Modifications to the ticket are understood as any of the following changes made to a ticket:
Depending on their origin, ticket modifications are divided according to the following:
Type of Change |
Origin |
Voluntary |
Requested by passengers (specified in this Chapter) |
Involuntary |
Originated by situations beyond the passenger's control. See Passenger Protection chapter |
Before processing voluntary changes on LATAM tickets, consider:
- For historical reissues, the Tour Code must be transferred to the new ticket, respecting the conditions initially negotiated.This does not apply to negotiated fares by the “Núcleo de Negócios Brasil” (tour code "NUCLEO"), due to this Tour code does not allow to maintain the same conditions when the ticket is reissued.
- Exchange reissues are considered a new business and any condition associated to this new issue implies the generation of a new Tour Code.
- When there are no special conditions on the new issue it will not be necessary to enter a Tour Code.
Considerations for voluntary changes made directly through LATAM
If the passenger contacts LATAM directly or enters the sites of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru of latam.com, can make the change provided that all requirements are met.
In all cases, the tickets are reissued; therefore, the Issuing Agency loses control and for future requirements the passenger must be addressed to LATAM. This is advised to the passenger before making the change and the intervened reservations have the following message: SSR OTHS PSGR ACCEPTS TKT UNDER LATAM CTRL.
The type of reissue depends on whether the change occurs before starting the journey or at any point of the itinerary:
Type of reissue |
Did the pax start the trip? |
Validity of the reissued ticket* |
Travel Agent action |
EXCHANGE |
WITHOUT initiated trip and changes affect the first coupon. |
12 months from the new date the journey begins** |
The entire itinerary must be re-quoted at the available fare on the day of reissuance. The original ticket is submitted as part of payment for the new ticket (total for total). The penalty to be collected corresponds to the highest of the full ticket. |
HISTORIC |
WITHOUT initiated trip when the change DOES NOT affect the first coupon. |
The entire itinerary must be re-quoted with the date of the original ticket`s issuance*. The penalty to be collected corresponds to the highest of the components that are being modified. |
|
Any ticket WITH initiated trip. |
According to the maximum stay allowed by the fare** |
Any ticket that does not comply with these deadlines is considered expired, meaning they will not be accepted for changes or refunds.
*The following is considered original issuance:
a) For the first reissuance: date of purchase for the original ticket.
b) From the second reissuance onward: the date on the last ticket where the first coupon has been affected, otherwise, date of purchase of the original ticket.
(**) Ticket validity due to COVID exceptions: tickets affected with original trip start between March 01, 2020 and June 29, 2021, the change can be made until June 30, 2022 depending on the availability of the system (In all markets and routes). Tickets with non-affected flights with original trip start between March 01, 2020 and August 31, 2021, the change can be made until June 30, 2022 depending on the availability of the system (in all markets and international routes only).
Exchange Reissue Considerations
Historical Reissue Considerations
(*) Re-quoting the segments flown on the date of original issue, maintaining the same class or higher.
Considerations on modifications of REF / NONREF components:
Change to Fare Component |
Fare Price of the Resulting Ticket |
REF |
If the change only involves the REF component, the fare price of the resulting ticket may be lower, equal or higher than the original ticket. |
NON REF |
When modifying a NON REF component in a ticket, the fare price of the resulting ticket should be equal to or higher than the original price. |
Process:
Penalties for changes to all LATAM domestic and international fares are published using a fixed amount and a percentage of the fare. The system therefore selects one of the two criteria to define the amount to be charged.
The system selects the penalty to be charged according to the following:
1. Between the fixed penalty and the fare percentage, the lower will be charged.
2. If more than one fare component is changed and the penalties are different, the higher penalty of the components changed.
Note: This already applies to fares with a point of origin in Brazil, therefore, it is extended to the rest of the markets for tickets issued from May 2, 2022.
The penalty in ticket issues prior to May 2, 2022, the system will apply the highest or most restrictive penalty of the modified components.
Clarification "ANY TIME"
The Travel Agent must pay special attention when the text of the Penalties category has a differentiated fine under "ANY TIME", since it is mandatory to check the wording where it says "NOTE".
