Airlines

I called work and had them check on a system we use called "timatic" it's a data base used by airlines (I don't know if TAM is a subscriber) to check entry requirements for citizens from different countries traveling to or through other contries.

US citizen transiting Brazil: No visa required providing you are leaving within 8 hours, on the next departing flight. No overnight stay is allowed, no hotel is available within the transit area. Make sure the TAM flight arrives at the same airport the UAL flight departs from. As an example if the TAM flight arrived at Jorge Newburry and the UAL flight departed from EZE your fucked. You are "strongly advised" to obtain a transit visa before going. [email]consular@brasilemb. Org[/email]

Baggage agreement:

UAL has a full agreement with TAM, meaning that not only can they accept bags from you to be transfered to UAL but if your TAM flight from BsAs to GRU fails for some reason you could in THEORY combine your TAM ticket and your UAL ticket to fly direct from BsAs if UAL had room. You can't just walk up to the UAL counter and try to fly, TAM has to send you (think of a check you get from somebody that owes you money that you endorse to a third party you owe money to)

All this being said here is my advice, check with the Brazilian consulate and see what the deal is with a transit visa, it might be cheaper and easier to obtain then a full visa. Check your bags with TAM but be prepared to have to follow up with a supervisor to get them checked through to your final destination. Go to EZE early and if you run into problems go to the UAL counter and ask them to assist you with TAM. If upon arrival in the EEUU and your bags aren't there be very nice to the UAL baggage person because I helped you a lot here.

Thank you for using the Daddy Rulz travel agency. We are also available for boliche tours during your stay in BsAs.

Ive been using that database for a while, although I never checked its name. I stumbled upon it while using the Qantas website a couple years ago (it may be on other sites as well) The URL is [url]http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/visaHealth[/url]. Theres no need to subscribe, its free on the net.

You select your nationality, departure country, destination country, etc and it gives you all the regs. Ive pasted below the regs for connecting in Brasil, which confirms and also adds to Daddy Rulz' post.

National you. S. A. (US) / Embarkation ARGENTINA (AR)

Transit BRAZIL (BR) / Destination you. S. A. (US)

Visited ARGENTINA (AR)

ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW.

BRAZIL (BR)

Visa not required provided continuing within 8 hours by same or first connecting flight;

And.

- not staying overnight; and.

- connecting flight is confirmed on passenger's ticket; and.

- holding other documents required for next destination.

Leaving the airport transit lounge is not allowed.

Transit visa is required, if staying in the airport hotel.

Overnight, as it is located outside transit area after.

Immigration.

Note:

Although TWOV privilege is available it is advisable to obtain a transit visa in a country of origin to avoid any inconvenience for passenger transiting Brazil.

Visa required if transiting in:

A. Sao Paulo from:

- Viracopos Airport to Congonhas Airport and v. V.;

- Viracopos Airport to Guarulhos Airport and v. V.;

- Congonhas Airport to Guarulhos Airport and v. V.;

Be. Rio de Janeiro from Galeao Airport to Santos Dumont.

Airport and v. V.;

C. Confins Airport in Belo Horizonte.

Those included in somebody else's passport must hold an Individual visa.

All visas issued from a foreign representation must be used within 90 days after issuance. If not: transit denied.

Non-compliance with the transit regulations will result in deportation of passenger to country of origin at carrier's.

Expense. Moreover, the transporting carrier will have to pay the detention costs and a fine of USD 2,000.-, which will be multiplied in case of recurrence.

You. S. A. (US)

Passport required.

However, the following documents are also accepted as proof of.

Citizenship:

- Birth Certificate; or.

- Naturalization Papers; or.

- US. Expired passports,

Provided arriving from:

1. North, Central or South America (if arriving from Cuba a passport is required) or Guam; or Bermuda, Canada or Greenland; or West Indies, Caribbean or Society Islands.

Visa not required.

If holding passport issued in Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands or Palau Islands:

Passport required.

Visa not required.

If holding passport issued in Marshall Islands:

Passport required.

Visa not required.

If being a newly naturalized national of Marshall Isl.:

Visa not required if:

- person has resided in Marshall Isl. For at least five years;

And.

- person is holding a Certificate of Actual Residency issued by The Marshall Isl.

If coming directly from Guam or Virgin Isl: pre-inspection by The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will have taken place.

Prior to embarkation, when passengers are required to provide.

Proof of their legal right to enter you. S. A.

If coming directly from Puerto Rico: pre-inspection may take.

Place by CBP prior to embarkation, when passengers are required.

To provide their documents and proof of their legal right to.

Enter you. S. A.

Minors: for detailed information see: For details, click here -

Iitems 2. 3. And 4.

If having been in or transited through Libya, special.

Restrictions apply (see: For details, click here)

BRAZIL (BR)

Vaccinations not required if not leaving the airport.

You. S. A. (US)

Vaccinations are not required.

I always thought that was some subscription data base. I checked some of the countries and that's exactly what I see at work. It's a great resource thanks for the link.

