It seems that LATAM is going through with its plans to exit oneworld, with the airline from 1st May 2020
Star Wars livered LATAM Boeing 777-300ER at London Heathrow Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
If you’re a oneworld frequent flyer, your benefits for LATAM will be offered on oneworld flights up to and including 30 April 2020 – with an exception for between LATAM and Royal Air Maroc.
All redemption tickets that have been ticketed up to 30 April 2020 remain valid for travel, however, you will not be eligible for oneworld tier status benefits if travel occurs after 30 April 2020.
Some Individual oneworld airlines will maintain links with LATAM and their frequent flyer agreements after 30th April 2020. You’ll need to check with your airline of course.
Of course, lounge access is pretty much the same – up until 30th April, oneworld rules apply. After that, it will be down to the airline and agreements your airline has with LATAM.
A special case for LATAM and Royal Air Maroc
With Royal Air Maroc joining oneworld on the 1st April and LATAM leaving on the 1st May, neither airline will offer alliance benefits for each other. LATAM Pass holders will not be able to take advantage to Royal Air Maroc facilities, nor will Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer members be able to take advantage of LATAM benefits.
For a period of one month – it shouldn’t impact that many passengers – but something to keep an eye on if your travel involves these two carriers directly.
FAQ’s
oneworld have put up some FAQ’s covering the changes at https://www.oneworld.com/news/2020-01-31-LATAM-to-leave-oneworld-effective-1-May-2020
Check with your airline
Like any organisation or country exiting something (not drawing any parallels to other world events at all), it’s important to check what rights and privileges you will maintain – especially as LATAM will be in a “non-aligned state” for some time it seems as it works with Delta to chart out its future (who owns 20% of the airline now, along with a few extra A350’s to boot).
The next steps will be interesting – with LATAM and Delta growing closer, as well as the partnerships it will forge.
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