LATAM Airlines Checked Baggage: Fees, Limits & Free Bags
LATAM Airlines checked bag rules by fare and route, Economy Light vs Plus, LATAM Pass status benefits, Brazil domestic differences, and overweight fees.
LATAM Airlines Checked Baggage: Fees, Limits & Free Bags
LATAM Airlines Group is South America's largest airline group by fleet size and destinations, formed from the merger of LAN (Chile) and TAM (Brazil). LATAM operates across Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay for domestic routes, plus international services throughout Latin America, North America, Europe, and Oceania. The group's hubs include Santiago (SCL), São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Lima (LIM), Bogotá (BOG), and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).
LATAM's baggage policy is one of the more complex in Latin America because it varies not only by fare type and cabin but also by route region — with Brazil domestic routes operating under different inclusions than international LATAM flights. Understanding which fare bucket you have booked is essential before travel.
LATAM Fare Classes and Baggage Overview
LATAM Economy is divided into multiple fare buckets with different baggage inclusions:
| Fare / Cabin | Carry-On | First Checked Bag | Second Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | 1 bag (8 kg) | Not included | Not included |
| Economy Plus | 1 bag (8 kg) | 1 bag (23 kg) included | Fee applies |
| Economy Top | 1 bag (8 kg) | 1 bag (23 kg) included | 1 bag (23 kg) included |
| Premium Business | 2 bags (16 kg) | 2 bags (32 kg each) included | — |
Economy Light is LATAM's most restrictive fare. It includes carry-on only and no checked baggage. This fare type is common when booking via third-party aggregators or when explicitly selecting the lowest fare option on LATAM's website. Light fares do not include seat selection, and bag add-ons cost more the later you purchase them.
Economy Plus is LATAM's standard full-economy fare and includes one checked bag up to 23 kg. Most tickets purchased directly on latam.com at the standard published fare are Economy Plus.
Economy Top includes two checked bags and is typically the highest-price Economy fare bucket, sometimes close in price to Premium Business on shorter routes.
Premium Business Class Checked Baggage
LATAM Premium Business passengers receive two checked bags with a 32 kg weight limit per bag on most routes. Business Class travelers also receive priority baggage handling and access to LATAM's premium check-in counters, which reduces wait times at busy hubs like GRU and SCL.
On some short-haul intra-South American routes marketed as Business, the cabin product may be lighter (standard seats with middle seat blocked), but the same two-bag 32 kg allowance applies.
Brazil Domestic Routes: Different Rules
LATAM's Brazil domestic network — operated under what was formerly TAM Airlines — has historically followed slightly different baggage rules:
- Brazil domestic Economy Light: No checked bags, carry-on only (8 kg).
- Brazil domestic Economy Plus: One checked bag included, with a 23 kg weight limit.
- Brazil domestic Economy Top: Two checked bags, each 23 kg.
The weight limits match international LATAM flights, but the pricing of bag add-ons for Light fares on Brazil domestics is set in BRL (Brazilian reais) and can vary from international add-on pricing. If you are connecting from an international LATAM flight into Brazil and continuing on a LATAM Brazil domestic segment on the same ticket, your international baggage allowance typically extends to the domestic segment — verify this with LATAM at booking if your Brazil domestic connection is same-day.
LATAM Pass Status Baggage Benefits
LATAM Pass is LATAM's frequent flyer program. Elite tiers provide additional free checked baggage beyond what the fare class includes:
| LATAM Pass Tier | Additional Free Bags |
|---|---|
| Silver | 1 additional checked bag (23 kg) |
| Gold | 1 additional checked bag (23 kg) |
| Platinum | 2 additional checked bags (23 kg each) |
These benefits apply on LATAM-operated flights and on flights operated by LATAM's codeshare partners where LATAM is the ticketing carrier. The additional bags are counted on top of fare-class inclusions — a Platinum member on an Economy Plus fare would receive one bag from the fare plus two from status, for three total.
LATAM Pass Silver and Gold members also typically extend their additional bag benefit to a companion on the same reservation, though this should be verified at the time of booking as the companion benefit has been adjusted in past years.
International Route Considerations
South America to Europe: LATAM flies from São Paulo, Santiago, and Lima to several European cities including Madrid, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, and London. Economy Plus fares on these routes include one 23 kg checked bag. Premium Business includes two 32 kg bags.
South America to North America: Routes to Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and other US/Canada destinations follow standard LATAM international fare rules. Economy Light is carry-on only; Economy Plus includes one bag.
