Sep 15, 21, 12:35 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
American Airlines has taken a 5.2% interest in Brazilian airline GOL Linhas Areas Inteligentes S.A.
American will invest US$200 million in 22.2 million newly issued preferred shares of GOL in a capital increase, for a 5.2% participation in the Companys economic interest. The completion of the agreements described in this press release, including the proposed equity investment are subject to conditions, including the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive documentation, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
The expanded agreement between AA and GOL includes:
Exclusive Codeshare between the U.S. and Brazil
GOL will become Americans sole codeshare partner in Brazil and American will become GOLs sole codeshare partner in the U.S. On their combined networks, customers can travel to more than 30 destinations served by American in the U.S. and more than 20 new destinations in South America served by GOL.
Enhanced Joint Loyalty Offering
The largest network in the Americas will also be the most rewarding for travelers. In 2022, GOLs SMILES and Americans AAdvantage loyalty members will gain access to their elite benefits such as priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding, a larger checked baggage allowance, lounge access and preferred seats on both airlines. The two airlines also expect to offer an enhanced joint loyalty offering to give customers more ways to earn and redeem miles.
Commercial Cooperation
The strengthened relationship will also allow for further commercial cooperation in areas such as purchasing, sales tools and systems integrations, as allowed by regulatory and contractual limitations. American will have the right to appoint one member to GOLs board of directors, who, in addition to other duties, will be granted membership and participation on GOLs Alliance Committee and any other board committees related to the operational partnership between GOL and American.
Wording quoted from AA news release (15 Sep 2021).
Link to full AA news release
Link to related story in One Mile at a Time blog
.
American will invest US$200 million in 22.2 million newly issued preferred shares of GOL in a capital increase, for a 5.2% participation in the Companys economic interest. The completion of the agreements described in this press release, including the proposed equity investment are subject to conditions, including the negotiation, execution and delivery of definitive documentation, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
The expanded agreement between AA and GOL includes:
Exclusive Codeshare between the U.S. and Brazil
GOL will become Americans sole codeshare partner in Brazil and American will become GOLs sole codeshare partner in the U.S. On their combined networks, customers can travel to more than 30 destinations served by American in the U.S. and more than 20 new destinations in South America served by GOL.
Enhanced Joint Loyalty Offering
The largest network in the Americas will also be the most rewarding for travelers. In 2022, GOLs SMILES and Americans AAdvantage loyalty members will gain access to their elite benefits such as priority check-in, priority security, priority boarding, a larger checked baggage allowance, lounge access and preferred seats on both airlines. The two airlines also expect to offer an enhanced joint loyalty offering to give customers more ways to earn and redeem miles.
Commercial Cooperation
The strengthened relationship will also allow for further commercial cooperation in areas such as purchasing, sales tools and systems integrations, as allowed by regulatory and contractual limitations. American will have the right to appoint one member to GOLs board of directors, who, in addition to other duties, will be granted membership and participation on GOLs Alliance Committee and any other board committees related to the operational partnership between GOL and American.
Wording quoted from AA news release (15 Sep 2021).
Link to full AA news release
Link to related story in One Mile at a Time blog
.
AA 5.2% stake in GOL / G3: expanded codeshares, elite perks (Sep 2021)
Sep 15, 21, 11:15 am
#1
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AA 5.2% stake in GOL / G3: expanded codeshares, elite perks (Sep 2021)
Reciprocal elite benefits and lounge access coming.
I would not be surprised if they became a Oneworld Connect member.
Hopefully, AA will help them upgrade their employee training and IT systems - both are currently awful.
https://news.aa.com/news/news-detail...9/default.aspx
I would not be surprised if they became a Oneworld Connect member.
Hopefully, AA will help them upgrade their employee training and IT systems - both are currently awful.
https://news.aa.com/news/news-detail...9/default.aspx
Sep 15, 21, 11:28 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
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I fly between Sao Paulo and Rio fairly often. Currently my airline preference is AD>LA>the bus>G3. But having let Latam get away, there aren't a lot of dance partners left.
Sep 15, 21, 11:34 am
#4
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Sep 15, 21, 11:39 am
#5
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I tried the new Itapemirim airline last time I was in Brazil (I refuse to book a domestic AA-G3 codeshare ever again) and it wasn't terrible. It reminded me of JetBlue without the TV's. It has potential.
Sep 15, 21, 12:25 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 24
I have an AA-Gol trip coming up (GRU-BSB on Gol). What should I watch out for?
Sep 15, 21, 1:15 pm
#8
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Actually, AA to GOL has not been an issue as long as your flight is on-time. If your flight is late and AA has to rebook you expect GOL to have IT issues. The return where you have to check-in with GOL is the problem spot. BSB may actually be okay since GOL flies to the US from there but at other outstations expect issues.
Sep 15, 21, 1:57 pm
#9
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Ground staff is disorganized, support is problematic, and planes are miserably cramped. Not to say that Latam isn't also miserably cramped on this route, but at least their A319s have an inch more width and you can purchase "PE", which is sort of like European J, i.e., no one in the middle seat. On Gol it's sardine class all the way. Azul flies their E190s on this route and they are so much more comfortable.
