El Cochinito
Oct 14, 02, 11:23 am
Part 4 at: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/003146.html
Monday, October 7
UA 872 – GRU (Sao Paulo) to MIA (Miami)
B-777 (4050 MP Miles)
After wrapping up the check-in process at the United counter, I turned to my Varig escort who had been patiently waiting for me. We headed across the hall towards the big “DEPARTURES / IMMIGRATION” sign.
As we walked, images from every bad prison movie ever made started flashing through my mind. We slowly approached the security desk where id’s and boarding passes are reviewed. The security guard rifled through my passport and ticket jacket. A conversation was held with the Varig agent. Apparently there was a problem. I started sweating. Profusely.
Turned out that United forgot to put the scan code sticker on my boarding pass. The Varig agent told me to wait right there and she sprinted back to the United counter. She came back with the necessary sticker and we were ready to continue.
Into the den of third world officialdom known as outbound immigration.
Where respect is everything and your life is held in the hands of an underpaid bureaucrat.
Of course there was absolutely nobody in line and a single, bored Brazilian Federal Police officer waiting patiently at his station. Looking for anything to break the monotony. Waiting for me.
As we approached, my Varig escort whispered “Let me do the talking”. Naturally I thought that would be a great idea. She handed the officer my passport and boarding ticket. A conversation in Portuguese started, similar to what I had heard countless times before: “blah blah blah – visa – blah blah blah – American – blah blah blah – Miami”. The officer asked her a few questions, all the while staring at me with a grim look of determination on his face. He went through my passport, page by page, front to back examining my collection of entry/exit stamps. Was he looking for a phantom Brazilian visa? He got to the end of the passport, then repeated the process back to front. Page by page. Slowly. Deliberately. All the while watching me stand there.
Finally he handed me my passport and boarding pass, said something in Portuguese to the Varig agent (probably “get him out of here”) and she said I was free to go! I thanked her profusely for the service Varig provided, gave her a hug, and I was out of there. Security was painless and I was airside at last.
Our United flight to Miami was not very full. There was quite the interesting gauntlet us passengers had to go through down the jetway – various security stations examining carryon bags. I was not selected for secondary screening and quickly made my way to 17C. On this flight 17D & 17E were empty. Too bad the arm rest in 17C was fixed.
Flying time was less than 7 hours and there was a chance we could arrive early. Our flight path took us northwest over Manaus, Brazil then towards the northern coast of Columbia before heading north over Cuba and on to Miami. Since I had not eaten all day, the dinner service was welcome (chicken or beef) and I thought the food was great. I managed to get several hours of sleep, waking up for the breakfast service. We were given a selection of fruit, some cheese, a couple of slices of ham, and a roll. I guess the catering dollars go farther in Brazil because the food was definitely an improvement over the MIA-EZE run.
We arrived into Miami at 4:00 a.m. It was a LONG hike from our gate to immigration. There was just a short line and I was quickly admitted into the United States. Whew! Downstairs to baggage claim and I breezed through customs. I was at the Doubletree Hotel on Bayshore Drive by 5:00 a.m. Fortunately they had my room ready still. After a quick shower and nap I was up at 7:30 a.m. ready to face a long day of meetings.
Thursday, October 10
UA 872 – MIA to SFO
B-777 (2585 MP Miles)
I was up at 4:00 a.m. and checked out by 4:30 a.m. to catch a taxi for the airport. Only two other passengers were waiting to check in at the United counter. My upgrade had cleared back in Sao Paulo, so I was assigned seat 8J in the business cabin. The only thing open in the terminal was Burger King so I got something to eat before heading upstairs to security.
There was already a line forming at concourse F security; I didn’t notice any 1K/1P/2P detours anywhere. So I got in line and after a 10 minute wait I was hustled through the cattle chute. The agents had TSA patches, so I’m guessing they were the new staff. They certainly were much more efficient than the last time I went through Miami. Anyway I quickly cleared security and headed over to my gate.
Our flight departed on time and we winged our way west. We arrived on schedule at SFO and I headed over to the United Express remote terminal.
This time I remembered to save the transcontinental menu for those interested in such things:
TO BEGIN
Fresh from the bakery
A selection of muffins, croissants and bagels with butter, cream cheese, and fruit preserves
MAIN COURSE
Asparagus, potato and pepper frittata and fresh fruit appetizer
Cream cheese blintz with dried fruit, cognac and pecans, orange sauce, sautéed Canadian and sliced bacon
Seasonal fresh fruit platter
For the lighter appetite, we offer a variety of fresh fruit with cereal.
