LATAM goes four times weekly from Melbourne to Santiago

LATAM Airlines is already a common sight in Tullamarine, with the South American carrier jetting off three times a week between Melbourne and its Santiago hub. It’ll soon be even more so, with a fourth flight lifting off December 4. 

Taking wing on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the connection gives Victorians quick access to more than 120 destinations across the continent, including Buenos Aires, Lima and Rio De Janeiro.

The 13-hour trans-Pacific hop complements LATAM’s daily from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland, and the soon-to-start four times weekly direct Sydney-Santiago from October 28.  

The airline's previous-gen 787 business class will be making an appearance on the route.

With the new Wednesday departure from December, LATAM’s Melbourne schedule is as follows:

• LA804 takes flight from Melbourne at Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30pm, arriving in Santiago at 11:20am the same day
• On Wednesday and Saturday, LA804 lifts jets out of Melbourne at 12pm, landing in Santiago at 11am the same day
• LA805 leaves Santiago at 12:55am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday before descending into Melbourne at 5:25am a day later

Those perched at the pointy end of LATAM’s Dreamliner will enjoy a comfortable lie-flat business class, though it’s worth noting it will be the older-style seat in a less-than-ideal 2-2-2 layout. That means no direct aisle access for every passenger.

In Santiago, business class passnegers can relax in the largest airport lounge in South America, with the 4,000sqm space – which is actually three lounges in one – a sleek and refined escape offering buffet dining and a tended bar.

LATAM's Santiago lounge is almost double the size of its predecessor.

In Santiago, travellers will find a city brimming with artistic and cultural delights, from the historic Plaza de Armas main square – home to impressive monuments such as the Metropolitan Cathedral – to the bohemian Bellavista neighbourhood.