LATAM Airlines Check-in Guide: Online, App, Deadlines & Boarding Passes

LATAM Airlines opens check-in 48 hours before scheduled flight departure. For many direct domestic bookings purchased through LATAM channels, check-in operates automatically, issuing your digital boarding pass directly to your account. However, on international itineraries, bookings made through third parties or online travel agencies, and flights requiring physical document checks, you must initiate check-in manually starting at the 48-hour mark. Manual online check-in generally remains open until 2 hours before departure, after which passengers must complete the process at airport check-in counters or self-service kiosks.

LATAM Check-in at a Glance

How to Check In Online: Step-by-Step

Checking in online allows you to avoid standard desk queues and head straight to security if you travel with cabin baggage only.

1. Access the Check-in Portal: Visit latamairlines.com and select Check-in or My Trips, or open the LATAM Airlines mobile app.
2. Retrieve Your Reservation: Enter your 6-character booking reference (PNR code) and the passenger's last name. If you have an active LATAM Pass account, logging in brings up your itinerary automatically.
3. Verify Passenger Information: Confirm traveler details. For international flights, enter passport numbers, expiration dates, nationality, and destination address if required by local border authorities.
4. Select or Review Seats: Review your allocated seat. Depending on your fare category, seat selection may be complimentary or available for purchase. If you do not wish to purchase an upgraded seat, accept the complimentary assigned seat.
5. Add Baggage or Ancillaries: Pre-purchase checked baggage or special equipment if needed, as fees are lower online than at the departure gate.
6. Generate Your Boarding Pass: Confirm the health and safety declarations to finalize check-in. Download your mobile boarding pass, save it to Apple Wallet/Google Wallet, or send it via email or WhatsApp.

LATAM Automatic Check-in: How It Works

LATAM offers an automatic check-in system designed to streamline domestic travel. Understanding when it applies avoids confusion:

• When it activates: Check-in activates 48 hours prior to departure. If your itinerary qualifies and all passenger data is present, LATAM completes the check-in automatically and delivers the boarding pass into the LATAM App or the My Trips section.
• Eligible trips: Automatic check-in is standard for point-to-point domestic flights within Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador when purchased directly via LATAM channels.

When you must complete it manually:

• International journeys: Border regulations require passport numbers, expiration dates, and visa confirmations, requiring passengers to enter details manually 48 hours out.
• Third-party agency bookings: Tickets issued by travel agencies or aggregators often lack complete passport or contact information. You must log in at the 48-hour window to submit missing details.
• Missing passenger data: If date of birth, emergency contact, or identity numbers are absent, automatic processing halts until you submit the info.
• Document verification holds: If your destination country requires an in-person physical document or visa validation (such as travel to the United States or Europe), online check-in will confirm your data but instruct you to collect a physical boarding pass at the airport counter.
• Partner-operated segments: Flights operated by codeshare or joint venture partners (e.g., Delta Air Lines) are governed by the partner's operating systems.

LATAM Check-in Timing and Deadlines

[!IMPORTANT] Check-in deadlines and airport desk closures vary by country, operating hub, and route. Always check the specific closing deadline shown on your booking summary.

• Online Check-in Window: Opens 48 hours before scheduled departure and closes 2 hours before takeoff.
• Airport Desks & Self-Service Kiosks: Desks typically open 2 to 3 hours before domestic departures and 3 to 4 hours before international departures.

Check-in & Bag-Drop Deadlines:

• Domestic flights: Counters generally close 40 to 60 minutes before departure depending on the airport.
• International flights: Counters generally close 60 to 75 minutes before departure (Caracas/CCS counters close strictly 2 hours prior per local aviation authority regulations).
• Boarding Gate Arrival: Gates usually close 20 to 25 minutes prior to departure. Boarding groups and final boarding times are displayed on your boarding pass.

Domestic vs. International LATAM Check-in

LATAM Mobile App Check-in

The official LATAM Airlines App provides real-time notifications and dynamic trip updates.

• Trip Access: View upcoming flights automatically by signing in with your LATAM Pass credentials, or add an itinerary using your reservation code and last name.
• Self-Service Processing: Complete check-in between 48 and 2 hours before flight time, enter international traveler documentation, and update frequent flyer numbers.
• Dynamic Boarding Passes: The app displays an interactive boarding pass that updates boarding times, terminal changes, and gate numbers live.
• Offline Functionality: Once retrieved, your boarding pass remains accessible inside the app without an active mobile data connection, or it can be saved directly to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

Accessing and Using Your Boarding Pass

After completing check-in, LATAM issues a boarding pass containing an encrypted QR code and your assigned boarding group:

• Digital Formats: View your dynamic boarding pass inside the LATAM App, download a printable PDF copy via latamairlines.com, or request a link via email/WhatsApp.
• Airport Security Acceptance: Most major international and South American airports scan digital boarding passes directly from smartphones. Ensure your screen brightness is set to high at security and gate scanners.
• Airport Desk Printing: If your smartphone battery dies, if the digital barcode fails to load, or if your destination requires a physical verification stamp, LATAM self-service kiosks and airport check-in desks print paper passes without an added fee.

