Buenos Aires to Santiago in Latam Economy - Flight Review
Latam economy from Buenos Aires to Santiago over the Andes: the seat, the service, and what to expect on one of the region's busiest routes.
The route between Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, is one of the busiest international routes in South America, with thousands of people making the trek East or West over the Andes every week.
With over 1,000 miles separating these two hub cities, travellers frequently choose Latam Airlines, one of the region's largest and best-known carriers, to make the journey.
In this review, I'll take you through my experience flying Latam LA351 in Economy Class from Buenos Aires to Santiago.
This Flight
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight Number | Latam LA351 |
| Route | Buenos Aires (AEP) to Santiago (SCL) |
| Seat Class | Economy |
| Flight Duration | Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes |
| Departure Airport | Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) |
| Arrival Airport | Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) |
Overview of Latam Airlines
Latam Airlines is the largest airline group in Latin America, formed by the merger of LAN Airlines from Chile and TAM Airlines from Brazil.
It's best known for its extensive network across South America, and is a big provider of international routes like this one. I've flown only in Economy, but both Premium Economy and Business Class are available on longer haul routes.
About the Route: Buenos Aires (AEP) to Santiago (SCL)
The flight from Buenos Aires' Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) to Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) is a key route for both business and leisure travellers.
Solo Travel Hack: try to get a daytime flight and a window seat on this route. The views when crossing the Andes Mountains are fantastic, so keep a phone or camera handy to get the best pictures.
While the views might be startling, crossing the Andes can mean quite bad turbulence.
Essential items to pack for solo travel
- Men's Waterproof jacket
- Hat to keep the sun off your noggin even on grey days
- Compact umbrella because you may need it.
- Filtered water bottle for hiking
- Nature-safe sunscreen - let's keep the reefs safe and our skin
- Travel first aid kit
- Electrolytes (rehydration salts) - trust me on this
- Universal Travel Adapter (this one is the best one)
Top Tip: discover the top Travel Safety Products for 2026
Flight Details
Not long until the flight to Santiago, Chile!
Pre-Flight Experience at Aeroparque (AEP)
After a busy couple of weeks in Buenos Aires, I arrived at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, the smaller of Buenos Aires' two main airports, ready to move on to Santiago. I took a 'remis' car, but you might want to read my guide to AEP Airport transport options.
AEP is mainly a domestic airport, but handles some international flights, including to neighbouring countries like Chile and Brazil. That means the International Terminal at AEP is quite small, so be prepared for the limited options in the terminal (bring snacks!).
Duty Free
AEP's Duty-Free area is surprisingly comprehensive for such a small terminal, offering everything from electronics to perfumes.
Be aware that prices here are generally high compared to other airports like Dublin or London. For example, I found a bottle of Blood Orange Cointreau priced at $55 USD, which I knew could be bought for much less elsewhere. It's always worth comparing prices before making a purchase.
International Terminal: Food & Facilities
The food options at AEP's International Terminal are limited. There's just one café, Tienda de Sabores, where I made the mistake of purchasing a ham and cheese sandwich that was so hard, it could double as a construction tool.
If you're looking to save some money and avoid disappointment, I highly recommend bringing your own snacks.
On the positive side, the terminal is clean, with well-maintained restroom facilities.
Boarding Latam 351
Photo: Patrick Hughes - looks like no delay to Santiago
Latam Airlines operates an efficient boarding process, dividing passengers into four groups: Priority, Business, and disabled passengers first, followed by Economy passengers in three groups based on seat location. Boarding was smooth, without any weighing of cabin baggage!
The Latam Economy Class Seat
The Economy Class seats on this flight were typical of Latam's short-haul fleet: leather-covered and somewhat worn.
Photo: Patrick Hughes - Latam seats in Economy
The cleanliness left something to be desired, a consistent issue I've noticed with Latam's Economy class on previous flights. Despite this, the seat was reasonably comfortable for the short 2-hour journey.
In-Flight Experience
The in-flight service was minimal, with just a drink offered during the flight. The flight was pretty uneventful, apart from the expected turbulence over the Andes. Despite the bumps and occasional oohs and aahs, we arrived in Santiago without any issues.
Final Thoughts
Flying Latam Economy from Buenos Aires to Santiago is a straightforward and functional experience. While the cleanliness of the area around the seats could be better, the easy boarding process and safe arrival means Latam remains a reliable choice for this busy route, particularly if you get a good price. Check out my Resources section for advice on booking flights.
If you enjoyed this review and want to learn more about how I travel, be sure to check out more of my flight reviews. I've always got travel tips to share!