Help required for a Transit Stay at GRU
Sep 9, 2014, 8:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Help required for a Transit Stay at GRU
Hi,
I have a GDL-->MEX-->GRU-->DOH-->DEL Flight, at the end of september, where the mexico city to Sao paulo lands at 10:30 AM, but the Qatar airlines flight leaves only at 2:00 AM next day
Now I have a almost whole day to spend, need your help in understanding the following:-
1) I dont have any club membership, will I be able to stay in any of the lounge by paying for the daily pass? If yes, How can I contact them now, to ensure, it is confirmed.
2) Can I go out of the airport, (Does GRU has visa on arrival?), I heard that If I go out, I need to get a yellow fever vaccination done???
3) Also, I was told that, at GRU, I need to collect my check in bag and re check it in, to Qatar. Is it true?
I have a GDL-->MEX-->GRU-->DOH-->DEL Flight, at the end of september, where the mexico city to Sao paulo lands at 10:30 AM, but the Qatar airlines flight leaves only at 2:00 AM next day
Now I have a almost whole day to spend, need your help in understanding the following:-
1) I dont have any club membership, will I be able to stay in any of the lounge by paying for the daily pass? If yes, How can I contact them now, to ensure, it is confirmed.
2) Can I go out of the airport, (Does GRU has visa on arrival?), I heard that If I go out, I need to get a yellow fever vaccination done???
3) Also, I was told that, at GRU, I need to collect my check in bag and re check it in, to Qatar. Is it true?
Sep 9, 2014, 9:54 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
There is no visa on arrival. There is no transit visa. If you need a visa (depending on which passport you hold, which you have not specified), you should leave enough time to get it from your 'home' Brazilian Consulate.
Yellow fever vaccination has two reason. To protect yourself in an area that has an outbreak, which is not GRU afaik. To gain entry into a country when coming from one that has an outbreak. If you are going to Quatar, ask those officials if they consider Brazil, even just the airport, to be of sufficient risk for them to require a vaccination of you.
Yellow fever vaccination has two reason. To protect yourself in an area that has an outbreak, which is not GRU afaik. To gain entry into a country when coming from one that has an outbreak. If you are going to Quatar, ask those officials if they consider Brazil, even just the airport, to be of sufficient risk for them to require a vaccination of you.
Sep 9, 2014, 10:25 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Ok,Thanks for your response about yellow fever. I am holding an Indian Passport, and It looks , I would not be go out of the airport, but Can you please let me know, if in that case, for a different calender day transit, will I be able to staya t airport, as I assume, I need to re checkin my bags again.
Sep 9, 2014, 4:41 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Hey I got 2 different versions:-
1) In one of the forum, someone has traveled the same route, for them at Mexico City, the airline has asked some fees, for transit visa and kept their passport, at GRU, They were escorted to the gate, at that time, their passport was given back to them.
2) When I called the airlines, I was told to contact the embassay, and for the above said process, they say, they dont know.
Airline reply is not very helpful as It is two different E-Ticket, one is from AeroMexico, for GRU->MEX->GDL and other is from GRU-->DOH-->DEL, though the booking is done through Qatar.
I am told, that for airside, Aero Mexico agents will help, in passing my luggage through customs, and that is all is required, but since nobody is telling a confirmation, trying to get help from the eminent forum members.
1) In one of the forum, someone has traveled the same route, for them at Mexico City, the airline has asked some fees, for transit visa and kept their passport, at GRU, They were escorted to the gate, at that time, their passport was given back to them.
2) When I called the airlines, I was told to contact the embassay, and for the above said process, they say, they dont know.
Airline reply is not very helpful as It is two different E-Ticket, one is from AeroMexico, for GRU->MEX->GDL and other is from GRU-->DOH-->DEL, though the booking is done through Qatar.
I am told, that for airside, Aero Mexico agents will help, in passing my luggage through customs, and that is all is required, but since nobody is telling a confirmation, trying to get help from the eminent forum members.
