Connections GRU
 

Self connecting , At GRU inbound from LHR on BA outbound MVD on LATAM , ( both T3) will I need to clear imigration on can I stay in the transit area : as I have 9 hours was intending to book into the TRYP hotel airside in T3 ? Much apreciate any help will be HBO

I can't report on the Tryp, other than that I recall them having very weird conditions of booking with them in terms of boarding passes and what- not. But yes you can easily stay airside at T3, it's pretty slick by South America standards. A bit of walking and just a fairly rapid security check, follow the clear signage. Switching terminals at GRU on the other hand.....

Baggage?

Tryp hotel can be pricey ($150-200USD). You should be able to access the LATAM lounge in T3 with BA Gold and they have a rest room in there (with long day beds) which is pretty quiet and dark. There is also an AMEX and an American Airlines lounge, but I'm not sure of the sleeping possibilities in those.

will be hand bagae only

Just be aware, LATAM's HBO is quite weight limited if you're used to BA's anything you can lift. Not sure how closely it's enforced but I'm doing a BA J into GRU T3 then LATAM Y T2 onwards soon so may be able to report back unless anyone else knows.

Latam turned me away flying BA246 last month (although with no Latam connection in Brazil) - said that the agreement with BA ended in mid 2024.
Which is a shame, because the American lounge is truly mediocre, and the Latam GRU lounge is by some distance the best airline lounge I've used in Brazil.

I did this exact same trip some 14 months ago, though on one ticket BA to Latam. No immigration. I cannot remember which Lounge I used, but I do remember being a tad bored since the BA flight arrived early and there was not a lot to do, apart from a shower and copious coffees to stay awake. IIRC I had 6 hours between flights. For 9 hours a hotel (even if you have to go landside) could be a good decision.

BA > Latam
 

You can connect/stay airside and my inclination would be to do so. Immigration queues can be nasty in T3. You’ll only have access to LATAM lounge if you’re in business class to Mvd or have LATAM status. The Amex lounge is OK and has daybeds in a separate area. Note that although LATAM shows Montevideo flights as leaving from T3, my experience is that they always leave from T2. This seems to confound even the lounge staff who have frequently told me confidently that I will be boarding from T3. Theres an airside walkway between the two terminals so its not a problem but you wont want to spend more time in T2 than you have to.

I did a BA-J arriving into GRU and connecting on a LATAM flight out of GRU last year HBO and didn’t notice them being strict at the gate. Not sure if it was because 1) they were running late and the boarding area was jam packed and 2) my flight ended up going out from a bus gate. It could be a random check thing and I’ve been lucky with all my LATAM flights in Peru, Chile, and Brazil so far.

If both your flights are on the same ticket and you’re checked through to MVD, you won’t need to clear immigration at GRU. You can stay airside and even check the TRYP hotel in T3. But if they’re on separate tickets or you need to collect your bags, you’ll have to go through immigration and recheck. Kinda like how desert safari dubai tickets makes things easier when everything’s booked together instead of separate.

Hello,

I am booked on CGK - DOH - GRU - SCL in one ticket for mid April 2026, the CGK - DOH and DOH - GRU segments will be flown on Qatar and the rest on LATAM. It would be a short layover (estimated arrival in GRU at 17:15 PM, estimated departure to SCL at 18:35 PM).

Can my checked luggage make it to the LATAM flight with such a short layover? I assume it will, because the said itinerary is available on Qatar's website and mobile apps (not through travel agents)?

I find when I fly in J, there is much less scrutiny for all airlines