Let’s just leave yesterday's weather delays and terminal chaos in the rearview mirror. Today is a fresh start, and honestly, things are already looking up.
Flight Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Flight No. | LA810 |
| Origin | Sydney Kingford Smith Intl. (SYD) |
| Destination | Santiago Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Intl. (SCL) |
| Aircraft | B787-9 (CC-BGB) |
| Booking Class | Economy Plus |
| Seat | 15L |
| Flight Time | 12H 31M |
| Departure | 11:09 AM (1m early) |
| Arrival | 9:40 AM (10m early) |
| Date | MAR, 2026 |
| Cost | N/A (Involuntarily downgraded and rebooked) |
Back at the airport
I arrived at Sydney Airport a little under three hours before my flight, bracing myself for a wait. To my surprise, the check-in counters were already open. Since I was flying on a LATAM ticket this time, my Qantas status didn't grant me the usual priority check-in or security lanes. I joined the general queue, but it only took about half an hour to drop my bags. The terminal was packed today, but they run a pretty efficient operation, so I couldn't really complain. I was just relieved to be moving forward.
Luckily, because my original ticket was booked through Qantas, the system still recognized my First Class lounge access. I headed straight there for my usual breakfast: corn fritters and pancakes, washed down with a pot of hot honey lemon for a much-needed vitamin C hit. After that, I sank into a massive armchair with a few glasses of champagne, just watching the A380s taxi past the window. Not a bad way to wait for a flight.
The Economy Plus experience
When they called for boarding, I got another nice surprise—I was in Group 2. Turns out, that’s a handy little perk of being a Qantas Platinum member, even when flying LATAM. Stepping onto the Dreamliner, the cabin looked sharp with its mix of red seats and a few rows of green ones at the front.
I was in 15L, a window seat, and realized right away it was one of the "green" Economy Plus spots. For someone as tall as I am, finding that extra legroom feels like striking gold. I knew right then this was going to be a much better experience than I'd anticipated.
12 hours in the air
Flight LA810 to Santiago is a solid 12-hour haul, giving me plenty of time to test out the setup. The entertainment screen was high-def and actually responded to touch—a rare victory in economy. They had a surprisingly good lineup, too, including HBO classics like Game of Thrones, staple sitcoms like Modern Family, Friends, and The Big Bang Theory, plus newer movies like Zootopia 2.
The seat itself was decently padded, but the generous recline was the real winner. Better yet, because of that extra legroom in the Economy Plus section, I didn't get that claustrophobic, crushed feeling when the person in front of me leaned all the way back.
Meal service on board
We had three meal services to break up the time. Lunch rolled around about an hour after takeoff. I went with the beef stroganoff and rice, which was genuinely tasty and came with cheese, crackers, and a classic Aussie staple: a Tim Tam.
About seven hours in, the mid-flight snack arrived—a warm ham and cheese sandwich. Then, two hours before landing, it was time for breakfast. The options were oatmeal or... another ham and cheese sandwich. As an unapologetic ham and cheese craver, I happily went for the sandwich again. This round came with fresh fruit and a cinnamon cake that I really enjoyed.
A smooth finish
The crew was fantastic, especially the flight attendant looking after my row. They kept walking through the cabin offering water the entire flight, which takes a lot of diligence and makes a massive difference on a long-haul route.
Overall, for a 12-hour stint in economy, this was about as smooth as it gets. LATAM proved to be a solid airline, and this flight was exactly the reset I needed. Santiago, I’ve finally made it! I still have two more flights to go until I reach my final destination in Cusco, but the hardest part is definitely behind me.
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