For the Brazilian taxpayer 7 years would have seemed more than enough to bring the Brazilian airports from the XX into the XXI. But the notorious handling of airport affairs by the Brazilian government has led to a conclusion: the airports won’t be ready for the FIFA World Cup 2014. Hence, the magic solution: makeshift terminals in 15 of the World Cup airports. Rough times ahead for anyone planning air travel in Brazil.

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Portuguese airline Tap’s marketing drives in the form of flash mobs at different airports across the world recently reached Brazil too.

The first performance took place at the Galeão international airport, in Rio de Janeiro.

The second such performance was at Guarulhos international airport, in São Paulo.

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Brazilian airline Webjet is offering its passengers a free shuttle service between Congonhas and Guarulhos airports in São Paulo. More details -including service schedules- at Webbus.

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Viracopos airport in Campinas is increasingly becoming a workable alternative to the congested airports of Guarulhos and Congonhas in the city of São Paulo. When low-cost airline Azul decided to establish its hub in Viracopos it gave the airport the final push it needed.

—————- Azul passengers

Azul passengers can use for free two bus lines departing from São Paulo (Shopping Eldorado and Terminal Barra Funda), as well as a series of other lines connecting cities in the interior of the state of São Paulo with Viracopos airport. More details at the airline’s website.

—————- Passengers flying with other airlines

Bus company VB Transportes runs several direct services between the Terminal Tietê (main bus station) in São Paulo to Viracopos airport in Campinas.

Bus company Caprioli runs several services between São Paulo and Campinas.

from Guarulhos international airport to Viracopos airport

1. first take the Caprioli bus from Guarulhos airport to Campinas bus station: fares and schedules.
2. then take the Caprioli bus from Campinas bus station to Viracopos airport: fares and schedules.

From Congonhas airport to Viracopos airport

1. first take the Caprioli bus from Congonhas airport to Campinas bus station: fares and schedules.
2. then take the Caprioli bus from Campinas bus station to Viracopos airport: fares and schedules.

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At this blog post airport tax we saw that you will pay your Brazilian airport taxes the moment you purchase your ticket – you won’t find counters at the Brazilian airports for the payment of airport taxes.

Infraero is responsible for the taxes and has a leaflet containing details of the amounts paid.

Category 1 airports: Belém, Belo Horizonte (Confins), Brasilia, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Maceió, Manaus, Natal, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro (Galeão), Salvador, São Luís, São Paulo (Congonhas), São Paulo (Guarulhos)
Domestic flights: R$19.62
International flights: US$36.00

Category 2 airports: Aracaju, Montes Claros, Belo Horizonte (Pampulha), Boa Vista, Campina Grande, Campinas, Campo Grande, Carajás, Corumbá, Cuiabá, Foz do Iguaçu, Goiânia, Ilhéus, Imperatriz, João Pessoa, Joinville, Juazeiro do Norte, Londrina, Macapá, Marabá, Navegantes, Palmas, Petrolina, Porto Velho, Rio Branco, Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont), Santarém, São José dos Campos, Tabatinga, Teresina, Uberaba, Uberlândia, Vitória
Domestic flights: R$15.42
International flights: US$30.00

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Third time we mention the topic. Infraero promised free internet for December 2008 (Brazilian airports to offer free wi-fi). Promise broken.

Then it promised free wi-fi for June 2009 (free wi-fi at the airports, for real this time?). Promised broken again.

We were at Guarulhos international airport this weekend and not only was the wi-fi system nowhere to be seen. We questioned several Infraero employees about the service and their reply was that they had absolutely no idea of when the service would be finally implemented.

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Brazilian airports to offer free wi-fi
free wi-fi at the airports, for real this time?

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With a touch of scepticism we had already published the announcement by Infraero (the Brazilian’s government body responsible for the country airports) that Brazilian airports were to offer free wi-fi.

Infraero, following the Brazilian government principle that every measure has to be announced with ostentation and then carried out when and if there is any time available, promised that free wi-fi access would be made available in December 2008. The date has now been postponed and wi-fi access should arrive to the 12 main Brazilian airports in June 2009. It remains to be seen the kind of service that will be provided, as the media is reporting that Infraero claims that due to date security reasons, access to secure sites (banks, email) will be restricted.

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The website at large is an excellent source of information on internet availability at airports throughout the world, including the Brazilian ones.

