Airlines

I saw this spoofing about the web. Much cheaper than mine.

[url]http://www.intratours.com/Specials/Specials.asp?SpecialID=36&Destination=BUE&IndexID=778[/url]

$476 from MIA, maybe now I can get on a fucking airplane!

[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]I saw this spoofing about the web. Much cheaper than mine.

[url]http://www.intratours.com/Specials/Specials.asp?SpecialID=36&Destination=BUE&IndexID=778[/url]

$476 from MIA, maybe know I can get on a fucking airplane![/QUOTE]Typical bait and switch. The fine print says if the quoted fare is higher the advertised fare is sold out. I tried every season and date up to December and all fares were higher. Dave

[QUOTE=Bangkok Dave]Typical bait and switch. The fine print says if the quoted fare is higher the advertised fare is sold out. I tried every season and date up to December and all fares were higher. Dave[/QUOTE]I'll tell you, those fucking airlines. You know what you guys should do as a protest? For the week of 27 August you should all take busses from the EEUU to BsAs, that would teach them!

[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]One VERY minor consideration, a Yanqui pig needs a visa to enter Brazil, since you are connecting on an international flight no visa will be required. However in the worst case (I do work for the airline after all and think worst case all the time) if the flight cancels in GRU I'm pretty sure you couldn't leave the transit area unless you currantly hold a visa for Brazil.[/QUOTE]I have though about the possibility of a problem can arise in GRU without a visa. I have another more immediate concern and likely scenario – checked luggage. When the luggage is checked with TAM in EZE, is it checked all the way to the final destination (providng I still have to claim it at the port of entry in the US) or do I have to claim it at GRU and recheck it onto the UAL flight since TAM and UAL are not partner airlines? I foresee a problem if I have to claim it at GRU since luggage claim is always after immigration. I vaguely remember few years ago when I checked my luggage on a Czech Airline flight in Prague, it was checked all the way to the final destination on a US Airways flight. But I'm not 100% sure. Does anyone have the similar experience and care to share your knowledge?

Thanks,

Sportsman

Sportsman,

You should not have a problem with your checked luggage, even though the arilines might not be "partners". I would suggest that when you get the baggage claim checks that you verify your final destination is printed on the claim check. That is the way you will know the destination your luggage is checked to arrive. Also the tags should show your flight numbers as well (although that info may only be on the tag on your bag) I am not sure of the relationship between TAM and Varig, but Varig and United are part of the "Star Alliance" so they do partner on many parts of the travel experience.

Enjoy your trip!

[QUOTE=Sportsman]I have though about the possibility of a problem can arise in GRU without a visa. I have another more immediate concern and likely scenario – checked luggage. When the luggage is checked with TAM in EZE, is it checked all the way to the final destination (providng I still have to claim it at the port of entry in the US) or do I have to claim it at GRU and recheck it onto the UAL flight since TAM and UAL are not partner airlines? I foresee a problem if I have to claim it at GRU since luggage claim is always after immigration. I vaguely remember few years ago when I checked my luggage on a Czech Airline flight in Prague, it was checked all the way to the final destination on a US Airways flight. But I'm not 100% sure. Does anyone have the similar experience and care to share your knowledge?

Thanks,

Sportsman[/QUOTE]This issue is baggage agreements. UAL has baggage agreements with most serious airlines. Southwest being an exception. As an example, Aerolineas Argentina and UAL have no codeshare or ticketing agreements, we do however have a baggage agreement. Which means you can check in with Aerolineas and fly to MIA then switch to AA and fly to DFW then go to UAL and fly to DEN. Aerolineas can make a bag tag covering all your flights and all the airlines can transfer the bags to each other. (this does not mean you should do this, if you do, your bag WILL get lost along the way, it only means in THEORY you can) You could not though fly Aerolineas to MIA, AA to DFW on to SAT the Southwest to Luv field. You would have to pick up your bags in SAT and transfer them yourself to SW.