Dropping Checked Baggage After Online Check-in

Checking in online confirms your seat, but it does not bypass baggage handling deadlines:

• Check Baggage Allowances: Review your fare rules beforehand. You can review LATAM Airlines baggage allowance rules and purchase additional luggage allowances on the LATAM website or app before arriving at the airport to save on gate baggage surcharges.
• Self-Service Tagging: At primary hubs (such as Santiago - SCL, São Paulo - GRU, or Lima - LIM), look for LATAM self-service kiosks. Scan your digital boarding pass to print your luggage tags, attach them to your bags, and take them to the automated bag-drop belt.
• Dedicated Drop Counters: If automated bag drops are unavailable, proceed to the dedicated Baggage Drop / Entrega de Equipaje counters.
• Time Management: Check-in and bag-drop counters close strictly on schedule. Always drop checked luggage before the counter cut-off time (40–60 minutes for domestic; 60–75 minutes for international).

Airport Check-in and Self-Service Kiosks

If you do not check in online, airport check-in remains accessible for all passengers:

• Self-Service Kiosks: Located near LATAM departures at major airports. Enter your booking code or scan your passport to choose your seat, print luggage tags, and retrieve your boarding pass.
• Assisted Service Desks: Head to the airport desks if you are traveling with unaccompanied minors, pets in cabin or hold, oversized musical or sports baggage, or require special wheelchair assistance.
• No Extra Fee: Unlike ultra-low-cost carriers, LATAM does not charge an administrative penalty for printing a boarding pass or checking in at an airport counter.

Troubleshooting: What to Do If Online Check-in Fails

If the LATAM check-in system displays an error message or fails to generate a boarding pass, common reasons include:

Codeshare Flights and Partner Airlines

Your check-in channel is determined by the operating carrier of your first flight segment:

• Delta Air Lines: For itineraries combining LATAM and Delta Air Lines, check-in opens 24 hours before departure for Delta-operated legs. Check-in can often be initiated via LATAM or Delta digital channels when booked as a codeshare.
• Other Interline Partners (e.g., British Airways, Qatar Airways, Iberia): If your first flight departs on a partner aircraft, you must check in directly on that partner airline’s website or airport desk using their specific operating PNR.
• Multiple Airline Segments: When your itinerary involves an international connection between LATAM and a partner airline on a single ticket, your bags will generally be checked through to your final destination, but boarding passes for onward legs may need re-verification at your transfer hub.

When to Arrive at the Airport

Recommended arrival buffers vary depending on the departure airport, local security processing, and immigration lines:

• Domestic Flights (General): Arrive 2 hours before departure.
• Domestic Flights at Major Hubs: Arrive 2.5 to 3 hours before departure at congested facilities (including São Paulo-Guarulhos [GRU], Rio de Janeiro [GIG], Brasília [BSB], and Bogotá [BOG]).
• International Flights (General): Arrive 3 hours before scheduled departure.
• International Flights with Extended Screenings: Arrive 3.5 to 4 hours before departure for flights departing from Santiago (SCL), Lima (LIM - Jorge Chávez), Bogotá (BOG), and Caracas (CCS), or peak holiday periods with heightened border control delays.

Required Travel Documentation

Before arriving at the check-in counter or gate, ensure you have:

• Domestic Itineraries: An unexpired official government photo ID, national identity card (DNI, RG, Cédula), or valid passport.
• International Itineraries: A valid passport with sufficient remaining validity (typically 3 to 6 months beyond intended stay).
• Visas and Entry Authorizations: Required electronic visas or travel authorities (such as ESTA for the US, eTA for Canada, or ETA for the UK) matching the exact passport details submitted during check-in.
• Minors Traveling Internationally: Special certified parental permission forms or judicial authorizations where mandated by national child-protection laws (particularly strict in Brazil, Chile, and Peru).

Seat Selection During Check-in

During check-in, LATAM displays your seat assignment:

• If your fare includes advance seat selection, you can review or adjust your seat from available standard spaces at no extra charge.
• If your ticket tier (such as Basic or Light) does not include seat selection, LATAM automatically assigns a seat free of charge at check-in.
• Upgrading to LATAM+ seats (featuring extra legroom and priority boarding) remains available for purchase during the check-in window, subject to cabin availability.

To review seat maps, pitch details, and pricing guidelines before your check-in opens, see our dedicated guide to LATAM Airlines Seat Selection.

Official External Resources

• LATAM Airlines Automatic Check-in Portal: Official overview of automatic check-in eligibility and features.
• LATAM Help Center – Airport Arrival & Trip Instructions: Real-time airport arrival recommendations and desk cutoffs.
• LATAM Checked Baggage Guidelines: Comprehensive dimensions, baggage drop rules, and weight allowances.