Which Airline Credit Card Beats LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum?

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LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum is a favorite among Brazil-based travelers loyal to LATAM Airlines, but it is far from the only way to turn everyday spending into flights. When you compare it with leading airline and flexible travel cards, different winners emerge depending on how often you fly, which routes you take, and whether you value premium perks or low costs. This guide looks at where the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum shines, where it falls short, and which alternative cards can deliver better value in real life.

What the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum Actually Offers

Before comparing competitors, it is crucial to understand what the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum brings to the table. Issued by Itaú Unibanco on the Visa or Mastercard Platinum network, the card focuses on earning LATAM Pass miles directly. Recent product reviews in Brazil describe a typical earn rate of about 2 miles per US dollar equivalent spent, with the possibility of a higher multiplier when you also subscribe to Clube LATAM Pass, the airline’s paid mileage club. Promotional campaigns from Itaú in 2026 have offered large welcome bonuses for meeting a spending target within the first few months, which can be enough for a round trip from São Paulo to destinations like Buenos Aires in economy if you redeem on off-peak dates.

The annual fee is positioned in the midrange for a travel card. Public analyses published in 2026 cite an annual fee a little over the equivalent of 500 reais, with full or partial waivers when you spend a few thousand reais per month. That means a traveler who routinely charges rent, fuel, groceries, and streaming services could realistically hit the waiver threshold and keep the card at little or no effective cost, while still earning miles. However, someone who spends more modestly may end up paying the full annual fee and getting limited value back.

The Platinum version also carries a few travel perks tied to LATAM. These include the ability to pay LATAM tickets in extended interest-free installments in Brazil and, for some variants and promo periods, cabin upgrade certificates on LATAM-operated flights within South America and sometimes one long-haul upgrade per year. Many cardholders also benefit from extended mileage validity or non-expiring miles while they continue using the card, which helps those who redeem infrequently for long-haul trips to Europe or the United States.

At the same time, important gaps remain. Access to LATAM lounges is typically restricted to customers who also pay for a qualifying Clube LATAM Pass plan or who hold elite status in the program, so the card alone will not guarantee comfortable preflight spaces. Travel insurance and purchase protection benefits are aligned with standard Visa or Mastercard Platinum offerings, which are useful but less comprehensive than the insurance packages bundled with top-tier Visa Infinite or World Elite Mastercard products.

When LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum Is the Best Choice

For some travelers, LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum still wins. The card is designed primarily for people who live in Brazil or frequently start their trips from Brazilian gateways such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, or Porto Alegre, and who fly LATAM several times a year. If you routinely book tickets like São Paulo to Santiago or Rio to Lima for both business and leisure, earning miles in the airline’s own program every time you swipe the card can be more intuitive than juggling transferable bank points.

Consider a traveler in São Paulo who spends the equivalent of 5,000 reais per month on their card, roughly 1,000 US dollars. At an earning rate around 2 miles per dollar, they will collect about 24,000 miles over a year from card spending alone. Adding a modest welcome bonus and occasional promotional bonuses, it is realistic to reach 40,000 LATAM Pass miles in the first year. Depending on the route and timing, that can cover a round-trip São Paulo to Miami in economy during a fare sale, or two or three domestic round trips such as São Paulo to Recife when redeemed smartly.

The ability to spread ticket purchases over up to 10 monthly installments without interest can also be powerful in practice. A Brazilian family booking four tickets from São Paulo to Orlando might face a total cost in the range of several thousand reais. Being able to split that cost across 10 statements on the same card that also earns bonus miles makes budgeting easier, and can be the difference between booking now or postponing the trip a year.

Lastly, the card integrates smoothly with the broader LATAM Pass ecosystem. When Itaú and LATAM run joint promotions, cardholders can receive extra mileage on partner hotel stays, car rentals, or duty-free purchases. For example, a traveler who books a long weekend at a partner beach resort in northeastern Brazil during a LATAM Pass promotion can sometimes earn double or triple miles compared with paying with a generic bank card, which accelerates the path toward a big international redemption.