Do I know for sure if TAM and UAL have an agreement? No but you can call TAM and find out. My guess is your bags won't make the connection even if they do have an agreement. They will probably miss in GRU and when you get to your final destination you will have to make a claim. Then it will take 24 hours for your bags to show up (only one flight a day between GRU and IAD) then they will clear customs without you (could take a day or two, Department of Homeland Security and all) then they will come to your city and UAL will deliver them. You may be suprised though, I would give myself 2 hours minimum in GRU to make sure you and your bags continue on.

If you get no answer from TAM PM me and I'll check at work tomorrow.

Nobody's lining up on my bus idea to protest how badly airlines screw you guys. Remember the week of August 27 (unless I decide to go a different day)

[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]This issue is baggage agreements. UAL has baggage agreaments with most serious airlines. Southwest being an exception. As an example, Aerolineas Argentina and UAL have no codeshare or ticketing agreements, we do however have a baggage agreement. Which means you can check in with Aerolineas and fly to MIA then switch to AA and fly to DFW then go to UAL and fly to DEN. Aerolineas can make a bag tag covering all your flights and all the airlines can transfer the bags to each other. (this does not mean you should do this, if you do, your bag WILL get lost along the way, it only means in THEORY you can) You could not though fly Aerolineas to MIA, AA to DFW on to Sat the Southwest to Luv field. You would have to pick up your bags in Sat and transfer them yourself to SW.[/QUOTE]You bet that in this circumstance they will lose your bag. It's almost 100% guaranteed. One thing to keep in mind when traveling, guys, is that you ought to take an overnight bag with you, which includes your toiletries and other essentials (such as prescription medications) as well as a change of clothes or two, in the expectation that the airline will lose your luggage. On trips of a week or less, I rarely even check a bag at all.

I flew IAH-GRU on CO, and then GRU-EZE on TAM the first time I went to EZE in 2003. I had no problems checking through luggage. I always take a few days worth of clothes and other important things in my carryon. I'd say that I have luggage problems in about 10% of the cases the last few years, flying 100-180k miles per year.

TAM codeshares with VARIG. I have several times been en route FRA --> GRU --> EZE, on both Lufthansa and VARIG tickets, and the last segment (GRU-EZE) was actually flown by TAM.

El Alemán

[QUOTE=Hunt99]You bet that in this circumstance they will lose your bag. It's almost 100% guaranteed. One thing to keep in mind when traveling, guys, is that you ought to take an overnight bag with you, which includes your toiletries and other essentials (such as prescription medications) as well as a change of clothes or two, in the expectation that the airline will lose your luggage. On trips of a week or less, I rarely even check a bag at all.[/QUOTE]Never ever check keys or medication, ever. I check things all the time and have never once had a bag misplaced but I still carry a change of underware and all essentials with me. Out of curiosity how many of you guys have had to make claims because your bags were not there on arrival.

Daddy Rulz,

I've had bags lost twice, both times on AirFrance from Paris (not my origin of departure) to Buenos Aires. The only reason I checked bags was because these were extended trips and I could not fit everything in a carry-on. Of course I still had a carry on with the essentials. Both times it took 4-5 days before my bags arrived (only one CDG-EZE flight per day) AF was never able to give any info except - "maybe the bags will be on tomorrows flight".

Regarding the what-if scenario on connecting in GRU as an American without a Brazilian visa, I guess only the EZE to North America leg could cause a problem since the GRU connection is late and if you missed it you would probably have to wait until the next day for the next possible connection. Ive connected in GRU and the process was very smooth - an agent took me directly from terminal to terminal and gate to gate assuming that I didnt have a visa, which incidentally I do. I doubt that GRU would have a transit area to hold you overnight for the next connection. They might have to let you in to the country and go to a hotel? One time at CDG I missed the 11pm connection to EZE (bags lost also) and I was very surprised that by the time (about midnight) I left the airport for my hotel, paid by AF, CDG was like a ghosttown. Apparently the whole place shuts down. And CDG is the busiest airport in Europe, I believe.