In particular, when it appears:
ANY TIME → Applies before the time of flight
ANY TIME- NO SHOW (NOTE) →Apply after the time of flight
Example:
16.PENALTIES
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHARGE USD 300.00 OR 100 PERCENT WHICHEVER IS
LOWER FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
USD 300 or 100% of the fare (whichever is the lower) will be charged for re-issuing voluntarily before the time of the flight
ANY TIME
CHARGE USD 450.00 OR 100 PERCENT WHICHEVER IS LOWER
FOR NO-SHOW.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
REISSUE MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME
OF THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT -OTHERWISE IT WILL BE
CONSIDERED NO-SHOW AND SUCH PENALTY/RESTRICTION
WILL APPLY.
USD 450 or 100% of the fare (whichever is the lower) will be charged for re-issuing voluntarily after the flight time (no show).
Example 2:
NOTE -CHANGES NOT PERMITTED AFTER THE SCHEDULED FLIGHTTIME IN CASE OF SERIES OR GROUPS RESERVATIONS.
WHEN MORE THAN ONE FARE COMPONENT IS CHANGED THEHIGHEST PENALTY/RESTRICTIVE CONDITION OF ANY OFTHE CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS WILL APPLY.
CHANGES TO NON REFUNDABLE FARE COMPONENTS SHOULDBE DONE TO AN EQUAL OR A HIGHER FARE COMPONENT.
When more than one component is changed, the most restrictive condition will apply.
Changes to non-refundable components may only be made to a component of the same or higher fare.
METHOD USED TO COLLECT PENALTIES:
The penalty for changes must be collected within the ticket through the OD code. This applies to all markets that issue on LATAM ticket stock, regardless of the operators involved in the itinerary.
The OD code is parameterized in the automatic reissue tools of certain GDSs, otherwise the agents must reflect the collection of the penalty in the tax breakdown of the ticket. In countries where the penalty is taxable, the amount for that tax must be reflected separately in the respective tax field. Except in Argentina and Paraguay, where VAT is included in the amount collected from this concept.
The only exceptions to charging through the OD code are the United States and Canada that use the CP code to collect the penalty.
Considerations:
Change to a new ticket" is an option that allows a ticket holder to use the ticket to buy a trip for another passenger.
Application:
Considerations about documentation:
The Travel Agent must obtain the relevant authorization from the owner of the ticket (in writing) and be responsible for any complications arising from the change.
In the event that the owner designates a third party to make the change, the latter must present legal documents (example power of attorney) that prove it and are applicable in the country of issue.
The backup documentation must be kept by the Travel Agency as a backup to any LATAM requirements, for the time determined according to the legislation in force in each country.
The ancillaries will allow changes (without penalty) only if the ticket fare allows changes.
Relationship between elements:
Any change in the itinerary breaks the synchronization between the ticket and the EMD-A.
It will be necessary to re-establish the synchronization through the re-association of the EMD-A.
If for some reason, the ticket is reissued and the EMD-A is not re-associated, the passenger will not be able to use the product/service even if the issued EMD-A number appears in the reservation.
Process
The distribution systems are currently not able to perform re-associations or re-issue of EMD-A, therefore, given that the EMD-A is a synchronized specie to the ticket, for cases in which the ancillary allows changes, the Travel Agency must reissue the ticket and contact the support area to process the requests according to the following:
Type of Change |
Travel Agent Action |
Same passenger, service and route, WITHOUT positive or negative fare differences. |
The LATAM Sales Support Executive must be contacted to request the re-association of the EMD-A. |
All other cases: |
The Agency must issue a new EMD-A associated to the new flight and must refund the original EMD-A. If the coupon fare to which it is associated does not allow a refund, it must be authorized with a waiver. EMDs issued from April 15, 2025, will be subject to the commercial conditions of the corresponding flight coupon fare, except where otherwise provided by definition. |
LATAM allows the following Commercial Exceptions:
For confirmed Advancement/Postponement flight within the same calendar day, see chapter Ancillaries.
In cases where Waiver applies, the Travel Agent must:
1. Voluntary change to Superior Cabin
Passengers with commercial tickets in economy cabin that want to request a voluntary change to travel on Premium Economy or Premium Business cabins on one or more flights of the reservation, will be allowed to make this change without penalty charge.
Conditions:
2. Unexpected events:
If a passenger requests a change or refund due to unexpected events that prevent their trip, for example: medical reasons, expired travel documents, death or errors made during the purchase, Travel Agents must contact their LATAM Sales Support Agent to request an evaluation, considering that:
3 Non-consecutive use of coupons:
The non-consecutive use of coupons for voluntary no-show is an exception delivered to passengers who do not show up in any part of their itinerary.
