
LATAM Airlines will formally leave the Oneworld alliance on Thursday 30 April 2020.
This development was expected following Delta’s acquisition of a 20% stake in the airline in 2019.
This means that from Friday 1 May 2020, members of Oneworld alliance frequent flyer programmes will not be able to earn Avios/miles and status credits/tier points when flying on LATAM Airlines under LATAM Airlines flight numbers.
Nor will they be entitled to benefits by virtue of frequent flyer status such as additional baggage allowances, access to priority check-in and boarding facilities and departure lounges when flying on LATAM Airlines.
Passengers will also not be able to access LATAM Airlines lounges when flying business and First Class on other Oneworld alliance member airlines.
This also applies to LATAM Airlines affiliates including LATAM Airlines Argentina, LATAM Airlines Brazil, LATAM Airlines Columbia, LATAM Airlines Ecuador, and LATAM Airlines Peru.
Oneworld has also advised that LATAM Pass frequent flyers will not benefit from reciprocal frequent flyer recognition from Royal Air Maroc when it joins the alliance on Wednesday 1 April 2020.
LATAM Airlines has severed other bilateral arrangements with some Oneworld alliance members. It has ended its codeshare partnership with American Airlines with effect from Friday 31 January 2020.
At present, LATAM’s reciprocal codeshare with BA on London Heathrow – Sao Paulo, and on routes within Latin America remains extant. Whilst LATAM has said it intends to maintain bilateral agreements with other Oneworld alliance members, given Virgin Atlantic is due to launch London Heathrow – Sao Paulo shortly, its codeshare with BA could well end.
For readers who are members of the LATAM Pass frequent flyer programme, a list of Frequently Asked Questions is available from LATAM.