LATAM Boeing 787-9 Business Class Review [GRU to SCL]

Airline: LATAM (LA)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Flight #: LA631
Route: São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to Santiago International Airport (SCL), plus an onward flight to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Date: July 23, 2024
Duration: 4 hours, 15 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Business class; 30 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration
Seats: 7A and 7J
Cost: 60,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles + $41 per person (including the onward flight to Los Angeles)

My wife and I recently went to Brazil on short notice because of a family situation. Being Brazilians, we’re very familiar with LATAM and have flown the airline countless times — both short-haul and long-haul.

We’ve also had numerous negative experiences with LATAM over the years. We tried and tried to find something other than LATAM flights heading home, but we couldn’t. In the end, we were pleasantly surprised. We had the best LATAM experience we’ve ever had.

Booking LATAM Boeing 787-9 Business Class

We booked our flights using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, which we earned from recent welcome bonuses on the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature^® credit card and Alaska Airlines Visa^® Business credit card. Flying from São Paulo back home to Los Angeles (LAX), we connected through Santiago (SCL) in Chile.

Both flights were in business class with LATAM, flying the airline’s newer business class on the Boeing 787-9. This product is a marked improvement over the older 2-2-2 business class LATAM still operates on some routes, and we paid just 60,000 miles per person all the way from Brazil to the U.S.

For just the flight from São Paulo to Santiago, we could’ve paid 25,000 Alaska miles, 31,000 Delta SkyMiles, or 30,750 British Airways Avios. Alternatively, we could’ve paid $329 for this 1,626-mile flight.

Hot Tip:

Learn more about the best ways to earn and redeem Alaska miles to help with your future flight redemptions.

São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)

Check-In

It’s incredibly easy to find LATAM’s counters in Terminal 3 at Guarulhos. Terminal 3 is where nearly all international flights depart, and you’ll see LATAM’s counter for priority check-in facing the doors, right under the large F sign.

This door is where you enter if a taxi is dropping you off. However, if you took the terminal connection bus from Terminals 1 or 2, you get dropped off on the ground level (arrivals) and need to make your way up to the top floor for departures. The same applies if you took the inside walkway from Terminal 2, but the desk is super easy to find. For reference, F was farthest to the right among of the check-in aisles (when entering the terminal door).

Our entry into the line was off to the side, and a friendly agent here confirmed that we were flying in business class or had LATAM Pass elite status before letting us into the queue.

The woman guarding the line and the agent at the desk were both friendly and efficient, confirming our reservation details, weighing our luggage, and checking our passports quickly. Given that we were checking in more than 3 hours before the flight, there was only a minimal line, and we had our boarding passes plus information about the lounge and departure gate in no time at all. We also asked the desk agent to check that our special meal requests were confirmed for the flight, and after we got an affirmation headed off to security and passport control.

LATAM VIP Lounge

The LATAM VIP lounge in Terminal 3 at Guarulhos was extremely easy to find. After we cleared passport control and before passing the main duty-free shop, we saw signs pointing up to the second floor for lounges. There were both escalators and elevators to access the upper floor, and LATAM’s lounge was alongside other lounges like the Amex Centurion Lounge and Espaço Banco Safra Lounge (the former Star Alliance Lounge).

The check-in desk had multiple employees, so there was no line. A friendly woman checked our boarding passes and welcomed us into the lounge with a smile. She asked if we’d been to the lounge before or needed an orientation. As we’d visited previously, we declined the offer.

Our previous visit was during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, so this was the first time we visited the lounge with other guests or experienced food service. That was a stark contrast to our previous trip to this lounge.

The bar had an open layout, including multiple seating types and outlets near most seats.

Moving further along the glass, which overlooked the concourse below, we found additional seating and small tables.

A TV and additional seats were at the far edge of the lounge.

The lounge also had restrooms, and the showers were at the end of this hallway.

An additional seating area deep in the lounge was quieter and more isolated.

The middle section of the lounge had yet another arrangement of seats.

Away from the glass overlooking the concourse, the other side of the lounge held a restaurant and buffet section. This was the busiest area during our visit.

Hot foods on the buffet included carne asada, chicken breast in lemon sauce, brown rice, stewed vegetables, mashed potatoes, and more.

Along the wall, we found traditional Brazilian salgados — savory snacks like meat dumplings, chicken coxinha, and bacon quiche.

