When we tell people that we sometimes take three flights instead of going direct, the reaction is usually a long pause followed by a concerned look. Aviation people understand instantly. For us, the flight is part of the holiday, and when the price for a premium cabin makes sense, we are more than happy to add a connection or two. This LATAM Premium Business from Guarulhos to Lisbon was a perfect example of why that logic works. It’s less about getting there quickly if we had the option to get there comfortably without paying and arm and a leg.
A direct British Airways flight from London to São Paulo would’ve cost an eye watering £5,000 in business, while this ticket came in roughly 70% cheaper. At that point, taking the scenic route felt less like a compromise and more like common sense, but did the flight meet to expectations? Read on.
In this review:
Flight Details
Flight No: LA8146
From/To: São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) to Lisbon (LIS)
Departure time: 17:40
Ticket Class: Business
Flight time: 9 hours 40 mins
Frequent Flyer Points: Credited to British Airways Club
Status Points: No Tier Points earnt
Aircraft: PT-MUF
Aircraft type: Boeing 777-300ER
Number of classes: 3
Number of seats in flying class: 56
Seat: 3L
Position: Aisle by the window
Airport Experience
São Paulo Guarulhos airport was a reminder that even the best-priced business class ticket still begins at an airport. The LATAM check-in area was chaotic, with queues forming before you could even join the main queue. There were two sides to the check-in zone, but no clear signage or direction, which only added to the congestion. The self-check-in machines worked for one of us and flatly refused to cooperate with the other.
The VIP lounge continued the theme. It was packed, with around a twenty minute wait for showers, very limited seating, and a constant soundtrack of tired families and over stimulated children. Still, the basics worked. WiFi was reliable, the bar was fully stocked, and the gin and tonic was unapologetically strong. If nothing else, it took the edge off. Finally managed to join a queue to drop off my luggage.
Boarding & Welcome
After the chaos of check-in and the lounge, boarding for LATAM Premium Business Guarulhos to Lisbon was refreshingly efficient. Premium passengers were clearly separated, boarding was called by group, and Group 1 moved through quickly without the usual gate side theatre. Pre boarding felt calm and organised, which already put this flight ahead of many competitors.
Once onboard, things moved at pace. The purser came through with drinks and warm nuts shortly after we settled into our seats. Boarding in South America often starts earlier and runs tighter, and this flight was no exception. Doors were closed ahead of schedule, which is quietly reassuring if you are someone who values punctuality and prefers your nerves unfrayed. However, we sat at the tarmac for more than an hour before we were cleared for take-off.
Seat
The last time I flew LATAM Business, it was on the 787 going to other way, and the disappointment of discovering a windowless seat still lingered. This time, LATAM Premium Business 777 Guarulhos to Lisbon offered redemption in seat 3L, complete with double windows and a sense of space that immediately lifted the mood.
The Thompson XL seat showed its age in styling, but not in comfort. It was wide, well padded, and thoughtfully laid out, with enough personal space to stretch out without feeling hemmed in. The inflight entertainment screen was large and responsive, seat controls were intuitive, and everything worked as it should. Privacy was limited, but comfort was clearly the priority, and on a flight of this length, that mattered more.
Which is the best seat on LATAM Premium Business?
If you are travelling as a pair, the middle seats were an obvious choice and worked well for shared space and conversation. For those who, like me, favour the window, rows 1, 3, and 5 were the best options, offering better alignment with the windows rather than the aisle.
Row 6 was less appealing, as the staggered layout resulted in only a single window. Bulkhead seats in rows 1 and 8 stood out for their extra space and dedicated shoe storage, a genuinely useful feature. While these seats lacked doors, they felt more spacious than BA Club Suites and came surprisingly close to the openness found on Qatar’s Qsuite. That is not a comparison made lightly.
See the seating plan on AeroLOPA.
Onboard Experience
Once airborne, service settled into a steady rhythm. Drinks and champagne were served within five minutes of boarding, and once boarding activity eased, the crew focused on serving customers.
There were some frustrations. Overhead announcements from the flight deck were barely audible, and a faulty light above my seat began blinking after take off. Despite flagging it, it couldn’t be addressed until they can change the light settings to dinner time. The response was polite but dismissive, with the suggestion to wait until meal service. The flashing light had become genuinely uncomfortable. It’s obvious that it’s one of those things that no one does anything about as it’s never logged as an issue.
The cabin had two toilets behind row 6 and additional facilities at the front galley, which generally kept queues manageable. Amenity kits were handed out with the usual stuff you expected. Slippers and headphones were already placed at the seat.
No pyjamas were given, but the bed linen made sleeping very comfortable.
Food & Drink
Dining on LATAM Premium Business 777 Guarulhos to Lisbon started well but lost momentum. Dinner was served around an hour after take off. I opted for the mozzarella starter followed by the ravioli, having learned my lesson on the outbound leg where the steak had been tough enough to bounce. These tasted OK.
Dessert was where things became puzzling. Despite sitting in row 3, the selection had already dwindled to ice cream, cheese, or fruit salad. My partner had pre ordered, but dessert was not part of that process, making the early shortage difficult to explain. With several rows still to be served, it felt premature.
The recommended wine pairing was not followed initially, and a drinks order was briefly forgotten, though it was corrected quickly. Service overall was calm and efficient, even if not flawless.
A second meal was served ninety minutes before landing. Sleep would have been the smarter choice, but curiosity won, and the breakfast was perfectly acceptable.
In-flight Entertainment
The cabin crew made a surprisingly dramatic announcement to let everyone know that the charging outlets were now available. It set expectations rather high. The screen itself backed that up, large, sharp, and one of the better displays you will find in business class. Unfortunately, the entertainment offering on LATAM Premium Business Guarulhos to Lisbon did not quite match the promise of the hardware.
While the tech was excellent, the film selection felt thin and padded out with “coming soon” titles that added very little. After scrolling longer than I would have liked, I settled on a Blake Lively film, chosen more out of curiosity fuelled by off-screen drama than genuine interest. I did not make it to the end and spent a lot more time watching the flight map.
Television options were stronger, and revisiting the first few episodes of Game of Thrones was unexpectedly enjoyable. There was no WiFi onboard, which felt acceptable on an overnight flight where sleep was probably the better use of time anyway.
Arrival
Because this was not the final stop, we were straight back into transit mode on arrival. With another flight to catch to get home to London, we had to clear immigration at Lisbon, collect our bags, and check in all over again. Oddly enough, that turned out to be the better option. It spared us from spending three hours in the ANA Lounge, which remains one of the least inviting places to pass time at Lisbon Airport.
Seating was scarce and the main terminal felt closer to a bus station than a major European hub. We did, at least, manage to get a decent photo of the aircraft before moving on, which felt like a small but important win before flight number three.
BG1 Verdict
LATAM Premium Business 777 Guarulhos to Lisbon delivered a strong hard product paired with a soft product that felt slightly rough around the edges. The seat remained genuinely comfortable and well suited to sleeping, while service was generally efficient, even if consistency wavered at times. It was not perfect, but it was no worse than many competitors, and at the right price, it represented solid value.
BG1 Tip
If you are flying LATAM Premium Business 777, prioritise window seats in rows 1, 3, or 5. Bulkhead seats in rows 1 and 8 offered extra space and storage and were well worth choosing if available.
Why not follow us on TikTok and Instagram.
Leave a Reply