TAM - worst OW airline?
Apr 8, 2016, 3:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: AA LT PLT; HH Diamond; AS 75K
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TAM - worst OW airline?
I've flown most of the OW carriers and think (domestic) TAM is just terrible. Given this is only a sampling of 4 flights out of or to GRU domestically. Check-in is terrible (even with OW E status), terminals are hot with no domestic lounges, no business class seats, 30" pitch with really pretty minimal to poor service. 220 seats on a A321??
Given the size and importance of Brazil, I would think an OW airline would want to provide better domestic service - business seats, lounges at major hubs, etc.
Given the size and importance of Brazil, I would think an OW airline would want to provide better domestic service - business seats, lounges at major hubs, etc.
Apr 8, 2016, 5:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: British Airways Gold
Posts: 2,636
Nothing you've described is any different on any other airline in Brazil.
Check in lines vary a lot in my experience, but agree you don't save a huge amount of time in the priority queue.
Lounges and business class seating are not features of the Brazilian domestic market. Never experienced hot terminals, but that's the airport, not TAM.
Brazil can suck.... it took 45 minutes to check in at the AA business class desk on Saturday.
Check in lines vary a lot in my experience, but agree you don't save a huge amount of time in the priority queue.
Lounges and business class seating are not features of the Brazilian domestic market. Never experienced hot terminals, but that's the airport, not TAM.
Brazil can suck.... it took 45 minutes to check in at the AA business class desk on Saturday.
Apr 8, 2016, 11:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
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Right, and the current owners don't offer business class cabins or domestic lounges in Chile either. VARIG had domestic business class for a while toward the end, but that didn't quite work out ...
Apr 9, 2016, 1:26 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
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...which is higer than AA,AB,IB and probably a few other OW members?
S7 is amazing for OW elites,extra space seats,lounges at virtually every airport,constant op ups,excellent IT and online services,new fleet of 32X and 738.
Don't make assumptions by purely looking at skytrax
S7 is amazing for OW elites,extra space seats,lounges at virtually every airport,constant op ups,excellent IT and online services,new fleet of 32X and 738.
Don't make assumptions by purely looking at skytrax
Apr 9, 2016, 1:29 pm
#8
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Apr 9, 2016, 1:38 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Apr 9, 2016, 2:57 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
If you want slightly better in-flight service and seating in Brazil, try either Avianca (Star Alliance) or Azul (UA MileagePlus partner). Both have more limited networks than TAM or GOL, but are more comfortable. Azul has a version of premium economy; neither has business class. There are no domestic airline lounges in Brazil (except TAM at SDU) as far as I know. Priority Club, Diners, Lounge Club, AMEX Platinum, etc have limited offerings at a few airports. All airlines have priority check-in and boarding queues for seniors, pregnant women, etc by law. TAM has oneworld emerald check-in, separate from the legally mandated priority queue. Sometimes the priority queues are quicker.
Apr 9, 2016, 3:10 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NUE
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Posts: 365
Which airport?
Apr 9, 2016, 3:27 pm
#12
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But back to JJ. I'd rank them ahead of AA in some measures. Specifically their carry-on policy. Minimal permitted carrry-ons (5 kg unless it has changed in the last year) makes for easy boarding and everyone gets ample overhead space. This means no scrum to be first on and a cabin which feels less crowded. No FAs running around trying to squeeze bags in non existent space. It works.
Apr 12, 2016, 8:51 am
#13
Original Poster
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Agreed.
But back to JJ. I'd rank them ahead of AA in some measures. Specifically their carry-on policy. Minimal permitted carrry-ons (5 kg unless it has changed in the last year) makes for easy boarding and everyone gets ample overhead space. This means no scrum to be first on and a cabin which feels less crowded. No FAs running around trying to squeeze bags in non existent space. It works.
But back to JJ. I'd rank them ahead of AA in some measures. Specifically their carry-on policy. Minimal permitted carrry-ons (5 kg unless it has changed in the last year) makes for easy boarding and everyone gets ample overhead space. This means no scrum to be first on and a cabin which feels less crowded. No FAs running around trying to squeeze bags in non existent space. It works.
Apr 12, 2016, 3:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
...which is higer than AA,AB,IB and probably a few other OW members?
S7 is amazing for OW elites,extra space seats,lounges at virtually every airport,constant op ups,excellent IT and online services,new fleet of 32X and 738.
Don't make assumptions by purely looking at skytrax
S7 is amazing for OW elites,extra space seats,lounges at virtually every airport,constant op ups,excellent IT and online services,new fleet of 32X and 738.
Don't make assumptions by purely looking at skytrax
I agree with you. Based on my experience is a pretty solid airline.
Apr 17, 2016, 2:45 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,595
If you want slightly better in-flight service and seating in Brazil, try either Avianca (Star Alliance) or Azul (UA MileagePlus partner). Both have more limited networks than TAM or GOL, but are more comfortable. Azul has a version of premium economy; neither has business class. There are no domestic airline lounges in Brazil (except TAM at SDU) as far as I know. Priority Club, Diners, Lounge Club, AMEX Platinum, etc have limited offerings at a few airports. All airlines have priority check-in and boarding queues for seniors, pregnant women, etc by law. TAM has oneworld emerald check-in, separate from the legally mandated priority queue. Sometimes the priority queues are quicker.