The Details

• Flight: LA2697
• Aircraft: B787-9
• Class: Premium Business
• Seat: 4A and 4C
• Route: Lima (LIM)-Santiago (SCL)
• Distance: 1,548miles
• Duration: 2hrs 45min
• Departure: 9:48AM
• Arrival: 2:33PM

The Preflight

We were bused to the terminal after landing in Lima at 06:00 in the morning. Once in the terminal, we went to the connections security line to re-clear security. There were no other passengers ahead of us and we were through in under five minutes.

While LATAM Airlines calls Jorge Chavez International Airport a hub, it does not operate its own lounge. Instead, LATAM sends their premium passengers to the Sumaq Lounge.

This contract lounge was above average and surprised me in terms of the food’s quality and interior design. There were two main dining areas with communal tables and individual dining tables.

There was also an elegant bar with a wide variety of liquors. Unfortunately, alcohol cost extra and was not included in our visit.

Other beverage options included a selection of juices.

There was also a self-serve soda machine and espresso machine.

For breakfast, the hot food options included scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs with ham, hard-boiled eggs, toast, roast potatoes, and stir-fry chicken.

There was also a selection of chips, nuts, and dessert which included a variety of cakes.

Additional snacks included olives, hams, and cookies.

There was also a salad bar along with slices of ham and cheese.

Yogurt, fruit, and chia cups were also available along with a variety of bread.

We showered in the lounge and grabbed a small bite to eat in the two hours we had in the lounge. We headed to our departure gate 17 ten minutes before boarding. Boarding was scheduled to begin a full hour before departure at 8:35 AM.

Our B787-9, registration CC-BGB, was an eight-and-a-half-year-old aircraft delivered to LAN Airlines in March 2015 before the formation of LATAM Airlines. It is one of 25 B787-9 Dreamlines in the LATAM fleet.

Boarding began on time via door 2L.

The Flight

LATAM Airlines currently has two types of seating on board their B787-9s. Of the 25 B787-9s in the fleet, 13 of them feature the older Zodiac Aura Lite business class seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration across five rows for a total of 30 seats in the business cabin. The newer B787-9s feature a much nicer Thompson Vantage XL seat in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Our aircraft today featured the older Zodiac Aura Lite seats. The 2-2-2 configuration was perfect for couples while less than ideal for solo travelers.

We were in the fourth row in 4A and 4C. I enjoy these seats when traveling with my fiance as they have unlimited legroom. The lack of a footwell makes sleeping in these seats very comfortable.

There was a small touchscreen inflight entertainment system in the seat back along with a personal coat hook. In between the two screens were individual storage compartments. Underneath the foot rest, there was a large storage bin and a separate small bin.

The center console had a table top space with a hard wood finish.

The tray table was stowed in the center console. While basic, it was large and sturdy.

The seat controls were also in the center armrest. Special features included a massager and lumbar support.

Underneath the center armrest, there was an IFE remote, water bottle holder, headphone jack, 110V outlet, and USB port.

Amenities included a nice pair of headphones and a water bottle.

There was a small amenity kit which included a dental kit, eye mask, socks, and ear plugs. LATAM had fantastic bedding with a very comfortable pillow and comforter.

Menus were also provided. Our breakfast selections were taken on the ground before departure.

We pushed back at 9:26 AM and took off twenty minutes later from runway 16L.

There was a thick cloud cover over Lima on our climb out.

Breakfast was served immediately after take-off with a single tray. I went with the ham and cheese sandwich which was disappointing. It was served with a side of less-than-fresh fruit, yogurt, and cold bread.

My fiance had the omelet which was not much better.

I managed to nap for about 90 minutes and woke up as we approached Santiago.

I used one of the two forward lavatories reserved for business class passengers. They were average without anything special.

On our final approach to Santiago, we passed over the stunning Andes Mountains.

We landed at 2:32 PM and arrived at gate C3 14 minutes later.

I enjoyed this short-haul Latin American flight with LATAM. This route is normally operated by narrow-body A320s without a business-class cabin. We were lucky enough to get a wide-body aircraft with lie-flat seats which made this flight a much nicer experience.