General Info

[QUOTE=Sperto]
TAM: TAM is strange. They only accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online as long as it's done on their website as "outside Brazil". Those prices are much more expensive than if you buy your ticket on their website as "inside Brazil". At least 50% more expensive.

To get their "national prices" you'll need a CPF (which I can find reasonable) and also a brazilian credit card.
I got pissed of and called TAM. They explained that it's supposed to be cheaper for brazilians to buy their tickets, than it's for gringos. Weird!

I've noted that in general the prices on air tickets within Brazil is considerable cheaper than one year ago. :)[/QUOTE]

I went to the Varig office here in the states and tried to purchase a one way ticket from Rio to Curitiba, they wanted $275 bucks!! I was like WTF?!!! I had a brasilian friend call Varig in brasil and got the same exact flight for only 140R!!

[QUOTE=Bravo]I went to the Varig office here in the states and tried to purchase a one way ticket from Rio to Curitiba, they wanted $275 bucks!! I was like WTF?!!! I had a brasilian friend call Varig in brasil and got the same exact flight for only 140R!![/QUOTE]
A big difference indeed.
The next time you can buy the ticket at the low price from the states, on GOL website (GOL owns Varig), and pay with your credit card.
[url]http://www.voegol.com.br[/url]

[QUOTE=Sperto]TAM and GOL are the two major companies for domestic air travel inside Brazil.

GOL: A good news is that they now accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online. Excellent! It also very good that all of you who still have points with Smiles (Varig) can use them for exchange for tickets with GOL.

TAM: TAM is strange. They only accept payment with foreign credit cards when buying tickets online as long as it's done on their website as "outside Brazil". Those prices are much more expensive than if you buy your ticket on their website as "inside Brazil". At least 50% more expensive.

To get their "national prices" you'll need a CPF (which I can find reasonable) and also a brazilian credit card.

I got pissed of and called TAM. They explained that it's supposed to be cheaper for brazilians to buy their tickets, than it's for gringos. Weird!

I've noted that in general the prices on air tickets within Brazil is considerable cheaper than one year ago.:)[/QUOTE]There is a third major domestic airline in Brazil now, Azul (see: [url]http://viajemais. Voeazul. Com. Br/[/url]). It was started by David Needleman and the original JetBlue folks (from the US). They basically took over the Campinhas International Airport as their hub in Brazil. About an hour to 75 minutes from GRU. Until they arrived the airport was mostly cargo (it is the largest carga airport in Brazil). They fly all over Brazil. They use the SD airport in Rio so you are closer to Centro. GOL started adding discount service from the Campinhas airport now to stay competitive. Campinhas is close to my MG home and it is very convenient to get in and out of there. Small modern airport. R$8, 20 minute shuttle bus service from the Rodovario in Centro Campinhas. They also fly direct from Rio to several locations.

Azul has an Advantage program (like GOL) and you get a free flight after so many. I have been paying R$60 one way from Campinhas to Rio, and Rio to Curitiba is listed as R$129 on a quick search. The closer to your date, the capacity drys up and prices increase.

I have been able to make reservations on both Azul and Gol (they both have English sepaking assistance but go through the numbers listed on their .com.br websites) and then pay at the airport 1 & 1/2 hours beforehand. I have also been able to use a US credit card on phone and web reservations. But could not do the multiple payment arrangement they offer Brazilians. US credit cards don't support that. Now I use a friend's credit card here and she gets to make 6 payments without interest. I just give her the R$ upfront and she books for me.

Azul is a great airline and they are creating a pricing war here with GOL and TAM. They are trying to get more Brazilians to fly (over 95% traveling mostly by bus).

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Mongers-
Brasilian domestic air travel IS getting cheaper because of the increase in competition. The emergence of WebJet and Ocean Air as low-cost carriers has forced prices down across the board. Due to the rising economy, large population, and shear geographical size, I would expect many more domestic carriers to come on the scene within the next few years. At some point I expect LAN to open a Brasilian affiliate, although this prospect was damaged a bit by Taca merging with Avianca (which controls and is affiliated with OceanAir). OceanAir will grow to become a major domestic carrier in the next few years and will add regional international flights as well.
GOL now has a cooperation with American Airlines in that AA Advantage members can earn miles on GOL flights. In the near future, the cooperation will grow to include redemption of miles for free flights. For purchases on the internet and phone, GOL has always accepted international American Express cards. Now it appears on their international English website that they accept V/MC as well but I have not personally tried it so I cannot verify. Keep in mind that GOL will allow you to simply make a reservation and pay for it at the airport in either cash or with any credit card at their POS terminal. Also, GOL has very, very reasonable rules for making changes on purchased tickets, with only nominal fees.
Suerte,
Rock Harders

