FlyerTalk Forums - Choosing a OW program QF vs AA

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannen

Hm... For R$90 (US$40) you can go ultra comfortable, that is your seat reclines fully, you get champagne, beer, wine, 3 course dinner and whiskey. Buses in Brazil/Chile/Argentina are generally very comfortable, even the cheapest bus I was on was more comfortable than any bus I've been on in Europe.
I did arrive in Rio at sunrise, maybe that would be the only dodgy part about taking the bus, but there are buses throughout the day and taxis are readily available outside the bus-terminal.
Is a question of $$ and comfort ofcourse.

As WBT points out, safety should also be considered. See the following (roughly translated) extract from Brasil's Veja magazine Nov 2005, forwarded to me by an aviation safety colleague at EMBRAER:

(VEJA, NOV 20, 2005)

DANGER ON THE ROADS
Every year, one in every three interstate passenger buses is involved in an accident in Brazil. In general, about 2,400 persons die every year in these mishaps. One of the main reasons are drivers that fall asleep while driving. More than a half of a group of 400 that have been interviewed by the Federal University of Sao Paulo admitted that had fallen asleep while driving. Other research, performed by the Univeersity of Brasilia, identified the reasons for the drowsiness and what they did to fight it:

THE MORE FREQUENT PROBLEMS
65% take alcoholic beverages regularly
47% frequently feel drowsy while driving
42% still continue at their job after being involved in accidents

WHAT THEY DO TO FIGHT DROWSINESS
90% drink coffee
55% take softdrinks that contain caffeine
30% smoke

Happy landings... ;)