SDU-GRU-IAD -- Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU domestic) to Sao Paulo Garulhos (GRU international) transferring to United 860 to Washington Dulles.

Since United cancelled the GIG-GRU segment on flight 860 in June, I have been concerned about the hassle and time required in transferring from domestic (SDU-GRU) to United international (GRU-IAD) in Sao Paulo. Bottomline: It was quick and easy.

On the return home from Rio, I like to get back to DC early so I can go to work the same day; therefore, the United flight from GIG-IAH-IAD, does not fit my schedule (as I would not return to DC until about 12noon). Taking United #860 from GRU-IAD gets me in at 6:40am. So, when United cancelled the GIG-GRU on flight #860, I was concerned about the extra time/hassles of the domestic to international transfer at GRU.

When purchasing a ticket on United.com, I opted to fly IAD-IAH-GIG; then, return SDU-GRU-IAD. The SDU-GRU segment is operated by GOL. I arrived at SDU about 2 hours in advance, which turned out to be much earlier than needed. However, the traffic in Rio is always unknowable, and I’d suggest allowing a few extra few minutes at the airport, because (at least form my flight) you must board a bus to drive from seating area to the GOL plane parked on the Tarmac. (As a note, I have flown out of SDU a few years back. This time, I found it to be quite a bit nicer and much more efficient than my home airport, DCA.)

At the GOL check-in, they have separate lines for flights to the Sao Paulo city airport (CGH - Congonhas) and the Sao Paulo international aiport (GRU – Garulhos). On check-in at SDU for the GOL flight to GRU, they DID check my bag my bag through to IAD (Dulles), so no need to pick up and re-check at GRU … a big time saver.

In Sao Paulo (GRU) the GOL plane arrived at (the old) Terminal 1. From there, it’s an easy (inside) walk to the new Terminal 3. That is, NO NEED to take a shuttle (I’m not even sure if there is a shuttle); it’s really not much different than walking between terminals at Chicago O’Hare. I’d say, max, a 10-15 minute walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3. After walking from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, it’s a simple, straightforward deal. Check in at the United desk. They did ask to see my claim ticket for the luggage I checked through from SDU to IAD. Ticket issuance was speedy and then on to security and customs, with almost no lines. (This was on a Tuesday evening at about 8pm.) All told, from the time the GOL plane landed from at GRU from SDU, it took me about 50 minutes total until I was sitting in the Star Alliance lounge in Terminal 3. (Even though I was on the last bus shuttling riders from the GOL plane – parked on the tarmac - to Terminal 1).

I have transferred at GRU from domestic to international a couple of times over the last few years, and it was not a pleasant either time. From yesterday’s experience, it seems that Brazil has finally got it right with its beautiful new international Terminal 3, which is as nice as any terminal in the U.S. and architecturally rivaling the terminals in Bangkok and Singapore. But mostly importantly, the ease of transferring from a domestic flight arriving at GRU’s Terminal 1 to an international departure at Terminal 3 was very, very unexpected.