So I took LATAM Airlines from Santiago to Temuco and back. Going to Temuco I went in the back, and the way back I took the first class. This blog will discuss my personal experience, wether or not upgrading is worth it and.
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For this review, I flew twice with LATAM Airlines Chile on the same route. From Santiago to Temuco and a few days later from Temuco back to Santiago.
The outbound flight was in regular Economy Class, seated in the back of the plane. The return flight was in Premium Economy, seated in the front. Same route, same airline, but a very different experience.
That made it easy to compare comfort, leg room, boarding, and overall flight experience in a realistic way, especially for domestic flights in Chile.
This flight came at the end of a long journey: Amsterdam (AMS) to Atlanta (ATL) to Santiago (SCL) and finally Temuco (ZCO), all within about 24 hours, including a seven hour layover in Atlanta.
Compared to the international legs with Delta and KLM, the leg room on this domestic LATAM flight was noticeably tighter. Sitting in the back of the plane, space was limited to the point where my foot was partially in the aisle. At one moment, the cabin crew could not move the food cart through because there simply was not enough clearance (oops, my bad...)
Boarding was straightforward. Passengers with priority status boarded first, followed by the rest of the cabin. Drinks were served roughly thirty minutes into the flight, which felt reasonable given the short duration.
The return flight from Temuco to Santiago was in Premium Economy, and the difference compared to regular Economy was immediate.
Thanks to priority boarding, I was one of the first on the plane. I boarded around fifth, which already set a relaxed tone. No one sat next to me, and for the first time on this route I actually had enough leg room to fully stretch my legs.
Premium Economy also comes with dedicated cabin crew. Drinks were offered multiple times, snacks were included, and even hot towels were handed out. Small details, but they make a noticeable difference on a domestic flight.
Overall, it genuinely felt like a premium experience. For the small price difference, especially if you value comfort or are tall, I would absolutely say Premium Economy on LATAM Airlines Chile is worth it.
LATAM Airlines Chile usually offers four fare packages on domestic flights: Basic, Light, Full, and Premium Economy.
The biggest difference between these options is luggage, flexibility, and comfort.
If you are traveling with a large checked suitcase like I was, you realistically only have two options: Full or Premium Economy. Both include a 23 kg checked bag and more flexibility if your plans change.
If you are only bringing a small backpack or handbag, Light is usually more than enough and keeps the price low. Basic can look cheap at first, but it is very restrictive and often not worth it unless you are traveling extremely light and do not need any flexibility.
Premium Economy is the most expensive option, but you get more leg room, priority boarding, better service, and lounge access. For a relatively small price difference on short Chilean routes, it offers the best overall value if comfort matters to you.
I am 194 cm (6'4), so leg room is always something I pay attention to. On the flight to Temuco, seated in the back of the plane, it was honestly tough. The photo below pretty much says it all. My knees simply did not fit, while the passengers next to me had no problem at all.
The seats themselves were comfortable enough in terms of padding and back support. For an average Chilean height, leg room in Economy is perfectly fine. If you are tall though, especially over 190 cm, it can get uncomfortable quickly on this route.
If leg room matters to you, I would seriously consider Premium Economy. The difference is noticeable and makes the flight far more relaxed.
LATAM Airlines Chile offers four fare types, each with different baggage rules:
If you travel with a large suitcase, Full or Premium Economy is basically your only realistic option. If you are traveling light with just a backpack, Light is usually enough and much cheaper.
The cabin crew on both flights were Chilean and very professional. They were friendly, calm, and clearly experienced.
English was spoken well enough to communicate without any issues, which is reassuring if you do not speak Spanish. Service felt organized and efficient, exactly what you would expect from a full service airline like LATAM.
Nothing over the top, but solid, reliable, and professional throughout the flight.
Yes, absolutely. Going from Santiago to Temuco, it's a great value for my buck and it's great for domestic flights all over Chile. The amount of leg room I get for not that much more money is definitely worth it for me.