We flew on Varig using *alliance reward flights(UA Mileage Plus) in March 2005.

Opinion mixed.

First we had an open jaw GRU-EZE-GIG in Business.

The GRU-EZE flight was overbooked generally, and we were put in a rather poor lounge in GRU while it was sorted out. It was only through the heroic behaviour of the check in lady who went with us to boarding and haggled in the latin way to get two seats for us. So thank you to her. Plane was rather old, and food and service indifferent.

The EZE-GIG flight was overbooked in Business, and we were put in Y. It was ok though for 3 hours.

Second we flew GIG - Iguacu(IGU) return in Business

The service was better on these flights, and the return plane was a new 757. At IGU the business class customers were allowed on first to the consternation of the other passengers (It is only a short walk to the plane)

All in all good value for *Alliance points ( business class 15,000 a sector - 120,000 points in all for 2 people) compared with the cash price for these flights.

Tom

On a side note, is there any non-stop service from from the US to SSA? I had heard TAM was doing MIA-SSA, but am not sure.

It was cut because the Brazilian passengers had to get visas for the US even in transit so both routes were haemorrhaging customers.