LATAM Airlines Baggage Fees: All You Need to Know

LATAM Airlines, based in Chile, is considered the largest airline in Latin America with services to 145 destinations in 28 countries. Despite declaring bankruptcy in 2020, during the early months of the pandemic, continues to operate a full slate of flights.

The popular airline offers four tiers of pricing in economy class, and LATAM baggage fees are imposed on any check-in bags in the bottom two tiers. The airline also charges excess baggage fleets ranging from $100 to $200 for overweight or oversized bags.

If you're making an international trip from the United States to South America, you could find it difficult to live out of a carry-on bag for a couple of weeks. You might not realize you can fight many of these hidden airline fees, and DoNotPay knows how.

How Much Does LATAM Charge for Baggage Fees

For most international flights and domestic flights (those between South American countries), LATAM does not allow Tier 1 and Tier 2 flyers to check-in bags without an extra fee. Tier 3 flyers can check in one bag with a maximum weight of 23 kg (just over 50 lbs), and Tier 4 flyers can check in 2 bags with a maximum of 23 kg.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 can purchase extra luggage right for a fee in advance. Extra luggage must be purchased at least six hours before the flight and cannot be purchased at the airport. Flyers have the option of purchasing a 23kg or 15kg bag. Fees change without notice and are based on the Chilean peso, so they change with the currency rate.

For a first extra bag booked 48 hours or more in advance, the price ranges from $30 to $60. Booked less than 48 hours in advance, the rate jumps from $80 to $110. For a second extra bag, the pre-48 hour rate is $75 to $110, and less-than-48 hours: $150-$200.

Special baggage, such as musical instruments, sports equipment, or televisions/monitors, can be checked in for a fee of $100.

How to Avoid LATAM Baggage Fees

The easiest way to avoid LATAM baggage fees would be to purchase the tier-level ticket that fits your baggage needs. If you know when you book the flight that you will need to bring two bags, check to Tier 4 rate to determine if it would save you money over paying separately for the extra baggage.

For sure, if you decide you are going to need extra baggage, purchase the baggage at least 48 hours before the flight. LATAM offers a solid discount for purchasing in advance.

The other way to save baggage fees completely is to pack to fit into your allowable carry-on baggage. LATAM allows one personal item to store under the seat that can measure at maximum: 17.8 x 13.8 x 7.9 in; plus an overhead bag that can measure: 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 in, with a max weight of 16 kg (35 lbs).

Does LATAM Have Hidden Baggage Fees

LATAM charges an extra baggage fee for bags that are overweight or oversized. Those fees can range from $100 to $200, depending on total weight and total dimension.

Overview of LATAM Baggage Fees

Table of baggage fees for LATAM Airlines on international flights to and from the United States:

Fare tier: Free bags: 1 extra bag: 1 extra bag: 2 extra bags: 2 extra bags

How to Appeal LATAM Baggage Fees on Your Own

When you're standing at the airport, eager to get on your flight, you feel like you are powerless to protest over any unexpected fees the airline is ready to charge you to allow you on the airplane. The easiest way out at that point is to hand over your credit card and get on your way.

Now that you are back home and staring at that credit card bill, you think there has to be some way to challenge those fees and get your money back. Some ways you might try to solve the problem on your own include:

1. Call customer service, explain the situation and ask for a reversal of the credit card charge. When you call customer service, however, you're likely speaking to a contract worker with no authority to make changes.
2. Send an email or snail mail letter to the company explaining why you think the charge was wrong and ask for a refund. This will likely take weeks to reach the right hands and probably will be denied anyway.
3. File a small claims case in your home county or the county where the airport is located to ask a judge to order a refund. You'll have to pay a filing fee and probably will end up arguing before a judge against an attorney the airline hired to ensure your case doesn't set an example for others.
4. File a civil lawsuit against the company. This will cost you time and money in attorneys' fees and court fees with a long lag and little hope of getting your money back.

Each of these methods will be time-consuming and frustrating as you'll be going against a company will multiple recourses and, in the case of LATAM, is not headquartered in the United States, creating an extra headache.

How DoNotPay Helps You Challenge Excessive LATAM Baggage Fees

When it comes to challenging LATAM baggage fees on your own, you're likely to run into the brick wall of facing off against a large corporation. You have little resources to contest their policies and practices, while they have abundant resources to square off against you. DoNotPay offers you an opportunity to easily challenge excessive baggage fees without consuming your valuable time.

Here's how you can use DoNotPay to appeal fees in three easy steps:

1. Search "appeal fees" on DoNotPay, choose the Fight and Waive Fees product, and select the type of fee you want to appeal.
2. Select the merchant you want to appeal fees for and enter the details of your transaction, including an associated account if you have one.
3. Submit your case! DoNotPay will generate the best argument for your case and make sure your fee waiver request gets sent to the merchant for processing.

DoNotPay Helps You Challenge All Nature of Unfair Fees

DoNotPay has the tools to battle excessive baggage fees from other airlines besides LATAM, including:

• Spirit Airlines
• American Airlines

DoNotPay goes well beyond the airline industry, as well, to help eliminate unfair fees from such companies as:

• Ebay
• Robinhood
• Chase Bank
• Coinbase
• Esty
• Shopify
• PayPal

DoNotPay can even help you with such a locally specific issue as one surrounding your HOA fees.

Register with DoNotPay today to start saving money on all those hidden fees that leech the joy out of life.