Is there anything to do to take up the time while laying over in GRU ? I have a 5 hour layover from 7AM until 12 Noon, until next flight to GIG.

You could make arrangements ahead of time with an escort and go to a nearby love motel.....?

I don't know of any places open that early thast you could visit....!

Thats a long layover. Are you on a through flight? If you are changing planes or airlines, Varig, Tam or Gol have flights about every 30 minutes (one of them or the other)

There are not as many flights from GRU to GIG as there are CGH to SDU, and it is hard to fing any flights from GRU to SDU.

On TAM last year I did not a flight from CGH to GIG, but there are not very many of them either.

OH

Have to agree with Sandman, check your flight plans and see if you can change them! It may even be worht hiking over to CGH and taking a flight from there. Unfortunately, your layover is right in that horrible window of not enough time to really do anything, but a royal pain in the ass anyway. First of all, none of the local sex venues are open before noon, so it's an escort or nothing - and good luck getting one in the AM. your flight gets in at 7AM, it will take at least one hour to get thru immigration, get your bags and customs, maybe two hours. You should check in to your GIG flight at least an hour beforehand, so you really only have two or three hours available. Bus/cab to CGH during morning rush hour will take 1-3 hours, depending on luck. You coul dbe a high-roller and take a chopper... Anyway, bottom line is you are kind of stuck. If you have a Diner's Club card they have a decent VIP lounge. Otherwise, hang out at one of the restuarants and curse your travel agent!

BS

Thanks guys..it sounds like I'm screwed for the few hours. The only reason I am even flying into GRU is because I am using frequent flier miles for a free FIRST CLASS ticket. I figured what the fuck. Freebie first class and be inconvenienced for approx 4 hours. Varig to GIG from GRU running me $150.US r/t. Oh well, thanks anyways. You guys are great.

Soprano,

1st class overnight flight is the way to go. After all, it is FREE. As you would well know, please make sure to get a pass to one of the airport lounges from the airline you are flying to GRU, if you are not getting one from Varig. At least four hour layover would be comfortable and again free drinks and snacks in the lounge!

GRU has an internet cafe. Post a preliminary report and search the escort sites for new additions.

What do think is the best way to try to get a comp pass for the lounge. Delta into GRU, then Varig to Rio ??
Thanks

If you are on Delta to GRU, you are having to change airlines anyway since Delta does not fly to GIG any longer. There is a scheduled Varig flight from GRU to GIG everyday around 9:30AM. Cost is around $180 RT depending on exchange rate. On return, make sure you leave GIG in time to catch 10:10 PM DL flight. It's tight and gets risky if the Varig flight out of GIG runs late.

Just out of curosity, which airlines did DL book you on for your thru flight to GIG? If it's Varig, you may well be able to catch an earlier flight the moening of your arrival and not have to pay extra RT costs. Probably booked you with the long layover to make sure you had time to get luggage, clear customs etc.

As BS mentioned, it has taken as long as 2 hours to get through immigration, customs but I have also done it in 30 minutes.

One note: if you are planning a Duty Free purchase, you have to do it in GRU when you enter the country. Won't let you do it at GIG even though you are going through the International terminal.

Second note: when you arrive at GIG, you will be pointed at another immigration and customs line. Just tell the you cleared in Rio and they pass you right through. No wait, no baggage screening..nada!

sandman

Unfortunately, the Delta flight arrives in GRU at 7:00 AM. The last morning flight out of GRU to GIG on Varig is # 8671 @ 7:40 AM. I do not think enough time make that flight. The next flight on Varig is # 8923 @ 12:25 PM.

Soprano, since you have a Varig tix. After you clear customs, ask the Varig/Tam personnel if you could can fly out of Congonhas(CGH) instead? As both airlines now code share, you might be able to hop on the Tam bus to CGH, which runs hourly.

Or should you happen to carry a Diners Club card they do have a shuttle to CGH. Good Luck!

To be honest, the helicopter ride sounds best. How does one inquire to this ?

Soprano is right. I just came in on the DL 105 flight last Friday and I breezed through customs and everything in less than 10 minutes. I went to the Varig counter and even though it was only 7:20, he said I couldn't get on the 7:45 flight to Rio. The next flight out was 12:25. Therefore I went outside and bought a ticket for $7 on the Airport Services Shuttle over to CGH. It took about an hour and a half in SP morning traffic but I was on a plane to Rio at 10:30 as opposed to 12:30 at GRU. I got my return flight back to SP thru GIG to GRU so I didn't have to take the shuttle again once I got back into SP. It's worth taking the shuttle. Five hours is a long time to sit and think about getting to Rio.

If I'm on a UAL flight to GIG and it lands in GRU first. How do this work? Same plane, Varig, Tam? Customs in GRU or GIG?

Same plane, customs in GIG

I have heard that customs is much quicker clearing in GRU than GIG. We will see next week. Also got Delta to confirm that I may use Delta lounge at GRU airport. That will be a big help if I do not do helicopter to GIG.

Woah! Helicopter service is to COngonhas airport, Mr. Big Spender. GRU-GIG is about 250 miles, a bit far for a regular chopper. You could check out AeroTaxi services though...

BS

Aero Taxi ?? How does one contact them ? I thought you previously ment helicopter to GIG. Helicopter may not be bad to CGH ???

Thanks.

To all but Aldaron(in a hurry so I understand)...spend a day in SP guys.....

I have a 5 hour layover next week.. I have a Garota coming to meet me, what is a close LOVE MOTEL? Anything right at the airport?

If you are coming from a city in Brasil like Curitiba for example, and connecting through GRU can you leave the airport for a few hours on your layover connection or are you stuck in the connecting teminal?

thanks in advance!

Right outside GRU airport, there are two hotels, the Marriott and the Cesar Business (something?). I know the Marriott has a van service, the Cesar should have one too?

There are some cheaper hotels along the main road into town, but airport Taxi's are not cheap.

I can't really answer your connection question? Terminal 1 & 2 are both used for domestic and international flights. But since your flying in on a domestic flight, you should be able to exit, as you would need to clear GRU departure immigration.

Good luck, have a great layover...........

I did this about 5 years ago heading from DC to Forteleza with a 5 hour layover in GRU (yeah I know I crossed over Forteleza by 3.5 hours to get to GRU but that was the only way I could get to Forteleza from the states). Anyways they also have a tax sticker you have to buy to re-enter the departure area after leaving it and you can only pay in Reals (cash)and I didn't know until I waited in the security line for over an hour. BTW, the security line is looonnnggg and could take an hour or more to get through in peak times.

What if your plane is late?

Thanks for the info Gents! I might give it a try, after all I have FIVE hours!