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
Gourmet deli plate
Citrus-marinated shrimp with cocktail sauce, Genoa salami, five-spice roasted tenderloin, Westphalian ham, turkey, Cheddar, and mozzarella cheese, red onion marmalade with herbed artichokes, honeydew melon and breadsticks.
Mrs. Fields cookies warm from the oven
FEATURED WINES
Your flight attendant will inform you of today’s selection
Sparkling Wine
Veuve Amiot Brut
Bouvet non-vintage, Loire
White Wine
Guenoc Valley California Chardonnay 2000
Pionero Valle Central Chardonnary 1999
Red Wine
Carmen Valle Central Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Louis M. Martini California Cabernet 1999
Thursday, October 10
UX 6426 – SFO to SMF (Sacramento)
EMB-120 (500 MP Miles)
A few UX flights had been cancelled, fortunately not mine, and we were on our way on a full flight to Sacramento. This time I was crammed into the bulkhead window seat 2C, but for a 25 minute flight I could put up with it. We arrived on time and by 1:30 p.m. I was home!
>>> EPILOGUE <<<
On Friday I got an e-mail from my South American friends that flew back to Buenos Aires on Varig from Porto Alegre. They wanted to make sure I got home ok plus wanted to share their own adventure after we had said goodbye in Brazil. Apparently their Porto Alegre to Buenos Aires flight got DIVERTED TO MONTEVIDEO (they didn’t tell me if it was because of weather or a mechanical problem). There they spent some time on the ground then were finally flown to EZE. Their families had spent the night in the airport waiting for them.
All of my miles for all segments, including the Varig domestic POA-GRU flight, posted to my Mileage Plus account. With bonuses I scored 31,205 miles.
Varig treated me, and all of the diverted passengers, with concern and respect. It didn’t matter to them that I was on a dirt cheap internet special fare; I was their customer and I would be taken care of. I will definitely consider Varig for any future South American travel.
Special kudos to the staff of the Varig Special Services office at Sao Paulo International Airport. They know how to get things done!
While I ended up paying the $150 change fee to United, I really don’t mind. I made some new friends, got to visit a city in Brazil that I would probably never go to on my own, have a good travel story to tell, and had a taste of Chile (pun intended!). And no, I am not going back to Varig to try and get them to pay the $150.
Hope you enjoyed reading my story!
*** FIN ***
[This message has been edited by El Cochinito (edited 10-14-2002).]
Monday, October 7
UA 872 – GRU (Sao Paulo) to MIA (Miami)
B-777 (4050 MP Miles)
After wrapping up the check-in process at the United counter, I turned to my Varig escort who had been patiently waiting for me. We headed across the hall towards the big “DEPARTURES / IMMIGRATION” sign.
As we walked, images from every bad prison movie ever made started flashing through my mind. We slowly approached the security desk where id’s and boarding passes are reviewed. The security guard rifled through my passport and ticket jacket. A conversation was held with the Varig agent. Apparently there was a problem. I started sweating. Profusely.
Turned out that United forgot to put the scan code sticker on my boarding pass. The Varig agent told me to wait right there and she sprinted back to the United counter. She came back with the necessary sticker and we were ready to continue.
Into the den of third world officialdom known as outbound immigration.
Where respect is everything and your life is held in the hands of an underpaid bureaucrat.
Of course there was absolutely nobody in line and a single, bored Brazilian Federal Police officer waiting patiently at his station. Looking for anything to break the monotony. Waiting for me.
As we approached, my Varig escort whispered “Let me do the talking”. Naturally I thought that would be a great idea. She handed the officer my passport and boarding ticket. A conversation in Portuguese started, similar to what I had heard countless times before: “blah blah blah – visa – blah blah blah – American – blah blah blah – Miami”. The officer asked her a few questions, all the while staring at me with a grim look of determination on his face. He went through my passport, page by page, front to back examining my collection of entry/exit stamps. Was he looking for a phantom Brazilian visa? He got to the end of the passport, then repeated the process back to front. Page by page. Slowly. Deliberately. All the while watching me stand there.
Finally he handed me my passport and boarding pass, said something in Portuguese to the Varig agent (probably “get him out of here”) and she said I was free to go! I thanked her profusely for the service Varig provided, gave her a hug, and I was out of there. Security was painless and I was airside at last.
Our United flight to Miami was not very full. There was quite the interesting gauntlet us passengers had to go through down the jetway – various security stations examining carryon bags. I was not selected for secondary screening and quickly made my way to 17C. On this flight 17D & 17E were empty. Too bad the arm rest in 17C was fixed.
