When LAN Airlines and TAM merged to form LATAM Airlines in 2015, the carrier inherited the latter’s ten Boeing 777-300ERs, which it had been using on its long-haul routes out of São Paulo. Since then, the type has been a frequent sight in Europe and North America. Ome of the busiest routes to the latter continent is the one to Miami, which sees twice-daily 777 service. I’d been wanting to do a LATAM Brasil 777 flight to the U.S. for a while, but I had a hard time finding a destination that still gets the big twinjet. Most other destinations get the 787 or 767, leaving Miami as the only U.S. 777 destination for the Brazilian airline. Anyway, this was a cool, relatively short (for the 777-300ER routes I usually fly) flight, and I hope y’all enjoy this trip report.
Server: Solo
Airline: LATAM Airlines Brasil
Origin: São Paulo/Guarulhos-Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport, Guarulhos, Brazil (GRU)
Destination: Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida (MIA)
Flight Number: LA8194
Route: SBGR-KMIA
Seat: 9C (Business)
Time En Route: 8 Hours 10 Minutes
Looking at our aircraft as it’s prepared for today’s trip up to Miami. We’ve been trying to fit a flight on a LATAM 777-300ER into our busy, globe-spanning schedule, and we’ve finally gotten an opportunity. Excited to see how it goes!
After a pushback of several minutes’ duration, we’re finally moving under our own power as we taxi to the runway! We’re in one of 38 business-class seats on this aircraft, whixh are based on the hardy Vantage XL platform. With a total of 410 seats, LATAM’s 777-300ERs are the densest-configured ones in the Americas, with ten more seats than Air Canada’s airframes. Despite this, the business class cabin, at least doesn’t feel crowded with the 372 economy seats to our back.
Lifting off from Runway 10L by the LATAM hangars. Besides the 787s and another company 777-300ER, there’s also an American Airlines 777-300ER getting some work on it. We’re getting to listen to another typically loud GE90 takeoff as we climb away from GRU with almost a completely full cabin and who knows how much cargo on board.
Turning northwest over the hills outside Guarulhos in our climbout. Before the aircraft turned with our side facing away from the Sun, we were being treated to the spectacle of our shadow dancing across the ground, gradually getting smaller as we got higher. Daytime departures from São Paulo can be pretty scenic, depending on which direction one’s flying in.
As we cruise at 34,000 feet, we’re listening to Brazilian house artist Menesix’s “Lost In the Amazon” over the eponymous Rainforest. While LATAM isn’t commonly seen on lists of the world’s best business classes, the J-class cabin aboard the 777-300ER, at least, is very impressive. As we mentioned before, the fully lie-flat seats are very comfortable, befitting the airline’s long-haul flagship, and each one is provided with a large pillow and an absolutely massive blanket, making for what has to be an absolutely delightful sleeping experience on nighttime flights. Additionally, the IFE system is fairly modern and responsive, with a selection of both Brazilian and international movies and TV shows available. This is starting to make for an excellent travel experience between São Paulo and Miami.
Cruising over the Carribean Sea, less than two and a half hours from Miami. The understated excellence of LATAM Brasil’s business class on the 777 has extended to the lunch menu. We ordered the roasted sirlion with what was listed as herbed sauce, roasted baby potatoes with thyme, edamame, and a cherry tomato confit. Now, as our food settles, we’re continuing with one of the many movies available to watch on the seatback IFE screen.
As we descend near the Bahamas, we can see where the seabed sharply drops off, distinguished by the light blue of the relatively shallow waters rapidly dropping off to the continental shelf. While our flight has been smooth so far, recent storms in the Miami area have left pockets of turbulence in our path, which we’ll be encountering as we near our destination. Hopefully they won’t be too rough.
Landing in Miami on Runway 09 by a typical busy cargo apron. As one of the busiest cargo airports in the U.S., the ramp here is packed with freighters originating in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. There’s even a LATAM Cargo Brasil 767-300F here to greet us!
Taxiing across Runway 12/30 on our way to the J Gates at the South Terminal. In the distance, Miami Tower has us and several dozen other aircraft under its watchful eye. It’s been a great flight today and we’re glad LATAM Brasil’s 777 business class was everything we hoped for and more.
Disembarked from our airplane at Gate J11. LATAM Brasil’s 777 has kept the proud tradition of its predecessor, TAM, and Varig before them, as an ambassador of Brazilian commercial aviation to the world. The comfort, food, service, and entertainment was all excellent, with the Brazilian Bigfoot earning a place on the “To return to soon” list. Appropriately enough, we’re sufficiently satisfied with our experience that another trip through Brazil with LATAM is already starting to form in our mind.
