What time should I leave a meeting in Sao Paolo to be on time for a 7 p.m. Friday night flight? I'll be heading back to the United States, so I'll have to go through customs, right? A taxi would be my best bet, I assume?

You need to be there at least two hours before for an international flight. It's quite a distance to the airport, ask at your hotel if they have a car service they use. Sometimes these are cheaper than a taxi. Also ask the hotel what time they suggest leaving to get there at 5pm, they will have a better idea of traffic conditions for that day and time.

It's quite a pleasant airport, there are more food outlets and shops on the land side, so if you do get there fairly early have something to eat and browse the shops before going through customs.

ask your hotel for a car service and leave the meeting as soon as possible because Sao Paulo's traffic is crazy and believe sometimes you take an hour to walk less than 1km!

so get there earlier as possible

Thank you so much!!

The traffic will be BAD. People leave Sao Paulo after work on weekends to go to the beaches. Lots of trucks take that route also. A taxi will not be cheap. They have buses from SP to the airport. The hotel will be able to advise.