LATAM Credit Cards
$75, waived first year
20,000 points
On first purchase
($240 net value)
Signup Bonus Chart2x LATAM Purchases
1x Everything Else
3% Foreign Transaction Fee
If you fly LATAM every year, this card will easily pay for itself. Each year you have the card, you'll get a coupon good for a 20% discount on a ticket purchase, three upgrade coupons, and other valuable benefits. But if you don't fly LATAM, the card isn't very interesting.
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LATAM Credit Card Options
There are two LATAM credit cards, plus a "secured" card for people with poor credit ratings.
- Signature. If you are interested in getting a LATAM credit card, you are almost certainly better off with the signature version. It has a better signup bonus. And for an extra $30, it comes with a much better ongoing benefits. $75 annual fee, waived first year. LATAM Webpage. Signup Bonus Chart.
- Non-signature. The non-signature version has a $45 annual fee (waived first year), but has a lower signup bonus, doesn't come with the valuable upgrade certificates or mileage earning bonus, provides a once-per-year 10% flight discount (rather than 20%), and provides 2,000 fewer miles on renewal. LATAM Webpage.
Introduction to LATAM Points
- You can use your LATAM points on American Airlines, any other Oneworld airline, and any of LATAM's other airline partners. Some other notable partners include Cathay Pacific, British Airways, and Japanese Airlines.
- LATAM uses a distance-based award chart, which often requires fewer points than other airlines. Rather than calculating the number of points you need based on the "zone" you are flying to, LATAM charges based on the actual number you fly. As a result, using LATAM points for award tickets is often cheaper than other frequent flyer programs. This is especially true for shorter flights that cross regional boundaries. Fly Short Distances Using Fewer Miles by Taking Advantage of Distance-Based Frequent Flyer Programs.
- You can combine your LATAM and Marriott points, to book awards. LATAM is not a member of the other transferable reward programs.
Collecting the Signup Bonus
This card is primarily interesting for its LATAM airline benefits, not for its signup bonus. The typical signup bonus is 20,000 miles.
That's not terrible, but it can be hard to get approved for U.S. Bank credit cards, and there are better signup offers available. However, if you decide to get this card for its valuable LATAM airlines benefits, the signup bonus provides a nice side benefit.
Notable Benefits
- Annual 20% discount coupon. Once per year, you can get a 20% discount on a ticket purchase (capped at $1,000).
- Three upgrade coupons per year. Each is good for a one-way flight.
- 25% bonus on miles earned from flights. If you have the credit card and you choose to earn miles with LATAM, you'll receive 25% extra miles.
- 4,000 annual bonus miles.
- Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection. As with all Visa Signature cards, you'll get access to Visa's luxury hotel program. Whenever you book one of the 900+ participating hotels, you'll receive a set of valuable benefits, including free breakfast, late check-out, and a $25 food and beverage credit. The Visa program has slightly weaker benefits than the other luxury hotel programs, but includes a larger number of more affordable hotel options and a best price guarantee. Take Advantage of Luxury Hotel Programs for Valuable Extra Perks.
- Access to Visa Signature Offers. Your card entitles you to a set of special offers available from Visa.
The non-signature version doesn't receive the upgrade coupons or the mileage earning bonus, gives 2,000 miles on renewal (instead of 4,000), and provides a 10% discount coupon (instead of 20%).
Bonus Categories
- You are better off making your LATAM purchases with a card that earns a higher reward rate for airfare spending. 2x LATAM miles is okay but not as good as what you'd earn from one of the better cards.Best Credit Cards for Travel Spending.
- You don't want to use these cards for your everyday spending. You'll earn higher rewards from a good general-purpose reward card. Get a Great General Purpose Reward Card and Use It for All of Your Spending.
Getting Rid of the Card
- You can cancel without worrying about losing your LATAM miles. Once you earn them, they are treated like any other miles in your LATAM account.
- You can wait to cancel or downgrade the card until after the annual fee shows up on your statement. As long as you cancel within 30 days of being charged the annual fee, U.S. Bank will refund it. After 30 days, we think you'll still be able to get a prorated refund if you convert to the lower-priced card.
- You might be able to receive a retention offer to keep your card. It could be enough to make it worthwhile to keep the card.