Thank you guys for the great help. I also got an e-mail response from TAM:

[I]Thank you for contacting TAM. You. S. Citizens transiting in Brazil do not require a visa providing they are continuing within 8 hours by the same or first connecting flight, are not staying overnight, and the connecting flight is confirmed. Please note that leaving the transit lounge will not be allowed.

For additional information, please go to [url]http://www.brazilmiami.org/consulado/English/visas/TOURIST%20VISA.htm[/url].

Unfortunately we do have detailed information regarding luggage transfer inside Brazil, so we recommend that you request at the check-in if is possible to send your baggage directly to the final destination.[/i]

Now that the luggage issue also has been answered by Daddy Rulz. That makes me feel a lot more comfortable. I will still try to pack with only carry-on just to be safe. Again many thanks to all.

AA is doing their weekend fare out of NYC again. This isn't a rock bottom fare, but better than normal.

Depart anytime between Wednesday, August 24, 2005, and Friday, August 26, 2005. Return anytime between Monday, August 29, 2005, and Wednesday, August 31, 2005. Tickets must be purchased by this Friday, August 19, 2005, 11:59 p. M. (CT)

This may be of interest to some:

American Airlines would like to offer you, as an AAirmail and Net SAAver® email subscriber in the New York area, a 10% discount the next time you book a trip on AA.com. We want to save you not only time, but money. Use this exclusive 10% discount savings when you book and purchase your reservation on AA. Com by September 9, 2005. This exclusive AA.com Discount Code may be used once, for up to six passengers.

Does anyone know of any tricks on how to upgrade a Delta coach award ticket (50,000 miles) from EZE-ATL? The business class award ticket costs 90,000 and I'm running low on Skyteam miles.

Get one of your Platnium Medallion buddies to give you a platinum upgrade. I have also seen them bartered on web sites before (strictly against the Delta rule book) They are also only valid with certain fares and subject to availability.

[QUOTE=Moore]Does anyone know of any tricks on how to upgrade a Delta coach award ticket (50,000 miles) from EZE-ATL? The business class award ticket costs 90,000 and I'm running low on Skyteam miles.[/QUOTE]With UAL the only way to upgrade an award ticket is through operational nessecity. If tourist isn't over booked and they HAVE to move people up to free up seats than no upgrade is allowed. Which does tend to free up Biz and 1st seats for us employees traveling so personally I think it's a GREAT frigging idea. Delta may be different though.

I don't believe that Delta upgrades their elites on most Intl routes. And since you aren't elite, your chances are almost nil. They might be able to use their miles to you / g you, but I'm not up on the rules for Delta.

Thanks for your comments. I am platinum medallion on Delta (once you get the platinum status its good for one year+) but my mileage balance is getting low. Ive upgraded before with paid coach tickets before, but as Da Cat mentioned you cannot upgrade internationally on deeply discounted fares. I am using miles (for a coach award ticket) so this is a different case. There must be a way to do this being platinum but without having the 90,000 miles needed for a business award ticket.

[QUOTE=Moore]Thanks for your comments. I am platinum medallion on Delta (once you get the platinum status its good for one year+) but my mileage balance is getting low. Ive upgraded before with paid coach tickets before, but as Da Cat mentioned you cannot upgrade internationally on deeply discounted fares. I am using miles (for a coach award ticket) so this is a different case. There must be a way to do this being platinum but without having the 90,000 miles needed for a business award ticket.[/QUOTE]With UAL you can upgrade discounted tickets but not award tickets. Sometimes for a lower fare it takes more miles to upgrade but not the gozzilion miles it takes to get a Biz award ticket. I think a call to the Medallion desk (if they have one) or their 800 number will quickly answer the question.

I think the only upgrade you might get on an award ticket is an op-up. NW gives free upgrades to Gold and Plats for domestic portions on a space available portion.

I think the normal thinking is that if you wanted a FC award, you should have booked it. Strange, eh?

Speaking of which, I just burned some miles on a RTW award, and am wondering if Air France from Paris or Alitalia from Milan is a nicer trip to EZE.

[QUOTE=Moore]There must be a way to do this being platinum but without having the 90,000 miles needed for a business award ticket.[/QUOTE]Normally 90,000 miles will only get you a SkySaver Award ticket on Busniess Elite, meaning capacity controlled. It costs 180,000 for non-capacity controlled SkyChoice Award ticket on Busniess Elite to South America from CONUS.

I couldn't use my miles this time because even though there were still 33% of the seats available, there were none available for us using miles! I asked if they had reduced the number of seats for us because I have always made plans no more than 3 weeks out and was able to use them. Of course, they avoided giving me an answer so I guess they did answer, huh?

They did say I could use my miles but only if I was willing to spend 90k of them. They're nuts! So I paid but it worked out because this was the lowest price I have ever seen with AA to Argentina. So I get 18K more miles so my next 2 trips are free!

3.5 days and counting.

Suerte,

Stowe