What expense category is LATAM Airlines?
LATAM Airlines — Latin America's largest airline, providing passenger and cargo air travel across an extensive international network.
LATAM Airlines is a Chilean multinational airline holding company and the largest carrier in Latin America, operating 153 destinations across 27 countries through subsidiaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. For businesses, LATAM charges represent airfare for employee travel, most commonly for events, client visits, conferences, or trade routes between North America, South America, Europe, and beyond. Business airfare is 100% deductible as ordinary and necessary business travel under IRC §162.
How businesses classify LATAM Airlines
Tax details
- For each LATAM Airlines ticket, document the traveler name, destination, travel dates, and specific business purpose (e.g., 'client meeting in São Paulo, March 2025') to satisfy IRS substantiation requirements.
- If an employee combines a business trip with personal leisure days, only the airfare is deductible — apportion hotel and meal costs between business and personal days and document carefully.
- Baggage fees, seat upgrade fees, and travel insurance paid at the time of booking on a LATAM itinerary are also deductible as business travel expenses — keep itemized receipts.
- Frequent flyer miles or LATAM Pass rewards redeemed for upgrades on business trips are not deductible, and personal-use redemptions on business routes do not reduce the deductibility of the base ticket.
- If using a corporate card for LATAM bookings, reconcile charges against your travel policy and ensure that all personal travel is reimbursed to the company or excluded from deductions.
Business insights
Related expenses
For illustrative purposes only. Results shown are estimates and not guarantees. Based on internal metrics. Past performance does not guarantee future results, which may vary.