Hi, dear flight-report readers and members! In this FR I'd like to review one of world's outstanding flights - LATAM Chile's Auckland (AKL) - Santiago de Chile (SCL) flight across the Southern Pacific (the widest part of the world's greatest Ocean).
Logistics-wise it was the most important flight of my round-the-world trip EU - China (layover in Shanghai) - New Zealand - Chile - Uruguay - Argentina - Paraguay - EU (the other 3 main legs of the trips have been already reviewed: BUD-PVG, PVG-AKL, VCP-ORY), and I had quite high expectations, hoping to see the Southern Pacific and the Chilean coast from the sky, but this flight turned to be one of the dullest long-haul flights in my life due to Dreamliner's very feature: its windows with electrochromic shades.
Intro
When I booked MU ticket BUD-PVG-AKL for 460 EUR (which was a deal), preparing for my New Zealand trip, I started thinking about further logistics. There were a bunch of variants of return ways to EU via South East Asia, but not particularly exciting. At some moment I discovered that LATAM Airlines had discounted fares for its transpacific flight from Auckland to Santiago de Chile. The price was 690 EUR and, considering that at that moment LA was the absolute monopolist on the New Zealand - South America market (now things are changing due to China Eastern entering this market with the extension of its PVG-AKL flight to EZE twice a week) with typical prices 1100+ EUR one way, it was a deal. After some thoughts I put the trigger, thus turning my NZ trip to a round-the-world one.
The date of my transpacific crossing coincided with ANZAC day - the memory day of AU and NZ citizens, fallen on the 20th century's battlefields. Considering that WW1 and WW2 didn't touch the soil of these world's farthest countries (due to this fact NZ keeps the athmosphere of healthy 1920-1930s, which were not broken by revolutions, wars, dictatorships and holodomors - unlike USSR, my birthplace - and this atmosphere is what I liked most in NZ, whereas I found its nature to be quite mediocre for my standards, calibrated by cosmic and vital Latin American nature), this date feels especially striking.
Transpacific Crossing Without US and AU visas
If your passport allows you to enter US and Australia without a visa, you're lucky - you can easily cross the Pacific and you have wide choice of airlines, serving US - Oceania routes. Otherwise, crossing the Pacific is tricky and the number of option is limited.
If your passport allows you to visit New Zealand (like in my case), you can cross the Southern Pacific via 2 options:
1) LATAM Chile flights between Auckland (AKL) and Santiago de Chile (SCL) on B787-9 (worth noting that flights between Australia and Chile are also served exclusively by B789s - both LA and QF).
2) China Eastern flights between Auckland (AKL) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on B777-300ER.
If your passport doesn't allow to enter NZ, you can cross the Pacific only in its northern part - between East Asia and Mexico. The current options are:
1) AeroMexico flights between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Mexico city (MEX) on B787-8.
2) ANA flights between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Mexico city (MEX) on B787-8.
3) Hainan Airlines flights between Beijing (PEK) and Mexico city (MEX) on B787-9.
4) China Southern flights between Shenzhen (SZX) and Mexico city (MEX) on A350-900.
Worth noting that these flights are nonstop only eastwards. Westwards, due to MEX's high altitude and headwinds, they make a refueling stop in Monterrey or Tijuana.
Entering Mexico (which has been hit by severe migrational crisis since 2022) nowadays without a valid US visa can be a PITA, and chances of refused entry are quite high, so these flights pose a risk, and you should be well-prepared.
Memories Of The First Flight on a LATAM Dreamliner
On 26 February 2016 - more than 8 years before this transpacific crossing - I had my first ever flight on a Dreamliner during my first ever trip to Latin America, and it was a LATAM's one on a flight from Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) to Santiago de Chile (SCL), crossing the Conosur (the south cone of South America). I find this route to be one of the most scenic in the world and I'd like to share some memories of this flight.
It was operated by 2015-built B787-9 CC-BGD from the beautiful and airy T3 GRU with fantastic planespotting possibilites (which I find to be one of the best in the world).
During the pusback on departure (late afternoon), GRU was hit by a thunderstorm (which are common in Sao Paulo for that time of the day), resulting in some delay, but the views of the thunderstorm cells on takeoff and climbout over Sao Paulo area were breathtaking.
