LATAM Pass has just launched a pretty generous status match promotion, similar to an offer we saw last year. If you’re eligible and fly LATAM with any frequency then this is a great opportunity, though otherwise the benefits of this are pretty limited.
In this post:
Basics of LATAM’s status match promo
The website statusmatch.com is partnering with LATAM Pass to offer a status match promotion. A few basics to be aware of, to start:
- Requesting a status match costs anywhere from $80 to $199 — it costs $80 for residents of Australia, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the United States, $98 for residents of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland, and $199 for residents of all other countries
- LATAM is matching to Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum, and Black status, but not to Black Signature status, and you can generally expect to be matched over to an equivalent tier
- Status matches will be approved within three business days, and within six business days your status should be upgraded
- The promotion is valid for a limited time (there’s no exact end date published), and matched status is valid through March 31, 2024 (so that’s about six months)
Which airline status is LATAM matching?
According to the FAQs, LATAM is matching from dozens and dozens of different frequent flyer programs, including virtually all major programs around the world. If you have status with a major American, European, or Asian airline, you should be eligible for a status match.
Is this status match worth it?
We saw a similar status match last year, but in this case there are no residency requirement (though the fees do vary). Is this status match worth it?
- Getting a status match for $80-199 without a flying requirement is pretty awesome, especially when status tiers this high are being matched
- The catch is that LATAM no longer belongs to a global alliance, which changed when Delta invested in LATAM; if you’re looking for perks on other airlines, you can expect some limited benefits on Delta, but that’s about it
- LATAM Pass does have pretty strong elite perks when flying with the airline, including priority check-in, lounge access, premium seat assignments, upgrades, and more
If I’m reading things correctly, LATAM Pass Black members receive unlimited complimentary upgrades to business class on all routes. Is that right? If so, this is a pretty awesome opportunity…
Bottom line
There’s a new status match promotion for LATAM Pass. The opportunity is open to those around the globe, you can be matched all the way up to Black status, and there’s no flying requirement. There is a cost to request a match, ranging from $80 to $199. Unfortunately matched status is only valid for around six months (at most), through March 31, 2023.
This is potentially a solid opportunity, though just keep in mind that LATAM is no longer in the oneworld alliance, so there are limited benefits to this when traveling on other airlines.
Do any OMAAT readers plan to take advantage of this status match offer?
my email from LATAM says valid until March 2025
Can we just talk how Delta influence over Latam has improved the quality of the airline? IT is the prime example of that. Before it was total chaos and a mess. From processing a payment to select a seat being an elite flyer...
Soft product has also improved a little bit in the long-haul routes. The 77W and 789 with 1-2-1 configuration leaves nothing to be desired (way better than LH lol)
The...
Can we just talk how Delta influence over Latam has improved the quality of the airline? IT is the prime example of that. Before it was total chaos and a mess. From processing a payment to select a seat being an elite flyer...
Soft product has also improved a little bit in the long-haul routes. The 77W and 789 with 1-2-1 configuration leaves nothing to be desired (way better than LH lol)
The same happened when Delta had a partnership with Gol. Now Gol is kinda of a mess IT-wise.
The "new" business class seats were announced in 2018, before Delta got involved. But I recognize that IT has improved a lot in the last couple of years. Still not where it should be, but it's heading in the right direction. The soft product in J class is marginally better too (even though I dislike the fact that all meals are single-tray)
LATAM never should have left OneWorld.....
As of August, upgrades unlimited for Black or Black Signature only on South American routes. Long-haul are now limited to 8 one-ways for Black (I believe 14 for Black Signature).
Regarding award tickets, only those issued by LATAM (045 stock) in an eligible fare can be upgraded. Same as with paid tickets. So tickets issued with Avios will not be upgraded. Agree with other posters... I primarily fly to Europe and the SCL-MAD and GRU-EUROPE...
As of August, upgrades unlimited for Black or Black Signature only on South American routes. Long-haul are now limited to 8 one-ways for Black (I believe 14 for Black Signature).
Regarding award tickets, only those issued by LATAM (045 stock) in an eligible fare can be upgraded. Same as with paid tickets. So tickets issued with Avios will not be upgraded. Agree with other posters... I primarily fly to Europe and the SCL-MAD and GRU-EUROPE routes many times have 0 or just 1 or 2 free seats in J.