Thank you guys for the responses. I called TAM today and didn't really get a straight answer. The rep told me only at the airport can tell me if my checked luggage will be checked all the way to my final destination. And she warned me I will need a visa even though I'll only be catching a connecting flight in GRU. I have been to some international arrival terminals that upon deplane from an international flight I had to go through immigration no matter what, Stuttgart, DE for one. I sent them an e-mail from their website try to get a more precise answer. The worse case scenario is they won't let me get on the TAM flight in EZE without a visa. If I don't get a direct and straight answer, I just might have to get the visa to be safe. I have no plan to travel to Brazil in the near future but had though about it. This may push to it since I'll be spending $100 for the visa. When the time comes, I will also try to pack without having to check any luggage. Since this trip is during spring time in late Nov. That makes it a little bit easier.

[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]Out of curiosity how many of you guys have had to make claims because your bags were not there on arrival.[/QUOTE] In the past ten years with an average of 5 trips each year, in only two instances my luggage did not show up upon arrival. Both times were outbound international flights. Both times the luggage was delivered to my hotel the next day. Even since I got caught without the essentials the first time, I always pack everything I need for the next two days in my carry on. Return trip is a different story, obviously keys and other important things are always in my carry on. I read it somewhere that airlines never re-imburse for eventually lost items in the checked luggage like camera and jewelry.

[QUOTE=Sportsman]Thank you guys for the responses. I called TAM today and didn't really get a straight answer. The rep told me only at the airport can tell me if my checked luggage will be checked all the way to my final destination. And she warned me I will need a visa even though I'll only be catching a connecting flight in GRU. I have been to some international arrival terminals that upon deplane from an international flight I had to go through immigration no matter what, Stuttgart, DE for one. I sent them an e-mail from their website try to get a more precise answer. The worse case scenario is they won't let me get on the TAM flight in EZE without a visa. If I don't get a direct and straight answer, I just might have to get the visa to be safe. I have no plan to travel to Brazil in the near future but had though about it. This may push to it since I'll be spending $100 for the visa. When the time comes, I will also try to pack without having to check any luggage. Since this trip is during spring time in late Nov. That makes it a little bit easier.[/QUOTE]That sounds like a bunch of horseshit to me. If I remember I'll check tomorrow at work. However you can have right on your side and still have the counter agent not check you in. I've done that myself being in error. Immigration laws are VERY fucking complicated, Singapore may deny entrance to "hippy types" as one crazy example, and when there is a question most agents default to the path that will get them in the least trouble for being wrong. I could see a TAM agent in BsAs not checking you in because they think you need a visa. I'm about 90% sure brazil doesn't require them for through flights. Send me a PM tomorrow and I will remember to check about baggage agreements.

[QUOTE=Sportsman]Thank you guys for the responses. I called TAM today and didn't really get a straight answer. The rep told me only at the airport can tell me if my checked luggage will be checked all the way to my final destination. And she warned me I will need a visa even though I'll only be catching a connecting flight in GRU. I have been to some international arrival terminals that upon deplane from an international flight I had to go through immigration no matter what, Stuttgart, DE for one. I sent them an e-mail from their website try to get a more precise answer. The worse case scenario is they won't let me get on the TAM flight in EZE without a visa. If I don't get a direct and straight answer, I just might have to get the visa to be safe. I have no plan to travel to Brazil in the near future but had though about it. This may push to it since I'll be spending $100 for the visa. When the time comes, I will also try to pack without having to check any luggage. Since this trip is during spring time in late Nov. That makes it a little bit easier.[/QUOTE]I just got a Brazilian visa and it will definitely cost you more than $100. Best case is $110, and worst case is probably in the $200 price range.

If you can go to a local consulate it will cost you $100 +$10. Many local ones will not let you go in person, only use a broker of some sort. The cheapest broker I found charged a $39 fee, plus $6 mailing fee. So $155 is what it cost me.

I think that the airline is trying to cover their ass and say you need a visa. If you're a US citizen, you don't need one to transit.

One important thing to remember is that you must use your Brazilian visa within 90 days of issuance, or it's worthless.