New Brazilian Codeshares

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Aug 30, 2008, 4:13 pm

sergio_vidal

Original Poster

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: Porto Alegre, Brazil (POA)

Programs: Varig Smiles Gold, TAP Victoria, Emirates Skywards, TAM Fidelidade, Miles & More

Posts: 11

New Brazilian Codeshares

Varig has been allowed by the government to codeshare flights with Gol and AirEuropa.

Does somebody know how (or if) could this affect Varig Smiles FFP (seat availability, service...)?

At same time, TAM and Lufthansa are going to codeshare too.

Aug 30, 2008, 8:49 pm

djjaguar64

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 2001

Location: YYZ

Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond

Posts: 14,135

TAM will soon be a Star Alliance partner, if you care to know.

Aug 31, 2008, 11:33 am

pb9997

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: GRU

Programs: *A Gold, OW Sapphire, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Plat

Posts: 3,367

I absolutely fail to understand what's Varig's strategy, under GOL management.

RG used not to be great with their FFP, now under a management that absolutely has other priorities than a FFP, I very much doubt it'll be revamped to the pax benefit or in fact for the carrier's business at all...

Anyway, I am as curious as you are with what might happen...

Cheers.

Sep 4, 2008, 3:49 am

Moranguinho

Join Date: Oct 2005

Programs: TK Elite Plus; LH M&M SEN; Hertz Presidents Circle; IHG Royal Ambassador

Posts: 419

There is simply no strategy for Varig. You can see this, if you remember the unplaned long haul adventure. Start selling tickets 1 week before starting the route, not offering any kind of connection and canceling the flights and routes all the time. All this coming along with a stupid and incompetent customer service, that seems to think, that the customer is some kind of monkey, and that they have to play games with the customer. I can not understand, why Varig is stil flying, with this kind of administration this is a wonder.

But at least the provide one last good thing : Varig status is good for status-matching.

Sep 5, 2008, 2:22 am

FlyingRabbit

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: Usually GIG

Programs: Smiles Diamante, dirt elsewhere

Posts: 957

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moranguinho

But at least the provide one last good thing : Varig status is good for status-matching.

do you think I could try a status-matching with TAM? Been diamond forever with Varig, but really can't see why I should keep on earning miles with Varig since I have pretty much no place to go with my miles now.

Sep 8, 2008, 7:00 pm

qfrodo

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: Virginia and Vitoria, ES Brazil

Programs: UA 1K, Million Miler, *G, JJ, AD, Global Entry, CLEAR, H.O.G. Life Member

Posts: 1,408

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingRabbit

Just a thought, but speculation is that TAM will be joining *A. At that point, you could see which *A carrier would give you the best deal on a status match or a challange.

Sep 10, 2008, 9:33 am

Pegasus23

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Denver, CO USA

Programs: UA-Gold, 1MM, Marriott Gold, Global Entry

Posts: 1,086

Does anyone have a start date for TAM being in Star Alliance?

Early Nov 08 traveling UA ORD-GRU connect with TAM GRU-GIG. Hoping I can interline checked bags? Will I go through Customs, Immigration/passport control in GRU or GIG? How long should I plan between flights?

Thanks!

Sep 10, 2008, 10:17 am

pb9997

Join Date: Apr 2001

Location: GRU

Programs: *A Gold, OW Sapphire, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Accor Plat

Posts: 3,367

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pegasus23

My guess is that you should do customs/immigrations in GRU. Immediately after coming out of GRU customs there's a check-in/deposit TAM area for arrival international pax.

I wouldn't worry much about missing a flight to Rio. In a worst case scenario simply ask TAM to take you to CGH and then onwards to Rio (SDU), a much more convenient airport in Rio. Both CGH and SDU are downtown airports. TAM has a own reliable bus to transfer pax between airports.

Also landing at SDU is a memorable experience for foreigners...

Cheers

Sep 10, 2008, 10:36 am

Pegasus23

Join Date: Jun 2003

Location: Denver, CO USA

Programs: UA-Gold, 1MM, Marriott Gold, Global Entry

Posts: 1,086

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb9997

Thanks for the info!

Tried to book a GRU to SDU Very expensive and infrequent service....I'll take the long runway at GIG....I have a car meeting me at GIG.