Varig report (from PAR to AMS)
Dec 23, 2002 | 6:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,269
Varig report (from PAR to AMS)
A few days ago I flew with Varig Brasil Airlines from Paris to Amsterdam and here is short report:
What was good:
* flight was operated with Boeing 777-200 equipment which is such a tremendous aircraft - very powerful in takeoff, very stable in flight. Flying time was extremely short (only 35..45 minutes if I remember correctly).
* Plane was empty (approximately 50...100 passengers were on board). Lot, a l o t of room. Varig has free seating between Paris and Amsterdam (This will, of course, be a down-side if plane is full).
In Y class 3 seats are in the center and 3 seats along the sides.
* Snack (cheese-sandwich featuring two sorts of cheese + piece of lettuce) was very good. I can tell as I have feasted on sandwiches on Tallinn-Helsinki (AY/EE), Copenhagen-Vienna (OS), Vienna-Paris (OS) and Amsterdam-Frankfurt (LH) flights during recent days
* Prices are rock-bottom. Cost for my one-way ticket was 74 euros+tax (published fare) and this was probably one of the highest Y-class fares on the market (as far as Varig tickets are concerned). Dutch travel agents sell space to Varig airplanes flying from Amsterdam to Paris for 19 euros. Published one way ticket in D-class (biz) is 165 EUR+tax, in A-class (first) 330 EUR + tax.
* Cheerful, breezy, alive feeling inside the airplane.
What was not so good:
* PAR-AMS flight is considered to be a international flight (non-Schengen flight) as the plane departs originally from Porto Alegre. Passengers must go through passport control in Paris and enter to Schengen area again in Amsterdam. Security check in Paris was very rigid (I was asked to remove my shoes and belt) and in Amsterdam passports were checked twice (first time just at the gate). Interestingly passport was not stamped neither in Paris nor in Amsterdam.
* Entertainment system in the airplane was not working properly.
* Selection of drinks was limited to orange juice (I asked for a beer and heard from flight attendant that they have run out of it).
* Varig ticket counters in Paris and Amsterdam are almost always deserted (with exception of the late evening before flight for Brasil is leaving). Check-in is handled by Globeground and you are in your own if you want to speak with Varig personnel.
* FA-s seemed to have less strict attitude towards safety procedures that SAS or Lufthansa (for example safety-belt fastening was not checked before landing)
Varig flights depart from CDG Terminal 1. IMHO this is worn-out, narrow and ugly building. Bathrooms in basement were messy and possibilities to use the internet were limited to 2 inconveniently set computers.
As a positive note, terminal 1 is place to see some less know airlines - Pulkovo Aviation, Corsair, Saudi Arabia Airlines, Air China, Royal Air Maroc, Kuwait Airlines, Air Gabon, Azerbajian Airlines, Gulf Air, Cabo Verde Airlines etc.
[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 12-23-2002).]
[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 12-23-2002).]
[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 12-23-2002).]
What was good:
* flight was operated with Boeing 777-200 equipment which is such a tremendous aircraft - very powerful in takeoff, very stable in flight. Flying time was extremely short (only 35..45 minutes if I remember correctly).
* Plane was empty (approximately 50...100 passengers were on board). Lot, a l o t of room. Varig has free seating between Paris and Amsterdam (This will, of course, be a down-side if plane is full).
In Y class 3 seats are in the center and 3 seats along the sides.
* Snack (cheese-sandwich featuring two sorts of cheese + piece of lettuce) was very good. I can tell as I have feasted on sandwiches on Tallinn-Helsinki (AY/EE), Copenhagen-Vienna (OS), Vienna-Paris (OS) and Amsterdam-Frankfurt (LH) flights during recent days
* Prices are rock-bottom. Cost for my one-way ticket was 74 euros+tax (published fare) and this was probably one of the highest Y-class fares on the market (as far as Varig tickets are concerned). Dutch travel agents sell space to Varig airplanes flying from Amsterdam to Paris for 19 euros. Published one way ticket in D-class (biz) is 165 EUR+tax, in A-class (first) 330 EUR + tax.
* Cheerful, breezy, alive feeling inside the airplane.
What was not so good:
* PAR-AMS flight is considered to be a international flight (non-Schengen flight) as the plane departs originally from Porto Alegre. Passengers must go through passport control in Paris and enter to Schengen area again in Amsterdam. Security check in Paris was very rigid (I was asked to remove my shoes and belt) and in Amsterdam passports were checked twice (first time just at the gate). Interestingly passport was not stamped neither in Paris nor in Amsterdam.
* Entertainment system in the airplane was not working properly.
* Selection of drinks was limited to orange juice (I asked for a beer and heard from flight attendant that they have run out of it).
* Varig ticket counters in Paris and Amsterdam are almost always deserted (with exception of the late evening before flight for Brasil is leaving). Check-in is handled by Globeground and you are in your own if you want to speak with Varig personnel.
* FA-s seemed to have less strict attitude towards safety procedures that SAS or Lufthansa (for example safety-belt fastening was not checked before landing)
Varig flights depart from CDG Terminal 1. IMHO this is worn-out, narrow and ugly building. Bathrooms in basement were messy and possibilities to use the internet were limited to 2 inconveniently set computers.
As a positive note, terminal 1 is place to see some less know airlines - Pulkovo Aviation, Corsair, Saudi Arabia Airlines, Air China, Royal Air Maroc, Kuwait Airlines, Air Gabon, Azerbajian Airlines, Gulf Air, Cabo Verde Airlines etc.
[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 12-23-2002).]
[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 12-23-2002).]
[This message has been edited by fokker50 (edited 12-23-2002).]
Dec 23, 2002 | 10:53 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Burlingame, CA
Programs: TK Miles & Smiles, AF Flying Blue, AA Advantage, AS Mileage Plan
Posts: 2,160
Thanks for the nice report and helpful hints. I always like to read about non-European carriers flying intra-European routes. AMS-PAR for 19 EUR is a great price.
