TAM First Class Space Wide Open!!

AC does YYZ-GRU only.
The 5th freedom route is YYZ-SCL-EZE.

@ Paul -- Oy, typing too fast! Thanks!

Lucky which booking code for TAM on AA? they can't find it with Z.

just booked DEC26 JFK - GRU - JFK JAN01 in F ... thanks lucky =)

@wpj : they're still using Star codes, so F class is "O"

Any luck booking via US miles and connecting somewhere from there? US is seeing the F space but not seeing J space on the intra South America legs.

On phone with UA and getting an error saying "waitlist full"

Lucky, can you give an example of what a creative value-maximizing routing (JFK based) would look like using United miles.

amazing, thanks for sharing and thanks patricia for the booking code, just booked my carnaval return flight in F

I rarely used United miles but am flying from SFO-JFK right now and connect to TAM in business tomorrow morning. First is now available. Can one change a ticket midstream with United and pay the fees/mileage difference? Thanks!

@Lucky, I'm have a difficult time finding any return award availability back after January 1st. Is there nothing available, or has TAM simply not released that space yet?

Wow. Thank you @Lucky. I was just able to secure GRU-JFK-LAX on the exact dates I wanted to get home from the World Cup, June 16/17.

Just incredible.

Using aeroplan, 28.20$ taxes JFK-EZE TAM F then TK J... my god, 28.20$ ON AEROPLAN! AH!!!

"at least one seat nearly every day through the end of the schedule"

Great news for everyone who wants to fly solo. 🙁

@ Nick -- I would guess that they haven't released space yet, though keep in mind ANA can only search space through January 2nd at this point.

@ Robert Hanson -- Many dates also have all four first class seats available, but I didn't want to mislead anyone.

@ucky any thoughts on my earlier question about whether it's possible to change a United award once your journey has begun? I've had a couple friends call United while I've been on my SFO-JFK flight, and the reservationists seem to be trying to make the change but then seem to give up or have trouble figuring out what to do. I'm flying SFO-JFK nowand JFK-GRU tomorrow and would like to change the award from business to first. Thanks for any insight you might have (and sorry for being a nag.)

@ Travis -- Sorry, missed this earlier! It is possible to change a United award once your journey has begun, but I've only tried it mid-stopover, or on the return flights. So it's theoretically possible, and you'll probably have more luck now that you're not actively flying, but I'm not 100% sure how it will work in practice.

Lucky- I'm new to this. What would be the best routing out of LAX? I have miles with United and AA. Am I safe to assume that the hard part of this booking is going to be getting to JFK? Thank you

Thanks! I'll give it another try when I land at JFK in a few. Maybe it's just a matter of getting the right agent.

@ Heather @ pass the dressing -- I'll try to put together another post with specifics, but think about possibilities with open-jaws in South America, or a stopover in New York with a future domestic flight, etc.

@Lucky-- I was searching on Aeroplan. Would the availability be any different?

For those thinking of using AV Lifemiles, forget it. They don't allow redemptions on TAM!

Lucky, just out of curiosity, is their business class product competitive?

Don't forget MEX-GRU is wide open for Texans/Californians. Could be a fun stopover in itself.

@ wwk5d -- If I'm not mistaken it's not fully flat, so I'd say no unfortunately.

@ Nick -- Aeroplan should have access to the same availability as other Star Alliance carriers. My guess is that TAM only releases space ~330 days out, which is why they don't have space next year yet.

@ jen -- It shouldn't be too tough. Both United and American have multiple frequencies LAX to JFK. American actually has a good amount of award space in first class on their new A321s, so that would be a great option for a single award, LAX-JFK-GRU. More on their award space on the A321 in this post:
https://onemileatatime.com/american-a321t-first-class-new-york-los-angeles/

@ Darin -- Can't beat that. AWESOME!

@lucky, Well this worked out well! I'm in the Flagship Lounge and am off to GRU in a few hours. 🙂

What do you think is a better F product? AA 77w or TAM ?

does the A330 feature the new first class product as well ?

Don't forget this is an epic 1x positioning flight for those who originate their award ticket in Brazil to avoid fuel surcharges

Do you need a brazilian visa if you are connecting in GRU (to another country) ??

Just saw that I could use this to get to EZE (connection on Turkish in J). Thanks!

