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

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Ryan Smith

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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.

Alaska award redemption LATAM business class GRU SCL LAX
Our booking included an onward flight to Los Angeles, also with LATAM. Image Credit: Alaska Airlines

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.

LATAM priority check in deck F GRU Sao Paulo
Easy to find — right inside the door!

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).

LATAM priority check in area F GRU Sao Paulo
Looking at the priority check-in area.

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.

LATAM priority check in line GRU Sao Paulo
Priority check-in line for business class and elites.

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).

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 entrance
Entrance to the 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.

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 reception desk
The lounge’s check-in desk.

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.

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 seating near bar
Seating near the bar.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 concourse seating
Seating over the concourse below.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 seats tv
Seats facing the lounge’s TV.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 hallway to restrooms
Hallway to the bathrooms.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 small seating area
A smaller seating area in the back.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 rear seating
Seating in the rear of the lounge.

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.

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 restaurant seating
Seating in the restaurant area.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 hot food bar
A side of the hot food bar.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 salgados
Brazilian salgados — salty snacks. If you aren’t familiar, you should be.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 pizza pao de queijo
I’ll take “foods that start with ‘P’: pizza and pão de queijo.”

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 cold cuts
Cold cuts and finger sandwiches.

And there was an extensive salad bar.

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 salad bar
Salad bar inside the lounge.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 breads fruits
Breads and fruits above drink coolers.

Pudding and yogurt cups were available for dessert.

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 desserts
Desserts on the buffet.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 drinks chips
Chips and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 wine
Wines near the buffet area.

Coffee and tea drinkers also had options.

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 coffee
The coffee bar and drink coolers.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 gelato
Grab some gelato before your flight.

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

LATAM lounge Sao Paulo GRU terminal 3 recycling
Recycling bins near the lounge’s 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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL gate area
LATAM must have a daily quota for ropes at the gates.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL crowds no seats
I guess you just stand around if there are no seats.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL pre boarding
Preboarding passengers lining up.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL jet bridge
Inside the jet bridge.

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.

LATAM B787 9 at GRU view from window
Looking at our plane from the jet bridge.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seats at boarding
Seats during boarding.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL view from seat
Looking across the cabin from the back left.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL cabin center
The LATAM Boeing 787-9 business class cabin.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL cabin
Looking up the left aisle.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat
Seat 7A when I arrived at my seat.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat closeup
Close-up of the seat and 3-point seatbelt.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat footwell
Looking into the footwell.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL light in footwell
The light in the footwell.

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!

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat dimming windows
Dimmable windows for the win.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat amenities
Aisle-side storage and amenities.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat control panel
Seat controls below the storage rack near the aisle.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat controls
The lower set of seat controls.

The tray table slid out smoothly and was spacious.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat tray table
Tray table after sliding it out.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat storage
A small storage tray next to the seat.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat reading light
Flip-out light along the aisle.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL seat outlets
Outlets near the entrance to the suite.

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.

LATAM B787 9 business class layout v2
Notice the offset layout. Image Credit: SeatGuru

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL lunch menu
Lunch menu in 3 languages.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL lunch
There aren’t words for how exciting this meal was.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL amenity kit
Amenity kit case.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL amenity kit contents
Contents of the amenity kit.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL bedding
Pillow and bedding roll at each seat.

The bedding bag also had a pair of fluffy slippers.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL slippers
Love me a flight that offers 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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL back of seat
Looking at the back of the seat.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL entertainment screen
Home screen on the entertainment system.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL movie categories
Home page of the movie options.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL Nosso Sonho
We even found a movie about the rise of a popular Brazilian funk group.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL remote
The remote in its holding slot.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL headphones
Headphones and cloth bag they came in.

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.

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL lavatory sink
Lavatory sink in business class.

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

LATAM business class B787 9 GRU SCL lavatory toilet
Lavatory toilet in business class.

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.

LATAM Boeing 787 9 sunset from window at GRU
Watching the sun start to set as we took off from São Paulo.

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.

The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does LATAM have flat beds in business class?

Yes, you will find a lie-flat seat (that turns into a bed) if you fly long-haul business class with LATAM. You’ll find these seats on the Boeing 767, 777, and 787, as well as Airbus A350. When looking at the seat map, look for a 1-2-1 layout in business class to get the newest seats.

Which LATAM flight has the new business class?

You can identify the new business class from seat maps with a 1-2-1 layout. The old business class has a 2-2-2 seat configuration. You’ll find the new business class on all Boeing 777 aircraft from LATAM. On the Boeing 767, 787-8, and 787-9, you’ll find a mix of the old and new business class. The Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-8 exclusively have the old business class.

How many seats are in LATAM business class?

It depends on the plane you’re flying. For long-haul planes with lie-flat beds, the number of seats varies. You’ll find 30 seats on the A350, Boeing 767, 787-8, and 787-9 with old business class. The B767 with new business class has 20 seats. LATAM’s Boeing 777 has 38 business class seats.

What terminal does LATAM use at São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) airport?

Domestic flights operate from Terminal 2. International flights use Terminal 3. There is a pedestrian walkway inside the airport connecting the terminals, and there’s a bus on the arrivals level to get between terminals. Both connections are outside security, meaning you can’t connect between terminals after security.

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About Ryan Smith

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.

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