Boston (BOS) to São Paulo (GRU)
On the Ground: After checking in at LATAM’s business-class desk at Boston Logan Airport and moving quickly through the priority screening line, I went to the British Airways lounge. LATAM doesn’t maintain a dedicated lounge at Logan, so Premium Business passengers receive complimentary access to the BA lounge and are given a pass at check-in. The lounge provides generous seating, a full bar and a good variety of food, making it a comfortable place to wait before departure.
Earlier this year, LATAM Airlines Brasil started non-stop service between Boston and São Paulo, becoming the only carrier to link the two cities nonstop. The route is operated with Boeing 767 aircraft configured with 30 Premium Business seats and 191 economy seats. I was curious to try the Premium Business product on the roughly ten-hour flight. Boarding experienced a minor delay, and I observed Homeland Security personnel escorting an individual onto the aircraft; their presence wasn’t explained publicly. Shortly after, I was seated and offered water, a glass of Cava and a small nut selection.
Pre-Flight: While settling into my seat, organizing personal items and locating power outlets, there was another brief disruption involving a passenger being escorted off the plane. A flight attendant suggested it was related to a ticketing issue. After a short delay we departed, with minimal impact on total travel time.
The Premium Business seats are paired across the cabin, six across each row, and recline to a fully horizontal position. The flat bed measures 23 inches wide by 76.5 inches long, which was ample for my 5-foot 4-inch frame. A pillow and comforter were already in place for passengers wishing to sleep soon after takeoff. Amenity kits from L’Occitane were distributed, containing typical toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, an eye mask and lotion.
LATAM has announced a significant cabin refresh across much of its fleet that will begin rolling out in phases. The revamp will affect Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft, introducing larger Premium Business seat configurations with direct aisle access, options suited for solo travelers and couples, full-flat beds, updated entertainment consoles and more storage space. Those changes aim to improve privacy and comfort for long-haul passengers.
In-Flight: On this early evening service I wasn’t ready to sleep right away, so I reviewed the menu provided by the cabin crew and explored the entertainment options.
The multi-course dinner started with a salad and soup, followed by a choice of three entrées and three desserts. I selected braised short ribs with roasted potatoes as the main course and vanilla flan for dessert; the short ribs were flavorful and well prepared. Other menu choices included lobster ravioli and roast chicken. LATAM highlights its wine program, curated by Héctor Vergara, a prominent sommelier, and I chose a Trapiche Malbec from Argentina that paired nicely with the beef.
After dinner I watched a couple of films before converting the seat into a flat bed and sleeping for the remainder of the flight. The in-flight entertainment system offers more than 150 films, television episodes, games and music. I logged about six hours of solid sleep and woke up feeling refreshed. For breakfast I had coffee and yogurt, though many nearby passengers opted for the full hot breakfast with scrambled eggs and sautéed mushrooms.
TOP TAKEAWAYS:
◆ Flight attendants are friendly and attentive.
◆ Lie-flat seats and comfortable bedding support restful sleep.
◆ The curated wine list showcases South American selections.