@ Ekartash -- Toughie. I like that American has wifi though the TAM cabin is smaller at only four seats and looks quite nice. Not many reviews of the product, so I'd probably go with TAM.

@ jane -- If I'm not mistaken the A330 has an older version of the seat.

@ Mike S. -- Nope, assuming you stay in the airport you don't.

@Lucky, random question but we were thinking of going down to Argentina on Copa in business class (55,000 miles p/p) and returning on TAM if we can swing it (for 70,000 miles p/p). I know I could do those as two one-ways, but we'd love to work a stopover in Panama City for a couple days on the Copa leg. Will United price me a "round trip" with a stopover for 70K + 55K p/p, or if I have different classes on the outbound and return, are they priced as two one-ways?

@ Nick -- Nope, that should work just fine and they'll price the outbound at 55K and return at 70K.

Lucky - thanks so much for the tip. I was trying to construct a route today where my girlfriend and I would try to hit up all the places we've been wanting to go on one trip in South America - Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Peru.

So I came up with this crazy roundtrip itinerary that I was hoping to use United miles on that would allow me to do all of these cities:

SFO->JFK->GRU->EZE (endpoint)

LIM->GIG (via EZE) (stopover for 3 days)

SDU->SGH (overnight transfer) GRU->JFK->SFO

I was hoping that this would be a valid United roundtrip ticket, with the trip there terminating in EZE and an open-jaw (between EZE and Lima) as well as a stopover in Rio for 3 days on the way back. However, the United agent said the middle segment between LIM and GIG was a problem, and would have to be booked as 3 one-ways. She eliminated the middle LIM->GIG leg and was able to price it at 140,000 (I've placed it on hold for now while I consider options).

Is the fact that I'm starting from SDU after the stopover instead of GIG the problem here? Or is there something obvious I'm missing with the open-jaw and stopover rule that I missed? Thanks for any help you can provide!

@ John T. -- The problem is that the return routing would need to be valid between LIM and SFO. Routing via EZE, GIG, SDU, GRU, and JFK wouldn't be a legal one-way. So that's why it's not pricing.

I booked 2 first class tickets on TAM using my US Air miles for the World Cup. Thanks for the great tip!

Just a little side note from today's flight--not all aircraft have been retrofit with the new design in First. Still very worth it, but worth knowing so you can manage your expectations.

I'm just curious, what is the purpose of all your travel? It's business related and you choose to blog it all?

@ Travis -- Were you flying an A330? I know some of those have the old product, but I was under the impression that all the 777s have the new product.

@ Simon -- Travel bloggging is what I do for a living -- I fly to experience the airline products so I can review them, and am fortunate to visit some pretty cool places along the way.

Ben -- Thanks!!! I was able to book a Xmas trip for my family of three with all of us in F, JFK-GRU-SCL, connecting flight in J.

@lucky - Nope, it was a 777. Perhaps it was the last straggler with the old product. I managed to change my return from UA to JJ, so I'll advise on the state of that aircraft when I return as well.

@ Travis -- Thanks for the heads up. Hope the flight was good otherwise!

Lucky,

US Airways sees the space but says it's not coming back confirmed because JJ is leaving Star. What do I do?

Honestly FFS how do you use US miles? Can't book NH, LH, and now JJ. Jesus.

Actually TAM is very difficult to book any reward flights within Brasil. They are opting out of the Aeroplan program in April and interesting enough they had absolutely no interior flights available during February or March. We are travelling YYZ-GRU-CWB and could not get anything from GRU-CWB with Aeroplan. As such had to book TAM directly for an additional fee. Booked the exact same flight which Air Canada sets up if the flight is purchased rather than Aeroplan. Seems to me TAM is not honouring there commitment to the Alliance and Aeroplan. Note: Flying first class is our booking.

boarding soon 1st class txs to this post. after an amazing week in Rio Carnival.

so far so good, ground services at GRU are amazing: first class private check in office, first class lounge, and escort to the plane at your preference (early, mid, or late)

txs Lucky !

here a video of the flight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GpwkqP6LOs

@ wpj -- Awesome video! How was the service?

