We're arriving on BA from LHR at 06.05 and leaving several days later on Turkish for EZE at 19.15, transferring both to and from Brasilia.

I don't know how to find minimum connection times and if I did I don't know how reliable they are! What is the earliest flight to and arrival from Brasilia that you would be confident will be OK?

Were it my choice I'd allow at least three hours on the return in order to deal with either delays or check in issues.

On the inbound portion I'd allow at least two hours. If you miss the connection there will be another one coming soon. No problem. but you'll need to clear immigration and customs. I'm assuming you're not Brazilian so the lines can be long.

I also agree at least 3 hours, even more. Once you land (maybe on time, maybe not), you have to to through Immigration, then wait for your bags to arrive at a carousel (can take a while and it can be chaotic), then go through Customs (you can shop at a duty free store beforehand)-- going through Customs doesn't even require filling out a form if you have nothing to declare BUT you could ge pulled aside for an inspection anyway-- then exit security, find the transit desk, check in then go through security upstairs and go to your gate. Have you already bought your Turkish tickets so that your domestic flight would be booked separately? In that case, you may have to check-in at the regular check-in counters upstairs rather than at the transit desk (not a big deal, but you'd be under domestic baggage weight rules).

Good points. If it is possible to have all the flights on the same PNR there are advantages, not least in not having to recheck bags at GRU on your departure, but also to avoid reissuing BP's, and maintaining international luggage rules.

Not carryon BTW. The 5kg limit remains for domestic carryon.

I'm actually trying to work out how to book BSB to EZE on one ticket - I've asked for help on the Star Alliance board here. I'm not used to all these complications, so I'd love to know if you have any suggestions.

Also, thanks to you both for your help.

Any airline or travel agent should be able to book it all. Some do not, but they should be able to do so. Your fare construction will be clearly shown anyway so it ought not to cost extra to do it this way. Just ask whoever you're using. travelocity/orbitz may not work because they are structurally quite US centric and often choke on these fares. Competent travel agents have no problem. Because you've have multiple alliances there probably is advantage to a travel agent.

Assuming that works, you'll need to ensure that you have the booking PNR for each carrier, as well as that of the issuing carrier. If you run into issues here you can ask us on the board or open a conversation.

I know is seems we're complicating thinks, but in the end this will simplify your trip.

If you are booked one one ticket, on your departure your bags should be checked through, but you'd still have to exit security and go to the Turkish Airlines check-in counter (standing in line with those just beginning their trip there) and get your boarding pass, then go through security to the international flights section, and government passport control (hang on to the immigration form you got when you arrived, since you hand it over on your exitg). Then to your gate. Allow enoug time for this.

OP would need to recheck bags at GRU in any event, but if on one throug-ticket, could do that at the transit desk and, as noted, be under the international flight baggage weight limits.

Thanks to you both.

We've eventually booked a *A redemption flight so Brasilia - GRU on TAM then GRU - EZE on Turkish.

From reading the above, I'm a bit confused now though! As far as I can tell, we will be able to check in online before heading to Brasilia airport. So (1) can TAM check our luggage all the way through to EZE? (2) if we have checked in online, what do we need to do at GRU?

hey,

From my experience flying into Brasil with a domestic connection at GRU... I had to get my luggage and clear customs then check-in with TAM domestic and re-enter the domestic departure terminal, go through security, etc...

I can't remember how it worked when leaving Brasil, but I'm *quite* sure that once you get to GRU from BSB... you'll need to pick up your luggage and re-enter the international departures terminal (go through security and customs).

How long is your layover in GRU?

2.20. Hopefully enough but if not, there is a later TAM flight which they should put us on as we are on one ticket.

Arrival info is correct: Immigration, baggage carousel, Customs, transit desk (outside the secure area), then pass through security to the domestic flight.

Our experience, with many trips, is that leaving from Brazil your bags will be transferred to your international flight (your bags should be tagged with your final destination, of course), but you won't yet have your boarding pass, so upon arrival back at GRU you have to walk past the baggage claim area to the check-in counter for your ariline, stand in ine with those just starting their trip at GRU, and get your boarding pass, then go through security to the international departure area, go through government passport control (hand back the form you got upon arrival), and proceed to your gate. No Customs procedure for departure. We've had to do this when switching from a TAM domestic flight to international flights on United, Continental, American and US Airways.

So no online check in?

IME, they put a barcode sticker on your boarding pass, indicating you've paid the exit tax (government tax, part of the taxes you pay with the ticket). You can't get this online with a non-Brazilian airline, so even if you do OLCI, you have to go to the counter to get the sticker. You can select seats in advance, doing online check-in, though.
If you exit the country, you can check the bags through and don't need to collect them at GRU. When you enter the country, you have to collect the bags and pass customs.

Oh what a mess!

Well, the rule is "On the first Brazilian airport you land you need to pick up your luggage, go through customs and then re-check them in the connections desk". In GRU as soon as you clear customs and immigration there will be in the same level a connections check-in desk and you'll check in your luggage to Brasilia.

2 hours and 20 minutes will be enough, very likely.

As soon as you check in your bags in the connecting desk you'll go up one level and then enter the boarding room for national flights, B room, if I am not mistaken, but is clearly labeled. When you land in Brasilia, it will be just a national flight, no further controls will be enforced.

And you'll need to fill out a form for customs, it will be given to you (in English) in the inbound flight to Sao Paulo. Fill it during the flight or you'll have to stop in the mess of the arrival area to fill one and delay your connection.

There will be another form for immigration.

You can check in online with TAM (even with a mobile app, it can be found on play store or iTunes), and if your flight to EZE is via Turkish Airlines and it is not on the same ticket (redemption) you'll have to pick up your luggage in GRU and then check in at Turkish Airlines desk to EZE. TAM will not check in your luggage to EZE if the redemptions are on diferrent tickets on *A, if they are in the same ticket I would ask upon checking in from BSB to GRU what should be the procedure. I don't think they can check in the luggage for the Turkish Airlines flight because TAM operates that same route (GRU X EZE) and usually the companies do not allow this kind of "cooperation".