Your LATAM Airlines Flight Was Disrupted – Here Is the Money You Could Be Owed

A Carrier Built on a Century of South American Aviation

LATAM Airlines Group did not appear overnight. It is the result of a landmark merger between two aviation giants – LAN Airlines of Chile, founded in 1929, and TAM Airlines of Brazil, which began operations in 1961. Together, they created the largest airline group in Latin America, a carrier that today operates over 300 aircraft including Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, connecting passengers to more than 140 destinations across 26 countries.

Its international long-haul hub is São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, from which LATAM runs direct scheduled services into Europe. The airline currently connects South America with ten European cities – Madrid, Barcelona, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Brussels – with plans to reach 90 weekly European flights by 2026. LATAM also operates its longest non-stop route from Santiago de Chile to Madrid, covering approximately 10,690 km in a single flight.

These are ultra-long-haul routes. Every single one of them exceeds 3,500 km – which, under EU passenger rights law, means every qualifying disruption carries the maximum compensation value of €600 per person.

The Law That Protects You – Even on a Non-European Airline

Here is something that surprises many travellers: LATAM Airlines is based in Chile, not Europe. Yet EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to every LATAM flight the moment it departs from an EU airport. The law does not care where the airline is headquartered – it cares where the plane takes off from.

This means passengers flying LATAM from Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, or Brussels are covered by one of the strongest passenger protection frameworks in the world.

What the airline must provide when things go wrong:

From the moment your delay hits two hours, LATAM is legally required to provide:

• Free meals and refreshments in line with the waiting time
• Communication access – phone calls or emails at no charge
• Hotel accommodation and airport transfers if you are stranded overnight

What you could be owed financially:

Every LATAM route from Europe to South America exceeds 3,500 km – meaning €600 is the standard compensation figure for eligible passengers on these flights.

Financial compensation does not apply when the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances – situations genuinely outside LATAM’s control, such as extreme weather or large-scale air traffic control strikes. However, the duty of care always applies, regardless of cause.

Four Disruption Scenarios That Could Put €600 in Your Pocket

Not every difficult travel experience qualifies under EU law. Here are the four specific situations that trigger a valid compensation claim:

1. You landed more than three hours late. Compensation is calculated at arrival, not departure. If LATAM’s delay at your final destination exceeded three hours and the cause was within the airline’s control, your claim is likely valid.
2. Your flight was cancelled fewer than 14 days before departure Short-notice cancellations entitle you to both financial compensation and a choice between a full refund or a free alternative flight. The closer to departure the cancellation was made, the stronger your position.
3. You were refused boarding despite a confirmed ticket LATAM sometimes oversells seats. If you were denied boarding involuntarily – arriving on time, ticket in hand – EU law entitles you to immediate compensation plus rebooking or a full refund.
4. A missed connection under one booking If a LATAM delay on your European departure caused you to miss a connecting flight booked in the same reservation, the entire journey is assessed as one disrupted trip. At over 3,500 km to your final destination, the €600 ceiling applies.

When a Strike Grounds Your LATAM Flight: Who Pays?

Industrial action is one of the most misunderstood areas of flight compensation – and airlines sometimes use it to avoid paying out. The reality under EU law is more nuanced.

LATAM staff strikes – compensation is likely payable If the strike was organised by LATAM’s own employees – pilots, cabin crew, engineers, or ground operations staff – this falls within the airline’s sphere of responsibility. EU courts have consistently held that internal strikes do not automatically qualify as extraordinary circumstances. Passengers affected by LATAM staff strikes may be entitled to full compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.

Third-party strikes – compensation may not apply. Strikes involving air traffic controllers, airport security, or baggage handlers employed by the airport operator are generally classified as extraordinary circumstances. These are outside LATAM’s control, and financial compensation may not be due. That said, LATAM’s obligation to provide meals, accommodation, and communication support remains fully intact regardless.

