LATAM lounge access in Chile with Qantas status?

[RooFlyer]

We've done a bit of research into the full suite of benefits that are available to Qantas Frequent Flyer members when travelling on LATAM. Details here:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/latam-lounge-access-qantas-flyers/

Thanks Matt. When you write

You can also use the same LATAM lounge in Santiago where Qantas sends its own passengers who are booked on QF28 (Qantas’ Santiago-Sydney flight) and are eligible for lounge access.

and then there's is a pic of a'new' LATAM lounge at SCL. So it's not the LATAM VIP lounge upstairs at the end of the terminal that was opened maybe 10 years ago?

I'm flying LATAM SCL-MVD-SCL on QF code share in a couple of months (transiting inbound from QFflight) and was wondering about lounge access ....

i’m also going to see if I can get a status match from Delta from Qantas Plat and so hopefully that might enhance my ability to get into the LA VIP lounge.

 

[AFF Editor]

Thanks Matt. When you write



and then there's is a pic of a'new' LATAM lounge at SCL. So it's not the LATAM VIP lounge upstairs at the end of the terminal that was opened maybe 10 years ago?

Correct, it's a new lounge that opened fairly recently in (I think) a new part of the international terminal. It's well sign-posted, just head up the escalator to the entrance and they'll tell you which of the lounges you can use. (The entrances are all in one place and there's a shared reception desk.)

I'm flying LATAM SCL-MVD-SCL on QF code share in a couple of months (transiting inbound from QFflight) and was wondering about lounge access ....

i’m also going to see if I can get a status match from Delta from Qantas Plat and so hopefully that might enhance my ability to get into the LA VIP lounge.

You should be fine in SCL but the LATAM website notes that the MVD lounge is currently closed.

 

[AIRwin]

My LA flight from GRU tonight departs from Terminal 2 but the lounge is in Terminal 3 so I decided to skip it

 

[SYD]

@Mattg do you recall if your LA issued BP included something like "Preferente" to indicated those potential additional benefits flying as a QFF on LA codes flights in SA? Or perhaps a lowish Group boarding number?

I have a couple of QF CR reward bookings on LA coming up. I can't see I can see the option for extra legroom seats (the LA seatmap was a bit vague, whereas the MH MMB was a bit more detailed on preferred seats...)

Thanks!

 

[muppet]

@Mattg do you recall if your LA issued BP included something like "Preferente" to indicated those potential additional benefits flying as a QFF on LA codes flights in SA? Or perhaps a lowish Group boarding number?

I have a couple of QF CR reward bookings on LA coming up. I can't see I can see the option for extra legroom seats (the LA seatmap was a bit vague, whereas the MH MMB was a bit more detailed on preferred seats...)

Thanks!

Last month flying GIG to GRU in economy as a QFF WP - no preferente listed.

I was given Group 3 boarding which is still considered “Priority” I believe, however I also selected up front seats which cost extra but come with priority boarding.

Pretty sure QFF WP does nothing in terms of priority.

 

[SYD]

Last month flying GIG to GRU in economy as a QFF WP - no preferente listed.

I was given Group 3 boarding which is still considered “Priority” I believe, however I also selected up front seats which cost extra but come with priority boarding.

Pretty sure QFF WP does nothing in terms of priority.

No probs. It was mentioned in the article as a benefit - hence the question.

 

[Mattg]

@Mattg do you recall if your LA issued BP included something like "Preferente" to indicated those potential additional benefits flying as a QFF on LA codes flights in SA? Or perhaps a lowish Group boarding number?

I have a couple of QF CR reward bookings on LA coming up. I can't see I can see the option for extra legroom seats (the LA seatmap was a bit vague, whereas the MH MMB was a bit more detailed on preferred seats...)

Thanks!

The boarding pass for my SCL-ASU flight was issued by Qantas in Sydney. It didn't have any group number or "preferente" written on the boarding pass at all. I didn't get a LATAM issued BP so can't say what would happen then, sorry.

 

[SYD]

The boarding pass for my SCL-ASU flight was issued by Qantas in Sydney. It didn't have any group number or "preferente" written on the boarding pass at all. I didn't get a LATAM issued BP so can't say what would happen then, sorry.

Ok. Pondering if we should take one for the team (and see what happens) or do the sneaky LA SM?

 

[AIRwin]

@Mattg do you recall if your LA issued BP included something like "Preferente" to indicated those potential additional benefits flying as a QFF on LA codes flights in SA? Or perhaps a lowish Group boarding number?

My boarding passes for MEL-SCL-GRU-MEX issued by LA in MEL all had my QF number and Grupo 4 but none had "preferente" at all

 

[SYD]

My boarding passes for MEL-SCL-GRU-MEX issued by LA in MEL all had my QF number and Grupo 4 but none had "preferente" at all

“Group 4” - Was that in whY? From memory they use Groups 1 to 4?

I don’t remember exactly what used to be printed on BPs when they were in OW…But pretty sure there was something indicating priority access as OWE in whY flying around SA. Or maybe I just assumed OW benefits and lined up at the “Preferente” line…

So I guess that’s an indication that no priority benefits anymore? Apart from Lounge access?

