Rio de Janeiro Reports

[QUOTE=Exec Talent]I noticed some items were stolen from my bag on my recent trip to Rio. Nothing expensive since I carry those items onboard. It might be a good idea to start inventorying items in your bag and check to make sure everything is there before leaving the airport. If not, file a claim at the baggage claim office. They speak English (or is it inglês?).

Also after coming back to the US, I noticed that several containers inside my bag which had been sealed were opened. Nothing taken so I assume it was done by security.[/QUOTE]


Good advice by ET so I thought I'd quote it. ;)

No, I'm not English or American, but I can speak the former pretty well, both colloquially and BBC. ;) I spell Brasil the Brasililan way out of respect. Another bastion that was stolen by economic occupiers. I'm tickled pink that someone went and looked it up in all those places thinking that Brasil might be the English spelling. Careful Golfinho - if you quote my Cambodian posts you'll have BR.Specialist speaking Khmer no doubt. But at least you can see I engage helpfully on forums where politeness and relevant information still reigns. Now if BS&ET have had enough squabbling I'll go back to sleep. {Summer sun soon be here . . . sleepy smiley}

I have also had crap stolen from my bags upon arrival in Rio. Lost a crappy $25 mobile phone, a good multi purpose pen knife $50, and a couple of bottles of victorias secrets stuff. I am thinking they were stolen in Brazil rather than the Miami side because you wouldn't think an American would risk his job for beat up second goods to the value of less than $100. The airport in Rio is very corrupt, many holes in the security.

In English, Brazil is spelt with a Z, this is an English speaking board hence that is the appropriate way to spell it. No one is going to get upset if it is spelled the Brazilian Portuguese way ie with an s, however with a Z is definitely correct.

I found it very funny.... that a monger going to Brazil-Brasil :D where he will pay hookers, eating at restaurants, staying in hotel or expensive flats at very expensive total final bill.... is so cheap Charlie he really has to save 10 fucking bucks at airport to have his suitcases closed in the film-nylon ( sorry I do not know how to call it correctly ) ?

I am pretty sure they are not gonna to cut it and even if they do, you have insurance that pays you until something of 3-400 euro if they steal something, so if they rob you cheap stuff, you are gonna probably to earn money too, declaring they steal you more expensive stuff.

I always use it and I never had my suitcase opened in 16 years of travelling in all the world, but I also saw that only 5-10% of suitcases had it.

Be wiser: drink 2 caipirinha less and invest better your 10$ LOL

[QUOTE=Lukasek]I found it very funny.... that a monger going to Brazil-Brasil :D where he will pay hookers, eating at restaurants, staying in hotel or expensive flats at very expensive total final bill.... is so cheap Charlie he really has to save 10 fucking bucks at airport to have his suitcases closed in the film-nylon ( sorry I do not know how to call it correctly ) ?

I am pretty sure they are not gonna to cut it and even if they do, you have insurance that pays you until something of 3-400 euro if they steal something, so if they rob you cheap stuff, you are gonna probably to earn money too, declaring they steal you more expensive stuff.

I always use it and I never had my suitcase opened in 16 years of travelling in all the world, but I also saw that only 5-10% of suitcases had it.

Be wiser: drink 2 caipirinha less and invest better your 10$ LOL[/QUOTE]
Lukasek,

The issue for those traveling in the US is that all luggage is subject to being opened and inspected. If it is locked (or wrapped) security can break the lock or unwrap it in order to examine the contents.

In the Rio international airport they offer the wrapping service. However, unless someone knows differently, it is not offered in US airports.

It used to be that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel in the US would put an official looking document inside your luggage when they inspected it. I used to save them for future trips and put them on top of my luggage contents in hopes that they would see it and think it already had been inspected.

In Atlanta this trip an inspector opened and was going through the contents of someone's luggage (without them being present) right next to the luggage carousel after her cute little dog indicated she should take a look.

[QUOTE]
The issue for those traveling in the US is that all luggage is subject to being opened and inspected. If it is locked (or wrapped) security can break the lock or unwrap it in order to examine the contents.
[/QUOTE]

What they have is locks for your luggage or straps that have locks on them that are TSA approved. You know the combination but the TSA knows the master combination. If you use this then the TSA can open your bags and inspect if they want and then re-lock your suitcase. This way when your bag gets to Rio then most likely the people who work in the Rio airport woulld be less likely to open your bag and steal from it since it would be locked.

