To complete off the primary portion of my two journeys to the Southern Hemisphere, I flew LATAM enterprise class from Lima to Miami. I used to be excited to expertise LATAM’s Boeing 767 enterprise class, on condition that the airline has been putting in a brand new product over the previous few years. Thankfully it didn’t disappoint.
How I booked my LATAM enterprise class ticket
These days LATAM has a partnership with Delta, because the airline left the oneworld alliance. That makes it more durable to redeem miles on LATAM. The excellent news is that Alaska Mileage Plan nonetheless has a partnership with LATAM, so it’s doable to redeem Alaska miles for these flights. Particularly, I paid 45,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles plus $74.58 in taxes & charges for the next flight:
9/17 LA2462 Lima to Miami departing 12:15AM arriving 7:05AM
Admittedly I wasn’t actually maximizing the award potentialities right here, as I might have began a lot additional South in South America, and will have had a stopover for no further price (in different phrases, I might have booked Santiago to Miami through Lima with a stopover for a similar variety of miles, however that didn’t actually match into my schedule). I’d say this was nonetheless a great use of miles, although.
LATAM 767 enterprise class cabin & seats
LATAM sends its enterprise class passengers to the Sumaq VIP Lounge at Lima Airport, and boarding was scheduled to start out at 11:15PM, an hour earlier than departure. Enterprise class passengers had been invited to board first.
LATAM’s new Boeing 767 enterprise class is extremely elegant, and an enormous improve over the provider’s outdated product on this aircraft, which featured six seats per row. LATAM now has Thompson Vantage seats in enterprise class, that are staggered.
To start out, credit score to LATAM for the cabin finishes, as they’re in all probability probably the most attention-grabbing I’ve seen on a 767. I like the distinction in colours and textures, so it’s a fairly cool-looking cabin.
Within the heart part, seats alternate between being nearer to the aisles and nearer to the home windows, with each different row having “honeymoon” seats which can be fairly shut to 1 one other. Nevertheless, because of the privateness partition round seats, you shouldn’t be bothered by these seats in case you occur to be sitting subsequent to a stranger.
Alongside the home windows, seats additionally alternate between being nearer to the aisles and nearer to the home windows. The seats nearer to the aisles really feel much less non-public, and for that matter you may discover that you simply’re ran into by fairly a number of folks within the aisle, particularly since boarding happens via the ahead door.
I assigned myself 5A, the seat within the final row on the left facet, which is nearer to the home windows. I’d contemplate these to be the most effective seats within the cabin, as they’re probably the most non-public. Seat 5A can also be attention-grabbing as a result of it’s the pilot crew relaxation seat on longer flights, so there’s a curtain that may go round it (although you possibly can’t use it except you’re the pilot). Since this was a brief sector, this seat was out there to assign.
Alongside the aisle-side of the seat had been a lot of the options, together with an uncovered storage rack, the place you might place issues throughout the flight.
This space additionally had the seat controls, which had been simple to make use of. I’d argue they had been too simple to make use of, as a result of I by chance hit the controls with my proper elbow a number of instances throughout the flight.
On the front-side of that console had been the ability ports, together with an AC and USB outlet.
Above that was a studying gentle, which could possibly be turned on by pushing one facet of the sunshine in.
The leisure controller was additionally contained in the aisle-side armrest, and could possibly be eliminated for simpler use.
The tray desk prolonged out from beneath that console, and could possibly be folded over in half.
LATAM did a pleasant job not simply refreshing the seats, but in addition updating the overhead bins, to make them extra trendy. Whereas they’re not as giant as you’ll discover on the most recent era plane, they at the least regarded good.
Whereas there have been studying lights within the overhead console, there have been sadly no particular person air nozzles.
There have been two toilets on the entrance of the cabin, which had been in good situation, however in any other case fairly no frills.
I additionally had a fast peek into economic system throughout boarding, because it was proper behind my seat. The cabin was fairly colourful, with an apparent differentiation between LATAM’s additional legroom economic system seats and normal economic system seats. It’s additionally attention-grabbing how the 767-300 primarily has a single economic system cabin within the heart part, with no partitions.
