LATAM, the largest airline in South America, has just opened the biggest lounge on the continent.
In this post:
LATAM Lounge Santiago basics
The doors to a new LATAM Lounge in Santiago (SCL) have just opened. The new lounge is more than 4,000 square meters (~43,000 square feet), making it the largest airport lounge in all of South America. The LATAM Lounge is located in the new Terminal 2 of the airport, and is available exclusively for international passengers.
In promoting the new lounge, the airline focuses primarily on sustainability rather than amenities:
- It’s claimed that the lounge is operated by 80% renewable energy
- The lounge has “interactive games with educational themes surrounding recycling and conservation”
- “Waste reduction is encouraged through recycling and reuse”
- The new lounge will offset its carbon footprint through ecosystem conservation projects in South America
- The new lounge has a series of art sculptures by emerging South American artists, made mostly with recycled materials
The only mention of amenities is that the LATAM Lounge has lockers for hand luggage, sleeping areas, special areas for families, showers, an open bar, buffet service with Latin American cuisine, ironing service, shoe shine service, and workstations.
This seems like a really big lounge
The reality is that nowadays airport lounges seem to be crowded more often than not, given how many people have access. Airport real estate can be tough to come by, so even if a lounge operator wants more space, it can be hard to actually lease it (and that’s not even accounting for the cost of doing so).
So usually when a new lounge opens, I think to myself “well this is going to be crowded from the get-go.” For once I can’t help but feel like this is a sufficiently large lounge, and might not actually get that crowded?
The LATAM Lounge Santiago is open to LATAM elite members (including Black Signature, Black, and Platinum tiers), plus those traveling in LATAM business class. Furthermore, premium Delta passengers also get access to this lounge, and perhaps the lounge is contracted out to some other airlines.
43,000 square feet is a legitimately huge lounge, and I can’t imagine that this lounge will ever get overcrowded, especially with LATAM having reduced some of its long haul capacity during the pandemic, by retiring Airbus A350s.
Bottom line
The new LATAM Lounge Santiago is the largest lounge in all of South America, at roughly 43,000 square feet. The limited pictures of the lounge look great, so I’m curious to check out this lounge at some point.
Anyone plan to check out the new LATAM Lounge Santiago?
Is the lounge open for very early morning flight departures? My flight is to Mexico City at 830am and will arrive at the airport at 530am.
Thanks
Months later they don't have their liquor license so don't expect wine/beer/cocktails. Other than that, it's a great lounge. Good quality food, spacious, and clean.
Anyone know what options we have in Santiago for American Airlines or Priority pass members that doesn’t close at 1 pm? Our flight is at 8pm
It’s gorgeous. I checked it out two days ago (I believe it’s 2nd day open), and I made this short video about my visit: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZML4sNqpd/.
The lounge is actually three separate spaces:
- the “Premium” lounge for business clsss passengers, and highest level elites.
- a separate space for mid-tier elites and any others from the general public, willing to pay (I didn’t ask the cost).
- a third space for Santander...
It’s gorgeous. I checked it out two days ago (I believe it’s 2nd day open), and I made this short video about my visit: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZML4sNqpd/.
The lounge is actually three separate spaces:
- the “Premium” lounge for business clsss passengers, and highest level elites.
- a separate space for mid-tier elites and any others from the general public, willing to pay (I didn’t ask the cost).
- a third space for Santander Chiile Worldmember credit credit card holders.
From the lounge check-in areas the agents open electronic sliding doors to give you access to one of the three options. I was on a business class flight, and my video therefore highlights the “Premium” lounge. However, from glimpses behind the sliding doors, each space looks similar.
The buffet food in the “Premium” lounge was quite good.
LATAM [BSB LA GRU LA MDZ LA SCL LA MIA (rt) ticketed by LA]: (BSB) We won't board you because our flights from SCL to MIA were not adjusted for the US time change [in spite of a 3hr layover in SCL].
LATAM [CNF LA GRU LA FLN (rt) ticketed by LA]: (GRU) That's a BRB 1000 fare and flight change since you were late [that it was OUR flight that was late and it's...
LATAM [BSB LA GRU LA MDZ LA SCL LA MIA (rt) ticketed by LA]: (BSB) We won't board you because our flights from SCL to MIA were not adjusted for the US time change [in spite of a 3hr layover in SCL].
LATAM [CNF LA GRU LA FLN (rt) ticketed by LA]: (GRU) That's a BRB 1000 fare and flight change since you were late [that it was OUR flight that was late and it's all on the same ticket, it's YOUR problem].
LATAM [MIA...PSY]: (SCL) We lost your bags. So sad, too bad. No rush, no comp, no toiletries...
For many years I worked the Rate Desk for an international carrier so I know how this all works. The above is why I will never again fly LA and I recommend that others make the same decision.
A frequent flyer lounge virtue signalling on sustainability sounds like parody….
Ben, you can find more info about the lounge in the Chilean Latam website in Spanish (and new photos): https://www.latamairlines.com/cl/es/experiencia/aeropuerto/salones-vip
The lounge is huge but is divided in 3 areas, and you get access to one of those areas according to your status (more info in that website).
Emirates Lounge Dubai Terminal 3, Concourse C: 9,209 Square Meters.
Is there any bigger lounge?
In 2019, Qatar claimed to open worlds largest airport lounge at 9,000 sqm/97,000 sqf.
43,000 square feet = 3,995 square meters.
As a comparison: KLM lounge non Schengen in Amsterdam is 6,800 square meters = 73,000 square feet.
Combined Lufthansa Lounge capacity in Munich is 5,000 square meters = 54,000 square feet.
Deltas new Skyclub at LAX: 30,000 square feet.
Largest Air France Lounge: 2F, 3,000 Square Meters.
Miles&Smiles Lounge Istanbul is 5,600 Square Meters (not sure though if that is both Lounges combined).