Luggage collection?!
 

Hi I wonder if anyone can help as I'm being passed pillar to post! I am flying with TAM Airlines from Heathrow to Rio next month with a connecting TAM flight in Sau Paulo en route (approximately 2 hour wait at São Paulo). My question is whether or not I need to collect my luggage at São Paulo before taking my flight to Rio? The airline have said:

"The luggage will be tagged to Rio, however, it will be necessary to pick them up in São Paulo and check them again in the connection counter."

My question is if the luggage is tagged to Rio, how can it possibly be collected at São Paulo? Won't it just be taken off the first flight and put onto the connecting TAM flight? My travel agent is clueless and now TAM won't respond to my query. We have 2 hours between flights. Any help much appreciated.

The way it works in the U.S., which may also be the way in works in Brazil, is that you pick up your bag at your point of entry because from there on your flights will be domestic and you won't pass through customs. After entering the country via customs and immigration, you proceed to a baggage re-check desk - usually right past the exit from customs - where they take your bag and put it on your connecting flight, using its existing tag.

That said, the only time I entered Brazil my flight went directly to Rio, which was my destination, so I don't really know the answer. I've asked a moderator to move this thread to the Brazil form, where you're more likely to find people who know how things work there.

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT Brazil Forum
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Some years ago when there was a required stopover in SP on flights from NY to Rio, immigration and customs were done in Rio. I don't know how it is currently, but if you are flying on a single ticket, then TAM will put on on the next plane to Rio, no worries. ^

You will have to pick up your bag in SP, go through customs/immigration and then re-check your bag to Rio. I wouldn't mess around with time either- last time I stopped in SP I ended up missing my flight because immigration took an hour and then I waited over 30 mins to re-check my bag and by then the flight was closed. That was last feb when some brasilians were actually still traveling though so airports were more crowded. Just be cognizant of this, especially if you arrive late.