Flying time was less than 7 hours and there was a chance we could arrive early. Our flight path took us northwest over Manaus, Brazil then towards the northern coast of Columbia before heading north over Cuba and on to Miami. Since I had not eaten all day, the dinner service was welcome (chicken or beef) and I thought the food was great. I managed to get several hours of sleep, waking up for the breakfast service. We were given a selection of fruit, some cheese, a couple of slices of ham, and a roll. I guess the catering dollars go farther in Brazil because the food was definitely an improvement over the MIA-EZE run.
We arrived into Miami at 4:00 a.m. It was a LONG hike from our gate to immigration. There was just a short line and I was quickly admitted into the United States. Whew! Downstairs to baggage claim and I breezed through customs. I was at the Doubletree Hotel on Bayshore Drive by 5:00 a.m. Fortunately they had my room ready still. After a quick shower and nap I was up at 7:30 a.m. ready to face a long day of meetings.
Thursday, October 10
UA 872 – MIA to SFO
B-777 (2585 MP Miles)
I was up at 4:00 a.m. and checked out by 4:30 a.m. to catch a taxi for the airport. Only two other passengers were waiting to check in at the United counter. My upgrade had cleared back in Sao Paulo, so I was assigned seat 8J in the business cabin. The only thing open in the terminal was Burger King so I got something to eat before heading upstairs to security.
There was already a line forming at concourse F security; I didn’t notice any 1K/1P/2P detours anywhere. So I got in line and after a 10 minute wait I was hustled through the cattle chute. The agents had TSA patches, so I’m guessing they were the new staff. They certainly were much more efficient than the last time I went through Miami. Anyway I quickly cleared security and headed over to my gate.
Our flight departed on time and we winged our way west. We arrived on schedule at SFO and I headed over to the United Express remote terminal.
This time I remembered to save the transcontinental menu for those interested in such things:
TO BEGIN
Fresh from the bakery
A selection of muffins, croissants and bagels with butter, cream cheese, and fruit preserves
MAIN COURSE
Asparagus, potato and pepper frittata and fresh fruit appetizer
Cream cheese blintz with dried fruit, cognac and pecans, orange sauce, sautéed Canadian and sliced bacon
Seasonal fresh fruit platter
For the lighter appetite, we offer a variety of fresh fruit with cereal.
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
Gourmet deli plate
Citrus-marinated shrimp with cocktail sauce, Genoa salami, five-spice roasted tenderloin, Westphalian ham, turkey, Cheddar, and mozzarella cheese, red onion marmalade with herbed artichokes, honeydew melon and breadsticks.
Mrs. Fields cookies warm from the oven
FEATURED WINES
Your flight attendant will inform you of today’s selection
Sparkling Wine
Veuve Amiot Brut
Bouvet non-vintage, Loire
White Wine
Guenoc Valley California Chardonnay 2000
Pionero Valle Central Chardonnary 1999
Red Wine
Carmen Valle Central Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Louis M. Martini California Cabernet 1999
Thursday, October 10
UX 6426 – SFO to SMF (Sacramento)
EMB-120 (500 MP Miles)
A few UX flights had been cancelled, fortunately not mine, and we were on our way on a full flight to Sacramento. This time I was crammed into the bulkhead window seat 2C, but for a 25 minute flight I could put up with it. We arrived on time and by 1:30 p.m. I was home!
>>> EPILOGUE <<<
On Friday I got an e-mail from my South American friends that flew back to Buenos Aires on Varig from Porto Alegre. They wanted to make sure I got home ok plus wanted to share their own adventure after we had said goodbye in Brazil. Apparently their Porto Alegre to Buenos Aires flight got DIVERTED TO MONTEVIDEO (they didn’t tell me if it was because of weather or a mechanical problem). There they spent some time on the ground then were finally flown to EZE. Their families had spent the night in the airport waiting for them.
All of my miles for all segments, including the Varig domestic POA-GRU flight, posted to my Mileage Plus account. With bonuses I scored 31,205 miles.
Varig treated me, and all of the diverted passengers, with concern and respect. It didn’t matter to them that I was on a dirt cheap internet special fare; I was their customer and I would be taken care of. I will definitely consider Varig for any future South American travel.
Special kudos to the staff of the Varig Special Services office at Sao Paulo International Airport. They know how to get things done!
While I ended up paying the $150 change fee to United, I really don’t mind. I made some new friends, got to visit a city in Brazil that I would probably never go to on my own, have a good travel story to tell, and had a taste of Chile (pun intended!). And no, I am not going back to Varig to try and get them to pay the $150.
Hope you enjoyed reading my story!
*** FIN ***
[This message has been edited by El Cochinito (edited 10-14-2002).]