LATAM plans new business class with doors for 787 Dreamliner fleet
South American juggernaut LATAM is launching an all-new business-class experience on board its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
The carrier announced on Tuesday that it would install a new biz product on its Boeing 787s. The airline will also debut a new economy seat on these planes as well.
The new business-class product, a customized version of the top-notch Recaro R7 seat, will feature sliding doors and direct aisle access for each passenger, making LATAM the first airline in South America to offer fully enclosed suites.
Other upgrades with the new product include USB-C charging ports, Bluetooth support for connecting wireless headphones to the inflight entertainment system and more storage areas.
Seats will be arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with window seats alternating between being closer to the aisle and closer to the window.
Center seats will alternate between a honeymoon-style arrangement and one that separates the two passengers by a larger table area. There will be retractable privacy dividers between all center seats.
If this product looks familiar, that's because it's already installed on a handful of airlines. Recaro formerly called it the CL6720 seat, and you'll find it installed on select planes operated by Air China and Iberia. (The CL6720 is an improved version of the CL6710 seat, which is operated by Azul, TAP and El Al, among others.)
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LATAM plans to retrofit 10 of its Boeing 787-8 and 14 of its 787-9 Dreamliners with the new product. Retrofits are expected to start early next year, with the first 787-8 reentering service on March 1, 2025. The retrofitted 787-8s are designed exclusively for the Chilean domestic market, while the 787-9s operate in Chile, Brazil, and Peru, LATAM says. The entire project will be completed by mid-2026, as each retrofit will take between one and three months, depending on the upgrades.
LATAM's existing business-class experience on the Boeing 787 is hit or miss. Some jets feature the airline's most recent biz product (the Thompson Vantage XL seat), while others are in an outdated 2-2-2 configuration with older seats.
With this upgrade, all of the airline's Dreamliners should feature a newly updated biz product. LATAM likely won't be reconfiguring its other long-haul jets since those already feature the Thompson Vantage XL seat.
In the economy cabin, LATAM will debut a new ergonomically designed seat that supposedly provides more space and comfort. The seats will be upholstered with up to 70% recycled leather, and also feature Bluetooth connectivity.
While the retrofits will undoubtedly improve the premium experience (and provide more consistency going forward), they come at the expense of capacity in the pointy end of the plane.
Currently, all of the airline's Dreamliners feature 30 biz seats. After the retrofit, the 787-8 will have just 20 seats spread across five rows.
The larger 787-9 will maintain 30 seats, but finding award space on the 787-8 will likely be harder than ever.
"With a design that reflects the unique essence of the LATAM Group and attention to the finest details, our new cabins have been created to offer a world-class travel experience. The new Premium Business seats mark a significant leap forward, combining comfort, privacy, and elegance. These renovations position LATAM as a leader in the industry, providing our passengers with an unprecedented level of comfort and an exclusive flying experience," said Paulo Miranda, vice president of customers, in a statement.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.