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After spending 2 ˝ days in meetings in Rio de Janerio, we began another 30 hrs journey (see TAM LHR-GRU-GIG) now with the sweetener that its home we are heading to. We had planned to set off at 17:00pm from our last meeting in Rio city centre. But the goodbyes delayed us for a good 20 mins so much so it was close to 17:30pm by the time we boarded the cab.
Between a mixture of many hand gestures, me English and he Portugese, the driver finally understood we have a 20:00 flight to catch and have to be at GIG by 18:00. He set off, and Schumi would have been proud except downtown traffic in Rio would even set F1 drivers back. Cabbie finally turned off the highway into the final stretch into GIG, and here he was in his element – I found my right foot stepping down into the imaginary brake several times, and reminded myself I should really be behind; but then maybe I’ll need a sick bag then.
Arrived at GIG at 18:10pm, and the metered fare was only BRL33 – I had budgeted BRL75 based on our prepaid ride from GIG into Flamengo when we arrived. I gave the guy BRL50 and he was immensely thankful.
Focusing on getting all the procedures done, was too preoccupied to snap pictures. After checking in, we headed towards the departure. Here I had some time, cos of this snaking queue to what we eventually discovered was security screening – a grand total of 4 stations for the entire GIG’s departures, and only 3 was manned, with 1 reserved for crew and staff.
With the “progress” all of us were making, it was no surprise that soon people were waving down staff to indicate they were minutes away from boarding, but there was nothing any of the airline staff could do. Incidentally, there was no distinction between cattle and premium, all were equal in this one mega-queue. I found myself nearing the boarding time of 19:20 as well, and waved down a TAM staff as he passed by. Likewise, there was nothing he could do. We finally cleared the scanners and passport control – which was a lighter affair – at 19:30pm, a good 50 mins in the queue.
We rushed to the gate – forgive the memory in this rush – only to discover it has been re-gated; announcements were probably made but my Portugese was zero and that of Latin-accented English probably slightly better, and no surprise hence for missing it. I could have bettered Usain Bolt’s record if not for the cabin trolley, when I finally reached the new gate, with 2 – 3 pax streaming through.
GIG-GRU
Wed 14 July 2010
Flight: TAM JJ8084
Aircraft: B767
Class: Economy
Seat: 25D
Boarding the 767, I was at first surprised to find a rather empty cabin. Panting to catch my breath as I sank into my aisle seat – thank God, even though it’s a 60 min shuttle – it occurred to me the rest of the pax could still be clearing security.
As we waited, I came to my senses, and out came my cam. This particular 767 is configured 2-3-2. You’ll see somewhere in the middle of the Y cabin, the port and starboard seats are separated by the galley – wondered whether the aisle pax in there rows will feel claustrophobic or disturbed by the gallery activities. I do find the mix of red-mustard seats rather refreshing though.
Decent leg room, but prob not for anything exceeding 5 hrs I supposed. there’s no IFE, bird is prob dedicated for domestic legs or shuttles I imagine.
We continued to wait, as pax began visiting the heads, and outside the windows, it began to rain. At 20:05 – our scheduled departure – the doors were not even closed yet.
Eventually, we pushed back close to 21:00; I had by then been engrossed by a magazine – I brought along, not particularly engaged by those in the seat pocket – and had forgotten to repeat the same shot.
One TAM feature that was sweet was FAs passed out toffees before take off – a la hot towels in SQ. Personally, I wld have preferred a drink – oh I forgot, cattle don’t get bubbles before take off.
The flight itself was a simple affair – took off in no time, FAs rushed to distribute drinks, and we began to descend. I wasn’t particularly concerned abt the lost time, cos the LHR connection wasn’t scheduled till 23:00. We eventually touched down at 21:40 and thankfully this time round – as opposed to a bus-ride to board at a remote standing - we had an aerobridge especially in this rain.
GRU
Once again, we began the search for JJ8084 after de-planing from JJ8084. I really find this ‘code-sharing’ rather surreal, cos not only was it entirely different sector, ‘flight’ was even using different birds. Anyway, rather easy in locating the gate for the LHR-bound JJ8084.
At 22:15pm, there was no staff at the gate counter yet , thought pax were building up. The few duty free were uninteresting – the usual mix of liquor, tobacco, electronics (cams, video, headphones), perfumes, candy, GAP tees. Was thinking I could dump my BRL, not knowing when I’ll return again – unless Concorde flies direct between GRU or GIG with SIN – I discovered the prices were in USD.
Incidentally, the TAM lounge which *A Gold and above are eligible was really a hike away, as I discovered. Hence, I ended up nursing a latte at the waiting area. The pax queue started forming up soon, and TAM staff began to appear.
