LATAM Airlines Connecting Flights

This is a LATAM Airlines connecting flights guide.

It covers LATAM connecting flights, baggage rules, air passenger rights and compensation regulations. LATAM Airlines Group S.A, mostly referred to as simply LATAM, is the largest airline in Latin America by passengers carried. Headquartered in Santiago (Chile), the airline has subsidiaries in several South American countries. 

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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1. LATAM Connecting Flights

LATAM is a full-service traditional airline.

Just like any other traditional airline, LATAM offers airline-protected connecting flights. These kind of flights are among the most common reasons why people prefer flying with traditional airlines. This is because airline-protected connecting flights are better than self transfers.

Low-cost airlines usually offer self-transfers.

Airline-protected connecting flights are:

• More safe. Your airline takes care of flight problems.
• More convenient. Baggage transfer is automatic.
• Easier to book. You book several flights as a single journey.

Yes, LATAM sells airline-protected connecting flights.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

Some connecting flights will be operated only by LATAM.

All of the flights on your itinerary will be operated by LATAM. These will be LATAM planes manned by LATAM staff. But it’s not always the case with all LATAM connecting flights.

1.2 LATAM Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

It is done to widen their flight network. Thanks to shared flights, airlines can offer flights to destinations which they don’t normally serve. Connecting flights with different airlines are nothing unusual. These kind of flights are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners.

What you should know is that:

• If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, it’s LATAM’s responsibility. Contact LATAM to ask for assistance. The airline has to offer you a new flight free of charge. As long as it’s a LATAM connection booked from LATAM, they are responsible for finding solutions. Even if a part (or even all) connecting flight was operated by their partner/partners.
• If your flight is heavily delayed, cancelled or overbooked, compensation is paid by airline operating this particular flight. If it’s operated by some other airline, not LATAM, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of LATAM codeshare partners here.

2. What If LATAM Cancels a Flight?

Why LATAM is cancelling its flights?

There are several reasons. The most popular ones, however, are: bad weather, security issues, terrorism threat, strikes, staff shortage, airport congestion and various technical issues.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

LATAM is an airlines group headquartered in Santiago, Chile.

So, as you might have imagined — it’s not a European airline. However, on some of their flights you are protected by the EU regulations.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

• Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
• Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to their flights departing from Europe.

And if as a result you’re going to miss your connecting flight (and it’s nor your fault), it’s LATAM’s responsibility to offer you an alternative flight to your final destination. Or, you may also opt for a full refund instead. However, you can ask for a refund only if your flight departs from the EU.

You may have a right to compensation (more on this below).

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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2.2 All Your Flights Are Cancelled

Overall, for you as a passenger, the options are the same.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, LATAM must:

• Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
• Offer you assistance at the airport if it’s a last-minute cancellation and you are already at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their flights departing from Europe.

Refund must be paid within seven days.

You may have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation.

2.3 LATAM Refund for Cancellation

Yes, you have a right to ask for a refund.

If your flight departs from Europe, you can ask for a refund instead of a new flight. If you don’t wish to travel anymore or the new flight doesn’t fit your travel plans, request a refund. Keep in mind that it has to be paid in full. 

The refund must be transferred to your bank account within seven days.

You don’t have to accept any vouchers or coupons from LATAM.

3. LATAM Missed Connecting Flight

Why people miss their connections?

There are various reasons. Anything from a silly mistake (like, falling asleep while waiting for the flight) to serious issues like airport congestion. Also you may miss your connecting flight because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss LATAM Connection?

If it’s your fault that it happened — it’s your responsibility.

If it’s not your fault, then your airline has to take care of that. If you booked a flight from LATAM, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by LATAM or not, you should contact LATAM. It’s their responsibility to find you a new flight and provide a ticket for free. You missed a connecting flight (through no fault of your own), and LATAM must offer you a solution.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

• Take you to your final destination as soon as possible.
• Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

With LATAM, some of this apply only to flights from Europe.

Read more: Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay 

3.2 Right to Compensation from LATAM

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your LATAM flight:

• Departs from the EU, EEA or UK,
• Arrives to destination 3 or more hours late,
• Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline

Then you might be entitled to flight compensation from LATAM.

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

3.3 Right to Care from LATAM

On all LATAM flights from Europe you have a right to care.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:

• Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
• Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary.
• Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
• Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails. So you can notify your loved ones about changes in your travel plans.

