LATAM Baggage Allowance: Australia to South America Guide
Quick Reference
LATAM Baggage Allowance: Your Key Numbers
Economy carry-on
1 carry-on bag plus 1 personal item on Light fares and above, up to 10 kg in Economy. Max carry-on: 55 x 35 x 25 cm. Max personal item: 45 x 35 x 20 cm.
Checked baggage from Australia
Basic and Light: no free bag. Plus: 1 to 2 bags by route. Top and Premium Business: 2 bags. Standard weight is 23 kg per bag.
Biggest gotcha
LATAM Basic can drop the carry-on entirely on some routes, leaving only the under-seat personal item. Check your fare rules carefully before assuming you have a cabin bag.
Route
Nonstop from Sydney to Santiago, close to daily, plus a smaller weekly service from Melbourne to Santiago. The Sydney-Auckland tag flight was retired in October 2025.
Max single bag
23 kg standard, up to 32 kg on some Premium Business allowances, 45 kg absolute maximum before a bag must travel as cargo instead.
Overweight fee
Bags between 23 kg and 32 kg attract a fee, rising to around USD 120 to USD 240 for bags between 32 kg and 45 kg.
LATAM Airlines baggage allowance from Australia: carry-on is 1 bag up to 10 kg plus 1 personal item on Light fares and above, up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm for the carry-on. Basic and Light fares do not include a free checked bag, while Plus includes 1 or 2 bags depending on the exact route, and Top and Premium Business include 2 bags at up to 23 kg each in Economy or up to 32 kg in Premium Business. LATAM flies nonstop from Sydney to Santiago close to daily, with a smaller weekly service from Melbourne.
LATAM Airlines is the only carrier flying nonstop between Australia and South America, connecting Sydney to Santiago, Chile close to daily and Melbourne to Santiago on a smaller weekly schedule. LATAM reintroduced the nonstop Sydney service in 2024 after previously routing through Auckland, and retired that Auckland tag flight entirely in October 2025 in favour of more direct capacity.
The most important thing to understand about LATAM's baggage allowance is how sharply it varies by fare tier, from a personal-item-only Basic fare up to a generous two-bag Premium Business allowance.
This guide covers LATAM's cabin baggage dimensions and weight limits, checked baggage by fare, the Basic fare carry-on trap, excess and overweight fees, and which suitcase works best for your trip. Figures are drawn from LATAM's published baggage policy and cross-checked against current industry reporting, verified July 2026.
LATAM Cabin Baggage Dimensions and Weight Limits
Every LATAM passenger is allowed one personal item, which must fit under the seat in front of you. The maximum size is 45 x 35 x 20 cm, covering a laptop bag, handbag or small backpack.
Light fares and above also include a full-size carry-on bag up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm including handles and wheels. The weight limit for this carry-on is 10 kg in Economy, rising to 16 kg in Premium Economy and Business.
| Fare or cabin | Carry-on bags | Max carry-on size and weight | Max personal item size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (Promo) | Personal item only on some routes | 55 x 35 x 25 cm, 10 kg where included | 45 x 35 x 20 cm |
| Light and above (Economy) | 1 carry-on bag + 1 personal item | 55 x 35 x 25 cm, up to 10 kg | 45 x 35 x 20 cm |
| Premium Economy / Business | 1 carry-on bag + 1 personal item | 55 x 35 x 25 cm, up to 16 kg | 45 x 35 x 20 cm |
The carry-on weight limit is one of the few places LATAM differs meaningfully from other carriers in this comparison, since most airlines from Australia do not enforce a cabin bag weight cap at all.