Not forgetting my ‘mission’ by SQTalkers on the FAs, I tried as discreetly as possible to snap a few pics of the TAM stewardesses. They are really lookers and the pics just don’t do the ‘actuals’ justice. I know I had mentioned ‘tight-white-lycra blouses’ in LHR, alas its winter down south here, and the ‘pretty-sweet-young’ girls are in their trench-coats. I snapped quite a few with flash off, to avoid getting arrested, or slapped, and discovered quality was really bad. But here’s a sample
Coming up: GRU-LHR
Between a mixture of many hand gestures, me English and he Portugese, the driver finally understood we have a 20:00 flight to catch and have to be at GIG by 18:00. He set off, and Schumi would have been proud except downtown traffic in Rio would even set F1 drivers back. Cabbie finally turned off the highway into the final stretch into GIG, and here he was in his element – I found my right foot stepping down into the imaginary brake several times, and reminded myself I should really be behind; but then maybe I’ll need a sick bag then.
Arrived at GIG at 18:10pm, and the metered fare was only BRL33 – I had budgeted BRL75 based on our prepaid ride from GIG into Flamengo when we arrived. I gave the guy BRL50 and he was immensely thankful.
Focusing on getting all the procedures done, was too preoccupied to snap pictures. After checking in, we headed towards the departure. Here I had some time, cos of this snaking queue to what we eventually discovered was security screening – a grand total of 4 stations for the entire GIG’s departures, and only 3 was manned, with 1 reserved for crew and staff.
With the “progress” all of us were making, it was no surprise that soon people were waving down staff to indicate they were minutes away from boarding, but there was nothing any of the airline staff could do. Incidentally, there was no distinction between cattle and premium, all were equal in this one mega-queue. I found myself nearing the boarding time of 19:20 as well, and waved down a TAM staff as he passed by. Likewise, there was nothing he could do. We finally cleared the scanners and passport control – which was a lighter affair – at 19:30pm, a good 50 mins in the queue.
We rushed to the gate – forgive the memory in this rush – only to discover it has been re-gated; announcements were probably made but my Portugese was zero and that of Latin-accented English probably slightly better, and no surprise hence for missing it. I could have bettered Usain Bolt’s record if not for the cabin trolley, when I finally reached the new gate, with 2 – 3 pax streaming through.
GIG-GRU
Wed 14 July 2010
Flight: TAM JJ8084
Aircraft: B767
Class: Economy
Seat: 25D
Boarding the 767, I was at first surprised to find a rather empty cabin. Panting to catch my breath as I sank into my aisle seat – thank God, even though it’s a 60 min shuttle – it occurred to me the rest of the pax could still be clearing security.
As we waited, I came to my senses, and out came my cam. This particular 767 is configured 2-3-2. You’ll see somewhere in the middle of the Y cabin, the port and starboard seats are separated by the galley – wondered whether the aisle pax in there rows will feel claustrophobic or disturbed by the gallery activities. I do find the mix of red-mustard seats rather refreshing though.
Decent leg room, but prob not for anything exceeding 5 hrs I supposed. there’s no IFE, bird is prob dedicated for domestic legs or shuttles I imagine.
We continued to wait, as pax began visiting the heads, and outside the windows, it began to rain. At 20:05 – our scheduled departure – the doors were not even closed yet.
Eventually, we pushed back close to 21:00; I had by then been engrossed by a magazine – I brought along, not particularly engaged by those in the seat pocket – and had forgotten to repeat the same shot.
One TAM feature that was sweet was FAs passed out toffees before take off – a la hot towels in SQ. Personally, I wld have preferred a drink – oh I forgot, cattle don’t get bubbles before take off.
The flight itself was a simple affair – took off in no time, FAs rushed to distribute drinks, and we began to descend. I wasn’t particularly concerned abt the lost time, cos the LHR connection wasn’t scheduled till 23:00. We eventually touched down at 21:40 and thankfully this time round – as opposed to a bus-ride to board at a remote standing - we had an aerobridge especially in this rain.
GRU
Once again, we began the search for JJ8084 after de-planing from JJ8084. I really find this ‘code-sharing’ rather surreal, cos not only was it entirely different sector, ‘flight’ was even using different birds. Anyway, rather easy in locating the gate for the LHR-bound JJ8084.
At 22:15pm, there was no staff at the gate counter yet , thought pax were building up. The few duty free were uninteresting – the usual mix of liquor, tobacco, electronics (cams, video, headphones), perfumes, candy, GAP tees. Was thinking I could dump my BRL, not knowing when I’ll return again – unless Concorde flies direct between GRU or GIG with SIN – I discovered the prices were in USD.
Incidentally, the TAM lounge which *A Gold and above are eligible was really a hike away, as I discovered. Hence, I ended up nursing a latte at the waiting area. The pax queue started forming up soon, and TAM staff began to appear.
Not forgetting my ‘mission’ by SQTalkers on the FAs, I tried as discreetly as possible to snap a few pics of the TAM stewardesses. They are really lookers and the pics just don’t do the ‘actuals’ justice. I know I had mentioned ‘tight-white-lycra blouses’ in LHR, alas its winter down south here, and the ‘pretty-sweet-young’ girls are in their trench-coats. I snapped quite a few with flash off, to avoid getting arrested, or slapped, and discovered quality was really bad. But here’s a sample
Coming up: GRU-LHR
just curious,
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