Miami (MIA) to São Paulo (GRU)
On the Ground: My flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Miami International Airport arrived with plenty of time to transfer across the terminal and check in for LATAM’s nighttime service to São Paulo, operated on their Airbus A350. Check-in was quick with only one person ahead of me. Security was busy because of several late departures, but priority access moved me through without much delay.
Pre-Flight: The LATAM lounge at Miami is spacious and well-equipped, with a range of seating arrangements, multiple food and beverage options, complimentary WiFi and shower facilities. I had a small plate of cheese and crackers and a glass of wine before heading to the gate to watch the aircraft arrive. When the flight was delayed by several hours, I returned to the lounge to relax. Since the original departure was close to midnight, having a comfortable place to wait made the delay much more tolerable.
Boarding proceeded efficiently with priority passengers called first, allowing extra time onboard to explore the new cabin. The business-class layout is 2-2-2 with lie-flat seats and generous storage for personal items. I was seated on the aisle; note that window seats on this configuration do not have direct aisle access. The A350 felt pristine and noticeably more spacious than many other widebodies, a clear benefit of flying this type.
In-Flight: Because of the late departure, the crew accelerated the meal and beverage service to fit the schedule, but the pacing never felt rushed. I enjoyed a mahi mahi entrée paired with a crisp white wine while watching Creed on the inflight entertainment system. For dessert I had a small serving of rich chocolate Häagen-Dazs ice cream.
After dinner, flight attendants prepared my seat with a duvet and a fluffy pillow, and I slept for the majority of the flight. I woke in time for breakfast service and to finish the movie I had started. Before landing I used the larger-than-average lavatory and the contents of the LATAM amenity kit to freshen up, which was helpful since I had activities planned immediately after arrival.
The Experience: Despite the delay, the overall journey was positive. Efficient check-in, a comfortable and well-stocked lounge, attentive cabin service and the modern A350 cabin combined to make the trip enjoyable. The inaugural feel of the route added a bit of excitement to the experience, and attentive staff throughout helped ensure it remained a pleasant flight.
GT CHECKLIST
[checklist]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Friendly and helpful agents[/item]
[item check=yes]Priority tagged baggage[/item]
[item check=yes]Airport lounge[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-lounge food[/item]
[item check=yes]Priority boarding[/item]
[item check=yes]Helpful and courteous flight attendants[/item]
[item check=yes]Pre-flight beverage service[/item]
[item check=yes]Pre-flight newspapers and magazines[/item]
[item check=yes]Extensive on-demand entertainment[/item]
[item check=yes]Amenity kits[/item]
[item]Slippers[/item]
[item check=yes]Lie-flat seat/bed[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[item check=yes]In-flight menu with three entrée choices[/item]
[item check=yes]Top-shelf wines and liquors[/item]
[/checklist]
LATAM
latam.com