FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Black signature worth it?

Aug 28, 2024 | 11:19 am

#3

SCLflyer1988

Join Date: Apr 2018

Location: SCL / MAD

Programs: LATAM Black Signature, Turkish Elite (S* G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold

Posts: 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC1976

To qualify one needs 160,000 points and non of it can come from the Latam credit card for US residents. 6 points per dollar for airfare means one needs to spend $26,666. The main perk is getting 14 segment upgrades but that comes out to $1904 per upgrade which usually is more than if you just pay for business class.

For Black status one needs 75,000 points and spend $12,500. Can get maximum of 9,000 from the Latam credit card but it’s 20% per dollar or $5=1 point.
Perk is 8 upgrade segments and worth $1,562 per upgrade. So it’s economically better than Black signature and would be dollar equivalent if they give out 17 upgrades instead of 14. Granted they are first on the upgrade priority list but is it worth it?

The only other way to get Latam Black Signature status is by spending in Latam Travel, which can be done by purchasing packages on their website or via booking.com ( https://www.booking.com/?aid=1903550..._banner_hotels ) where you get access to genius benefits, 6 qualifying points per US$1 spent.

Wether it's worth it or not, depends on your travel preferences. I've been Black Signature for almost 10 years, and for frequent flyers living or traveling constantly from/to/between South American countries it's definetely worth it. Upgrade chances for Black Signatures are 95%+ likely to happen for long haul flights and 99% for regional J or premium economy routes. 14 long haul segments is a lot, I only use it for companions a few times a year. The status is specially worth it if you don't have much time for airports as Special Services agents will proactively go to you, and make you skip the line everywhere, check-in, security (where available), boarding, and you get Special Services in almost every important destionation nowadays, and also in local flights in Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia. You also get immediate assistance via WhatsApp with specialized teams in every destination, so the service stands out in the soft side. Last but not least, and not publicly mentioned, when your plane has a remote stand, in Brazil you get picked by a car, always, in Santiago only for very tight connections.

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