Why people leave LATAM
- Baggage fees on the basic fare. The lowest fare class strips checked luggage to drive the headline price down, and adding a 23kg bag at checkout often closes most of the gap with the next class up.
- Schedule changes on regional routes. LATAM consolidates aircraft across Brazil and the Pacific, and smaller-city departures occasionally get bumped 30 minutes to two hours with limited rebooking notice.
- Promo windows that don’t include all cities. LATAM Pass deals exclude origin and destination pairs that look obvious, and the fine print on a promotion sometimes lists exceptions only after you tap through.
- Customer service hold times. Refund and disruption support runs through queue-based chat and phone lines that backlog during high season and disruption events.
- LATAM Pass earnings on basic fares. The lowest fare classes earn a fraction of the miles a flexible fare does, and that compounds for frequent flyers.
If those frictions push you to compare, here are 7 LATAM alternatives worth installing.
Which app should you choose?
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GOL if you fly mostly inside Brazil and want Smiles miles. The direct domestic competitor.
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Azul if you fly to smaller Brazilian cities or want TudoAzul rewards. Largest domestic network by destinations.
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Avianca if you travel through Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, or El Salvador. Strong Spanish-speaking LatAm coverage.
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Copa Airlines if you connect through Panama. ConnectMiles loyalty and broad LatAm-to-US coverage.
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American Airlines if you fly LatAm to the US frequently. Oneworld alliance and AAdvantage status.
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Skyscanner if you want metasearch across every carrier on the route. Confirms LATAM is actually cheapest.
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Decolar if you bundle flight, hotel, and packages on Brazilian credit cards. Parcelamento and LatAm packages.
Stay on LATAM if you fly within Brazil and across LatAm regularly, value the LATAM Pass status, and use lounges through the Oneworld network on long-haul trips. The network breadth and alliance perks are the reasons to keep it.
Comparison table
| App | Best for | Brazil domestic | LatAm regional | International | Loyalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOL | Brazilian domestic | Yes | Some | Some | Smiles |
| Azul | Smaller Brazilian cities | Yes | Some | Some | TudoAzul |
| Avianca | Spanish-speaking LatAm | Limited | Yes | Yes | LifeMiles |
| Copa Airlines | Panama hub connections | Limited | Yes | Yes | ConnectMiles |
| American Airlines | LatAm to US | Limited | Some | Yes | AAdvantage |
| Skyscanner | Metasearch all carriers | Yes | Yes | Yes | None |
| Decolar | Flight + hotel bundles | Yes | Yes | Yes | Decolar |
1. GOL — direct Brazilian domestic competitor with Smiles miles
GOL is the closest like-for-like alternative for domestic Brazilian flights. The route map covers the same major Brazilian cities LATAM serves, the Smiles program earns redeemable miles across partners, and the basic fare structure mirrors LATAM’s. The app handles check-in, seat selection, and digital boarding pass like LATAM does.
LATAM vs GOL on São Paulo to Brasília on a Tuesday afternoon, the two airlines often clear within tens of reais of each other. The decision usually comes down to schedule fit and which loyalty program you already have status in.
Advantages:
- Strong Brazilian domestic network
- Smiles miles redeemable across partners
- Comparable fare structure to LATAM
- 100kg checked baggage handling on heavy items
Disadvantages:
- International network thinner than LATAM
- Basic fare strips checked bags like LATAM
- Schedule changes on regional routes
Pricing: Free.
2. Azul — largest Brazilian network by destination count
Azul serves more Brazilian cities than any other carrier, especially smaller airports that LATAM and GOL don’t fly to directly. The TudoAzul program is the loyalty layer, and Azul’s hub-and-spoke routing through Viracopos and Confins makes connections through secondary cities practical.
LATAM vs Azul on a major capital pair, LATAM usually wins on schedule choice. On a route into a smaller Northeast or Amazonia city, Azul often has the only direct flight.
Advantages:
- Largest Brazilian network by destination
- Direct flights to smaller cities
- TudoAzul loyalty across partners
- Strong cabin product on long-haul
Disadvantages:
- Hub routing adds time on capital pairs
- International network smaller than LATAM
- Basic fare baggage limits similar to LATAM
Pricing: Free.
3. Avianca — Spanish-speaking LatAm coverage
Avianca is the alternative for any LatAm route that runs through Bogotá, Lima, Quito, or San Salvador. The carrier has rebuilt its network after restructuring and the LifeMiles program continues to be one of the more flexible mileage currencies in the region for redemptions across Star Alliance partners.
LATAM vs Avianca on a Brazil to Colombia route, the two often run direct competitive fares. Avianca pulls ahead on intra-Andean routes and connections to Central America.
Advantages:
- Strong intra-Andean and Central American routes
- LifeMiles flexible redemption
- Star Alliance partner network
- Spanish-speaking customer service
Disadvantages:
- Brazilian network limited compared to LATAM
- Post-restructuring schedule adjustments
- Baggage fees on basic fare similar to LATAM
Pricing: Free.
