Other North & South America Frequent Flyer Programs - Standby on GOL?

Hi all,

I have a trip to Brazil coming up. I am flying from JFK -> Sao Paulo (GRU) on Delta, and then have an 8 hour layover in GRU for a 1 hour flight to Rio (GIG).

I see that there are plenty of earlier flights from GRU -> GIG, but for some reason Delta booked me on the late one.

I'm wondering if anyone knows the GOL policy on flying standby? Is it allowed? Do they charge for it? If so, how much?

Thanks

Are you travelling within Brazil with separate Gol-issued ticket or Delta ticket? If travelling with Gol-issued ticket, the policy at least before depended on the booking class...

I am travelling within Brazil (From GRU to GIG). The ticket was booked through Delta - I am flying Delta from JFK to GRU, then GOL to GIG.

I have a hunch that it's going to depend on Delta but of course it's worth asking at the airport...

Delta and Gol are code share partners. Delta owns part of Gol, which could be why American and Gol are no longer code share partners. Sometimes such arrangements have limits on what flights are included, so you may have gotten the next flight to which you could be booked through Delta at the fare level you got (you can confirm that with Delta). You've booked the flight, so I assume you'd have to pay extra to change it. When you exit Customs at GRU, there will be a transfer desk in front of you, a bit to the left as I recall. One side for TAM, one for Gol. You'll show your itinerary and hand over your checked bags there. You can ask them if they can put you on an earlier fight (they SHOULD have someone who speaks English, but if you have troubles, there is a Gol sales desk upstairs, near the regular check-in counters). Will you get charged? It's Brazil. You'll see when you get there, and it can depend on who to talk to. If they can somehow get you on a fight to SDU (Rio's downtown airport), that'd be even better than GIG. I'd want my confirmed flight and boarding pass before going to the gate.

If you have to wait the full 8 hours, after you go through Immigration and wait for your bags to arrive at the baggage carousel (this can take a while), you can browse through the large duty free store just before Customs. GRU isn't a great place to killing time, but we've used the Am Ex Centurion Club on the third floor. There are better choices for eating and drinking outside security than near the gates. BTW, if you return on the same route, when you get to GRU your bags should be checked through but you'll likely have to exit security and go to the Delta counter to get your boarding pass, then go through security, and passport control, before going to your gate.

Have you phoned Delta?