Guide: GRU / Sao Paulo Admirals Club & oneworld Airline Lounges

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Quote: You are allowed to hop between them all you like. Although I tend to spend more time in the AC, which I consider one of the best in the system and the best at the airport. The TAM lounge is stylish and spacious with great views, but the food is not up to much at any hour of the day. Don't even think of going there if you fancy a drink before lunchtime.
Neither lounge has great food. The TAM lounge has more showers so it's a great backup when the AC waitlist gets too long. On the other had, the AC has full size bottles of mosquito spray available upon request, which is nice...
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Quote: EXP here, planning to make my first GRU transit next month.

I'll be arriving from DFW (hopefully in J) on AA, and connecting to JJ (in Y) to GIG. Connection is 3-4 hours.

Will I be able to take a shower? Where is the best place and how do I get there?

Thanks!
Quote: So you will be arriving at T3 and will have to collect your luggage and recheck-it. Both OW lounges have good showers, but you won't be able to use them since you will have to go to T2 to take the domestic leg.
If you want to take a shower, it would be better for you to go the T2 arrivals and look for Slaviero's Fast Sleep. They charge 30 to 40 reais for it (I think).
Quote: I've done AA international to GRU with connection to TAM domestic and it pretty much sucks. No lounge you can use. Get your bags and recheck them (take a left after you leave customs and look for the TAM counter). The lower level (T-2 I think) has a decent bathroom next to domestic arrivals where you can clean up a bit and change clothes. There's a number of places to eat and drink before security and a couple after.
Quote: Thanks for the tip - while lounge access would be ideal, this doesn't seem like an unreasonable price to pay at all.

I'm not sure yet whether I'll have checked luggage. If I don't, how do I get from T3 International Arrivals to Slaviero's Fast Sleep?
You could go through transit security in T3, use the lounge to get cleaned up, and then exit through transit security to clear immigration and walk over to T2. If you've got an Amex Platinum, there's the bradesco lounge on the domestic side of T2 (head right instead of left after clearing security).
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Hi all,

I'll be coming off of AA DFW-GRU (arrives at 10:20) and departing on QR GRU-EZE (departs at 19:05), with both flights in J. Not sure if AA will be able to issue my QR boarding pass, so I'm looking to develop two plans:

(1) AA is able to issue QR BP: head through transit security and kill time in either the LATAM, AA, or QR contract lounges (I believe the latter is known as the "Executive Lounge," FWIW).

(2) AA is unable to issue QR BP: clear immigration and wait landside for QR check-in desks to open. Maybe check out a churrascaria nearby in the meantime.

Any thoughts or opinions?
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Quote: You could go through transit security in T3, use the lounge to get cleaned up, and then exit through transit security to clear immigration and walk over to T2. If you've got an Amex Platinum, there's the bradesco lounge on the domestic side of T2 (head right instead of left after clearing security).
Is this possible if you arrive internationally and hold a domestic connecting BP?
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Quote: Is this possible if you arrive internationally and hold a domestic connecting BP?
They haven't required a BP to proceed through transit security when I've pass through over the last year.
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Quote: Is this possible if you arrive internationally and hold a domestic connecting BP?
Quote: They haven't required a BP to proceed through transit security when I've pass through over the last year.
Ditto. It's unclear how much of a fuss the AC entrance agents might make - I definitely asked very nicely, plus it was a quiet time in the morning and I'm an AC member. Didn't bother trying the LATAM lounge since I just wanted a shower before heading to my connecting flight.

Quote: Hi all,

I'll be coming off of AA DFW-GRU (arrives at 10:20) and departing on QR GRU-EZE (departs at 19:05), with both flights in J. Not sure if AA will be able to issue my QR boarding pass, so I'm looking to develop two plans:

(1) AA is able to issue QR BP: head through transit security and kill time in either the LATAM, AA, or QR contract lounges (I believe the latter is known as the "Executive Lounge," FWIW).

(2) AA is unable to issue QR BP: clear immigration and wait landside for QR check-in desks to open. Maybe check out a churrascaria nearby in the meantime.

Any thoughts or opinions?
As 869 mentioned, I've not been asked for a BP to go through transit security in T3, and the Executive Lounge might let you in based on a printout of your e-ticket receipt showing the QR flight...but no guarantees.
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Quote: Thanks for the tip - while lounge access would be ideal, this doesn't seem like an unreasonable price to pay at all.