When it comes to onerous product, I’d say that is about pretty much as good because it will get on the Boeing 767, except United, which has glorious Polaris cabins on its refreshed Boeing 767s.
LATAM enterprise class facilities
For a roughly 5 hour in a single day flight, I believed the facilities had been fairly spectacular. LATAM has glorious bedding, together with an opulent pillow, a comfy blanket, and even a mattress pad.
There was additionally a colourful amenity package, with socks, eyeshades, lip balm, a dental package, earplugs, physique lotion, and a towelette.
Whereas there have been a pair of headphones at my seat, they felt fairly low-cost — they weren’t comfy, and didn’t do a lot to cancel noise.
There was additionally a bottle of water ready at my seat, in addition to the menu.
LATAM 767 departure from Lima
This flight was practically full, so boarding was a bit hectic, given that each one passengers board via the ahead door. The crew did a superb job making an attempt to welcome enterprise class passengers and take meal orders throughout boarding, with out slowing down boarding. The flight attendant serving me, Jorge, got here round boarding to introduce himself by title, ask if I used to be acquainted with the seat, and take my meal order.
LATAM additionally has enjoyable boarding music, which I fairly loved — I in all probability discover airline boarding music greater than the typical particular person. Oddly there have been no pre-departure drinks, although.
One entertaining side of boarding was that the man seated throughout from me was celebrating his birthday, so when the clock struck midnight, his total household got here as much as enterprise class to sing him comfortable birthday in Spanish, whereas additionally videoing the entire thing. Everybody then gave him a kiss and hug.
They then returned to economic system and… returned a minute later and sung him comfortable birthday once more, this time in English. The crew then wished him a cheerful birthday over the PA, so then his household got here again to enterprise class a 3rd time, to as soon as once more sing him comfortable birthday in Spanish. Lol… I discovered the entire thing cute, I feel.
The principle cabin door ended up closing at 12:05AM, with each enterprise class seat occupied. The captain added his welcome onboard, informing us of our flight time of 5hr20min. A second later we started our pushback. At this level the protection video was screened — LATAM has a cute South America themed security video, which I loved.
At 12:10AM we started our taxi to the runway, and at 12:20AM we had been cleared for takeoff on runway 16, so we had been making good time.
LATAM 767 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
As we climbed out of Lima, I browsed the leisure choice. I discovered the system as such to be glorious, because it was touchscreen and responsive.
It was onerous to inform precisely what number of films and TV reveals there have been, as some had been listed beneath a number of genres. Primarily based on my depend there have been nicely over 100 films, and the same variety of TV reveals.
I ended up watching a number of episodes of “The World’s Most Extraordinary Properties,” which I really feel like is a type of reveals you solely watch on an airplane. I feel at this level I’ve seen each episode, however solely at 30,000+ ft.
LATAM additionally has a superb map characteristic on its 767s, which is customizable, as you possibly can zoom out and in, somewhat than being constrained to solely sure views.
Sadly LATAM doesn’t supply Wi-Fi on its Boeing 767s. Whereas that will hassle me on a daytime flight, on a redeye like this, that didn’t hassle me one bit.
LATAM enterprise class meal service
For a 5hr20min redeye, the inflight service was fairly in depth, as there was a dinner service after takeoff and a snack service earlier than touchdown.
Now, service was a bit gradual to get began. The crew wasn’t seen within the cabin for the primary 50 minutes. I suppose they had been getting ready the meals — ideally service would have began a bit earlier, however I additionally get there’s quite a bit to do. At that time one cart was rolled down every aisle.
The whole lot was served on a single tray, as you’d anticipate on a flight this brief, the place folks want to relaxation. Peru nonetheless has a number of coronavirus restrictions (this was the one flight this journey the place carrying a masks was required), so unsurprisingly the meal was additionally served absolutely lined. This may additionally clarify why there have been no pre-departure drinks. I do like how LATAM wraps its bread in what appears to be like like a newspaper — that’s cute.
There have been two dinner choices — beef or pasta. Ordinarily I’d go along with the latter (I’m not a lot of a beef particular person), however I had pasta on the earlier flight, so I made a decision to combine it up. That was in all probability a mistake.