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon]What they have is locks for your luggage or straps that have locks on them that are TSA approved. You know the combination but the TSA knows the master combination. If you use this then the TSA can open your bags and inspect if they want and then re-lock your suitcase. This way when your bag gets to Rio then most likely the people who work in the Rio airport woulld be less likely to open your bag and steal from it since it would be locked.[/QUOTE]
I purposefully was comparing a regular lock to plastic wrapping since there is no TSA combination for the plastic wrapping (see how that is like a regular lock?). I guess sometimes you really have to spell everything out for some members of this forum.

BTW, my bet is that the thieves at the Rio airport probably had the master combination before many TSAs in the US.

[QUOTE=Exec Talent]
... In the Rio international airport they offer the wrapping service. However, unless someone knows differently, it is not offered in US airports ...

[/QUOTE]


It's very commonly done in the Miami airport. Almost US :)

[QUOTE=Exec Talent]I purposefully was comparing a regular lock to plastic wrapping since there is no TSA combination for the plastic wrapping (see how that is like a regular lock?). I guess sometimes you really have to spell everything out for some members of this forum.

BTW, my bet is that the thieves at the Rio airport probably had the master combination before many TSAs in the US.[/QUOTE]

Well, it's too bad they stole from you, they probably realized what kind of a guy you are.

Since this has become a forum on trivia, airport security and spelling, I thought I would add my two centavos.

It is unlikely the stuff gets stolen from bags on entry. The transfer is pretty direct from the plane to the bag belt. Some airports scan bags on entry, but that is a straight orward process, too many people around and no time to screw around with the bags. It is more likely to happen at the check-in airport or a connecting airport where the bags go into holding, sometimes for hours. Another good opportunity is in the belly of the plane while loading. They hang around there a long time waiting for various baggage deliveries. The problem with that is they have to be very selective -- can't carry off a bag of goods.

My bet would be Miami if you connected there. In fact, a few years back they busted a ring of baggage handlers there that were going through bags big time. Major offending airports, according to some reports I have read are Miami, JFK and Logan. What a surprise. New York, Miami and Boston.

As far as making a claim for lost items, you have to read the fine print for your airline. I learned the hard way that if they entirely lose your bag on an international flight, the international air agreement only requires that you are paid by the pound (or kilo). Something like $.43/pound back then. Don't know what it is now and it doesn't matter what kind of pictures you have taken. They have some discretion in the matter, so it might help you to negotiate, but their legal obligation in this case is very limited.

As far as spelling, I suspect that without a spell checker, most of you wankers couldn't spell cat if spotted a c and t. But you can spell pussy in eight different languages. LOL.

Now I think I'll do something more entertaining like go watch some ice cubes melt.

Gentlemen.

I have a video that I took in Galeao airport in Rio de Janeiro where the customs officials were opening systematically the luggage and going through them.

I was waiting for my own bag, coming from Belem, and the door to handling area was ajar. Since it took lot of time for the luggage to arrive I went by the door and saw that they were opening the suitcases and going through the stuff.

Absolutely non official thing to do, since the actual checking point is AFTER you retrieve your bag.

So its not the luggage handling stuff, but officials that are doing it.

I never did anything with the video since I live here and I could get into real trouble by releasing such information.

So, its like everything else here. Don't put anything in your bags you are not willing to lose.

Since that incident I have only clothes and personal toiletries in my suitcase. Rest goes in my hand bag.

My 2 centavos.

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon]Well, it's too bad they stole from you, they probably realized what kind of a guy you are.[/QUOTE]
That's going to leave a mark!

Does anyone know of a reasonably priced genuine massage place? Perhaps in centro or zona norte. Having lived in Asia for many years I really miss a genuine good massage. I have come accross a few in Copa and Ipanema but the quality is bad and price R$ 80+ ie absurd.

The longer I live in Brazil the cheaper I get!

[QUOTE=Exec Talent]That's going to leave a mark![/QUOTE]

OK Chubbs.

Not sure if this was posted already.

Exposing Brasil
[url]www.greezefilms.com[/url]

[QUOTE=Bubba Boy]Does anyone know of a reasonably priced genuine massage place? Perhaps in centro or zona norte. Having lived in Asia for many years I really miss a genuine good massage. I have come accross a few in Copa and Ipanema but the quality is bad and price R$ 80+ ie absurd.

The longer I live in Brazil the cheaper I get![/QUOTE]There are plenty of places in the 50 reale range. Many in the bigger 'salons de beleza' have genuine massage on the menu, also shiatsu and others. There are two in the big shopping center on the corner of Siq Campos and Barata Ribiero.