Source: latamairlines.com baggage policy pages, cross-checked against current airline industry reporting - verified July 2026
LATAM Checked Baggage Allowance by Fare (Australia Routes)
The table below shows LATAM's typical checked baggage allowance on the Sydney and Melbourne to Santiago routes, by fare and cabin. LATAM's allowance changes by route as well as fare, so always confirm the exact figure shown at checkout.
| Cabin | Fare | Free checked bags | Max weight per bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Basic | 0 bags, fee applies | 23 kg (if purchased) |
| Economy | Light | 0 bags, fee applies | 23 kg (if purchased) |
| Economy | Plus | 1 to 2 bags, varies by route | 23 kg each |
| Economy | Top | 2 bags | 23 kg each |
| Premium Business | Standard | 1 bag | 23 kg |
| Premium Business | Full | 2 bags | Up to 32 kg each on some routes |
Every checked bag, regardless of fare, must stay within 158 cm total linear dimensions (length plus width plus height). LATAM Pass elite members can often add one extra free checked bag when flying LATAM-operated flights.
Source: latamairlines.com baggage policy pages, cross-checked against current airline industry reporting - verified July 2026
The Basic Fare Trap
LATAM's Basic fare, sometimes shown as Promo, is the cheapest option and never includes a free checked bag. On some short-haul routes it strips the carry-on too, leaving only the under-seat personal item, though long-haul international routes like Sydney to Santiago more commonly retain a carry-on on Light fares and above.
Because the exact inclusions shift by route, the safest approach on any LATAM booking is to check the fare rules shown at the time of booking rather than assuming Basic works the same way everywhere in LATAM's network.
!
Read the fare rules before you fly LATAM's inclusions vary by route more than most other airlines in this comparison. The same fare name can mean a different baggage allowance on Sydney-Santiago versus a domestic South American route, so treat the fare rules screen at booking as the authoritative source, not general guidance like this.
LATAM Excess and Overweight Baggage Fees
LATAM prices extra baggage dynamically, so buying online more than 48 hours before departure is typically far cheaper than paying at check-in. Fees are charged in US dollars on routes to and from the Americas and converted to Australian dollars at your card provider's exchange rate.
| Bag condition | Weight or size | Approximate fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard checked bag | Up to 23 kg, up to 158 cm combined | Included on Plus fare and above |
| Overweight, tier one | 23 kg to 32 kg | Fee applies, varies by route |
| Overweight, tier two | 32 kg to 45 kg | Around USD 120 to USD 240 |
| Maximum weight | Above 45 kg | Not accepted, must travel as cargo |
| Oversize | 158 cm to 300 cm combined | Around USD 80 to USD 150 |
Extra bags bought more than 48 hours before departure can be significantly cheaper than the same bag purchased at the airport. Spare or loose lithium batteries, including power banks and e-cigarettes, are never allowed in checked baggage and must travel in the cabin.
Source: latamairlines.com baggage policy pages, cross-checked against current airline industry reporting - verified July 2026
What Your Allowance Actually Gets You
LATAM packing weight reference - Australia routes
Subtract your suitcase weight from your allowance first. A 67 cm checked case typically weighs 3.0 to 3.5 kg, a 76 cm checked case 3.8 to 4.8 kg.
| Fare or allowance | Usable weight after a 76 cm case (4 kg) | Usable weight after a 67 cm case (3.2 kg) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic / Light (paid bag, 23 kg) | 19 kg, workable for shorter trips | 19.8 kg | Manageable |
| Plus / Top (2 x 23 kg) | 38 kg across 2 bags, comfortable for longer trips | 39.6 kg | Generous |
| Premium Business Full (2 x 32 kg) | 56 kg across 2 bags, more than enough for any length of trip | 57.6 kg | Very generous |
Common item weights: T-shirt 200 g, jeans 700 g, dress 400 g, sneakers 750 g, dress shoes 1.0 kg, laptop 1.5 to 2.0 kg, toiletry bag (full) 1.0 to 1.5 kg, winter jacket 1.2 kg, hairdryer 600 g, travel adaptor 150 g.
LATAM's Routes from Australia
| Australian city | South American gateway | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Santiago, Chile | Close to daily, nonstop |
| Melbourne | Santiago, Chile | Several times weekly, nonstop |
LATAM previously operated a tag flight continuing from Sydney through Auckland to Santiago. That Auckland sector was retired in October 2025 in favour of the nonstop capacity above, so older guides describing a stopover in New Zealand are now out of date.
Source: LATAM Airlines route announcements and current schedule reporting - verified July 2026
Which Suitcase for Your LATAM Trip?