Lucky the service was awesome, in the ground GRU & JFK and in flight. comparable with asian airlines 1st class service. exceeded expectations. the seat is one of the most comfortable I've ever experienced in 1st class. great food, friendly FA. hard to beat.

waiting for your PRO review, and see if you agree

@ wpj -- It's coming next week, stay tuned. 🙂

Appreciate the preview!

I hope someone sees this and can help. I see space on Air Canada for both legs of JFK-EZE-JFK. I only have enough miles to go one way with AA and one way with AC. My problem is, I can't get the AA side to price out online or with a phone rep. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this work? Much appreciated.

Hi Heather nor AC nor JJ fly to EZE, one is through SCL the other one through GRU, what is the exact itinerary , stopovers and which airline trying to fly ?

@wpj-I have pieced together the following on AC:

JFK-GRU-EZE departing on March 29. JFK-GRU on Tam in F. GRU-EZE on Turkish in J.

Return is the reverse on April 5. If only I had about 50k more MR points right now!!! Or if only I could get this to work on AA metal. Let me know if you need more info.

AA can't price that because cannot do turkish, you can do AA to GRU then AC the rest of the itinerary (GRU-EZE-GRU-JFK) I think.

I wish. I asked the to price just to GRU from JFK to no avail.

Tell AA that is O inventory "Oscar" "O" not Z

Still no dice. I wonder if AC is phantom space right now.

@ Heather @ pass the dressing -- Are you saying that American can't price the JFK-GRU or GRU-JFK segment on TAM? There shouldn't be any reason why they can't price that if the space shows on ANA.

I didn't check ANA, only Air Canada. Let me see if I can now...I don't have any ANA miles.

@ Heather @ pass the dressing -- There's a workaround here: https://onemileatatime.com/using-new-ana-tool/

@lucky: Ha I just read that post and went through the steps. ANA is showing F availability on my dates at the low level 120,000 RT (unless I am a dummy and I did something wrong). What gives American!!!! What gives Amex for taking away points advance and getting me to Buenos Aires!!!

@ Heather @ pass the dressing -- I'd try calling again, following what @ wpj said above about fare classes. No reason why American shouldn't be able to see that space.

I spoke with 3 different agents, the last to which I told the O class info. She said that she could only see X class. Maybe the 4th time will be the charm.

And no luck 4th time around. A point of further information. I don't see any availability on expert flyer but I don't know if this is to be expected.

@ Heather @ pass the dressing -- ExpertFlyer doesn't display TAM award space, so you're not supposed to see the space there, for what it's worth.

Hi Lucky,
So I managed to book one of these in April, but by then it's a One World company, which lounges do you recommend? I'm going to be early so I have time to try different lounges if TAM F ticket allows for that.
Cheers
Eric

@ Eric -- Congrats! Sao Paulo Airport is an absolute dump, so your best bet will be the TAM lounge, which I hear is the one non-horrible lounge at the airport.

Hi Lucky, sorry to be unclear, I'm flying JFK-GRU-EZE and my main question is at JFK which OW could/should I get in to? I'm new to OW (*A guy at heart).
I've booked the free ride to JFK 😀
Will try to stay clear from GRU as much as possible.

@ Eric -- Sorry about that. Your best option at JFK will be the Admiral's Club right after security (the Flagship Lounge is inside of it, which you'd have access to if in first class).

Ok maybe I am too late to the One World party on this. That's gotta be the only explanation. AC and ANA both show availability on my dates, but I have spoken to numerous AA reps and they cannot get this to work out. I don't know what else to do but stay home. Oh well.

Lucky, I'm not seeing any award space past the new year. Was trying to find a return flight from GRU/GIG to MIA--just as recent as last week saw at least 5 seats in Jan. This week.. nothing. AA agents were of no help.

@ Chris -- That's because TAM is eliminating first class:
https://onemileatatime.com/tam-eliminating-first-class-and-improving-business-class/

But no economy or business either? Its as if they just pulled all seats after the new year.

@ Chris -- Historically TAM almost never released business or economy class space, so I'm afraid that's not so unusual, unfortunately.

Thanks Lucky! One last question, I have an AA award on hold. I am able to book the same award with avios pts, is there a benefit to redeeming avios instead of AA miles? I can only think of lower change fees.

@ Chris -- Just that, and ultimately I would factor in what you value the miles at relatively.