[QUOTE=Rock Harders]Mongers-
Brasilian domestic air travel IS getting cheaper because of the increase in competition. The emergence of WebJet and Ocean Air as low-cost carriers has forced prices down across the board. Due to the rising economy, large population, and shear geographical size, I would expect many more domestic carriers to come on the scene within the next few years. At some point I expect LAN to open a Brasilian affiliate, although this prospect was damaged a bit by Taca merging with Avianca (which controls and is affiliated with OceanAir). OceanAir will grow to become a major domestic carrier in the next few years and will add regional international flights as well.
GOL now has a cooperation with American Airlines in that AA Advantage members can earn miles on GOL flights. In the near future, the cooperation will grow to include redemption of miles for free flights. For purchases on the internet and phone, GOL has always accepted international American Express cards. Now it appears on their international English website that they accept V/MC as well but I have not personally tried it so I cannot verify. Keep in mind that GOL will allow you to simply make a reservation and pay for it at the airport in either cash or with any credit card at their POS terminal. Also, GOL has very, very reasonable rules for making changes on purchased tickets, with only nominal fees.
Suerte,
Rock Harders[/QUOTE]
Webjet, Oceainair, Rico etc etc are only small competition, but still competition. All of them have been around for years. Reasonable prices, acceptable services but not that great prices unless you're going into some city very off-the-track. The mainly have flights in the North and North-East and the prices are not very low.

Visa/Mastercard with GOL... visa confirmed (as mentioned below), worked excellent.

My own experience of booking internal flights has been like anything else in Brasil - things Brasilian just follows their own rules. With GOL, rather than booking online, I printed out the best online price on the day then went round four different agencies round Prado Jnr and Isabel and got four wildly different prices. The one that had sold me some of my carnaval tickets and a rather sexy assistant who stared into my eyes, (coincidence shoorly!) eventually 'discovered' they could give me the best price. Is there any rule to be gleaned? I don't think so. Just persevere.

Very recently I was on the point of buying some TAM internal flights (but booking from my home country). Their online prices for the particular trips were (to my surprise) already better than GOL. But I checked with my usual international travel agent and she was able to trim off another large chunk. Again, I can't say, here's how I did and you can save yourself time and hassle. I can only suggest, put in the same time and hassle (whatever you're willing to expend), investigate all the options, and hopefully your efforts will pay off.

[QUOTE=Christopherd]My own experience of booking internal flights has been like anything else in Brasil. Things Brasilian just follows their own rules. With GOL, rather than booking online, I printed out the best online price on the day then went round four different agencies round Prado Jnr and Isabel and got four wildly different prices. The one that had sold me some of my carnaval tickets and a rather sexy assistant who stared into my eyes, (coincidence shoorly!) eventually 'discovered' they could give me the best price. Is there any rule to be gleaned? I don't think so. Just persevere.

Very recently I was on the point of buying some TAM internal flights (but booking from my home country). Their online prices for the particular trips were (to my surprise) already better than GOL. But I checked with my usual international travel agent and she was able to trim off another large chunk. Again, I can't say, here's how I did and you can save yourself time and hassle. I can only suggest, put in the same time and hassle (whatever you're willing to expend), investigate all the options, and hopefully your efforts will pay off.[/QUOTE]The entrance of Azul in the market has really shaken things up. Similar to when People's Express started in NYC decades ago, and then Southwest. Not only have prices become competitive, customer service and support has really improved. I take 2 domestic flights per week on average here in Brazil, I also still use the bus systems. But becoming less and less and air prices have come down. If you pre-plan at least several weeks out you can get great airfares. I make regular weekly trips and am booked up to 6 weeks ahead. If you wait to the last minute you might find high prices and think about the bus. (No different in the US with 14 or 21 day advance fares as a general rule.)

No need to run around to agencies if you plan ahead. I book flights online in minutes. This new airline war is another sign Brazil is moving ahead. Surprised you guys did not know about Azul.

Interesting with flights within Brazil is that many times it's cheaper to fly than taking the bus (I don't miss the 50 hours bus journeys from Fortaleza to Rio).

If you want to get a ticket in the cheapest classes you have to be quick. On some routes during high season there are only expensive tickets, then suddenly appears tickets in the cheap class. They might last only for some hours before they are gone.

