General Info

I know others have mentioned it before about high fares for the airlines I think this article may have part of the answer:

[url]http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2075717,00.html[/url]

I have been monitoring airfares lately and hoping they went down but instead they went up, American Airlines has gone up to about $2,400 RT, may be good if you have reais but with dollars I find this unrealistic.

For the same time period TAM has been holding at $972 with tax and fees, I figured with American and others going up in price that it wouldn't be long for Tam to follow so I bought the ticket. Last trip I paid $700 on American so this is a 40% increase. I guess if you want to play then you have to pay and pay and pay.

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon;1164712]I have been monitoring airfares lately and hoping they went down but instead they went up, American Airlines has gone up to about $2,400 RT, may be good if you have reais but with dollars I find this unrealistic.[/QUOTE]Where are you flying from? I just checked American for a R / T in Sept 15-26, (cheaper to fly midweek,) ORD to GIG: $937usd on Tam, $1033 on US Airways, $1053usd on Continental and United, $1056 on American and Delta. $2390usd on Iberia.

[url]www.kayak.com[/url]

Amizade Colorida. Friends with benefits.

Paquerar. Flirt.

Flertar. Old portuguese. Same as paquerar.

Namorar / namorada. Having a relantioship with someone (girfriend)

BUT, in some cases namorar means to have sex / make love (politely) especially when you don't know the person enough to propose starting a relationship.

So if a girl tells you quero namorar (com) voce and you don't know her it means: I want to have sex with you

[QUOTE=Java Man; 1164761]Where are you flying from? I just checked American for a R / T in Sept 15-26, (cheaper to fly midweek,) ORD to GIG: $937usd on Tam, $1033 on US Airways, $1053usd on Continental and United, $1056 on American and Delta. $2390usd on Iberia.

[url]www.kayak.com[/url][/QUOTE]Yeah, using this site and airfare. Com Tam comes out a few dollars more for my high season timeframe but American is still as high but not shown on this chart.

Im taking the non-stop JFK-GIG $972 including tax and fees, this site has it as 1001 and cheap tickets has it at 1601.

What is the best airline to travel to brazil. I'm going to buy my ticket next week and I have been leaning toward aa. How is copa airlines? Any other recommendations. Aa is about 1700 round trip from sfo-gig. Copa is like 1500. If the plane is nice I don't mind paying more, I just don't want to be in a crappy plane for 10 hours

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon;1164712]I have been monitoring airfares lately and hoping they went down but instead they went up, American Airlines has gone up to about $2,400 RT, may be good if you have reais but with dollars I find this unrealistic.[/QUOTE]Damn first class. For that much money they should allow you to FLY the plane.

[QUOTE=Mr Enternational;1164804]Damn first class. For that much money they should allow you to FLY the plane.[/QUOTE]Last week business class on American was only $500 more than coach, business was $2600 RT. But now its about 3500, I was tempted last week to buy the 2600 business class ticket.

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1164798]What is the best airline to travel to brazil. I'm going to buy my ticket next week and I have been leaning toward aa. How is copa airlines? Any other recommendations. Aa is about 1700 round trip from sfo-gig. Copa is like 1500. If the plane is nice I don't mind paying more, I just don't want to be in a crappy plane for 10 hours[/QUOTE]

I have never taken Copa but I hear it is bad, I believe they stop in Panama? If they do then I believe that the planes are not even wide bodies, they are 737's, do you want to fly all the way down to Rio in a 737? forget them.

I believe that TAM is the best airline as far as price / service and schedule and Hot Brazilian flight attendents..

Try to get to JFK and take the non stop JFK to GIG, it arrives at 5:30 am or go to Miami they have a flight out of Miami.

Unless you are into airframes, the 737's are not that bad IMHO. There are a lot less people on the plane. I've been flying with them for years, the best part are the numerous class upgrades I've received through my travels with them. Coach class isn't so bad either, at least they keep you fed and cocktails are a nice way to neutralize any seat discomfort you may have. The airport in PTY is a nice place to do some last minute shopping on their Duty Free, it's really nice getting some good stuff to consume while on the go. My last purchase for a roundtrip fare was in November from LAX to GIG and 3 out of the 4 legs I got moved from coach to business class. The fare was $756 USD. I'd say not a bad deal. But that was just before the damned "Fuel surcharges" went into effect.