Bidders will always have less priority than Black and Black Signature, but more than all other status flyers. I have never found irregularities with the upgrade list.
Finally, I do agree that redemption rates are terrible and that the lack of lounge access for elites when not traveling in LATAM shameful.
Does these coupon upgrades work on award tickets too ? I have a EZE-LIM-MIA coming up in Nov and this is award booking booked using Iberia Avios. I am thinking if this $80 would be a wise spend to get a chance on their extra leg room seats if not Lie Flat seat on B767. BTW I can only match to their Platinum.
You also get lounge access on a bunch of other airlines for Black or above. For Delta, getting sky priority is nice, but no lounge access unless flying internationally.
Their site says
Use your Elite Member Coupons to fly in Premium Economy or Premium Business cabins on your international flights sold and operated by LATAM Airlines.
>>So based on wording "sold and operated by LATAM" do we get upgrades if we booked award flights on Latam using Alaska, Delta, BA etc?
No, because those are not sold by Latam, only operated by them. Talking from experience.
Latam Pass has overhauled its upgrade policy around one month ago and the Black tier was devalued from unlimited space-available upgrades on all routes to unlimited in short-haul only. Long-haul is limited to 8 sectors per calendar year (14 for Black Signature).
It's a garbage program really, and there's no real incremental value for status above Platinum (which grants you lounge access, free seat selection, etc).
@ Felipe -- Interesting, thank you. Eight long haul upgrades still sounds like a lot. Just so I understand, do you think the program isn't good because those upgrades don't often clear, or...?
If you are Black Signature or even Black they will often clear. Just around important holidays the odds are not that good. If you fly LATAM frequently, like many people in South America is still a good program. But of course if was better when LATAM was part of Oneworld. Emerald status is really missed.
Latam does a pretty good job filling their premium cabins these days (there are lots of wealthy Brazilians, Chileans, Peruvians, etc who can afford to pay for J and like to receive service in their native language - I know plenty of people like that). And paid upgrades, Plusgrade auctions, etc also reduce availability for elites. In theory they say Black/Black signature are to be upgraded before Plusgrade auctions but in practice I haven't found...
Latam does a pretty good job filling their premium cabins these days (there are lots of wealthy Brazilians, Chileans, Peruvians, etc who can afford to pay for J and like to receive service in their native language - I know plenty of people like that). And paid upgrades, Plusgrade auctions, etc also reduce availability for elites. In theory they say Black/Black signature are to be upgraded before Plusgrade auctions but in practice I haven't found that to be always the case.
Moreover, award redemption rates are awful (they really learned from Delta), but that's another discussion.
is not the first time I have read this, at least in my case my priority has always been over the people who do upgrades bids, only regional managers or latam pilots have preference over black signature and black at least in my flight experience. But i agree that latam upgrade system is a mess and depend on the airport they hace different views of the upgrades system. In December I had to see a...
is not the first time I have read this, at least in my case my priority has always been over the people who do upgrades bids, only regional managers or latam pilots have preference over black signature and black at least in my flight experience. But i agree that latam upgrade system is a mess and depend on the airport they hace different views of the upgrades system. In December I had to see a passenger who had bid the upgrade but they did not give it to him and when he boarded he saw there were still free seats and he offered more money for the upgrade, even so they did not give him the upgrade. This was on the Madrid Santiago route.
black has 8 shared coupons if you travel with a companion if you travel outside of South America, if you travel in South America there are unlimited coupons and 6 for the companion. During the pandemic, many were elite so the chances of having an upgrade were limited for popular routes such as Santiago Miami, Santiago Madrid. I am a black signature and until now I have always obtained the upgrade although on the last...
black has 8 shared coupons if you travel with a companion if you travel outside of South America, if you travel in South America there are unlimited coupons and 6 for the companion. During the pandemic, many were elite so the chances of having an upgrade were limited for popular routes such as Santiago Miami, Santiago Madrid. I am a black signature and until now I have always obtained the upgrade although on the last flight it was luck because a passenger did not arrive.