When the cause is unclear LATAM may cite “extraordinary circumstances” without being specific. If you received little explanation at the airport or in follow-up communications, do not assume the airline’s position is correct. Lennuabi can investigate the true cause and challenge a refusal if the circumstances do not legally justify it.

Downgraded Without Warning? Here Is What LATAM Owes You

Being moved from a premium cabin to economy without your consent is not just frustrating – it is a contractual failure, and EU law gives you a direct right to reimbursement.

Under EU Regulation 261/2004, if LATAM involuntarily placed you in a lower travel class than the one you paid for, the airline must refund a fixed percentage of your ticket price:

• Flights up to 1,500 km : 30% refunded
• Intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km : 50% refunded 
• Flights over 3,500 km : 75% refunded

Since every LATAM route from Europe is long-haul, the 75% rate applies across the board. On a premium business class transatlantic ticket, that figure can be substantial. No taxes, fees, or administrative deductions can be applied to this refund – LATAM must pay the full percentage.

LATAM’s European Routes and Compensation Eligibility

LATAM operates long-haul flights between Europe and South America from major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, and Brussels. These routes connect passengers to key destinations such as São Paulo, Santiago, and Lima through LATAM’s international network.

Because these flights cover significant long-haul distances – often exceeding 8,000 km – qualifying disruptions on LATAM routes departing from Europe typically fall within the highest compensation bracket under EU Regulation EC261/2004. This means passengers affected by eligible delays, cancellations, denied boarding, or missed connections may claim up to €600 per passenger.

Whether you were travelling from Madrid to São Paulo, London to Lima, or Paris to Santiago, your rights under EU passenger protection law remain the same when your LATAM flight departs from a European airport.

That Disrupted Flight from Two Years Ago? You Might Still Have a Claim

Many passengers walk away from compensation they are owed simply because they did not claim at the time. What they do not know is that the window stays open for years.

Across the European Union, the statute of limitations for flight compensation claims ranges from 2 to 5 years depending on the country of departure. In the UK, passengers have up to 6 years.

• UK departures: up to 6 years
• Germany: up to 3 years
• France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and most EU countries: 2 to 5 years

If your LATAM flight from Europe was significantly delayed or cancelled in recent years and you never pursued a claim, it is worth checking. Lennuabi can run a fast eligibility check on past disruptions and take care of everything from there – no paperwork on your end.

Getting Your Claim Moving: What to Do Right Now

Gather what you have Booking confirmation, boarding pass, and any messages from LATAM about the disruption. Screenshots of notifications count. Receipts for meals, hotels, or transport paid out of pocket are also worth keeping.

Note the critical facts: Scheduled versus actual arrival time, any reason given by the airline for the disruption, and what was – or was not – offered to you at the airport.

Submit through Lennuabi Skip the back-and-forth with airline customer service. Lennuabi submits your claim, manages all legal correspondence, and negotiates directly with LATAM – updating you throughout the process and only charging a fee if the claim is won.

Before You Submit: Quick Document Checklist

• Full names of all passengers on the booking
• Booking confirmation or e-ticket reference number
• Boarding passes for the disrupted flight
• Scheduled and actual arrival times
• Any emails, texts, or app alerts from LATAM
• Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses during the disruption

Missing some of these? Start the process anyway. Lennuabi will advise on what else can be sourced and build the strongest possible case with what is available.

The Lennuabi Difference: Why Passengers Choose Us Over Going It Alone

Zero financial risk No win, no fee – always. Nothing is charged unless your claim is successful. No administration costs, no hidden charges.

Non-EU airline expertise Claiming against a South American carrier under European law requires specific knowledge. Lennuabi knows exactly how EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to LATAM and how to enforce it when the airline pushes back.

Past flights handled too Missed claiming at the time? Lennuabi looks back through eligible disruptions and identifies claims that still fall within the applicable time window.

Full end-to-end management From the first document check to the final payment, Lennuabi manages every step – so you can move on while the claim runs in the background.