Qantas provides blankets and pillows in economy.
The 166 economy seats, with 32 inches (81cm) pitch, 17 inches (43.6cm) width and 6 inches (15cm) of recline, are arranged 3-3-3. I’m in the cabin’s five-row forward section, which feels cosier than the vast rear section. With blanket and pillow provided, I duly catch some sleep in the comfortable seat.
Entertainment + tech
There’s a wide selection of entertainment options available on the seatback screens.
Entertainment options run deep, with categories including Marvel icons, Spielberg, HBO and Paramount+. I find myself engrossed by The Baby Daddy documentary and uplifted by Dublin-set movie, Flora and Son. A small tray below the TV screen holds a personal electronic device and, once flipped, reveals a USB charger. Between seats is an international AC outlet.
Service
Upon boarding, we’re greeted with a broad “G’day!” Hola, Spirit of Australia. One attendant, we’re told, is fluent in Spanish. Service is pleasant throughout the flight, during which many passengers stubbornly stay awake as we’ve departed Chile at lunchtime.
Food
Both lunch (braised beef with rice pilaf) and dinner (parmesan-crumbed chicken with quinoa) are lip-smackingly delicious. I pair the latter with an Aussie chardonnay that boasts it’s “sunlight in a glass”. There’s a stream of snacks but I’ve BYOed alfajores (biscuits sandwiched with dulce de leche) smuggled from the breakfast buffet at Hilton Buenos Aires, where I started my day.
Carbon emissions
641.5kg for flying economy-class. Qantas has committed to a 25 per cent reduction in net emissions from 2019 levels by 2030. Passengers can offset their flights during booking.
One more thing
I was unable to preselect my seat, with LATAM’s app insisting I contact Qantas and Qantas unable to recognise LATAM’s booking reference. I call the travel agent who booked my flights. He selects my window seat, saying it’s a common problem for mix-and-match passengers like me.
The price
From about $2300 return, Sydney to Santiago economy class.*
The verdict
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Flying economy on this long trans-Pacific flight feels surprisingly luxe thanks to the modern seat, bountiful entertainment and tasty meals; the only bumps come from Qantas-LATAM’s deep-reaching incompatibilities.
Our rating out of five
★★★★