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LATAM, Latin America’s leading airline group, connects Auckland to Santiago and beyond. I recently travelled to Ecuador and the Galapagos with LATAM Airlines. From New Zealand, there is no quick and easy route, but LATAM jetted me all the way to Quito and onto the Galapagos, via their Santiago hub. 

From Auckland, LATAM deploys its magnificent 787 Dreamliners for the overnight Trans-Pacific service to Santiago, which will operate four days a week from October. It’s one of the more intriguing long-haul routes, because as the on-board flight map vividly illustrates, the journey’s track generally resembles a broad smile, dipping deep down towards Antarctica, as your cross the southern Pacific Ocean. I kept an eye out for icebergs! 

If you’re up at the pointy-end, LATAM is currently spending over NZ$650 million upgrading its cabins. The business class mini-suites feature an all-new Recaro R7 lie-flat seat, laid out in 1-2-1 formation, all affording direct aisle access, with privacy doors. Each seat has a universal power outlet, USB charging point, an 18-inch (46-centimetre) touchscreen TV with in-seat remote control, and noise-cancelling headphones. 

The renovations include upgrading its Latin-American-inspired cabin to maximise relaxation and comfort, across all classes. The new economy seats feature state-of-the-art ergonomic design that recline up to 180 degrees. The seats in both economy and business class are being upgraded to be upholstered with up to 70% recycled leather.

I chose to fly in economy class which is an excellent product and I actually clocked up a good six hours sleep, on the 11-hour flight from New Zealand to Chile. Prior to that, I tucked in to a hearty beef dish for dinner, while grazing from the extensive selection of on-demand entertainment. LATAM Play boasts over 240 movies, 740 TV show episodes, 1,500 music tracks, and exclusive content from Max, Paramount+, and Disney+, all of which can be viewed on new 12-inch high-definition touchscreens. I opted for the incredibly intense blockbuster, Conclave, before revisiting some beloved episodes of Friends.  

Across all LATAM flights I took, the cabin crew were convivial, outgoing and efficient, seamlessly switching between Spanish and English for their respective passengers. (I loved it how on domestic flights between Quito and the Galapagos, the captain would greet passengers on the PA, not from the cockpit, but while standing up front by the main door.) Arriving into Santiago, and with a long layover before my onward flight to Lima and Quito, some languid, indulgent lounge time was highly desirable. 

LATAM’s Santiago lounge offering is sublime, tailored for Signature and Black LATAM Pass programme members and premium class passengers. If you’re flying economy, you can purchase a lounge pass for up to three hours in the Premium Lounge, subject to availability. It’s a fabulous experience, with a diverse buffet-style gastronomic offering. Menus are complemented by a premium selection of beverages and drinks. The barista whipped me a great flat white! There’s TV rooms, children’s rooms, resting areas, work stations and comfy seating, depending on how you wish to spend your time. 

LATAM Pass is the airline’s loyalty scheme, which enables you to earn points on LATAM flights, as well as on those with partner airlines like Delta, Qantas, British Airways and JAL - plus when spending with booking.com and Amazon. 

The airline has an expansive network across Latin America, domestically and internationally, zipping you to Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, in addition to its worldwide operations. In fact from LATAM’s hub in Santiago, the airline has onward connections to 144 South American destinations. They’re they trusted, proven carrier when flying to discover the wonders of South America. For best flights and seats to suit, head to

Mike Yardley is ¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞtalk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every week at 11.20am on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.