LATAM Airlines is currently offering a status match, including to Australian residents who hold elite status with Qantas or Virgin Australia. This could be a useful offer if you have upcoming travel planned to South America, or you fly regularly with LATAM and its partner airlines.
If you qualify for the LATAM Pass status match, you’ll get to keep your status benefits until at least 31 March 2025. There’s an application fee of USD80 (~AU$124).
Although this is a limited-time offer, there is no defined end date for this promotion. The offer may be withdrawn at any time.
Who is eligible for a LATAM status match?
The current promotion, which LATAM is running in partnership with StatusMatch.com, is available to eligible frequent flyers who live in a country other than Brazil. To qualify, you would need to already hold an equivalent status tier with another airline.
There is a list of eligible airlines, and the status tiers that LATAM will match, on the StatusMatch website dedicated to this promotion.
Both Qantas Frequent Flyer and Virgin Australia Velocity are eligible airlines for this match. These are the status tiers that you can be matched to in the LATAM Pass loyalty program:
| Qantas tier | Velocity tier | Equivalent LATAM Pass tier |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Silver | Gold Plus |
| Gold | Gold | Platinum |
| Platinum/Platinum One | Platinum | Black |
LATAM Pass is not giving away status matches into its top-tier Black Signature level.
How to apply for a LATAM Pass status match
You can apply relatively easily on the StatusMatch website. All you need to provide is your:
- Name
- Email address
- LATAM Pass membership number (you can join for free if you’re not already a member)
- Your country of residence
- Evidence of your existing airline status, such as a photo of your membership card
You may be asked to provide proof of your country of residence, as the discounted USD80 application fee is only available to residents of certain countries (including Australia, Chile, Mexico, Canada and the USA).
Numerous AFF members have already applied and been approved in less than a day, although the T&Cs say it could take up to three business days. Once approved, your status will be updated within six business days. You won’t receive a physical LATAM Pass membership card, but will get access to a digital card.
What you get with LATAM Pass status
If you already hold status with Qantas Frequent Flyer, you can already access some benefits when flying with LATAM Airlines. But these benefits are fairly limited, and lounge access is only available at the five airports where LATAM operates its own lounges. (None of those airports are in Australia or New Zealand.)
LATAM Airlines operates an extensive network of flights to, from and within South America. When flying with LATAM, the benefits for LATAM Pass elite status holders are pretty good.
You can see a full list of benefits on the LATAM website. But here are the main benefits you can expect with LATAM Pass status…
Key LATAM Gold Plus status benefits
- Earn bonus miles on LATAM flights
- 4 complimentary upgrade coupons
- Complimentary seat selection
- Access to priority airport queues
- Priority boarding
- Priority baggage on international flights
- Fly forward on domestic flights
Key additional LATAM Platinum status benefits
- 6 complimentary upgrade coupons
- Complimentary LATAM+ seat selection
- Access to LATAM lounges and associated airline lounges
- Additional checked baggage allowance on LATAM and Delta flights
- No fees when changing or cancelling award tickets
Key additional LATAM Black status benefits
- Unlimited upgrades on LATAM flights within South America (subject to availability) and long-haul upgrade vouchers
- Preferential support at the airport
- Fly forward on international flights
- Free bassinet
LATAM Pass status benefits when flying partner airlines
Unfortunately, LATAM is no longer part of a global airline alliance since leaving Oneworld in 2020. But it partners with Delta and various other airlines, including Qantas.
You can access selected reciprocal status benefits when flying with the following partner airlines:
- Delta
- Aeromexico
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
The elite benefits vary by airline. For Qantas, LATAM Platinum, Black and Black Signature members can access Qantas-operated airport lounges when flying with LATAM or on LA-marketed flights operated by Qantas.
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