Where Other Airline Cards Clearly Win

Despite these strengths, other airline credit cards can easily outpace LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum depending on your home market and travel pattern. In the United States, major issuers such as Chase, Citi, and American Express pair their airline cards with very generous welcome bonuses, often in the range of tens of thousands of miles after meeting a moderate spending requirement in the first three months. Lists of best airline cards for 2026 from major financial sites highlight co-branded products from United, Delta, American Airlines, Southwest, and British Airways, many of which also feature free checked bags and priority boarding for the cardholder and sometimes companions.

Consider a US-based traveler who frequently flies between New York and São Paulo. If they mostly fly on American Airlines or Delta rather than LATAM, then an AAdvantage or SkyMiles credit card can provide more tangible benefits. A mid-tier AAdvantage card, for example, may grant a free checked bag on every flight, preferred boarding, and preferred seat selection, while also earning miles on all spending. If each checked bag on an international itinerary would otherwise cost the equivalent of 50 to 70 US dollars each way, a couple flying twice a year could save several hundred dollars annually just from this single perk, far outweighing a moderate annual fee.

Even within Latin America, competing airline programs can be compelling. A frequent flyer who mostly travels Brazil to Lisbon or São Paulo to Porto might find better award availability and lower mileage requirements through programs tied to European carriers. If that traveler holds a credit card co-branded with a European airline that is part of a major alliance, they can still connect onto LATAM or other regional carriers while earning and redeeming miles centrally in that foreign program. In such a case, funneling spending into LATAM Pass via Itaú might deliver fewer premium cabin opportunities on the routes they value most.

There is also the question of lounge access and premium treatment. LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum does not reliably provide free access to airport lounges on its own, while many competing airline cards in other markets bundle at least a limited number of complimentary lounge visits each year. For a traveler who connects through congested hubs like São Paulo–Guarulhos, Miami, or Mexico City several times per year, the comfort, food, and shower access inside a lounge can translate into real-world value that is hard to replicate with the LATAM Platinum product without paying for extra services.

Flexible Travel Cards That Beat It for Many Travelers

In recent years, a growing number of seasoned travelers have shifted from airline-specific cards to flexible travel reward cards. Instead of locking you into one airline, these cards earn bank points that can be transferred to multiple programs or redeemed directly for travel purchases. Editorial roundups of the best travel cards for 2026 frequently place products like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Citi Strata Premier, and the American Express Platinum Card near the top of the list for US-based consumers.

Take a practical example. A traveler based in Miami or New York who visits Brazil once or twice a year, but also takes trips to Europe and within the United States, may be better served by a flexible card. By putting their everyday expenses on something like a mid-tier Sapphire or Premier card, they earn points on all spending, with accelerated earnings on travel and dining. Those points can then be transferred into different airline programs, including partners that can book LATAM flights or other South American carriers through alliances. If a last-minute family emergency requires an urgent flight to São Paulo, having a pool of flexible points gives them more options to find a seat, whether on LATAM, American, Delta, or another partner.

Furthermore, many flexible cards include broad travel protections. Trip delay insurance, trip interruption coverage, primary rental car coverage, and strong purchase protections come standard on several of these US-issued products. In contrast, the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum’s protection package is closer to the baseline for Platinum-level cards in Brazil, which, while useful, may not reimburse as many scenarios or as generously. For a traveler routinely buying expensive long-haul tickets or renting cars in countries with high collision damage waiver costs, these protections can be worth hundreds of dollars in potential avoided losses.

Flexible cards can also simplify life for couples or families who are not loyal to a single airline. A household that takes one trip to Patagonia, another to Europe, and a road trip in the United States during a given year might strategically redeem their bank points for whichever flights and hotels offer the best combination of price and schedule. If that same household instead commits to a LATAM-only card, they could get stuck when award inventory is tight on a particular holiday week, even if seats are readily available through a competing airline or alliance.

How LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum Compares on Fees and Earning

On fees and earning mechanics alone, the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum holds its ground in Brazil, but looks less competitive once you cross borders. Its annual fee usually sits below that of premium Visa Infinite or World Elite products but above basic no-fee credit cards. Brazilian reviewers often praise the fact that the fee can be waived at a spending level that is reachable for an upper-middle-income household that channels most expenses through the card. This makes the card attractive for someone who sees miles as a core travel strategy and is comfortable consolidating spending.

The 2-miles-per-dollar style earning is strong compared with many bank-branded cards in Brazil that might offer closer to 1 or 1.5 points per US dollar equivalent. When combined with occasional promotions that boost mileage earnings or offer a discount when buying additional miles, active users can accelerate their balance in a way that enables one or two extra trips every couple of years. For instance, during a promotional window, a traveler might buy enough discounted miles to top up for a business class redemption from São Paulo to Madrid, something that would be hard to finance directly with cash.

However, when you compare this structure with leading airline and travel cards in competitive markets like the United States, the picture shifts. Several no-annual-fee airline cards offer welcome bonuses that can be worth a domestic round trip immediately after sign-up. Premium cards that do carry fees typically justify them with richer multipliers on travel and dining, hundreds of dollars in annual statement credits, and extensive lounge network access. Against that backdrop, a midrange annual fee for LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum in exchange mainly for miles and a few airline-specific perks can feel limited, especially if you fly a mix of airlines.

There is also the risk of overconcentration. By tying your spending tightly to a single airline’s currency, you take on the risk of devaluations. Airline programs periodically adjust award charts or introduce dynamic pricing, which can increase the number of miles needed for popular routes. Flexible bank points, by contrast, allow you to seek out whichever partner offers the best deal at the time of booking. In practical terms, a traveler who had been planning to use 70,000 miles for a business-class redemption might suddenly face a new price of 90,000 miles after a devaluation, whereas someone holding flexible points could simply look for an alternative airline or alliance partner with a better offer.

Which Card “Wins” Depends on Your Home Base and Habits

Declaring a single winner over the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum ignores how differently travelers use credit cards. Instead, it is more useful to see clusters of winners based on where you live and how you travel in real life. For a Brazil-based professional who flies LATAM several times a year across South America and occasionally to the United States or Europe, and who likes the convenience of paying tickets in installments, the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum can absolutely be the best fit, especially when they reach the spending threshold that cancels the annual fee.

In contrast, a US-based traveler who only visits Brazil every few years and spends the rest of their time flying domestically or to Europe will often see more value in a flexible travel card or a co-branded product tied to their primary US airline. For that traveler, using LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum would require dealing with a Brazilian issuer, navigating local fees, and concentrating miles in a program they only occasionally use. Instead, a US-issued card that earns transferable points or miles with their chosen US carrier will likely deliver more straightforward benefits and better customer support in their home language and jurisdiction.

Even within Brazil, alternative strategies may outperform LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum for certain profiles. A traveler who values cash back above all else might prefer a domestic cashback card that returns a small percentage of every purchase as a statement credit or deposit. They can then use those savings toward any airline ticket, not just LATAM, and never worry about expiring miles or fluctuating award charts. Another traveler focused on accessing a wide range of airport lounges might prioritize a Brazilian card with a Priority Pass or LoungeKey membership attached, even if its mileage earning rate is slightly lower than LATAM’s.

The most effective way to choose is to run realistic numbers. Estimate your annual card spending, list the routes you actually fly in a typical year, and check how many miles or how much cash back each card would generate. Then compare that against the value of the sign-up bonus, estimated annual fee after waivers or credits, and any premium perks you will realistically use, such as free checked bags or lounge visits. In many cases, the math will quickly show whether LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum or a competitor puts more value back into your pocket.