Last edited by l etoile; Sep 10, 2014 at 9:06 am
Sep 10, 2014, 12:39 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
Even if you could stay airside, max is something like 7 or 9 hours without a visa. To check-in for a second airline with 2 separately-ticketed flights, you will likely have to leave secure area, Can't imagine how Aeromexico agents would get you through Customs, much less Immigration. Better confirm with Brazilian embassy. No visas issued at the airport. If visa required and you don't have one, you may not get on first flight.
Sep 11, 2014, 8:19 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Even if you could stay airside, max is something like 7 or 9 hours without a visa. To check-in for a second airline with 2 separately-ticketed flights, you will likely have to leave secure area, Can't imagine how Aeromexico agents would get you through Customs, much less Immigration. Better confirm with Brazilian embassy. No visas issued at the airport. If visa required and you don't have one, you may not get on first flight.
http://novadelhi.itamaraty.gov.br/en...nformation.xml
It clearly states, I dont need the visa. I am so confused now.
Sep 11, 2014, 10:32 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iowa City, IA
Posts: 337
You do not need a visa if you stay in the transit area and do not go through immigration and customs. This would be plausible to do if you had a normal layover. From my understanding though, you will have to leave the area if your layover is overnight. And honestly would you want to stay in an airport for 15.5 hours? It looks like the transit visa costs the same as a tourist visa so I would just apply for the normal one.
Sep 11, 2014, 10:40 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iowa City, IA
Posts: 337
I also found this on another forum where someone asked the same question:
When I originally booked the flight two weeks ago, I had a 12 hour, overnight layover in Sao, Paolo. The airline, TAM changed the booking at my request because the agent had noted on my reservation that he had advised me that I would not need a visa.
According to the Consulate of Brazil located in Boston, if one is in transit and not staying overnight (key!) and does not leave the transit area then one does not need a Visa. They state, "However, if you are only in transit through a Brazilian airport on your way to another country and do not plan to leave the transit area of the airport, you won’t need a visa, although it would be advisable to apply for one, considering that it is always possible that an international flight may be delayed or even cancelled due to unforeseen reasons and you might be interested in leaving the airport transit area."
When I originally booked the flight two weeks ago, I had a 12 hour, overnight layover in Sao, Paolo. The airline, TAM changed the booking at my request because the agent had noted on my reservation that he had advised me that I would not need a visa.
According to the Consulate of Brazil located in Boston, if one is in transit and not staying overnight (key!) and does not leave the transit area then one does not need a Visa. They state, "However, if you are only in transit through a Brazilian airport on your way to another country and do not plan to leave the transit area of the airport, you won’t need a visa, although it would be advisable to apply for one, considering that it is always possible that an international flight may be delayed or even cancelled due to unforeseen reasons and you might be interested in leaving the airport transit area."
Sep 11, 2014, 11:21 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Thanks, the issue is I dont have enough time left for the travel, and it will not be done by the time, my travel is, which is in End of Sept. I was told that there is one, Hotel on the airport which provide the bunk beds.
Sep 12, 2014, 11:35 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iowa City, IA
Posts: 337
You might want to check, but I get the impression that the "hotel" is outside of security. Even though you will be in the terminal a long time, I don't know how they would police it exactly. I doubt they check everyone's layover time when you stay airside. I would just buy a pass to a lounge and if they figure out you are there too long you will probably be so close to your flight time it won't matter.
Sep 12, 2014, 1:32 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Virginia and Vitoria, ES Brazil
Programs: UA 1K, Million Miler, *G, JJ, AD, Global Entry, CLEAR, H.O.G. Life Member
Posts: 1,407
Terminal 1, 2 and 3 are all connected airside. There is a Fast Sleep in the walkway between Termina 1 and Terminal 2. http://www.fastsleep.com.br/en/
As long as you are able to board your first flight in MEX and are not forced to leave airside to obtain a boarding pass for Qatar this might help.
As long as you are able to board your first flight in MEX and are not forced to leave airside to obtain a boarding pass for Qatar this might help.
