Best Lounge in GIG (Rio de Janerio)?
Jul 28, 2011, 6:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Best Lounge in GIG (Rio de Janerio)?
I'll be passing through GIG in a week or so, and want to know which airline's lounge I should stop by and take a moment to relax. Any thoughts?
Jul 29, 2011, 8:34 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
What airline? Departing on a domestic or international flight? What cabin (economy or biz or first)? If international, there are two clubs downstairs from the end of the departure area: a TAM "gold" lounge (just for TAM gold-level passengers, I assume; not sure about criteria for high-level passengers of other Star Alliance member airlines), and a consolidated "VIP" lounge, for biz or first class passengers of a number of airlines (we used it when departing on US Airways Envoy Class). Only other club I've used is the American Express Centurion Club, outside security, at the end of terminal 1 (?). I saw a posting about an AA Admirals Club at GIG but have never seen it.
Jul 29, 2011, 9:19 am
#4
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I'm flying international on GOL--a very indirect route to Santiago. I'm a Priority Pass member, and their website says I have access to the Smiles Lounge, the AA club, and the United club. I have a couple hours to kill, so I'm not opposed to walking to the other terminal if the club is that much better. Preferably something with free booze and satisfying food . . .
Jul 29, 2011, 4:33 pm
#5
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The Smiles lounge is the former Varig lounge. United still uses it. Adjacent to the TAM lounge in Terminal 2. I like it.
Welcome to Flyertalk lycidas1
Welcome to Flyertalk lycidas1
Jul 30, 2011, 6:57 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,188
Sounds like the VIP lounge. You should see signs for all lounges after you go through security and passport control. Turn left, walk to the end of the gate area, and go down stairs just before a Duty Free shop. Enjoy.
Aug 4, 2011, 3:20 pm
#7
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GOL flies mostly from Terminal 1 so you will have only the AA lounge to use. Oddly the old Varig lounge (now GOL) is in Terminal 2 and is used by mostly Star Alliance carriers otehr than TAM, which has another lounge by itself. The lounges are airside and you cannot move between teh terminals airside, nor can you acces airside without a BP for departure from that terminal.
After you pass security and passport control in T1, you take escalators to teh upper level, turn right and keep going. The AA lounge is after the Dufry shop.
After you pass security and passport control in T1, you take escalators to teh upper level, turn right and keep going. The AA lounge is after the Dufry shop.
Nov 2, 2011, 8:08 pm
#9
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Nov 2, 2011, 9:01 pm
#10
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Thanks. I will be flying CO GIG-IAH and I'll keep an eye out for the Smiles lounge. What is the shower situation? The GRU showers were "broken" in both the TAM and UA lounges.
Nov 3, 2011, 7:44 pm
#11
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The showers at the Smiles lounge at GIG were broken a number of months ago as they had boiler problems. I believe they have been repaired, but I haven't asked to be sure.
Nov 3, 2011, 10:35 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Rio de Janeiro
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CO hasn't moved to Terminal 2, so you won't be able to access the Smiles lounge. CO offers access to an independent lounge named SEA.
Nov 4, 2011, 8:12 am
#13
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Nov 4, 2011, 8:40 pm
#14
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Nov 6, 2011, 3:30 pm
#15
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They let me bring a guest but the lounge wasn't special - just like you said! Both bathrooms were broken, the wifi was slow, and the food selection was mediocre.