Sep 15, 21, 2:13 pm
#10
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Ground staff is disorganized, support is problematic, and planes are miserably cramped. Not to say that Latam isn't also miserably cramped on this route, but at least their A319s have an inch more width and you can purchase "PE", which is sort of like European J, i.e., no one in the middle seat. On Gol it's sardine class all the way. Azul flies their E190s on this route and they are so much more comfortable.
Sep 16, 21, 2:24 am
#11
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AD, while nice in the air (they are by far the best), often operates from absolutely awful budget terminals and far away airports.
LA is average in the air, but they are strongest on the ground because of their frequency on many routes and international capacity.
G3.. has neither. But they do have a lounge for domestic which is kind of rare for Brazil. But most lounges are Priority Pass anyways.
Sep 16, 21, 7:34 am
#12
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All the airlines have their pros and cons.
AD, while nice in the air (they are by far the best), often operates from absolutely awful budget terminals and far away airports.
LA is average in the air, but they are strongest on the ground because of their frequency on many routes and international capacity.
G3.. has neither. But they do have a lounge for domestic which is kind of rare for Brazil. But most lounges are Priority Pass anyways.
AD, while nice in the air (they are by far the best), often operates from absolutely awful budget terminals and far away airports.
LA is average in the air, but they are strongest on the ground because of their frequency on many routes and international capacity.
G3.. has neither. But they do have a lounge for domestic which is kind of rare for Brazil. But most lounges are Priority Pass anyways.
IMHO
In the air: AD>G3>LAOn the ground: LA>AD>............G3.
Nov 11, 21, 7:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Nectar Card
Posts: 1,019
So, stay away from GOL if possible? 
Sounds like people dislike GOL, particularly on an AA ticket.
The bus is before G3! My goodness, G3 must be problematic.
I was thinking, "Oh! This poster seems to have the same perspective on AA-G3, as this one trip report I read where G3 employees didn't know what TIMATIC was." I realized it was you, and now it makes sense. 
Tangential, but I was once flying out of SDU and at the entrance of the queue to security, some airport employee was checking luggage size. He asked "which airline?" When I said LA, he just waved me on. My assumption was he was instructed to be more vigilant for G3 ticket holders since G3 is more of an LCC. G3 being vigilant about cabin baggage isn't bad per se, but it's a hassle to be aware of that other carriers on the route might not have.
Sounds like people dislike GOL, particularly on an AA ticket.Ground staff is disorganized, support is problematic, and planes are miserably cramped. Not to say that Latam isn't also miserably cramped on this route, but at least their A319s have an inch more width and you can purchase "PE", which is sort of like European J, i.e., no one in the middle seat. On Gol it's sardine class all the way. Azul flies their E190s on this route and they are so much more comfortable.
Nov 12, 21, 6:43 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 24
Just flew G3 GRU-BSB-GRU as part of a longer AA itinerary from the US. Lack of ability to pick seats as AA EXP was noteworthy.
Clean planes, welcoming staff. Easy checkin on the return leg. Got all boarding passes for both AA and GOL at checkin for both outbound (AA) and return (GOL).
No way to select seats ahead of time (back of the plane in a middle seat). The GOL web site rejected my attempts to pull up the reservation using the GOL PNR and AA had no control over seating.
Deplaning in GRU was very slow; just one shuttle bus going back and forth for the A319.
Clean planes, welcoming staff. Easy checkin on the return leg. Got all boarding passes for both AA and GOL at checkin for both outbound (AA) and return (GOL).
No way to select seats ahead of time (back of the plane in a middle seat). The GOL web site rejected my attempts to pull up the reservation using the GOL PNR and AA had no control over seating.
Deplaning in GRU was very slow; just one shuttle bus going back and forth for the A319.
Nov 16, 21, 10:24 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: Nectar Card
Posts: 1,019
Just flew G3 GRU-BSB-GRU as part of a longer AA itinerary from the US. Lack of ability to pick seats as AA EXP was noteworthy.
Clean planes, welcoming staff. Easy checkin on the return leg. Got all boarding passes for both AA and GOL at checkin for both outbound (AA) and return (GOL).
No way to select seats ahead of time (back of the plane in a middle seat). The GOL web site rejected my attempts to pull up the reservation using the GOL PNR and AA had no control over seating.
Deplaning in GRU was very slow; just one shuttle bus going back and forth for the A319.
Clean planes, welcoming staff. Easy checkin on the return leg. Got all boarding passes for both AA and GOL at checkin for both outbound (AA) and return (GOL).
No way to select seats ahead of time (back of the plane in a middle seat). The GOL web site rejected my attempts to pull up the reservation using the GOL PNR and AA had no control over seating.
Deplaning in GRU was very slow; just one shuttle bus going back and forth for the A319.
Perhaps it's lucky that you managed to get your GOL BP at check-in for AA, otherwise the GOL staff may not have been able to find your reservation in GRU?