4. Copa Airlines — Panama hub for the Americas
Copa Airlines connects more than 80 destinations across the Americas through Panama’s Tocumen airport. For LatAm-to-LatAm or LatAm-to-US flights, Copa frequently runs the more efficient connection. ConnectMiles loyalty earns redeemable miles with Star Alliance partners.
LATAM vs Copa on a Buenos Aires to Mexico City or Lima to Miami route, Copa’s Panama hub often beats LATAM on price and connection time. Direct intra-Brazil isn’t a contest, LATAM wins.
Advantages:
- Efficient Panama hub for the Americas
- Star Alliance benefits
- ConnectMiles redemption flexibility
- Strong on-time performance
Disadvantages:
- No intra-Brazil direct flights
- Limited app features outside reservation handling
- Hub routing adds travel time on some pairs
Pricing: Free.
5. American Airlines — LatAm to US frequent flyer
American Airlines is the alternative for Brazilian and LatAm travellers who fly to the US frequently. Direct flights from São Paulo, Rio, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, and Lima to Miami, Dallas, and New York are the strength, and AAdvantage status carries Oneworld benefits that overlap with LATAM Pass.
LATAM vs American on a São Paulo to Miami route, the two often share metal through the joint business agreement. AAdvantage versus LATAM Pass comes down to which side of the partnership your status earns faster.
Advantages:
- Strong LatAm to US route network
- AAdvantage status across Oneworld
- Joint business agreement with LATAM
- Daily flights from major LatAm cities
Disadvantages:
- No intra-Brazil flights
- Basic fare baggage limits
- US-side weather disruptions affect schedule
Pricing: Free.
6. Skyscanner — metasearch across every carrier
Skyscanner is the cross-check tool. Search a route and the app shows LATAM, GOL, Azul, Avianca, Copa, American, plus low-cost carriers, on the same screen. The Everywhere mode surfaces cheap destinations from your origin on flexible dates, useful for planning a holiday without a fixed destination.
LATAM vs Skyscanner is the wrong framing. Run Skyscanner first to confirm LATAM is actually cheapest on the date you want.
Advantages:
- Compares every carrier on the route
- Everywhere mode for flexible destinations
- Price alerts on saved routes
- No add-on push
Disadvantages:
- Redirects to OTA or airline at checkout
- No native loyalty
- Hotel side lighter than dedicated booking apps
Pricing: Free.
7. Decolar — flight + hotel bundles with parcelamento
Decolar is the alternative when the trip is more than just a flight. Bundling LATAM, GOL, or Azul flights with a hotel and optional car on Brazilian credit cards opens up parcelamento options that the airline apps don’t offer. Decolar’s points program builds on packages too.
LATAM vs Decolar on a flight only, LATAM’s direct app usually wins on fare class flexibility and LATAM Pass earnings. On a multi-day trip with hotel and parcelamento, Decolar’s package math often beats two separate bookings.
Advantages:
- Flight + hotel + car packages
- Brazilian credit card parcelamento
- LatAm-wide inventory
- Promotional windows
Disadvantages:
- Add-ons pre-selected at checkout
- Customer service queues
- LATAM Pass earns less on third-party bookings
Pricing: Free.
How to choose
Pick GOL for everyday Brazilian domestic flights, especially if you already earn Smiles miles or have status.
Pick Azul for any route into a smaller Brazilian city where LATAM and GOL don’t fly direct.
Pick Avianca for routes through Bogotá, Lima, Quito, or San Salvador. Star Alliance status is the long-term lock-in.
Pick Copa Airlines for cross-Americas trips that route through Panama. Often the most efficient connection.
Pick American Airlines if you fly LatAm to the US three or more times a year. AAdvantage status compounds.
Pick Skyscanner as the second-screen metasearch tool on any flight booking. Confirms LATAM is actually cheapest.
Pick Decolar when the trip is a package and parcelamento on Brazilian cards matters.
Stay on LATAM if you fly across LatAm regularly, value LATAM Pass status, and use Oneworld lounges. The network and alliance perks are the reasons to keep it.
FAQ
Is GOL cheaper than LATAM? On most domestic Brazilian routes, the two clear within tens of reais of each other. Promo windows differ by airline, so check both. LATAM Pass versus Smiles often decides the booking for status-holders.
What is the cheapest LATAM alternative? For domestic Brazilian flights, GOL or Azul usually match LATAM’s price. For international, Skyscanner is the metasearch that confirms which carrier is actually cheapest on the dates.
Can I transfer LATAM Pass miles to another airline? No. LATAM Pass is the airline’s own program. Status partners include Oneworld members like American and British Airways, so flying those earns LATAM Pass miles if you provide your number at booking.
Which LATAM alternative has the best loyalty program? For Brazil, Smiles (GOL) and TudoAzul (Azul) are direct equivalents. For LatAm-to-US, AAdvantage. For Star Alliance, LifeMiles (Avianca) or ConnectMiles (Copa).
Does Azul fly internationally? Yes, Azul operates international routes from Brazil to the US, Europe, and other South American countries, with partner agreements extending the network further. Coverage is narrower than LATAM but growing.
