floor to get to the departure concourse.

We were dumped out into a narrow mayhem of duty free souvenir shopping of Britt Shop Chile, Victoria Secret and Dufry Duty Free which stores were mostly closed at the minute hour of our departure flight.

We found Gate 14 which had everyone lined up but without any action happening. We eventually boarded quickly thanks to great line management.

Latam Airlines
Business Class (Z)
SCL – MEX (Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport – Mexico Juarez International – Terminal One)
LA 622
Oct 18, 2017
Booked: Boeing 787-800
Flown: Boeing 787-800
Departure: 11:50 PM
Arrival: 6:35 AM + 1

On Board LATAM Business Class:

After the boarding maze, we were on board quickly. Boarding tonight was via single door jet bridge at 2L.

The configuration is slightly different on the LATAM B787-800 versus the B787-900. The LATAM B787-800 has 5 rows of business class, split at row 3 with a passageway and series of exit doors. By comparison, the LATAM Boeing 787-900 business classs cabin offers one large cabin with five rows of business class with no break in the cabin. We turned left and found our way to seats 2G/L and settled in.

The cabin is otherwise pleasant with lots of available seating and room with slightly off set seats.

While we were waiting to get underway, I enjoyed the view of the apron at Santiago International Airport. The view next to us was of a LAN Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft in the old LAN Chile livery.

While we were on the ground, the senior purser came around and welcomed us on board by name. This was followed by an introduction of our dedicated flight attendant Maurizio. Of all the flights I have taken with MrsWT73, this was the first male flight attendant that seemed to catch her complete attention. Tall, muscular and strappingly slim, I was of no match to his professional charms. I had to take some covert photography to capture the moment as a travel memory. Needless to say, his presence and service to us made the flight all that more entertaining, at least for me of course.

Pre – Departure Services:

A pre-departure beverage was offered. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity for “The Last Pisco Sour”. We were offered water, or sparking wine. LATAM seems to have gone a little bit low rent on the bubbles on board, since they only offer sparkling and not champagne.

The Amenity Kits: Salvatore Ferragamo

The dinner menus were presented while I we were waiting on the ground. After the menu service, the Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits were dropped off. This time red kits were offered as a primary option, although I saw some travellers getting some blue ones. I ended up with a red kit. I had amenity kit remorse after I had opened it, wishing I had gotten another blue one. The red ones had a more female look to them, whereas the blue ones had a more masculine look to them.

The contents of the Amenity Kit included Salvatore Ferragamo creams; as seen from our earlier LATAM Business Class Mexico City – Santiago flight.

We got underway from Santiago quite quickly and climbed up to altitude. I happened to look at the in flight magazine and the route map. I also browsed the in flight entertainment system. I didn’t bother to get up to see what the “free amenties” were. . . .

The Meal: A Late Dinner

The dinner menus were presented while on the ground. The menus were quite well prepared.

The LATAM Business Class wine list, as with our previous flights, was substantial and well presented. As I had indicated earlier, it was similar to our Qatar flights, and was one of the highlights of flying LATAM. Who can complain about two sparkling’s, two whites, three reds and a port.

After the short 7.5 hour flight down from Mexico City, I decided that it was really too short to enjoy a meal service and get a decent sleep. I was going to opt for an express meal on this flight. Instead, they didn’t offer an express dinner with the soup. I’m never one to pass up soup on an airplane, so I ended up having a full dinner service with soup, and getting the shorter continental express offering for breakfast.

The first dinner course was Native Potato soup with Chiloe Island Potato Chips. The soup was satisfying. It was presented with the salad.

The second course was Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Artichoke Puree and Grilled Tomatoes. It was okay as a lighter meal, although I didn’t find it very nourishing. I probably wouldn’t have it again.

Closing out meal service, there was Macadamia Nut Haagen Dazs ice cream for dessert. Haagen Dazs is always awesome so I couldn’t pass that up. There was also a light serving of assorted cheese.

I completed the morning breakfast card and left it for the breakfast order towards the end of our flight.

I started watching movies on the AVOD entertainment system. There were about 120 movies on board, which was a great selection. I was getting into the movie London Has Fallen while I was eating, but decided that at 1:52 AM that I’d better get some sleep.

I self turned down the bed. LATAM provides excellent duvet covers that are thick and fluffy. I got a much better sleep on the outbound. Although at 6ft 2 inches and a side sleeper, I found the length of the seat to be a bit short for my liking, I had to scrunch in order to fit my entire body down the length of the seat; bending the knees as needed.

The Second Service: An Express Breakfast

I woke up about 30 minutes from landing to the sound of crockery. The express breakfast had arrived and was placed on the center console. It consisted of an orange muffin, a take away coffee and a orange juice.

It seems there was a bit of a low rent touch to the presentation of the breakfast, but there aren’t many ways to dress up an express breakfast.

We had a cloudy descent into Mexico.

After we landed at Mexico City, we got off the plane quickly. Unfortunately, in Mexico City, nothing seems to happen quickly. The immigration line was long. The airport was super slow getting the bags out. It was 60 minutes after arrival and we were still waiting with everyone else at the baggage claim carousel with priority tagged bags that didn’t really work. Mexico City Terminal One seems grossly outdated; there wasn’t that much room for all of us to stand at the carousel anyway. These aren’t really complaints, just expectations to have when you arrive in Mexico City.

My Thoughts on LATAM Business Class:

All in all, we got a terrific deal on our Mexico City – Easter Island LATAM Business Class fare so I can’t really complain. I still can’t figure out if this was an intentional price or not? During our trip, LATAM excelled at providing a proper wine list, a great lounge experience and super thick duvets for sleeping. I would love to fly them again leaving from Los Angeles or another American destination. Even more surprisingly, several years later, the route still prices at a reasonable discount for the distance travelled. All in, LATAM are a competitive choice for flying to and from South America.

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If you’ve flown LATAM International Business Class, did you enjoy the wine list selections ?

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