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon; 1164807]I have never taken Copa but I hear it is bad, I believe they stop in Panama? If they do then I believe that the planes are not even wide bodies, they are 737's, do you want to fly all the way down to Rio in a 737? Forget them.

I believe that TAM is the best airline as far as price / service and schedule and Hot Brazilian flight attendents.

Try to get to JFK and take the non stop JFK to GIG, it arrives at 5:30 am or go to Miami they have a flight out of Miami. [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon;1164807]I have never taken Copa but I hear it is bad, I believe they stop in Panama? If they do then I believe that the planes are not even wide bodies, they are 737's, do you want to fly all the way down to Rio in a 737? forget them.[/QUOTE]The seat that you are in is going to be the same size whether 737 or 767, so the size of the plane is moot. And yes, Copa definitely stops in Panama.

Not if one is flying First or Business Class. Sangue Bon's $2400usd R / T JFK. GIG is for business class. I did not realize that immediately. DOH!

Double that airfare for first class on American. $9600 to $12000usd on TAM first class!

[QUOTE=Grandnash84;1164798]What is the best airline to travel to brazil. I'm going to buy my ticket next week and I have been leaning toward aa. How is copa airlines? Any other recommendations. Aa is about 1700 round trip from sfo-gig. Copa is like 1500. If the plane is nice I don't mind paying more, I just don't want to be in a crappy plane for 10 hours[/QUOTE]American out of Dallas might be OK, but if you have to go through Miami International Airport, I would avoid that at all cost. I despise the Miami airport. Confusing signage (or none at all when there should be some) , long, looooong walks from one part of the airport to another, uncomfortable departure lounges, etc. I hate the place and actively avoid it. I have been to many, many airports around the world, and Miami's is one of the worst I've passed through. It's a zoo in there! Copa is the primary international carrier operating out of Panama, which means that you'd have to stop in Panama City. It's an OK airline, but I always prefer non-stops if I can get them.

[QUOTE=Java Man; 1164951]Not if one is flying First or Business Class. Sangue Bon's $2400usd R / T JFK. GIG is for business class. I did not realize that immediately. DOH!

Double that airfare for first class on American. $9600 to $12000usd on TAM first class! [/QUOTE]

Sorry that I wasn't clear that $2400 is coach not bus class on AA, if it was bus class it would have been a good price and I wouldn't complain.


[QUOTE=Voyajer1;1164876]Unless you are into airframes, the 737's are not that bad IMHO. There are a lot less people on the plane. I've been flying with them for years, the best part are the numerous class upgrades I've received through my travels with them. [/QUOTE]

Thanks for the report now I know better, I never flew them but I spoke to a Doctor once in Rio who did and she didn't like it, but it sounds OK. I had another friend who complained about the 737 but you're all right, less people and same seat size, why does it matter.

[QUOTE=The Cane;1164991]American out of Dallas might be OK, but if you have to go through Miami International Airport, I would avoid that at all cost. I despise the Miami airport. Confusing signage (or none at all when there should be some) , long, looooong walks from one part of the airport to another, uncomfortable departure lounges, etc. I hate the place and actively avoid it. I have been to many, many airports around the world, and Miami's is one of the worst I've passed through. It's a zoo in there! Copa is the primary international carrier operating out of Panama, which means that you'd have to stop in Panama City. It's an OK airline, but I always prefer non-stops if I can get them.[/QUOTE]American flies one of its 767's from DFW to GIG 2 or 3 times a week - non stop. But, all of these airline prices are simply getting sky high, pun intended.

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon;1165002]Sorry that I wasn't clear that $2400 is coach not bus class on AA, if it was bus class it would have been a good price and I wouldn't complain.[/QUOTE]$2400usd for coach? Not to pry, but is / was this a last minute decision to fly to Rio? And leaving on a weekend? Just wondering why it's so high.