If you want a flat bed for the five-hour trip from Easter Island to Santiago, LATAM Business Class is your only option. Because LATAM is the only airline flying to or from Easter Island. Go figure.
I did a last-minute upgrade on my flight from Easter Island back to Santiago in 2026. Unsure at the time if it was worth it, but it was a bargain so I couldn’t not try it. Especially when I had a busy few days of travel either side of the flight.
This is the whole experience: check-in, boarding, the seat, the food and wine, and the sleep. And answering the key question. Is it worth the money?
Spoiler: as a cheap upgrade, yes. At full price, probably not. Here’s what I wish I’d known before.
Planning your trip? Check out my guides on:
How to visit Easter Island – the entry form, park tickets, guides and all the admin.
Things to do on Easter Island – For a full overview of the best sites worth your time, what each of them is, the order to visit them, and some extra spots to check out
Where to stay on Easter Island – for a run down of the best accommodation options to fit your budget
Where to Eat on Easter Island – so you can pick the best restaurants while you’re there!
LATAM business class Easter Island: Quick facts
| Route | Easter Island (IPC) to Santiago (SCL) |
| Aircraft | Boeing 787 |
| Seat layout | 2-2-2, fully lie-flat |
| Flight time | Around 4.5 – 5 hours |
| Lounge | None at Easter Island airport |
| Welcome drink | None |
| Meal | Three courses, ordered after takeoff |
| Cost | Around $1500-$2000 outright (vs $400-600 in economy). Upgrades sometimes available for $300 per person as an add-on before the flight. |
At the airport
Check-in: business class in name only
First, a warning. Do not get to the airport early expecting a lounge. There is not one. The airport is tiny, and there is nowhere to go. My Easter Island airport guide covers the full experience.
There is a business class check-in line. Nobody enforces it. It is more like a free-for-all.
You can still stand in it. It is shorter and moves a bit faster than the economy line. That one is far more chaotic. But expect a decent wait.
No lounge and no business class perks at the airport
After check-in, the business class experience disappears until you board. There is no lounge and no priority area. You hang around in the crowded departures hall with everyone else.
Buy a bottle of water from the cafe while you wait. You will want it later.
Priority boarding
This is the one real perk on the ground. Business class boards first.
That matters more here than at most airports. You escape the chaos of the departures area before everyone else. And if it’s raining, you’d otherwise be queueing outside in the rain because that is where boarding happens. Yes, really.
On-board
The seat: dated but comfortable
LATAM flies a Boeing 787 on the Easter Island route. My flight had the older business class cabin in a 2-2-2 layout. The kind where if you pick a window seat, you have to clamber over your neighbour when you want to get up. Although LATAM has fitted some newer 787s with a 1-2-1 cabin, apparently the 2-2-2 on this route is quite common.
It is a bit dated. But it is still really comfortable, and it lies fully flat. You get plenty of space to spread out. And there’s a massage function – it’s a bit weak, but it exists.
Each seat comes with a big, thick blanket and a large cushion, which was great for getting cosy. There is a huge amount of storage space with each seat, as well as there being lots of leg room.
There is also a well-stocked amenity kit, with toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, socks, and ear plugs, which was a nice touch. If you’ve flown premium economy on shorter-haul LATAM flights in the region, it’s the same one.
No welcome drink
This was a bit disappointing. There was no welcome drink. Not champagne, not juice, not even a glass of water.
Since you board first, you have a while to sit and wait. If you skipped the water at the airport, you will be thirsty. Another reminder to stock up in departures.
Food and wine
The crew hand out a menu before takeoff. They take your order once the plane is in the air.
The menu was actually pretty decent. Small-ish, but then it isn’t a really long flight. As we were flying middle of the day, we got the lunch menu. Appetiser was salmon (no alternative). Main was options of steak or pasta. Dessert was either fruit or apple crumble.
The drink selection was sizeable, and I really loved that there was a wine-pairing option for every dish on the menu.
Food and drinks arrived within 30 to 45 minutes of takeoff. Honestly the meal was delicious and absolutely massive.
I’m never sure about fish on planes, but this salmon was excellent. There was also extra bread and salad coming with the dishes, complete with olive oil and vinegar.
I then went for the steak, which was cooked perfectly (medium, how I like). Served with a rich gravy and pureed sweet potato.
The apple crumble dessert though was the star of the show. I could’ve eaten two. I mean, physically I couldn’t. But in my head, sure.