 

[SYD]

“Group 4” - Was that in whY? From memory they use Groups 1 to 4?

I don’t remember exactly what used to be printed on BPs when they were in OW…But pretty sure there was something indicating priority access as OWE in whY flying around SA. Or maybe I just assumed OW benefits and lined up at the “Preferente” line…

So I guess that’s an indication that no priority benefits anymore? Apart from Lounge access?

Just remembered that I have an old virtual LA BP on my phone: AEP to MDZ back in 2017.

Under “Class” it has “PREFERENTE” (as a OWE). I din’t recall if it was whY only flight but we were in row 8.

 

[hwlc]

QANTAS' website also states that QF Gold/Platinum members have access to the LATAM VIP lounges "When travelling on a Qantas or LATAM operated flight with a Qantas (QF) or LATAM (LA) flight number".
Here is the link:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/gold.html

I will be traveling to LIM via SCL with a LA flight number on 2/June. I will report back if there is any success.

Just found out that Qantas Gold member does not entitled to complimentary seat selection, priority check-in and boarding when booked with a LA flight, contradictory to Matt's article.

 

[SYD]

Just found out that Qantas Gold member does not entitled to complimentary seat selection, priority check-in and boarding when booked with a LA flight, contradictory to Matt's article.

I have some upcoming LA flights (booked as QF CR) and I was able to select seats.

 

[AIRwin]

I have some upcoming LA flights (booked as QF CR) and I was able to select seats.

Same here but not all seats are complimentary

 

[muppet]

Just found out that Qantas Gold member does not entitled to complimentary seat selection, priority check-in and boarding when booked with a LA flight, contradictory to Matt's article.

But it doesn’t contradict Qantas’ website which lists benefits of the partnership as … well not much.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/qantas-experience/network-and-partner-airlines/latam-airlines.html

 

[RooFlyer]

Just found out that Qantas Gold member does not entitled to complimentary seat selection, priority check-in and boarding when booked with a LA flight, contradictory to Matt's article.

Welcome to AFF @hwlc

Same here but not all seats are complimentary

So, I've found out. The row 4 seats make quite un-necessary complaining noises when I sit on them.

 

[AFF Editor]

Just found out that Qantas Gold member does not entitled to complimentary seat selection, priority check-in and boarding when booked with a LA flight, contradictory to Matt's article.

The information in the article was directly from LATAM. Unfortunately, it does seem that the implementation of these benefits doesn't seem to always carry through to the airport.

I believe you should be able to choose a seat for free, but the other benefits will depend on whether the airport staff are aware of the arrangement with Qantas.

We've also seen examples in another thread of Qantas lounge staff in Australia both accepting and refusing people with LATAM status into Qantas lounges, so it does seem like this partnership needs a bit of work from both sides!

 

[Mattg]

Hmm. Well I'm booked to fly with LATAM on Wednesday, in Economy on a couple of flights in Brazil, and my boarding passes say "group 5". LATAM is also trying to charge me ~$20 to choose any seat, or more for the extra legroom seats.

It doesn't look like my Qantas Platinum benefits are coming through at all.

 

[SYD]

Hmm. Well I'm booked to fly with LATAM on Wednesday, in Economy on a couple of flights in Brazil, and my boarding passes say "group 5". LATAM is also trying to charge me ~$20 to choose any seat, or more for the extra legroom seats.

It doesn't look like my Qantas Platinum benefits are coming through at all.

I’m in Chile and just completed two CR flights. SCL-MVD//EZE-SCL. Both whY.

Going into the LA website I was able to select seats for free (I might have used MH initially before finding the hack to get the LA PNR - which is via “Checkin” on LA).

Otherwise, “Group 5” on both sectors. I don’t know if paying extra for an upfront seat lifts that - you’d think so?

No issue with LA lounge access in SCL and EZE (the later is relatively new and quite functional). Previous trips there was just a dingy AA and/or BA lounge - neither of course would be in play now anyway).

 

[Mattg]

I’m in Chile and just completed two CR flights. SCL-MVD//EZE-SCL. Both whY.

Going into the LA website I was able to select seats for free (I might have used MH initially before finding the hack to get the LA PNR - which is via “Checkin” on LA).

Otherwise, “Group 5” on both sectors. I don’t know if paying extra for an upfront seat lifts that - you’d think so?

No issue with LA lounge access in SCL and EZE (the later is relatively new and quite functional). Previous trips there was just a dingy AA and/or BA lounge - neither of course would be in play now anyway).

Hmm, I wonder if you were able to select seats for free on the LATAM website because you had a Classic Reward ticket? My trip on Wednesday is a paid airfare - Economy Standard. FWIW I've been able to select seats free on other tickets booked in Economy Full and Premium Economy, but that's a benefit of those fare types.

FWIW I was allocated a middle seat for one of my flights and LATAM wants $19 to choose a different seat (even just a regular window or aisle), but there's an option to bid for an upgrade to Premium Economy with minimum bids starting at $11. So I've just bid for an upgrade and will see how I go. No middle seats in PE!