[QUOTE=Hughdad]The entrance of Azul in the market has really shaken things up. ... This new airline war is another sign Brazil is moving ahead. Surprised you guys did not know about Azul.[/QUOTE]
I only thought they were not worth mentioning. These "low cost" airlines pop-up every now and then in Brazil, but die quickly (like BRA etc...). Azul is just another minor competitor like Webjet, Oceanair, TRIP, RICO...

Azul started about one year ago. I havn't tried them yet because of several reasons. What I've heard they havn't got a very good reputation, they don't travel to so many destinations and don't have really competitive fares.

This week I was buying four domestic tickets for my coming journey. TAM and GOL were considerably cheaper than AZUL in all cases.

[QUOTE=Sperto]I only thought they were not worth mentioning. These "low cost" airlines pop-up every now and then in Brazil, but die quickly (like BRA etc.). Azul is just another minor competitor like Webjet, Oceanair, TRIP, RICO.

Azul started about one year ago. I havn't tried them yet because of several reasons. What I've heard they havn't got a very good reputation, they don't travel to so many destinations and don't have really competitive fares.

This week I was buying four domestic tickets for my coming journey. TAM and GOL were considerably cheaper than AZUL in all cases.[/QUOTE]I will be checking out a few domestic flights in brazil out early next year. It is cheaper for me to fly straight to Rio (aerolinias argentinas, and gain more frequent flyer points) then fly from Rio to another brazilian city. I was looking at heading to Rio this December, but flights are either booked out or a rip off. Quantas want 10000 aud, approx. 9300 us dollars, lan chilie 5900 aud (5500 USD). Other than that I have to fly sydney to london, then london to Rio and it's approx the same. So it is off to Thailand (phuket) for the x mas and new year, then book a flight after the crazy christmas inflated prices end and spend 6 months off 2010 in brazil.

Its 2:06am CST on comcast channel WYIN a show featuring Brazilian music.

Mongers-
Both OceanAir and Webjet are more than minor competitors at this point in the Brasilian domestic market. Both airlines fly to just about all major Brasilian cities from both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. OceanAir especially has many flights and is often the cheapest on the Sao Paulo to Rio-Santos Dumont route. OceanAir is owned by the Taca/Avianca group and will be expanding its presence enormously in the very near future. At present, both companies only take Brasilian credit cards over the phone and online, but a reservation can be made over the phone and the ticket can be paid for up to two hours before the flight with an international credit card or cash. Both companies have English speaking operators available.
On a different note, I forgot to mention in my last post that the cheapest tickets I have found on TAM have been booked through travelocity, especially on the EZE-GRU and EZE-GIG routes.
Sorte,
Rock Harders

[QUOTE=Sperto]I only thought they were not worth mentioning. These "low cost" airlines pop-up every now and then in Brazil, but die quickly (like BRA etc...). Azul is just another minor competitor like Webjet, Oceanair, TRIP, RICO...

Azul started about one year ago. I havn't tried them yet because of several reasons. What I've heard they havn't got a very good reputation, they don't travel to so many destinations and don't have really competitive fares.

This week I was buying four domestic tickets for my coming journey. TAM and GOL were considerably cheaper than AZUL in all cases.[/QUOTE]Not sure where you are getting your info on Azul. Not minor at all. Needleman is a major dude that built JetBlue, took that public, and I hear will be taking Azul public. There reputation is great amongst the Brazilians I work and speak with here in Brazil. Prices are as cheap or cheaper to Gol when booked in advance. First rate service (online, at airport, and in skies - where you pick multiple snacks yourself (try the Azil potato chips made from blue potates.) Route map is good and growing. On time record is good. They do tend to book up fast because they are considered chic, so best rates go quickly.

[QUOTE=Rock Harders]Mongers-
Both OceanAir and Webjet are more than minor competitors at this point in the Brasilian domestic market. Both airlines fly to just about all major Brasilian cities from both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro...[/QUOTE]
I would hardly call it just about all major brazilian cities. WEBJET only covers 10 of the 27 brazilian capitals, OCEANAIR 14 capitals, AZUL 13 capitals and very few other cities.

I travel a lot over Brazil and just about always I find the best prices with GOL and TAM. Anyway, it's good that they get some competition.

[QUOTE=Hughdad]Not sure where you are getting your info on Azul...[/QUOTE]
Excellent if you're happy with them.
IMO they travel to few destinations and are too expensive.

AZUL don't travel to the capitals in the west/northwest/north (except Manaus). AZUL is also missing important (to me) capitals as Macapá, Belém, São Luís etc.

It depends on your needs if they suite you.