Why people leave LATAM Pass
- Premium-cabin award seats on the GRU-MAD, GRU-MIA, and GRU-JFK routes have shrunk, and the mileage costs on remaining inventory climbed sharply in 2024-2025.
- Mid-tier status (LATAM Pass Gold and Platinum) benefits feel thinner than competing programs, especially around award change fees and inventory access.
- Partner mile crediting from Itau and Bradesco runs on 5-10 business day delays, which limits last-minute redemption planning.
- Some long-haul partner awards (Qatar, Iberia, British Airways via oneworld) are easier to book through American Airlines AAdvantage’s interface than through LATAM Pass.
- The Categoria Elite qualification thresholds tightened, pushing infrequent business travelers below the lounge-access cutoff.
If any of that pushes you to compare, here are 7 LATAM Pass alternatives worth installing.
Which app should you choose?
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Smiles if you fly GOL Brazilian domestic or Caribbean.
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TudoAzul if you fly Azul or live near Viracopos or Confins.
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AAdvantage if you redeem long-haul on oneworld partners.
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Iberia Plus if you fly GRU-MAD direct or want cheap short-haul Europe.
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LifeMiles if you want Star Alliance access alongside oneworld.
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Miles & More if you fly Lufthansa Group to Europe in premium cabin.
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Avios if you stitch short-haul oneworld flights after a long-haul.
Stay on LATAM Pass if you fly LATAM frequently enough to maintain Categoria Elite, your home airport is GRU or SCL where LATAM Pass has the densest award inventory, or your Itaucard LATAM Pass spend feeds the program directly. LATAM Pass on LATAM-operated routes remains the most direct path.
Comparison table
| App | Best for | Inventory | Cancellation | Loyalty | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smiles | GOL domestic + Caribbean | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.7 |
| Azul (TudoAzul) | Azul domestic + Portugal | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.6 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | AA + oneworld awards | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.7 |
| Iberia Plus | Europe + LATAM oneworld | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.5 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Star Alliance awards | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.5 |
| Miles & More | Lufthansa group awards | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.4 |
| Avios (British Airways) | Oneworld short-haul | Loyalty program | Award fees apply | Yes | 4.6 |
1. Smiles -- GOL miles for Brazilian domestic and Caribbean
Smiles is the Brazilian counterpart most LATAM Pass holders pair with, and the strengths complement cleanly: Smiles wins on GOL-operated Brazilian domestic routes plus the Caribbean inventory (Aruba, Curaçao, Cancún) where GOL invests heavily. The Smiles Club fixed-price tiers also unlock discounted miles for travelers who book consistently.
The Bradesco LATAM Pass card spend earns LATAM Pass miles, while Banco do Brasil and Bradesco partner cards earn Smiles or Livelo. Holding both programs covers Brazilian domestic travel without compromise. LATAM Pass vs Smiles on long-haul is a LATAM Pass win; Smiles wins domestic and Caribbean.
Advantages:
- Strong GOL domestic award inventory
- Smiles Club fixed-price miles tiers
- Caribbean award coverage GOL operates directly
- Itaucard GOL Smiles partnership
Disadvantages:
- Long-haul award rates have devalued
- No oneworld partner network
Pricing: Free app; Smiles Club priced in tiers.
2. TudoAzul (Azul) -- Azul Brazilian domestic and Portugal
TudoAzul covers Azul’s Brazilian domestic network plus the Lisbon, Porto, and Fort Lauderdale long-haul routes. For travelers based outside São Paulo Guarulhos, Azul’s hub strategy at Viracopos and Confins means more direct flights than LATAM offers. TudoAzul redemption inventory on those Azul-direct routes is correspondingly stronger.
The Itau partnership cards earn TudoAzul points at standard rates. LATAM Pass vs TudoAzul on intercontinental routes favors LATAM Pass on partner network breadth; TudoAzul wins on Azul-hub-centric domestic itineraries.
Advantages:
- Strong Azul domestic and Portugal awards
- Clube TudoAzul subscription buys discounted point packs
- Strong second-tier Brazilian city coverage
- Itaucard Azul partnership
Disadvantages:
- Long-haul partner network thinner than LATAM Pass
- Some redemption flows bounce to web
Pricing: Free app; Clube TudoAzul priced monthly.
3. American Airlines AAdvantage -- AA + oneworld with cleaner award search
American Airlines AAdvantage runs cleaner award searches across oneworld partners (Qatar, Iberia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL) than LATAM Pass exposes, which surfaces premium-cabin awards the LATAM Pass site sometimes hides. The Web Special fares occasionally drop the long-haul mileage cost by 30-50% on selected dates.
For Brazilian travelers redeeming toward Europe or Asia, AAdvantage paired with LATAM Pass miles transferred at varying ratios can unlock awards that neither program shows alone. LATAM Pass vs AAdvantage on a São Paulo-Madrid award favors AAdvantage on inventory; LATAM Pass wins on intra-South America.
Advantages:
- Cleaner oneworld partner award search
- AAdvantage Web Special discounts
- Status tiers extend to airport lounge access
- Family pool for AAdvantage miles
Disadvantages:
- Earning miles is harder for Brazilian residents without a US card
- Award changes carry fees
Pricing: Free app; mileage purchases run during promotions.