Another food warmer had miniature pizzas and cheese bread — the traditional pão de queijo.

Another buffet along the wall had miniature sandwiches and cold cuts.

And there was an extensive salad bar.

We found rolls, sweet breads, and fruits at the end of the counter, and drink coolers underneath had beers, sodas, and bottled water.

Pudding and yogurt cups were available for dessert.

The lounge also had bags of chips and a machine for making fresh-squeezed orange juice.

If you wanted wine, several bottles were near the end of the buffet.

Coffee and tea drinkers also had options.

The most unique item was probably the freezer with gelato cups.

We also appreciated the recycling bins near the exit from the restaurant area.

The main drawback to all lounges in Terminal 3 is their location. They are immediately after passport control and can be quite far from some of the departure gates. The higher your gate number, the more time you should plan for getting from the lounge to the plane.

Boarding

We departed from gates 303 and 304, so the walk from the lounge was rather short.

LATAM loves ropes at the boarding gate. Take it from us. We weren’t surprised to see all these snaking ropes set up before boarding began.

And even though employees put all that effort into organization, we were surprised to see that our gate area had no seats. None. Thus, people just stood around once they arrived.

Shortly before preboarding, agents called forward a few people who had checked in online but hadn’t shown their documents to anyone. After that, preboarding started and moved rather efficiently.

At this point, boarding turned chaotic. Employees weren’t using a microphone to call out boarding groups, so people were pushing forward and asking others what was happening. We simply assumed that business class was boarding next and made our way to the front, finding an empty jet bridge waiting for us.

However, the fact that staff were calling out boarding groups at a normal volume and not using a microphone left most passengers confused. It took a while before we started seeing a steady stream of passengers coming into the plane behind us.

Boarding went through the middle door, with business class passengers turning left after showing their boarding passes to friendly flight attendants at the door. Even when we’ve had bad experiences with LATAM in the past, friendliness at the boarding door is something this airline consistently does well.

Given the confusion with boarding, our flight left 30 minutes late.

On Board LATAM’s Boeing 787-9

Business Class Cabin and Seat

You instantly know if you’re in LATAM’s newer business class from the 1-2-1 layout (the older product uses a 2-2-2 configuration) and the burgundy colors on the headrest.

As we were among the first passengers to board, we had ample time to check out the cabin and familiarize ourselves with our seats. And since we’d booked only a week before the flight, most seats were already occupied. Since we couldn’t sit together, we chose the window seats in the last row on opposite sides of the plane, figuring we could both be comfortable and cut through the galley nearby if we wanted to visit each other.

The cabin had a staggered layout, where some middle seats were closer together and others further apart. The spacing of the TV screens made it clear.

Some window seats were closer to the aisle, while others had more privacy because they were closer to the window.

I had seat 7A, the last window seat on the left side of the plane. I loved the look of the seat and armrest with its marble veneer.

Seats had a detachable 3-point seatbelt and a mix of deep reds and purples — echoing LATAM’s logo.

The footwell extended under the storage area of the seat in front of me, which was the reason for the staggered layout. While not enormous, the area didn’t feel cramped for my size 11.5 feet.

At night, the footwell didn’t feel cramped, either, and I liked that there was a nightlight in there.

Windows had a dimmer rather than shades. These were easy to use and worked well. It was 4:15 p.m. during this picture — peak daylight!

Along the aisle, a bar created a storage space, keeping items like headphones and bottled water from falling out.

This was also where I found the seat controls, including sitting up, lying down, and multiple other options. There was also a “do not disturb” button here and a control for the overhead light.

A second set of seat controls was below the marble armrest, and this was convenient for adjusting the seat when lying down. The gray button next to the seat controls released the tray table.

The tray table slid out smoothly and was spacious.

At the rear of the seat, near my shoulder, I found a small flip-open tray that could hold a phone and earbuds but not much else.

A flip-out reading light was in the molding near the aisle.

At the very front of the seat, near the entrance, were USB-A, USB-C, and universal outlets.

Choosing the Best Seat

Given the staggered layout of LATAM’s business class on the Boeing 787-9, some seats are better than others. If you’re traveling solo and want privacy, aim for seats A and J (window seats in odd-numbered rows) to be closer to the window. Seats C and L are more exposed to the aisle.