🌍
Plus or Top fare - most trips
23 kg per bag. A lightweight 67 cm case (3.2 kg) leaves 19.8 kg to pack, workable for up to 10 days with careful packing.
Checked: 1 to 2 bags, 23 kg each
Shop Medium Lightweight
🧳
Basic or Light - carry-on focused
No free checked bag on these fares, and the carry-on is capped at 10 kg, lighter than most airlines in this comparison. A genuinely lightweight cabin bag matters more here than elsewhere.
Carry-on: 55 x 35 x 25 cm, 10 kg
Shop Lightweight Carry-On
✈️
Premium Business Full - 2 bags
Up to 32 kg per bag on some routes. Split your allowance across a large case and a medium case rather than one bag close to the ceiling.
Checked: 2 bags, up to 32 kg each
Shop Large + Medium Set
How LATAM Compares on the Australia to Americas Route
LATAM's typical Plus fare allowance (23 kg per bag) compared with other carriers flying between Australia and the Americas:
LATAM Airlines (Plus fare)
23 kg
1 to 2 bags depending on route. Basic and Light: 0 free bags. Carry-on capped at 10 kg in Economy.
American Airlines
32 kg
Main Cabin and Basic Economy both included, 32 kg on Australia routes specifically.
Air Canada
23 kg
Economy Standard and above. Economy Basic: fee applies for the first bag.
United Airlines
23 kg
Standard Economy. Basic Economy: fee applies for the first bag.
Reflects standard published Economy fares as of July 2026. Always verify on LATAM's own website before booking, since allowances on this airline vary by route more than most others.
Common LATAM Baggage Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming Basic includes a carry-on bag. On some LATAM routes, Basic only includes the under-seat personal item, not a full-size cabin bag.
- Not checking your specific route's fare rules. LATAM's inclusions vary by route more than most carriers in this comparison, so the same fare name can mean different things on different Australia-South America itineraries.
- Packing to the general 23 kg limit without checking your carry-on weight too. LATAM enforces a 10 kg carry-on weight limit in Economy, stricter than most airlines from Australia which only check dimensions, not weight.
- Paying for extra baggage at the airport. LATAM's extra bag pricing is dynamic and rewards early purchase, so a bag bought more than 48 hours ahead can be substantially cheaper than the same bag bought at check-in.
- Assuming the Auckland stopover still applies. LATAM retired its Sydney-Auckland-Santiago tag flight in October 2025, so current bookings from Sydney fly nonstop to Santiago.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LATAM Basic fare include a free checked bag from Australia?
No. LATAM's Basic fare never includes a free checked bag, and on some routes does not include a full-size carry-on either, only the under-seat personal item. Checked bags must be purchased separately on this fare.
How many kg can I check on LATAM to Santiago?
LATAM's standard checked bag allowance on the Australia to Santiago route is 23 kg per piece in Economy. Premium Business can include up to 32 kg per bag on some long-haul routes.
What size carry-on bag can I bring on LATAM from Australia?
Your carry-on can measure up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm and weigh up to 10 kg in Economy, or 16 kg in Premium Economy and Business. Your personal item can measure up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm and must fit under the seat in front of you.
Does LATAM fly direct from Australia to South America?
Yes. LATAM operates nonstop flights from Sydney to Santiago, Chile close to daily, alongside a smaller number of weekly nonstop flights from Melbourne to Santiago.
Which LATAM fare includes a free checked bag from Australia?
LATAM's Plus fare typically includes one or two checked bags depending on the exact route, while Top and Premium Business fares include two checked bags. Basic and Light fares do not include a free checked bag.
What happens if my checked bag is over 23 kg on LATAM?
Bags between 23 kg and 32 kg incur an overweight fee, and bags between 32 kg and 45 kg incur a higher fee, often in the range of USD 120 to USD 240. Bags over 45 kg are not accepted as checked baggage and must be sent as cargo.
Other Airline Guides from Tosca
See all airlines flying between Australia and the Americas in the Tosca Americas Baggage Comparison Hub.