Flying over emerald Brazil highlands. On the first 3 photos is crazy meandering Chapeco river - a tributary of Uruguay river.
Mighty Uruguay river, meandring through Brazilian greenery.
Argentinian interfluve (between Uruguay and Parana rivers). That time it was overcast over mighty Parana, but I saw this river from the air later.
Low mountains within Argentinian pampa.
The most amazing part of the flight was crossing the Andes near the top of the western hemisphere - mount Aconcagua (6962 m. above sea level). In the evening light the views were absolutely breathtaking!
Final approach to SCL parallel to the Cordillera de la Costa (coastal ridge).
Arrival to SCL with sunset-lit Andes on the backdrop (and Costanera tower in Santiago under the wingtip).
It was my first ever visit to Chile and the impressions of this unforgettable flight were one of the reasons why I fell in love with Chile and South America. For such a scenic mid-haul flight huge Dreamliner's windows were perfect. Little did I know back then that these windows can play the opposite role on long-haul flights…
Check-In
As the fare of my AKL-SCL ticket was the lowest promo, only hand luggage and random seat allocation at check-in were included. When I checked in, the system assigned me a shitty location (kind of 43H - an aisle seat in a middle block in the back of the plane). In the airport I managed to change the seat to 32K (middle seat in a block near window near the beginning of the rear economy cabin) and then tried to negotiate onboard with my neighbour. Thankfully, she agreed to swap seats, so I got 32L near window. If only it could help…
Auckland International Airport (AKL)
AKL is located south of the Auckland area and connected to the city by bus service (one can also take a bus to Puhinui station and then a train to the Central Station).
AKL consists of two terminal - international and domestic. The international terminal is quite modern, with spacious airside area with good spotting possibilities.
The Aircraft
The aircraft that flew me to Chile across the Pacific was 2015-built CC-BGC (it's the 3rd B789 in the LA fleet, whereas CC-BGD, which flew me to Chile across the Andes, is the 4th). It was not possible to take a photo of the aircraft from a decent angle, and I made it later in SCL.
The first 14 LA B789s have 2-class C30_Y283 layout with Zodiac Aura Lite seats in 2-2-2 layout in business and Collins Pinnacle seats (in standard 3-3-3 layout) in economy, whereas the newer 12 B789s have 2-class C30_Y270 layout with Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats in 1-2-1 layout and Recaro CL3710 seats (in standard 3-3-3 layout) in economy (here aerolopa is wrong). So, it was definitely a luck to get older B789 with comfy Collins Pinnacle seats in economy for 10-hours transpacific crossing. In the newer cabin with Recaros it would've been definitely an ordeal.
The Business Cabin
I was not able to take a photo of the business class cabin on this flight, but I had a brief look on it, and it was the same as in CC-BGD in 2016. Albeit not having direct aisle access, the seats are very spacious and have unlimited footspace.
The Economy Cabin
The economy cabin consists of 283 seats in 3-3-3 layout, distributed between 2 equal cabins: the front one (between 2L/R and 3L/R doors, rows 12-28 with 12 to 17 rows being kind of "economy plus" ones with increased row pitch; back in 2016 there was no "economy plus" in CC-BGD) and the rear one (between 3L/R and 4L/R doors), rows 30 to 44.
A couple views of the front economy cabin. The "economy plus" seats in the very front.
Regular seats. Upholstery of the central 3-seaters is red (the color of former TAM, now LATAM Brasil), the color of the lateral 3-seaters is blue (the color of former LAN, now LATAM Chile).
Some views of the rear economy cabin.
The duo seats with fixed armrests in the rear row 43 are reserved for crew rest. Thus, older LA B789s don't have crew rest bunks. When I flew CC-BGD back in 2016, I didn't notice this detail. LA decided to save money here when it was ordering B789s. Not so good move.
The Economy Seat
My seat is 32L in the front part of the rear economy cabin. The seat model is Collins Pinnacle - it's known for me since 2016, when I flew CC-BGD. This is very good model with comfy shape and ample padding.
The seatwidth is 17.3", which is standard for 3-3-3 Dreamliner.