I'm not sure yet whether I'll have checked luggage. If I don't, how do I get from T3 International Arrivals to Slaviero's Fast Sleep?
If you do or don't check luggage you will have to go out at the arrivals area. After you leave, you have to turn left, go up one floor (between the arrival floor and the departure one) and walk around 10 to 15 minutes to T2. There as visible signs. You won't get lost.

You will notice you will get to T2 whenever you reach a food court area (Starbucks, RedLobster and some others). Keep walking straight untill you see an escalator down to the T2 arrivals area. After that you have to go to a small corridor on the left. Fast Sleep is in the end of this corridor.
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Guys, I don't think it's possible to enter T3 with a domestic flight. T2 have international flights but they are separate from the int. ones
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Quote: You could go through transit security in T3, use the lounge to get cleaned up, and then exit through transit security to clear immigration and walk over to T2. If you've got an Amex Platinum, there's the bradesco lounge on the domestic side of T2 (head right instead of left after clearing security).
Is this confirmed to be possible? As I mentioned, I have a ~9 hour layover. I was thinking of heading to the AC/other lounge to shower and freshen up, and then exit via immigration to try a churrascaria or something. If this plan is feasible, that sounds great!
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Quote: Guys, I don't think it's possible to enter T3 with a domestic flight. T2 have international flights but they are separate from the int. ones
Definitely possible if you arrive from an international flight.
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Quote: Is this confirmed to be possible? As I mentioned, I have a ~9 hour layover. I was thinking of heading to the AC/other lounge to shower and freshen up, and then exit via immigration to try a churrascaria or something. If this plan is feasible, that sounds great!
if you have a nine hour layover, there are better ways to spend your time in Sao Paulo than to hang around GRU after freshening up. Unfortunately, the area surrounding the airport isn't that great. However, you can get to Avenida Paulista (centro) via taxi (Taxi Comun takes plastic) or if you can find the bus service. The downtown area has great bar areas (Rua Augusta, north of Paulista), shopping - Oscar Freire (ten block walk south of Paulista - take Rua Haddock Lobo or Rua Augusta) and restaurants intermixed.
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Quote: Is this confirmed to be possible? As I mentioned, I have a ~9 hour layover. I was thinking of heading to the AC/other lounge to shower and freshen up, and then exit via immigration to try a churrascaria or something. If this plan is feasible, that sounds great!
Have a back up plan. I've flown into GRU transiting thru to MVD several times. Sometimes, my BP is checked when I go thru security at international connections, and sometimes it is not. When it is checked, they only give it a brief glance. I think one time, they asked for a BP, but I didn't have one to show and I just pointed to the flight on the board that I was trying to connect to. To sum it up, it can be a crap shoot.

I've also killed a 14 hour layover once at the Marriott near GRU. Used a free night certificate and took advantage of Elite perks. Just an idea...
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GRU is a decent airport but TAM or AC lounge are nothing spectacular.

If you have few bucks to spend, I highly recommend a hotel. There is nothing to do in neighboring area either.
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Quote: Hi all,

I'll be coming off of AA DFW-GRU (arrives at 10:20) and departing on QR GRU-EZE (departs at 19:05), with both flights in J. Not sure if AA will be able to issue my QR boarding pass, so I'm looking to develop two plans:

(1) AA is able to issue QR BP: head through transit security and kill time in either the LATAM, AA, or QR contract lounges (I believe the latter is known as the "Executive Lounge," FWIW).

(2) AA is unable to issue QR BP: clear immigration and wait landside for QR check-in desks to open. Maybe check out a churrascaria nearby in the meantime.

Any thoughts or opinions?
You can also stay air side, use either lounge and get your QR boarding pass from the gate agent once they show up before the QR flight takes off. I did kind of the same itin (mixing AA and QR to EZE) and AA was able to print the QR BP without issues
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Very nice lounge though lighting and other minor issues spoiled the positives. Main one, as noted, no NAmerican style pugs, just the annoying local ones that make most adaptors useless too. Food was more than adequate though. As for no F section, considering the Brazilian economy and the downsizing of F cabins on the new 77Ws that AA is flying, not much point.
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