Sep 12, 2014, 4:18 pm
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
I still don't see that anyone has answered the question of baggage being ticketed through to final destination or not. If you have to pick up your baggage and check in for the final flight, that takes you out of the transit area, does it not?(original question 3) This a question to direct to the airline.
@nsammy--It is my understanding that the process for a tourist visa for an Indian passport holder may be considerably more rigorous than for a transit visa.
OP, if you need a visa and do not have one, your airline likely will not let you board the flight into Brazil.
@nsammy--It is my understanding that the process for a tourist visa for an Indian passport holder may be considerably more rigorous than for a transit visa.
OP, if you need a visa and do not have one, your airline likely will not let you board the flight into Brazil.
Sep 13, 2014, 1:41 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 22
Transit visa is not possible, A) I am in mexico and they dont have a consulate in the city I am living, it is going to take way longer. 2) It takes very long time.
Can anyone please help confirm it, Since it is a return travel, ( I have already came from India through this route, but that time, the baggage was checked in through, so no issues in staying airside for ~6 hours), but this time, 1) Aeromexico agent on phone and chat, is telling me that they dont have interline agreement, so they would not be doing it through (Is it possible that In reality things are different then what they tell on phone), 2) My Transit time is > 15 hours and that too, calender day is changing.
I was told that AeroMexico agent at checkin will give me a transit ticket or something, and they will keep my passport with them, until I reach GRU, once at GRU, their agent would come and will direct me to the transit area, and they will help me by tagging my luggage to the next destination, byrecheckin on my behalf.
Has anyone has any past experience with similar experience.??
Can anyone please help confirm it, Since it is a return travel, ( I have already came from India through this route, but that time, the baggage was checked in through, so no issues in staying airside for ~6 hours), but this time, 1) Aeromexico agent on phone and chat, is telling me that they dont have interline agreement, so they would not be doing it through (Is it possible that In reality things are different then what they tell on phone), 2) My Transit time is > 15 hours and that too, calender day is changing.
I was told that AeroMexico agent at checkin will give me a transit ticket or something, and they will keep my passport with them, until I reach GRU, once at GRU, their agent would come and will direct me to the transit area, and they will help me by tagging my luggage to the next destination, byrecheckin on my behalf.
Has anyone has any past experience with similar experience.??
Sep 14, 2014, 4:12 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
Transit visa is not possible, A) I am in mexico and they dont have a consulate in the city I am living, it is going to take way longer. 2) It takes very long time.
Can anyone please help confirm it, Since it is a return travel, ( I have already came from India through this route, but that time, the baggage was checked in through, so no issues in staying airside for ~6 hours), but this time, 1) Aeromexico agent on phone and chat, is telling me that they dont have interline agreement, so they would not be doing it through (Is it possible that In reality things are different then what they tell on phone), 2) My Transit time is > 15 hours and that too, calender day is changing.
I was told that AeroMexico agent at checkin will give me a transit ticket or something, and they will keep my passport with them, until I reach GRU, once at GRU, their agent would come and will direct me to the transit area, and they will help me by tagging my luggage to the next destination, byrecheckin on my behalf.
Has anyone has any past experience with similar experience.??
Can anyone please help confirm it, Since it is a return travel, ( I have already came from India through this route, but that time, the baggage was checked in through, so no issues in staying airside for ~6 hours), but this time, 1) Aeromexico agent on phone and chat, is telling me that they dont have interline agreement, so they would not be doing it through (Is it possible that In reality things are different then what they tell on phone), 2) My Transit time is > 15 hours and that too, calender day is changing.
I was told that AeroMexico agent at checkin will give me a transit ticket or something, and they will keep my passport with them, until I reach GRU, once at GRU, their agent would come and will direct me to the transit area, and they will help me by tagging my luggage to the next destination, byrecheckin on my behalf.
Has anyone has any past experience with similar experience.??
Going to a country for which you need a visa (transit or tourist) without one, simply trusting in information you got on the phone from one agent.......priceless.