Pricing - LATAM flight, Iberia ticket
Apr 18, 2019, 11:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Santiago
Programs: LATAM Black
Posts: 72
Pricing - LATAM flight, Iberia ticket
Hi guys,
I have noticed lately that it is substantially cheaper to buy tickets with Iberia than with LATAM, even though the flights are LATAM metal. See example below. Anybody know why this is the case? And if I can do voucher upgrades on the flight if I buy it from Iberia ( I am LATAM black - No Iberia status)
I have noticed lately that it is substantially cheaper to buy tickets with Iberia than with LATAM, even though the flights are LATAM metal. See example below. Anybody know why this is the case? And if I can do voucher upgrades on the flight if I buy it from Iberia ( I am LATAM black - No Iberia status)
Apr 18, 2019, 4:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SCL
Programs: LH FTL, LATAM Platinum, KL Silver, UA Premier Silver
Posts: 121
I have observed the same many times.
While I am not sure about the reasons and mechanics behind this pricing policy, I can tell you that you definitely cannot upgrade with vouchers or km, if the flight is bought as marketed by IB, i.e. bears an IB flight number. The metal does not have any relevance then.
The only, highly unlikely, thing that could work in your favour is if they would require to do operational upgrades, where your status could be advantageous.
It happened to me only once on MIA - SCL, when I got an upgrade at the gate despite flying on AA stock. However, odds are low that this occurs on LA 704/5, where it is already hard enough to score an upgrade, when on a regular LA ticket, since this route is notorious for many premium payers.
While I am not sure about the reasons and mechanics behind this pricing policy, I can tell you that you definitely cannot upgrade with vouchers or km, if the flight is bought as marketed by IB, i.e. bears an IB flight number. The metal does not have any relevance then.
The only, highly unlikely, thing that could work in your favour is if they would require to do operational upgrades, where your status could be advantageous.
It happened to me only once on MIA - SCL, when I got an upgrade at the gate despite flying on AA stock. However, odds are low that this occurs on LA 704/5, where it is already hard enough to score an upgrade, when on a regular LA ticket, since this route is notorious for many premium payers.
May 7, 2019, 8:15 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Santiago
Programs: LATAM Black
Posts: 72
Seems crazy. I ended up buying the ticket on Iberia. Business one way and premium eco the other. Still about 800 USD cheaper than on LATAM, with the LATAM option being economy in both directions. To me it seems like something is totally off in their pricing algorithm.
May 8, 2019, 11:01 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 162
Seems crazy. I ended up buying the ticket on Iberia. Business one way and premium eco the other. Still about 800 USD cheaper than on LATAM, with the LATAM option being economy in both directions. To me it seems like something is totally off in their pricing algorithm.
BTW, will you use your LATAM FF for this flight? Be aware that J or PEY gives you the same qualifying miles as full Y... no class bonus.
May 13, 2019, 9:50 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Santiago
Programs: LATAM Black
Posts: 72
For now I am staying with LATAM FF. I mainly travel within South America and no other program works for my travel patterns (based in SCL). Maintaining Black will be tight this year, so yes will be assigning miles to LATAM
May 14, 2019, 1:54 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 162
So SCL-MAD:
IB J/I = 6660 qualifying miles, 8325 RDM - Could be earned for US$2,500 on certain dates.
To earn 6660 EQM en LATAM, you need to spend 1,100 before taxes and charges, per segment. So a RT should be around US$2,500... which do exist. And witouth checking, you should get more RDM if you are Black.
Well played LATAM... well played.
For Black you need to spend at least US$14,660 with LATAM, and do close to 2 SCL-MAD roundtrips (just using this route as the OP has this flight pattern).
With current pricing, you would have to do 7 round trips on LATAM SCL-MAD at aprox. US$900 before taxes - US$1000 which is what is a cheap fare.
Thinking on what could be the sweet spot...