Intra-South America international: Routes between South American countries (for example, Lima to Buenos Aires or Santiago to Bogotá) are treated as international routes under LATAM's policy and follow the same fare-class baggage structure as long-haul international routes.
Australia and South Pacific: LATAM operates Santiago–Sydney flights (in partnership with Qantas on some seasons). These long-haul routes follow standard LATAM fare-class rules.
Checked Baggage Weight and Size Limits
LATAM's standard weight limits per bag by cabin:
| Cabin | Weight Limit Per Bag |
|---|---|
| Economy (any fare) | 23 kg (50 lb) |
| Premium Business | 32 kg (70 lb) |
Overweight fees:
| Bag Weight | Overweight Fee (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Up to 23 kg | Included per fare class |
| 24–32 kg | USD $100–$150 per bag (varies by route) |
| Over 32 kg | Not accepted |
LATAM does not accept bags over 32 kg as standard checked baggage. Items exceeding this weight threshold must be shipped as cargo.
Size limits: Each checked bag must not exceed 158 linear cm (length + width + height combined). Oversized bags over 158 linear cm are assessed an oversize fee and handled as special baggage.
Purchasing Checked Bags on Economy Light Fares
If you booked an Economy Light fare and need to add checked baggage, LATAM allows bag purchases:
- During booking: Usually the cheapest option.
- Via Manage My Booking online: Available up until check-in opens (typically 24–48 hours before departure).
- At the airport check-in counter: The most expensive option. Significant surcharges apply for airport add-ons.
LATAM periodically offers promotional bag pricing during the booking flow, and bag prices are dynamic — they increase as the departure date approaches. Buying bags at the time of booking or immediately after is consistently the most cost-effective approach.
Codeshare and Partner Flight Considerations
LATAM has codeshare agreements with several carriers including American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair. When flying on a LATAM-operated flight booked through one of these partners, LATAM's baggage policy applies. When flying on a partner-operated flight on a LATAM ticket number, the operating carrier's policies may apply — always check at booking.
LATAM is not in a major airline alliance (having departed from oneworld in 2020), which means status benefits from alliance programs no longer apply on LATAM flights. LATAM Pass status is the primary route to elite baggage benefits on LATAM.
How to Minimize Baggage Fees on LATAM
1. Book Economy Plus instead of Light if you need a checked bag. On many routes, the fare difference is smaller than the add-on bag price, making Plus the better value for checked-bag travelers.
2. Earn LATAM Pass Silver or higher. One additional free bag at Silver saves meaningful money on multi-trip South American travel.
3. Weigh bags carefully for the 23 kg limit. LATAM's 23 kg Economy limit is firm, and the overweight surcharge of USD $100–$150 is significant relative to shorter-route fares within South America.
4. Add bags online, not at the airport. Airport add-on fees are substantially higher than online pre-purchase prices.
5. Confirm Brazil domestic connecting bag allowances at booking. Same-ticket international-to-domestic connections in Brazil should carry through the international allowance, but this is worth confirming with LATAM when booking.
LATAM vs. Avianca and Copa: Baggage Comparison
| Policy | LATAM | Avianca | Copa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic/Light fare bags | Carry-on only | Carry-on only | Carry-on only |
| Standard Economy bags | 1 × 23 kg | 1 × 23 kg | 1 × 23 kg |
| Business bags | 2 × 32 kg | 2 × 32 kg | 2 × 32 kg |
| Alliance status benefit | None (departed oneworld) | SkyTeam Elite | Star Alliance Gold |
| Status program | LATAM Pass | LifeMiles | ConnectMiles |
LATAM's departure from oneworld is a disadvantage for travelers who hold status with American Airlines, British Airways, or other oneworld members — those status benefits no longer apply on LATAM. Copa and Avianca retain alliance-based extra bag benefits through Star Alliance and SkyTeam respectively.
Summary: LATAM Airlines Checked Baggage at a Glance
LATAM Airlines Economy Light includes carry-on only — no free checked bags. Economy Plus includes one 23 kg checked bag. Economy Top includes two 23 kg bags. Premium Business includes two 32 kg bags. LATAM Pass Silver and Gold add one extra free bag; Platinum adds two. LATAM departed oneworld in 2020, so alliance status from American, BA, or other oneworld partners no longer provides extra bags on LATAM. Brazil domestic routes follow the same fare-class bag structure as international routes. Overweight fees apply for bags between 24 and 32 kg; bags over 32 kg are not accepted.
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