brazil itinerary -flight questions
 

Planning to go to Brazil late Aug/early Sept for about 12 days total (incl flight time from US).

Using a free ticket, so I can fly:

1) into BA and out of Rio or Sao Paolo?

or

2) into Rio and out of Sao Paolo?

We want to see iguazu falls (both sides), rio de janiero, and salvador or some other place in brazil. Havent researched anything yet but need to book the free ticket part first.

Which flt option is better?

Also, will be flying AA so should I still get the TAM pass for the other flights I will need? thanks

AA used to have a code share with TAM which made such trips very easy. That ended about a year+ ago, I think. Thus, I believe you need to make your own flt arrangements for all intra-South American travel.

I'm not sure if you can purchase the TAM airpass unless you have an int'l ticket with TAM. But look at that option.

If not, you can fly TAM or GOL on all these internal flights. GOL may be cheaper, but not always. GOL's website is very user friendly, and in English too. You can purchase your tkts with an AMEX card and pre-select seats. They are the SouthWest/JetBlue of South America. We had no problem flying with them and would do so again. They fly BAires to Rio/Sao Paolo and have an extensive intra-Brazil network.

Also, remember that Brazil is huge. While 12 days is a nice bit of time, I think you likely can't or won't want to fit in 4+ destinations, particularly since almost all intra-Brazil flights go through Sao Paolo, making long distance flights time consuming. Certainly a few days in BAires (perhaps with a side trip from there), and Rio and a day or two in Iguazu would be a great trip. Adding Salvador to the mix takes you way up north. As for where to go first, since you should still be able to get in some beach time in Rio, consider whether you want to begin or end your vacation with that. Then, maybe you can fly to your first city, book a flight to Iguazu, then from Iguazu to your next city and then home. Also, AA's flights from Rio all go through Sao Paolo, or to Miami. Thus, you won't have a non stop back to your final destination from Rio, unless its Miami. AA does fly non stop from Sao Paolo and BAires to various destinations.

Have fun. Argentina and Brazil are terrific places.

PS
Move fast on your FF tickets. With what the airlines are going through now they have become even harder to obtain than ever.

I got a TAM pass for 4 internal flights in Brazil earlier this year, it was about $80-100 AUD cheaper than booking the flights separately--the last flight was connecting to the international departure. It was added to an international ticket with LAN.

I'd second Tengohambre's point that two weeks isn't a lot of time to do BA as well as Rio, Salvador etc.

i have already been to BA so I am just thinking what is the most logical way to use FF miles

Should I fly into BA, arrive AM, spend the day in BA, fly to Iguazu next day spend the day in the Argentine side of the falls, then the day after go to the Brazil side and then go to Salvador then to Rio and then back home?

OR

fly to Rio first, then salvador, then iguazu brazil side, then go to the argentine side then back to sao paolo to go home?

Which makes more sense? I want to get the TAM pass for the domestic flights but am flying to Brazil on AA using FF miles.

Thanks

We just returned from a month long trip in Feb, & used the TAM airpass as well. I think you are almost going to have to go through Sao Paulo to get to Iguacu. I think I would do Salvador, then Rio, then Sao Paulo, then Iguacu, then back to S.P. to go home. Have a great trip!

hi! good ideas people!
could be good you spend your air ticket flying to Iguassu. The worst problem to visit Brazil is the size of the country. Specially because the more interesting places are really far one of other. an example? to go from bahia to Iguassu by bus, it takes around 3 days.don't forget to check the distances.
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