The non-vegetarian possibility was slow-cooked beef in a pink wine and orange sauce, potato puree with gravy mustard, caramelized fennel, and carrots. The meat was actually robust, so I didn’t find yourself consuming it. That was in all probability a blessing in disguise, since I actually didn’t have to eat one other meal.
This was served with a facet of cheese, which went nicely with the bread.
For dessert I chosen the chocolate-cinnamon sponge cake with lucuma sauce and dry meringue, which was served in a glass. This was tasty.
To drink I had a glass of the Chilean sauvignon blanc, which I loved.
My tray was cleared simply over an hour after takeoff. Personally I feel the crew ought to have turned off the cabin lights throughout the meal, as many passengers selected to go straight to sleep. As a substitute they had been left on for the primary hour and alter, and had been then turned off.
When my tray was collected, I used to be requested if I wished to have a pre-landing snack, about an hour earlier than arrival. In fact I wouldn’t really be hungry at that time, however I had a job to do. 😉 About an hour earlier than touchdown I used to be supplied a plate with a turkey croissant and a few grapes. I had a cup of espresso to associate with it. Whereas the menu lists cappuccino, that wasn’t really out there.
Lastly about half-hour earlier than touchdown the crew handed via the cabin with water or orange juice, for many who selected to sleep in.
All-in-all, I’d say that’s a whole lot of service for a redeye that takes simply over 5 hours.
LATAM enterprise class mattress
I managed to snooze a bit between the 2 providers. LATAM’s 767s characteristic absolutely flat beds. Whereas there’s an armrest on the window-side, that may be lowered, to make the sleeping floor a bit wider.
There aren’t any two methods about it, the sleeping floor is kind of slender, as is widespread for Boeing 767s that includes these sorts of seats.
The footwell is certainly additionally on the tight facet, particularly if in case you have large ft. This aircraft isn’t going to supply the extent of consolation you’ll discover on many A350s or 787s, although it positive will supply much more consolation than American affords on this route, because the airline flies A321neos.
Nonetheless I managed to get some strong relaxation. I fell asleep with simply over 4 hours remaining enroute to Miami.
And I ended up waking up over 2.5 hours later, round 75 minutes earlier than touchdown.
LATAM enterprise class service
OMAAT readers advised me to handle my expectations in terms of service on LATAM, so in that sense I used to be very pleasantly stunned. Each of the flight attendants working enterprise class had been genuinely pleasant and hardworking, and appeared to take satisfaction of their jobs.
There have been elements of the service that had been tough across the edges, just like the pretty gradual begin to the service, and the brilliant lights staying on for fairly a little bit of time, although many passengers wished to sleep. Nevertheless, the crew appeared to get pleasure from their jobs, and exceeded my expectations.
For that matter, I’ve typically discovered Peruvians to be extraordinarily hospitable (and that’s the place this crew was primarily based), so I feel that may have been a bonus of the service tradition in comparison with a few of LATAM’s different subsidiaries.
LATAM 767 arrival in Miami
At 6:10AM Miami time, the captain introduced that we had been beginning our descent, and could be touchdown in about half-hour. At this level we had been simply north of Cuba, and that’s additionally the purpose at which cabin lights had been turned on pre-landing.
As anticipated, we touched down in Miami at 6:40AM, and from there had a 5 minute taxi to our arrival gate, the place we pulled in round 20 minutes forward of schedule. I cleared immigration very quickly because of World Entry, and made my strategy to American Airways’ terminal, for my flight to Los Angeles.
Backside line
LATAM’s enterprise class exceeded my expectations in some ways. The airline did an ideal job refreshing the cabins of its Boeing 767s, they usually characteristic trendy interiors and good leisure. For a brief in a single day flight, the delicate product was additionally superb, from the nice bedding, to the amenity package, to the in depth meal service, to the pleasant crew.
There are after all some areas for enchancment — my dinner wasn’t nice, and it might be good if these planes had Wi-Fi. Nevertheless, when you think about that American doesn’t even supply flat beds on this route, I’d say LATAM’s expertise is fairly nice.
What do you make of LATAM’s 767 enterprise class?