As many other 2.0 initiatives, the success of a site relies largely on the collaborations from its users. In the case of at large, and when it comes to Brazilian airports, the amount of information is alarmingly scarce. An airport with the traffic of Congonhas, in São Paulo, has no reviews. Guarulhos, also in São Paulo, the busiest airport in the country, has just the one review. We hope in time data for Brazilian airports will become available.

And since we are mentioning internet access, anybody remembers Infraero’s promise to make free wi-fi access available at the major Brazilian airports from December 2008 (Brazilian airports to offer free wi-fi)? It is a shame part of the Brazilian media is always eager to herald the announcements of the Brazilian government and lazy when it comes to find out whether promises turned into facts.

Anyone arriving in Brazil and having the country as its final destination, whether Brazilian or foreigner, has two go through four different steps (one of them entirely optional) before leaving the international arrivals area.

1. Immigration control

During the flight the crew will have handed out the immigration forms to those on board that are not Brazilian or foreigners resident in Brazil (neither of those two group need to fill the immigration forms). Fill the form during the flight so you have it ready when you reach the immigration counter. You will hand the form to the officer, along with your passport. Depending on the nature of your trip (tourism or business) and your origin (citizens of certain countries need a visa to enter Brazil) you will fill the form in one way or another.

There are two queues at the immigration control. A quick one, for Brazilian passport holders. Another one, often long and exasperatingly slow, for the rest (including foreigners residents in Brazil).

Note: if you have a connection in Brazil to another international flight with the same airline (or an airline the first one has a agreement with), you have your boarding cards for the second flight, and you have checked-in your baggage to your final destination, you are likely to stay within the international transit area of the airport. You won’t have to go through immigration. In the case of different airlines chances are you will have to go through immigration and customs.

2. Baggage reclaim

After immigration you need to go to the baggage reclaim area in search for the conveyor belt (esteira, in Portuguese) where your baggage will appear. Pay attention as often airports do not provide any information on where you baggage is likely to appear. In case of doubt, ask around.

3. Duty Free (optional)

As we explained in detail at the Brazilian Duty Free, the main international airports have Duty Free shops both for departing and arriving passengers. If you want to make any last-minute purchases, this is the time.

4. Customs

You have reclaimed your baggage and done your shopping at the Duty Free shop. It’s time to head out of the arrival areas. Before you reach the external part of the airport you will meet a customs official. You will have to hand to him the Declaração de Bagagem Acompanhada (see customs restrictions on arrival) you received while on board. If you don’t have anything to declare, chances are the customs officer will let you go untroubled. If you are unlucky, he will send you through the red queue where his colleagues will inspect your baggage.

Passed the customs control, and you’ll be on the open section of the airport.

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leaving Brazil with expensive equipment

One uncommon aspect of Brazilian airports is that they have Duty Free shops for arriving passengers, and not only for those departing from the country. They are known by Brazilians as Free Shop. The company Brasif has the monopoly over all the Duty Free Shops, and at its web page (with version in English) you can browse through the products sold and check their prices. You can even book your shopping online and get it when you get to Brazil.

Any passenger arriving to Brazil from abroad can spend a maximum of 500 USD on the Duty Free before going through customs (for as long as there is a Duty Free shop at the airport, it should be noted).

The limits per passenger are as follows:

• 24 bottles of alcoholic drinks, with a maximum of 12 per type of drink (for example, 12 bottles of wine and 12 bottles of vodka)
• 20 packs of imported cigarettes
• 25 cigars
• 250 gr of pipe tobacco
• 10 articles of personal hygiene
• 3 units of watches, machines, games, toys, electrical instruments, electronic devices.

The limits above applied exclusively to duty free shops on Brazilian soil. Purchases made on the duty free abroad or in the plane are not included in the duty free allowance. If your flight originates in Brazil, purchases made on the Brazilian Duty Free when leaving the country are not included in that allowance either. That’s why on the Duty Free for departing passengers you will find higher-value goods (for instance, more expensive digital camera models).

Perfumes and alcoholic drinks at the Brazilian Duty Frees are competitively priced (although you can buy cheaper perfumes in the Argentinian Duty Free). In the case of alcoholic drinks, there is a considerable difference between the prices at the Duty Free and the prices on the street (due to heavy taxation). Do not be surprised if you see lots of Brazilians purchasing alcoholic drinks on arrival to the country.

Electronic goods at the Brazilian Duty Free shops are among the most expensive on the world.

Under-18’s cannot buy alcoholic drinks or tobacco.

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customs restrictions on departure
customs restrictions on arrival