4. Iberia Plus -- Europe and LATAM via oneworld
Iberia Plus is the Spain-based oneworld program and the natural pair for São Paulo-Madrid awards on Iberia, which both LATAM Pass and AAdvantage redeem. Avios (the underlying currency Iberia Plus and British Airways share) is one of the cheapest oneworld currencies for short-haul European award redemption after the connection from MAD.
For a Brazilian traveler heading to Spain then within Europe, Iberia Plus earned via paid Iberia spend or Avios transfer from Marriott Bonvoy is often cheaper than the equivalent LATAM Pass redemption. LATAM Pass vs Iberia Plus on the GRU-MAD direct is a Iberia Plus win on availability.
Advantages:
- Direct redemption on Iberia GRU-MAD route
- Avios pool with British Airways and Aer Lingus
- Short-haul European awards at competitive Avios cost
- Iberia Plus status flows to oneworld lounges
Disadvantages:
- Earning rates outside Iberia paid flights are modest
- Off-peak award seats limited on peak routes
Pricing: Free app; Avios buys priced per package.
5. Avianca LifeMiles -- Star Alliance awards as a counterweight
Avianca LifeMiles is the Star Alliance program most accessible to Latin American travelers, with award redemptions on United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and ANA. Since LATAM Pass operates inside oneworld, LifeMiles fills the Star Alliance gap for travelers who want both alliance options.
Mile buy promotions on LifeMiles occasionally drop the per-mile cost low enough to make a planned redemption cheaper than the cash fare. LATAM Pass vs LifeMiles is alliance-driven: pick by which alliance flies the right route for your trip.
Advantages:
- Star Alliance award access (United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore)
- Buy-miles promotions occasionally drop per-mile cost
- Strong intra-Latin America inventory on Avianca
- No fuel surcharges on most partner awards
Disadvantages:
- Award booking flow can be glitchy
- Customer service hold times are long
Pricing: Free app; mile purchases priced per package.
6. Miles & More -- Lufthansa group long-haul awards
Miles & More covers Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, and partner airlines including the Lufthansa Group’s increasing presence in South America. For Brazilian travelers heading to Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, or Vienna, Miles & More direct redemptions on Lufthansa Group routes often beat LATAM Pass for premium cabin inventory.
The program runs frequent mileage sales that drop the per-mile cost. LATAM Pass vs Miles & More on a São Paulo-Frankfurt route favors Miles & More on long-haul premium awards; LATAM Pass wins on intra-South America.
Advantages:
- Strong Lufthansa Group inventory to Europe
- Premium cabin awards more available than oneworld equivalents
- Mileage sales drop per-mile cost regularly
- Status tiers (Frequent Traveller, Senator) include lounge access
Disadvantages:
- High fuel surcharges on Lufthansa-operated awards
- Earning outside Lufthansa Group flights is harder
Pricing: Free app; mile purchases priced per package.
7. British Airways Avios -- oneworld short-haul redemption sweet spot
British Airways uses Avios, the same currency Iberia Plus uses, and Avios is one of the cheapest currencies for short-haul oneworld awards. Once a long-haul flight lands in London or Madrid, Avios redeems on intra-Europe and intra-UK British Airways flights at rates significantly lower than the cash fares.
For a Brazilian traveler stitching São Paulo to a European city then onward to other cities, Avios via BA Executive Club fills the short-haul gap. LATAM Pass vs Avios is a long-haul-versus-short-haul split.
Advantages:
- Cheapest short-haul oneworld awards
- Avios pool between BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar
- Executive Club status unlocks oneworld lounge access
- Family Account pools miles among members
Disadvantages:
- BA long-haul awards carry high fuel surcharges
- Off-peak award availability declined recently
Pricing: Free app; Avios purchases priced per package.
FAQ
Is Smiles or LATAM Pass better for redeeming?
Smiles wins on GOL-operated Brazilian domestic routes and the Caribbean. LATAM Pass wins on LATAM-operated intra-South America, the GRU-MAD direct, and partner redemptions across oneworld. Holding both is common among Brazilian frequent fliers.
Can I transfer LATAM Pass miles to another airline?
LATAM Pass does not transfer freely to other airline programs. You can redeem LATAM Pass miles on oneworld partners (Iberia, BA, Qatar, AA, JAL) inside the LATAM Pass booking flow. For Star Alliance redemption, use Avianca LifeMiles.
What is the cheapest way to fly São Paulo to Europe on miles?
It varies by date and route. AAdvantage Web Specials sometimes drop the long-haul cost dramatically. Miles & More mileage sales paired with Lufthansa direct awards can also undercut LATAM Pass. Compare actual mileage cost on the date you want.
Does LATAM Pass charge fuel surcharges on awards?
On partner awards, yes, particularly on Iberia, BA, and Qatar. On LATAM-operated awards, the surcharges are lower. AAdvantage typically charges lower fuel surcharges on the same routes, which is one reason it competes favorably for long-haul out of Brazil.
Should I keep LATAM Pass miles or transfer them?
LATAM Pass miles do not transfer outside the program. Use them for LATAM-operated flights or oneworld partner redemptions within the LATAM Pass site. Holding miles past a planned redemption risks devaluation, so book when the right award appears.
