LATAM J class is probably better than Qantas' dated product on the 747 they use for Santiago. Though the LATAM flight stops in Auckland if I recall correctly.
In any case Air New Zealand is definitely the better choice as they fly straight into Buenos Aires and a connection in Auckland is pretty straightforward.
Its fine for what it is. They can be hit and miss, however given that it is a direct flight and you leave in the evening you won't be eating too much on board.
I much prefer to fly Air NZ to BUE. There is the stop over in AKL however at least you arrive that same day in your destination. With LA you will most likely have to overnight in an Airport hotel and pay the charge to enter the country.
I've done LATAM on J (short-haul only) but on the 787. The arrangement is similar to QF. The bed is pretty comfortable, including the doona. Food is a bit of a hit and miss, although having pisco sours and a newer aircraft is a plus!
I'd say it's par on the seat, better on the aircraft, sub-par on meals and IFE. But that's just my humble opinion :)
I would highly recommend avoiding LATAM for getting over there. While they are broadly fine overall, if anything goes wrong (such as a delay or cancellation), they are very difficult to deal with and screw their customers over. Also, the level of English in their call centre and even with their cabin crew can vary wildly. I had LATAM staff talk to me in Spanish, notwithstanding that I was a caucasian male boarding their flight in Sydney. Absolutely unacceptable for an international carrier.
However, once you're over there in South America, LATAM is the best of a bad bunch and you'll have no choice but to use their carrier services.
I'm off to Buenos Aries in September from Melbourne. Heard mixed review on LATAM J Class.
Is it worth doing QF out of Sydney instead?
My recommendation would be Air New Zealand over Qantas or LATAM.
From Melbourne;
Air New Zealand - 1 Stop (AKL) to Buenos Aires - Boeing 777-300ER from Melbourne to Auckland, Boeing 787-9 from Auckland to Buenos Aires. Better seats/service/food in Business Class.
LATAM - 1 Stop (SCL) to Buenos Aires - Boeing 787 from Melbourne to Santiago non-stop, but usually only an A320 from Santiago to Buenos Aires with a domestic style configuration.
Qantas - 2 Stops (SYD & SCL) to Buenos Aires - Older Boeing 747 Product and not guaranteed direct Aisle Access. Food and Service OK.
I commented on this issue recently on a separate thread. I entirely agree that LATAM should be avoided at all costs. I have used them in the past have been extremely disappointed.
Additionally, given that your travelling to BsAs, the stopover in SCL (as well as AKL) is going to be quite unwelcome. SCL is a horrible airport with length queues and difficulties at immigration and customs. Whilst these may be avoided as a part of a stopover, in my view you are better off to avoid it entirely.
The best option is, as some others have recommened, to fly with Air NZ directly to BsAs.
If Air NZ doesn't suit you, I recommend the QF service ex-SYD. Whilst the J class product is, admittedly, dated, I think you will still be better served than flying LATAM.
You are, no doubt, going to South America to experience the culture. I would, however, recommend you drawing the line at your choice of carrier. There are some aspects of the culture that are simply not compatible with running an airline.
Have not flown LATAM long haul and only done the SYD-AKL-SYD in economy. Read many of the comments and another recent post on another person's experience of having booked a business class ticket on LATAM but then being put in economy. I have booked a family holiday to South America in J class and we are flying Qantas. We are going to have fly LATAM internally which we know will be a challenge. As an aside, QF specials in J class to Santiago are still running and are $4010 on the Qantas website. A great fare. You can choose either Qantas or LATAM flights depending on the day of travel.
Agree with a lot said, I did one of the specials and went Qantas on the way over and Latam on the way back to Santiago/BA. I wanted to try Latam, for around $4k aud in J both are great value.
I’ve also flown Air NZ on the 787 and that is superior product but I think $4k is hard to beat in return I don’t know what your chances are getting that price with Air NZ. Flying Qantas and crediting to Alaska mileage plus is an excellent earner for AS miles future redemption to keep in mind as well.
I agree that Air NZ is the best choice for this trip. As the OP gets to avoid SYD and SCL which are both undesirable airports.
In saying that though, QF is by far the second best choice here. The comments about QF using their old 747's on this route isn't taking into account that the OP is traveling in September by which time I thought QF will have received enough 787s to be retiring the older non-ER 747s they're currently using on this route.
So the route will be purely using the newer and more recently refurbished ER model 747s which are not too bad a product in reality.
No sure I agree with Santiago being a horrible airport. I've transferred through Santiago about 20 times in the last 5 years and I don't recall there ever been queues. I've found it one of the easiest airports in the world to transfer through. It is small and organised. In fact I've even made it from the tarmac to the lounge (including disembarking and clearing security) in 10 minutes! The LATAM lounge is decent (fairly average catering but spacious and comfortable - not my favourite but adequate).
The biggest issue with LATAMs Melbourne-Santiago service is their absolutely shocking connection options out of Santiago. The flight arrives late into Santiago so you either connect onto a flight that arrives in the early hours of the morning (eg 3AM), or you have a 10 hour + stopover in Santiago and take a flight the following morning. Neither option is particularly desirable. The timing of this flight seems to be all wrong.