The seat has previous-generation IFE with fixed-mount screen, USB port, tray table, cup holder and seat pocket. The row pitch is OK for longhaul flight.
Waiting on the seat are pillow, blanket and headset - all of them are of good quality.
The overhead panel has personal airvents, which is nice.
The Flight
As pushback starts, the cabin lighting is switched from orange to deep blue.
A view of the front economy cabin after takeoff…
… and of the rear one.
The dinner is served. Pasta with focaccia, cheese, crackers and waffle bar. Honestly speaking, not impressive. Marginally better than the food on the Azul flight I experienced later. The cutlery is wooden. But the Chilean crew were nice and friendly as always.
The cabin lighting was turned to pink and it was time to sleep.
When I woke up, it must have been daylight outside, but the windows were pitch dark. I tried the button only to discover that windows were locked by crew in the blackout mode, making one unable to see the greatest Ocean below. I went to the 4L/R doors to discover that even doors' windows were also locked in blackout mode! I asked the crew to unlock at least doors' windows, but they, while being nice, were unwilling, thus I had no success.
What a disappointment! To pay hefty 700 EUR only to sit 10 hours in a blind tube being unable to see anything outside! If you're a crew and you have a button turning daylight into the night, there is a huge temptation to use it, making the passengers sleep the whole flight and giving you an opportunity to work less. Unfortunately, it's too late to protest: the authoritarian blackout mode has become a worldwide norm on longhaul flights, operated by Dreamliners. I'm not even saying that "Blindliner" mode in 787 drastically increases jetlag, especially on flights like this, crossing the date change line. But nobody cares. It's a new norm. You take it or you leave it.
At least now you have an option to cross the Southern Pacific on an airliner with classic window shades - thanks to MU and their new AKL-EZE extension to PVG-AKL service, but the price is very high…
Meanwhile we're approaching Chilean coast and the sun is high outside. But still pitch darkness in the blocked windows instead of beautiful views…
The crew serve breakfast - omelette with mushrooms and focaccia. Well… more or less OK, considering that breakfast are generally a weak spot. The cutlery is wooden again.
Only when we were already descending to SCL, the windows started to brighten, making one able to see Andes on the backdrop. BTW, notice how many patches due to paint peeling has the wing of a 9-year-old Dreamliner!
The consolation prize was the view of mount Aconcagua and neighbouring Andes near Santiago.
An LA A321, flying over Santiago outskirts below us.
The last glance on Aconcagua before our Dreamliner starts maneuvring.
A view of the Central Valley of Chile before final approach to SCL.
The Economy Cabin After The Flight
Views of the rear economy cabin upon disembarkment.
Views of the front economy cabin upon disembarkment. The 6 front rows of "economy plus" have dark green upholstery.
The Aircraft After The Flight. Planespotting From T2 SCL
Now all the international flights to/from SCL are operated from the new beautiful 4-concourse Terminal 2 (I explored it 1.5 days later before JetSMART flight SCL-MVD to Uruguay). It's only drawback is incompatibility with planespotting from the gates area. Though, the arrival gallery doesn't have this drawback.
CC-BGC after the transpacific flight.
And this DL's A359, waiting for evening flight back to ATL, brings good memories. It's the former JJ PR-XTB, which I flew from MXP to GRU on 26 February 2017 in my 2nd trip to Latin America, where I visited Chilean and Argentinian Southern Patagonia. This aircraft still retains almost original JJ layout C30_Y309, and whereas its business cabin with 2-2-2 layout cannot eclipse Delta One cabin, its economy with comfortable Safran Z300 seats of 18" seats definitely eclipse Recaro CL3710 seats in DL's original A359s.
There definitely was something symbolical. In the pre-Covid era I flew to Chile in westward direction on both LATAMs - Chilean one (2016) and Brazilian one (2017), and now I've flown to Chile in eastward direction on postcovid LATAM with much less fleet diversity. Back then LA and JJ flights were incomparably cheaper and impressed me much. Now, after an expensive LA flight I was not impressed at all.
Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis…
At least Santiago, which I love since 2016, was more or less the same. And even better than before in some aspects…
Thank you for your attention and see you in the next FRs!