The food service was also top notch. The crew kept the wine coming without being asked, and were generally pretty attentive. I tried both of the reds. Then I had a couple more. For research purposes, obviously.
Chocolates were brought around a little later in the flight. I had to indulge, despite already being full from the meal. When in Rome…
Entertainment and sleep
The entertainment screen is big, with a decent selection. There were several movies that had only just recently left the cinema. You also get a pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones.
The seat goes fully flat, and the bedding is genuinely comfortable. I slept really well, which was the whole point of the upgrade. An early flight the next morning meant needing all the extra Zs I could get.
Arriving in Santiago
Business class gets off first, and that is you done. Not much more to the story than that!
Where to stay in Santiago if you land late
This flight gets in late, and the airport is 30+ minutes from the city. If you have an early flight the next morning, stay by the airport. Two options should be your go-to:
Holiday Inn Santiago Airport is the easy one. It sits right across from the terminal, so you can walk. The rooms are large and comfortable, and you are minutes from check-in in the morning. Yes, you pay a premium price for the location. But if you’re prioritising sleep, this is for you.
Courtyard by Marriott Santiago Airport is about five minutes away by taxi, and it runs a free airport shuttle (arrange in advance). Rooms are usually cheaper than the Holiday Inn (like, 50% cheaper…). It also often has good points availability, so it is worth a look if you collect Marriott Bonvoy points.
Either way, book ahead. Both fill up with passengers doing exactly what you are doing. Santiago is a busy airport.
How much does LATAM business class to Easter Island cost?
Buying business class outright on this route is usually expensive. I saw fares ranging from $1500-$2000 one way. Obviously prices fluctuate, but this seemed to be standard.
Economy by contrast can be $400-600. Can randomly be more on certain days, in high season, or if you book last-minute.
How to get a LATAM upgrade
This upgrade was around $300 per person, advertised last-minute by LATAM via email the day before.
They usually have a bid system for upgrades, so you could potentially get it even cheaper. But when there is decent availability they offer instant upgrades for a set price.
Either way – it was less than half the price doing it this way than buying business outright. But obviously it is only possible if there is availability vs buying outright being guaranteed.
Is LATAM business class to Easter Island worth it?
As a lower-cost upgrade, yes. I had an early flight out of Santiago the next morning and knew we would land late and head straight to bed, with no time for dinner.
So the upgrade bought a proper meal, a few hours of real sleep and a chance to relax. Plus early boarding to escape the airport. For around $300, that felt worth it.
At full price, probably not. The plane is older, and the airport has no lounge. Check-in is a mess, and there is no welcome drink on-board. It is fine, but it is not the best business class you will ever fly.
If you can find a cheap upgrade, take it. If not, save your money for a better hotel on the island. My guide to where to stay on Easter Island can help with that.
Tips for flying LATAM business class to Easter Island
- Book LATAM flights to Easter Island early, as the route fills up.
- Look for a paid upgrade closer to your flight date, rather than buying business outright.
- Do not arrive early for a lounge. There is not one.
- Use the business check-in line, but still expect a wait.
- Buy water at the airport, as there is no welcome drink.
- Travelling solo? Pick a middle row seat in the 2-2-2 cabin so you don’t have to climb over anyone.
LATAM business class Easter Island FAQ
Is there a business class lounge at Easter Island airport?
No. Mataveri airport has no lounge for LATAM business class passengers (or anyone). You wait in the main departures area.
What aircraft does LATAM fly to Easter Island?
LATAM flies a Boeing 787 on the route. My flight had the older 2-2-2 business class cabin with fully flat seats. This is the most common plane on the route.
Are LATAM business class seats lie-flat on the Easter Island route?
Yes. The seats lie fully flat, and LATAM provides a thick blanket and a large cushion.
Does LATAM serve a welcome drink in business class to Santiago?
Not on my flight. The crew served no drinks until after takeoff.
How much is LATAM business class to Easter Island?
Outright fares ran around $1500-$2000 when I looked. A last-minute upgrade for around $300 per person was what I went with instead.
How long is the flight from Easter Island to Santiago?
Around four and a half to five hours.
Also Worth Reading on Easter Island
- Easter Island Airport: What to Expect in 2026
- How to Visit Easter Island in 2026
- Where to Stay on Easter Island
- Things to Do on Easter Island
- Where to Eat on Easter Island
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend things I’ve actually done or would genuinely use.