Assuming you are loyal to oneworld I would choose the Qantas service out of Sydney or alternatively Melb-Auckland (Qantas) Auckland-Santiago-BA (LATAM).
can someone tell me what the LATAM lounge is like in santiago? i have to spend 9 hours there in june. lucky me
[/QUOTE] As previously mentioned, the catering is very average... but good wine offering, they also have a sleep area upstairs that I would recommend if you have 9 hours. I actually really like the area upstairs as it's more private but also has some good seating options (left far side viewing the tarmac has seats with an ottoman). Also, showers are pretty good. They give you a very complete amenity kit.
Hogies
Hogies
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Feb 2013
Total posts 8
I'm off to Buenos Aries in September from Melbourne. Heard mixed review on LATAM J Class.
Is it worth doing QF out of Sydney instead?
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 180
LATAM J class is probably better than Qantas' dated product on the 747 they use for Santiago. Though the LATAM flight stops in Auckland if I recall correctly.
StuParr
StuParr
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 01 Mar 2012
Total posts 203
Its a direct flight to Santiago.
Its fine for what it is. They can be hit and miss, however given that it is a direct flight and you leave in the evening you won't be eating too much on board.
I much prefer to fly Air NZ to BUE. There is the stop over in AKL however at least you arrive that same day in your destination. With LA you will most likely have to overnight in an Airport hotel and pay the charge to enter the country.
silvyvc
silvyvc
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 19 Jun 2017
Total posts 62
I've done LATAM on J (short-haul only) but on the 787. The arrangement is similar to QF. The bed is pretty comfortable, including the doona. Food is a bit of a hit and miss, although having pisco sours and a newer aircraft is a plus!
I'd say it's par on the seat, better on the aircraft, sub-par on meals and IFE. But that's just my humble opinion :)
KT
KT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Jan 2018
Total posts 13
MarkJohnSon Banned
MarkJohnSon Banned
Member since 19 Jan 2018
Total posts 41
I would highly recommend avoiding LATAM for getting over there. While they are broadly fine overall, if anything goes wrong (such as a delay or cancellation), they are very difficult to deal with and screw their customers over. Also, the level of English in their call centre and even with their cabin crew can vary wildly. I had LATAM staff talk to me in Spanish, notwithstanding that I was a caucasian male boarding their flight in Sydney. Absolutely unacceptable for an international carrier.
DGP
DGP
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 Jan 2012
Total posts 42
I'm off to Buenos Aries in September from Melbourne. Heard mixed review on LATAM J Class.
Is it worth doing QF out of Sydney instead?
My recommendation would be Air New Zealand over Qantas or LATAM.
Covvers
Covvers
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 19 Jan 2018
Total posts 64
I commented on this issue recently on a separate thread. I entirely agree that LATAM should be avoided at all costs. I have used them in the past have been extremely disappointed.
sanj747
sanj747
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Nov 2016
Total posts 146
Have not flown LATAM long haul and only done the SYD-AKL-SYD in economy. Read many of the comments and another recent post on another person's experience of having booked a business class ticket on LATAM but then being put in economy. I have booked a family holiday to South America in J class and we are flying Qantas. We are going to have fly LATAM internally which we know will be a challenge. As an aside, QF specials in J class to Santiago are still running and are $4010 on the Qantas website. A great fare. You can choose either Qantas or LATAM flights depending on the day of travel.
Contract3
Contract3
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
Member since 21 Apr 2017
Total posts 7
Agree with a lot said, I did one of the specials and went Qantas on the way over and Latam on the way back to Santiago/BA. I wanted to try Latam, for around $4k aud in J both are great value.
Madhatter49
Madhatter49
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 11 Dec 2016
Total posts 85
I agree that Air NZ is the best choice for this trip. As the OP gets to avoid SYD and SCL which are both undesirable airports.
AlexTravAddict
AlexTravAddict
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 17 May 2015
Total posts 41
No sure I agree with Santiago being a horrible airport. I've transferred through Santiago about 20 times in the last 5 years and I don't recall there ever been queues. I've found it one of the easiest airports in the world to transfer through. It is small and organised. In fact I've even made it from the tarmac to the lounge (including disembarking and clearing security) in 10 minutes! The LATAM lounge is decent (fairly average catering but spacious and comfortable - not my favourite but adequate).
brettepi
brettepi
Member since 10 Jul 2017
Total posts 86
can someone tell me what the LATAM lounge is like in santiago? i have to spend 9 hours there in june. lucky me
silvyvc
silvyvc
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 19 Jun 2017
Total posts 62
[QUOTE=17386;44761]
[/QUOTE]
As previously mentioned, the catering is very average... but good wine offering, they also have a sleep area upstairs that I would recommend if you have 9 hours. I actually really like the area upstairs as it's more private but also has some good seating options (left far side viewing the tarmac has seats with an ottoman). Also, showers are pretty good. They give you a very complete amenity kit.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Some photos here from when it opened.