My search for fresh content for Live and Let’s Fly is taking me on a circuitous journey from Houston to Los Angeles, including connections in Sao Paulo, Fort Lauderdale, Panama City, and Sal Salvador (in that order).
My Journey From IAH to LAX via SAO, FLL, PTY, and SAL
As the world continues to re-open, it is my objective to review more airline products so that Live and Let’s Fly can offer prospective passengers a library of current reviews that will give you a very good idea of what to expect when you fly.
The “point” of this trip is to review Azul’s new A330-900neo in business class, which operates sporadically between Viracopos International Airport outside of Sao Paulo and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Azul, which means blue in Portuguese and was founded by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, has been on my wishlist for quite some time and partners with both United Airlines MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan in North America.
I thought I would have to cut my trip off in Ft. Lauderdale and buy a separate ticket home, but for the same number of miles (69K) United offered me the following trip in business class:
- Viracopos – Fort Lauderdale in Azul Business Class
- Fort Lauderdale – Panana City in Copa Business Class
- Panama City – San Salvador in Copa Business Class
- San Salvador – Los Angeles in Avianca Business Class
A chance to fly through more cities and try new products for no extra miles? Yes, please.
So I’ll fly United down from Houston to Sao Paulo to catch this, spend less than a day in Brazil transferring from Guarulhos to Viracopos airports, and not leave any other airports (maybe I’ll go into San Salvador).
My expectations are not high for Avianca or Copa, but are quite high for Azul. In any case, that’s the fun of doing trips like these and I look forward to unpacking this journey, first with mini-trip reports, then more detailed reviews.
But I suspect this will go down as one of my most memorable journeys from Houston to LA…
I am looking forward to your COPA review. Hopefully you get the new config for Business Class, I have a booking from BOS-PTY later this month, however Uncle Joe, will not let me enter the United States of America.
Both of these segments are on the 737-800. However, I recently flew the 737MAX and it was quite nice:
https://liveandletsfly.com/copa-737-max-business-class/
Matthew CM’s service leaves much to be desired lately. The food service in Business Class is substandard. I have been on AV’s flight many times from SAL-LAX and LAX-SAL. I found the cabin crews to not be attentive to the passengers. The AV crews out of Colombia are stellar. The AV lounge in SAL is by far the worst lounge which I have ever been in. The COPA lounge in PTY is usually overcrowded. I have had great experiences on AV long flights BOG-LAX and LAX-BOG on the 787 and the A330. Also on the BOG-EZE and EZEE-BOG a few times
Azul is a decent product all the way around. While not cutting edge it’s much better than LATAM. VCP is a nice airport but it’s just SO far from S.P. I keep hoping they eventually shift some Intl flights to GRU.
Looks like a fun trip, Matthew…looking forward to the reviews!
VCP is not far from Sao Paulo. From VCP to GRU by car it is 90 miles. From VCP to Sao Paulo downtown is 50 miles. The problem is not the distance but the time. Traffic is horrendous so a 90 miles trip might take forever depending on day and time. VCP is strategically located to serve Campinas and its surroundings (a 5MM people area). My family lives 40 miles north of VCP so it is a non brainer for them to fly out of VCP than going all the way to GRU. VCP is an airport used mainly for flights within Brazil and lots of Cargo but Azul made that their home airport. I think Delta and AA used to fly there to Orlando before the pandemic as well. It is extremely easy to access with almost no traffic and great highway system.
I understand. I’m basing it on the two times I had to go there for Azul flights. It was far. Whether time or distance far I could care less…it took well over two hours and will never use it again as a result. Even though Azul intl. is far better than LATAM.
I can guarantee you that getting to VCP is a breeze when compared to getting GRU. GRU is the only airport where I experienced a flight delay because the crew was stuck in traffic.
I would highly encourage you to NOT go into San Salvador. El Salvador is a Level 3 country, and can be highly dangerous, especially for foreigners without armed protective services.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/el-salvador-travel-advisory.html
You do not need armed security in El Salvador. Don’t spread misinformation like that. Myself, the author of this blog, and surely many of the other readers have visited San Salvador on numerous occasions without any incident.
Terrible comment on El Salvador; horrible misinformation overall. There’s danger everywhere not just 3rd world countries; if you are not ok with visiting El Salvador or Central America for that matter perhaps you would love to visit Flynt Michigan, Richmond, CA or Oakland, Detroit is open!.
The country is a paradise for nature and volcano lovers (20 at least, impossible National Park; etc…, surfers (Surf City) and Ancient archeological tourists. ) Lets not even talk about food!. ever had a pupusa? is a must for a real taste of that the country has to offer.
Nonetheless, the blogger is doing an awesome job and if he is adventurous enough he will end up seeing the best Central America can offer. ……
I’ve been to VCP once… I was diverted there on a BSB-GRU flight, and I missed my connection to AA F in GRU!!! My frustration aside, this sounds like a fun trip.
Are you planning a quick COVID test on the ground in Sao Paulo, or can you squeeze it all in to 3 days?
Will be a 2-3 day trip, so test in LA before.
That sounds like a fun trip and reminds me of my mileage running days. Enjoy!
Picture request for PTY because I was once there airside only. Less important is a picture of VCP, which I view as an oddity, like YMX or what IAD used to be in the early 1980’s when it was a ghost town with only a few California flights and maybe LHR.
How many covid tests will be needed to do this, I thought every border crossing nowadays required a testt
Just one for me was good for all destinations. The key was that I took it just before I left and so it was less than 72 hours old.
You should consider running an auction of a companion ticket for a loyal reader! Donation to your favorite charity. Sounds like a great trip. Too bad you are not going out of CGH at some point. Not possible because of the international flights you have in/out of Brazil, but nothing like flying in and out of CGH. The approach below the high rise apartments – the short runway. Really a fun experience!
Safe travel!
Sounds good! I think AV is quite an underrated airline- obviously not in the same league as NH or EK, but they have a competitive FFP, proper regional business class seats, a number of half-decent outstation lounges (the likes of Iberia and TAP only have lounges at one airport each), 1-2-1 configs on the 787 etc. They had made some rather drastic cutbacks in service during the pandemic, but hopefully they’re back to normal now.
I will like them even more when they get round to paying me the €600 compensation they owe me from an horrible misconnect back in 2018.
Hi Mathew! you shoukd have made a stop here in Venezuela and said “Hola”
I’d love to. Can you help me get a visa?
herein lies the problem lol. you could always fly to Cucuta, Colombia (a mere few miles or so from the border) and sneak across like so many do – think of the trip report you could post
United offered you these flights???? Was it for free??? or a special deal??
Just a mileage redemption on united.com.
As always Matthew making us think outside the box when it comes to using our UA miles. It certainly sounds like a fun trip, and I’ll be looking forward to your report since I am planning to head down to Brazil from IAH and routing with Azul is definitely in consideration. Been to PTY, thru SAL (old & new terminal) plus VCP, and although my transfer from GRU wasn’t ideal, flying Azul within Brazil in Y was! No need to tell you to enjoy the journey since you already love the destination.
Looking for fresh original content? I’d suggest a trip to Thailand despite the hurdles and before mass tourism returns.
You’ll have the chance to test the finest Hyatt, Marriott and other properties at 70% Off their regular rates
So glad that the plandemic is over on that side of the world and that there is no needless spreading going on. Must be nice.
COPA Business is brilliant! Would choose that over United Business any day.