According to legal provisions in Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and by commercial definition in Ecuador, customers with 100% domestic LATAM tickets who decide to cancel their flight can use the rest of their itinerary. It is not necessary to give advance notice, they just need to show up on time for check-in and boarding of the next scheduled flight. The ticket can be issued in any country.
Example 1: Itinerary PUQ-SCL-PUQ
Section PUQ-SCL: No show
Section SCL-PUQ: you must use it on the scheduled date
Example 2: Itinerary LSC - CCP via SCL
Section LSC-SCL-CCP: No show
Section CCP-SCL- LSC: you must use it on the scheduled date.
According to legal provisions in Colombia, Peru, Europe, and Argentina, customers who decide to cancel their international LATAM flight can use the rest of their itinerary. The segments to be removed will be exclusively LATAM. In the case of connecting flights with another airline, the travel agent may remove segments from the other airline according to their internal cancellation policies.
International flights from Colombia:
International flights from Peru:
International flights from Argentina:
Europe:
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE USE NON-CONSECUTIVE USE OF COUPONS:
Refund of the unused coupon:
4. Peru Consumer Code (Applies for domestic route Peru, originating in Peru)
Passengers wishing to avail themselves of the provisions of the Consumer Protection and Defense Code in Peru should take the following into account:
Conditions:
Documentation:
To transfer the ticket, it is essential to have the holder's authorization. If the client agrees, they must send the required documentation along with the Simple Endorsement Request under the Consumer Code. This information must be attached to the case that will be created when sent by email to Global Sales Support.
If the ticket holder is a minor (up to 18 years old), the Simple Endorsement Form for Minors must be used, which must be completed with the minor's details and signed by their guardian or responsible adult.
The signature must be made physically by the passenger. If a virtual version is presented, it must have been previously authenticated by the corresponding authority, such as Indecopi.
Consumer Code Endorsement
Associated Charges:
Endorsement: A reissuance fee of USD 16.00 applies to all brands. No fare difference will be charged as long as there are no changes to the date, flight, class, cabin, or passenger type (ADT, CHD, INF).
Postponement: The charge will be applied according to the current fare regulations and will be subject to the collection of fare differences, as applicable.
5. Tax exemption Verification
Customers who declare to be tax exempted, e.g. diplomats, CO veterans, etc., must be ticketed without the tax code checked, as applicable. This includes ticketed customers who have been charged the tax and therefore need to be re-ticketed.As backup for this exemption, the agent must ask Local Agency Support to process the waiver.
The agency must verify the taxes applicable in their distribution system. Further inquiries regarding the step-by-step process must be addressed to the GDS helpdesk.
6. ENDORSEMENT IN CHILE
The law establishes that customers may transfer their ticket to a third party without penalties of fare differences. Applies exclusively to private individuals retaining the type of passenger.
Considerations for endorsement:
Travel agents who process the endorsement for their clients may reissue the ticket as involuntary, provided there is space in the original reservation class, and retaining the supporting documentation for future post-sale audits or legal requirements. Endorsements will be audited and subject to ADM charges (applying the charges for voluntary reissue: penalties and/or fare differences) whenever the conditions specified are not met (e.g.: 1 endorsement every six months per customer)
In case spaces need to be transferred for the flight, the agent must contact their agency support department, with all supporting documentation and the reservation booked under the new passenger's name in order to request those spaces. Once spaces have been provided, the travel agent can complete the reissue.
The agent must leave an OSI remark in the new reservation with the ticket number being transferred, and in the ticket endorsements box insert the following: ENDORESEMENT LAW CL or CL PARTIAL ENDORSEMENT LAW (in case of only one segment)
If the purchase includes ancillaries, the Agency Support department must complete the EMD-A changes.
7. Voluntary reissue to a lower cabin (With waiver)
Whenever a voluntary change is made to a lower cabin, the policy is to not charge the fare difference if the new fare has a higher value.For voluntary changes on 100% LATAM flights, no fare difference will be applied when the change is made:
And as long as the following considerations are met:
Process the reissue according to the requested change (Exchange or historical) following the current policy.If the fare has a change penalty, it must be charged.
Cases that do not meet all the mentioned considerations will be handled as any voluntary change according to the current policies, applying the applicable charges.
Travel agencies must request the reissue along with Agency Support and cannot remit directly in their system.
The functionalities of changing to a new ticket, modifying ancillaries, and commercial exceptions are not available in our NDC portal at the moment.
To request any of these functionalities, we ask that you contact our specialists through our preferential support channel: the chat available here on LATAM Trade (in addition to our usual service channels).
This way, our team will take care of processing your request on your order.