If you’re traveling with someone and want to be close together, aim for middle seats (E and F) in odd-numbered rows. Seats D and H have armrests and storage between passengers, so they’re more separated.

Food and Beverage

Menus were placed at seats before boarding, and they had English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Despite the 4-hour flight time, business class passengers received an appetizer, salad, choice of main dish, and choice of dessert. Options for the main dish included a grilled tenderloin or cheese ravioli.

In the past, LATAM has been notorious for messing up our special meals. In fact, catering at GRU airport, in general, has been terribly bad. This time, it was a home run — maybe a grand slam.

My wife and I had requested vegan meals, and what we got blew the standard menu out of the water. We got moqueca and could hardly contain our excitement from the time the flight attendants told us until the tray arrived.

Moqueca is a traditional coconut milk stew served with rice and plantains, typical of Brazil’s northeast (and normally made with seafood). It was an 11/10 for airplane meals. No joke, it was one of the best inflight meals I’ve ever had.

We also received a small, bland salad, a roll, grilled vegetables, a plum, and mashed sweet potatoes. For dessert, we had an incredible chocolate bar from Goldko that we plan to find in stores the next time we’re in Brazil.

LATAM, well done on this meal. Seriously. This was far superior to the mushy eggplant and flavorless tofu offered as the special meal on many airlines.

Amenities

Amenity Kit

Each seat had a black-and-white amenity kit placed there before boarding. LATAM has multiple different amenity kits, and these were created in collaboration with Hamilton Aguiar, an artist from my wife’s hometown in Brazil.

The amenity kits weren’t overflowing like those provided by some other airlines. Here, we found socks, an eye mask, earplugs, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. There were no lotions or beauty products.

Bedding and Slippers

On arrival at our seats, we found 2 cloth bags. Bedding was in 1 bag, while the other had the pillow. Rather than disposable plastic thrown away between flights, these bags are washed and reused.

The bedding bag also had a pair of fluffy slippers.

The pillow offered moderate support, and the blanket was comfortable. However, there was no mattress pad.

Entertainment

Each seat had a touch-screen entertainment system that worked intuitively.

It was nice to see the home screen indicating what it offered: over 180 movies, over 590 TV shows, and over 1,500 songs.

Movies could be sorted according to numerous groupings, such as new releases, comedy, or action.

There were also sections for Latin and Brazilian movies, including “Nosso Sonho,” which means “Our Dream,” about a popular funk duo that had a huge impact on the music scene in Rio de Janeiro.

Near the armrest, a cover opened to reveal the remote control that could pop out with the push of a button. It worked as expected to control the entertainment system.

At boarding, each seat had a cloth bag in the storage compartment holding the noise-canceling headphones for use during the flight.

Lavatories

We had 2 lavatories reserved for business class passengers, both at the front of the plane. The lavatories were the same size as those in economy. A sink, mirror, and bottle of liquid soap were on 1 side.

On the opposite wall was a full-length mirror, and a coat hook was near the door — opposite the toilet.

Internet

There was no inflight Wi-Fi on this plane.

Service

Flight attendants on this flight were super friendly and helpful throughout the flight. At boarding, they helped passengers find their seats quickly; during the flight, they kept the lavatories clean and stocked.

After boarding, and even with the delayed takeoff, there was no welcome drink. We didn’t receive any drinks until we reached cruising altitude, with the exception of bottled water placed at our seats before boarding.

During meal service, flight attendants were friendly and efficient, clearing away dishes quickly. They didn’t bang around or make a lot of noise during preparation or cleaning, which was another nice element.

Plus, the seats and cabin were thoroughly clean when passengers entered the plane.

Arriving in Santiago

As we approached Santiago and during the taxi to the gate, the crew made necessary announcements about our arrival gate, passport control procedures, and baggage claim. We also heard instructions for transit passengers.

Once we arrived at the gate and the middle door was opened, business class passengers departed first. Being in the last row, we were closest to the door and were off the plane quickly. Flight attendants at the door wished us a pleasant onward journey to cap off a great flight.

Final Thoughts

We had sworn off LATAM years ago after numerous bad experiences. Messed-up special meals, missing special meals, rude flight attendants, canceled and delayed flights … the list was extensive.

Hands down, this was our best flight ever with LATAM. The crew members were friendly, the new cabin was a major step up from the old business class, and we got one of — if not THE — best airplane meal we’ve ever eaten. This was a great flight.