The Takeaway

LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum is a well-designed tool for a specific audience: travelers deeply embedded in the LATAM ecosystem, especially in Brazil, who want to turn everyday spending into LATAM Pass miles and appreciate the ability to pay tickets in installments. For this group, the card can be a clear winner, particularly when they reach spending thresholds that eliminate the annual fee and when they take advantage of periodic promotions and upgrade opportunities.

However, the landscape of airline and travel credit cards has evolved. In markets like the United States, many co-branded airline cards and flexible travel cards offer richer welcome bonuses, broader protections, and premium benefits such as lounge access and annual travel credits. For travelers who mix airlines, cross continents frequently, or simply prefer not to be locked into a single program, these alternatives often come out ahead of LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum in both flexibility and total value.

Ultimately, no single card wins for everyone. The right answer depends on where you live, which airlines you actually fly, how much you spend, and whether you care more about elite status, comfort, or pure savings. Take the time to map your own travel patterns and run the numbers. Whether you end up sticking with LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum or switching to a different airline or flexible travel card, the goal is the same: to make each swipe of your card bring you meaningfully closer to your next trip.

FAQ

Q1. Is the LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum worth it if I fly only once a year?
It tends to shine for travelers who fly LATAM several times a year and can reach the spending level that waives the annual fee. If you only take one trip per year, especially if it is not always on LATAM, a simpler cashback or low-fee travel card may provide better value.

Q2. How does the mileage earning on LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum compare with other cards?
The earning rate is competitive within Brazil, often around 2 miles per dollar equivalent, but many premium cards in other markets offer similar or higher effective returns when you factor in category bonuses, statement credits, and transferable points.

Q3. Do I get free lounge access with LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum?
In most configurations the Platinum card by itself does not grant free access to LATAM lounges. Access typically depends on holding elite status or subscribing to additional paid services, so frequent lounge users may prefer a card that includes lounge visits as a core benefit.

Q4. Can I use LATAM Pass miles from the card to book flights on other airlines?
LATAM Pass miles can sometimes be used on partner airlines depending on existing agreements, but the program is most straightforward when redeemed for LATAM-operated flights. If you frequently fly other airlines, a flexible bank points card may offer more booking options.

Q5. How does the annual fee on LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum compare to US airline cards?
The fee level is moderate by Brazilian standards and can be waived with sufficient spending, but many US airline cards either charge a similar fee while offering richer perks or come with no annual fee at all, especially at the entry level.

Q6. Is a flexible travel card better than an airline card for trips to Brazil?
For travelers who visit Brazil occasionally but fly many different airlines during the year, a flexible travel card that earns transferable points often works better, because it allows you to choose whichever airline offers the best schedule and price at the time of booking.

Q7. What kind of traveler gets the most from LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum?
A LATAM-loyal traveler based in Brazil, with solid monthly spending and several LATAM flights per year across South America or on long-haul routes, will usually extract the most value from this card, especially when taking advantage of promotions and installment payments.

Q8. Are there risks in concentrating all my miles in LATAM Pass?
Yes. Focusing on a single airline program exposes you to changes in award pricing or rules. If LATAM adjusts its mileage chart or availability, your carefully saved miles may cover fewer trips than expected, which is why some travelers prefer flexible bank points instead.

Q9. Should I upgrade from LATAM Pass Gold to Platinum?
If your annual spending is high enough to reach the Platinum fee waiver threshold and you regularly fly LATAM, the higher mileage earning and extra perks can justify the move. If your spending and flying are modest, the upgrade may not materially change your travel experience.

Q10. Can I hold LATAM Pass Itaú Platinum and another airline card at the same time?
Many experienced travelers do exactly that. They use the LATAM card for LATAM tickets and specific promotions, and a second airline or flexible travel card for other routes, which diversifies their miles and gives them more options when planning trips.