Santander bank renewed its alliance with Latam Pass for five years and will launch the Santander Rewards program in January 2026, with changes to mile accumulation and access to benefits like free baggage. While some adjustments impose greater restrictions, the bank assures it will reward the overall customer relationship. Over 688,000 users will see modifications to their frequent flyer privileges.
Santander and Latam Airlines renewed their alliance contract in August, which dates back over three decades and expires at year-end, extending it for another five years. The bank began notifying customers this week about the shift to the new Santander Rewards program, effective from January 5, 2026. This system will integrate all benefits into a single ecosystem, focusing on the customer's overall relationship with the bank, such as tenure and products held, beyond just spending.
Latam Pass mile accumulation will adjust based on the customer's engagement level with Santander, with rates that could exceed current ones for some users. For instance, holders of The Platinum Card American Express will earn between 1 and 1.5 miles per dollar spent, while Life Santander users will get 0.3 to 0.45. Additionally, Qualifying Points Latam Pass will be introduced, at 1 per every 2 miles, aiding advancement to Elite categories like Gold, Platinum, or Black, offering perks such as priority boarding and upgrades.
A key change is the end of automatic access to Gold Latam Pass category from January 1, 2026, though it will extend for one year to customers meeting specific 2025 requirements, like minimum $4 million purchases or monthly card use. The 23 kg free checked baggage benefit, currently available for WorldMember cards on all Latam flights, remains unchanged until March 31, 2026, and will then depend on program rules, ending universal free access from April.
While some customers voiced frustration on social media over perceived restrictions, Santander stressed that 'the program evolves to reward the total customer relationship with the bank.' Cards like Life will start earning miles, broadening access. Full details will be released in January.