The Mythical LATAM Priority Line

[kangarooflyer88]

Hey Everyone,
I recently status matched to LATAM from Qantas Platinum (giving me LATAM Black status) and then proceeded to book a one-way from MEL to POA (via SCL, GRU) for myself and my partner. There was no issue selecting seats for myself for free but I noticed that LATAM was charging to select seats for my partner. Upon further examination of the LATAM website, I realize that the only way to select the seats is by calling the Priority Customer Service line.

I called the LATAM Australia customer service line. After telling me what numbers to press for service in Spanish and Portuguese, it then asks me for my LATAM Pass number. I enter it in and sure enough it greets me as a Black member and tells me it will connect me to the Priority Service line. The problem is, I always get connected to the normal service line and I have been told by several agents that they are not authorized to select the seats for my partner for free. The stories I have been told by the agents so far in resolving this issue have been:

• Try calling again and see if it connects you to the Priority Line
• The Priority Line is only available from 8 AM to 5 PM weekdays Australia time
• The Priority Line is only available in Spanish
• We'll open a ticket up for you to resolve it (they did but they haven't responded there yet)
• Reach out to us via WhatsApp (this doesn't work as joining their WhatsApp results in a message saying the service isn't available in Australia)

Aside from the waiting for someone to respond to the ticket I am at wit's end here at what to do next. Should I have my girlfriend call on my behalf and speak to an agent (she can speak both Portuguese and Spanish)? Should I wait on the ticket? Should I head to Sydney international during when the LATAM desks are open to get them to select the seat for me? Should I email the CEO of LATAM?

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Are you both on the same booking?

 

[Lynda2475]

If on same PNR then one would expect that priority passenger benefits apply. However, if hers is a separate ticket then one assumes she will need her own status.

 

[RooFlyer]

Should I have my girlfriend call on my behalf and speak to an agent (she can speak both Portuguese and Spanish)?

Yes.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Are you both on the same booking?

If on same PNR then one would expect that priority passenger benefits apply. However, if hers is a separate ticket then one assumes she will need her own status.

Yes. We are both on the same booking. Again, the LATAM site says you must call in to select free seating for your travelling companions but again it is through this mythical Priority number. As a next step, I'll get my girlfriend to give this a go late this week should LATAM not get back to me.

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

Yes. We are both on the same booking. Again, the LATAM site says you must call in to select free seating for your travelling companions but again it is through this mythical Priority number. As a next step, I'll get my girlfriend to give this a go late this week should LATAM not get back to me.

-RooFlyer88

This just sounds bizarre. Is it all flights or just some flights you can’t select seats? Or are you specifically trying to select “Preferred” seats?

I have some LA flights in a few weeks booked as QF CRs in why - no LA status but 2x QF WPs but that should not make a difference now but I was able to select seats for both of us on both flights via the LA website for free.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

This just sounds bizarre. Is it all flights or just some flights you can’t select seats? Or are you specifically trying to select “Preferred” seats?

To be specific, I can select any seat I want for myself as a LA Black member for all three flights (MEL > SCL, SCL > GRU, GRU > POA) for free, that is no problem. Specifically I am choosing the more space/front seats. However, if I were to select my partners seat it would ask me to pay for those seats. LA makes a note on their website that you do need to call in to get companions travelling with you a free seat selection:

I have some LA flights in a few weeks booked as QF CRs in why - no LA status but 2x QF WPs but that should not make a difference now but I was able to select seats for both of us on both flights via the LA website for free.

What seats were you able to select? I am somewhat tempted to plug in my QF WP FFP to see if I can select those seats for free (then switch it back).

-RooFlyer88

 

[SYD]

What seats were you able to select? I am somewhat tempted to plug in my QF WP FFP to see if I can select those seats for free (then switch it back).

Standard whY seats (which is most of the cabin on A320(?) from memory). Strangely, the LA website doesn’t give me the option to purchase upfront seats but when I initially plugged the QF PNR into the MH website it was showing those $$$ seats.

LA website just shows them blocked when using the LA PNR.