In LATAM’s case, these regulations only apply to flights departing from European airports. With European airlines, like KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Wizz Air and British Airways, it applies to all their flights.

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with LATAM?

You can do it directly from LATAM or via a third-party.

We would recommend booking LATAM flights directly from LATAM. In case of delays and cancellations, it’s always easier to deal with the airline than a middle-man. However, there is another popular option — using a flight search engine or a third party flight booking site (such as kiwi.com).

Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

5. LATAM Connecting Flights: Baggage

Since LATAM is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.

Baggage rules on connecting flights with LATAM are simple.

In short, LATAM takes care of your baggage. You check in your luggage only once — upon checking in at your origin airport. In most cases, your luggage will be delivered to your final destination. Unless you have booked your flights separately (self-transfer flight) or you are traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage (e.g., USA).

If you aren’t sure about your luggage, ask at the baggage drop or check in.

5.1 Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines

What happens if there are several airlines?

What if one of your flights is operated by different airline, not LATAM? As we already talked, you may experience this, because LATAM does share some of its flights with its codeshare partners. In this situation the rules are the same — your baggage is being taken care of by an airline.

Read more:

• Connecting Flight Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines
• Lost Baggage on Connecting Flights
• Delayed Baggage on Connecting Flights
• What is Checked Baggage?

5.2 LATAM Free Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance varies — it’s not the same on all flights.

Free baggage allowance depends on the airline, travel class and destination. If you have booked a LATAM airlines flight, but you don’t know what is your baggage allowance, check your booking confirmation. When you are booking a LATAM connecting flight, you can see baggage allowance when you are choosing your flight and travel class.

5.3 Economy Light

This is the cheapest option for long-haul flights.

Economy Light comes without free baggage allowance.

We see this all across the industry. Full-service traditional airlines are offering also tickets without free checked baggage allowance. The wording is also often the same — Economy Light. So, if you see this, most likely it’s without checked baggage (carry on baggage only).

When you see super cheap LATAM flights, pay attention to this. Because LATAM also offers Economy Light tickets. If you need to carry more than a carry-on, this option is not for you.

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with LATAM.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with LATAM Airlines (Most Common)

For this example I’ll be using the website of LATAM Airlines.

For example, you want to fly from Madrid to Buenos Aires (Argentina).

You’ve searched for flights for August 18, and these are some of your options:

On their website LATAM sells only protected connecting flights. However, not all of the flights are operated by LATAM. For example, parts of the connecting flights you can see on the list are operated by Iberia, one of LATAM codeshare partner airlines from Europe.

If this matters to you, and if you want to travel with LATAM only, you must pay attention to details like these. Also don’t forget that total flight duration, number of stops and price vary, too.

So, let’s choose one connecting flight. Let’s look for the cheapest one. We can sort the flights by the price (the button at the top right corner). So, the cheapest one is the flight which arrives at Ezeiza International Airport, Buenos Aires, at 2:20 am. There is one connection, in Lima (Peru).

Total flight duration is 17 hours 45 minutes.

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with LATAM

Let’s assume that your final destination is not Buenos Aires.

You want to travel to Puerto Iguazú to visit the famous Iguazú Falls. But before that you want to spend a couple of days in Buenos Aires, to explore the city.

1. You can book a connecting flight to Buenos Aires, like in the example above. For example, you’re taking the cheapest option which arrives in Buenos Aires at 2:20 am. 
2. And then you go to kiwi.com, or some other flight search engine, and book a flight from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú. Leaving yourself, let’s say, 2 days in Buenos Aires (a 2-day stopover in Buenos Aires). You may also book this flight directly from an airline.

Since your flight from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú is an airline-protected connecting flight, you don’t have to worry about delays, cancellations and missing connections. LATAM will assist you if you miss your connection due to delay or cancellation of the previous one. They will put you on another flight for free. You won’t even have to look for a new flight yourself.

However, the last flight, Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú, is a self-transfer layover (proper term would be a stopover). It is a separate flight. It’s not a protected connection. If you miss it, the airline won’t put you on a new flight. 

Take this into account when booking flights like these.

Leave yourself plenty of time for your layover. Short layovers can be risky. 60-minute layovers are only okay if it’s an airline-protected connection, not self transfer, let alone 45-minute layovers.

Featured photo by Lukas Souza on Unsplash

What is your experience with LATAM? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with LATAM? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive compensation from LATAM?