Hello from Brazil! After flying Boliviana de Aviacion’s A330 business class from Miami (MIA) to Santa Cruz de le Sierra (VVI), I connected onto GOL’s Boeing 737 MAX premium economy to Sao Paulo (GRU), which was a 2hr50min flight.
Continue reading: GOL 737 MAX Premium Economy: Friendly Service, Bad Food
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
"Now, here’s a quirk. When I boarded, I had a sense of what GOL’s 737 MAX interiors are supposed to look like, including the heavy use of orange. But instead I found seats with… blue trim?!"
I wondered the same thing when I was on one of their jets with that color scheme. Thanks for figuring it out!
When redeeming Flying Blue, AirFrance categorizes GOL’s Premium Economy as Business class. Why? I looked at AUA-GRU and these seats where in the Business Class category for a whopping 68k miles
Didn't know had that Max still with Donghai interior. Looks like you need to come back to South America for a review of BoA's 767 and a proper Gol 737 Max (though not much difference to your experience), maybe a domestic flight could be useful for your readers since many may be connecting from other itineraries. As a Gol top tier, when seats are empty in Y+, crew usually goes to your seat and upgrade you on board and Gol also have it's own lounges for international/domestic passagenrs at both GRU/GIG. Maybe that's something that is extended to some tiers of AAdvantage? Not sure.
While I would say the Y+ flying international can be disappointing, I like Gol for the domestic flights, good on-time performance, mostly new aircraft with wi-fi operating the main routes. The first five rows with more space/recline and lounges with showers both in GRU and GIG, all complimentary for top tier and in discout for other tiers. As for "food", usually two options between salty crackers or some sweet and soft drinks for all passengers.
It was nice to meet you on MIA-VVI. Safe flights 🙂
FWIW, mortadella is a very popular sandwich meat in Brazil which is probably why Gol is so reliant on this rather basic light meal.
The 737MAX's with original GOL's configuration are all registered as PR-XM...
Most of those with registration PS-GP.. were originally intended for another airline (like Jet Airways/Donghai/etc) but GOL took their delivery slot or leased after the original operator ceased operations, so they have a different interior.
The "mortadela" sandwich actually looks good. And dipping the bread in the sparkling apple juice is not some sort of Brazilian thing, never saw before.
Maybe that's a Brazilian version, because Italian mortadella doesn't look like that
Interestingly, the description sounds like an average intra-Europe business flight.
"Meanwhile if paying cash on this route, premium economy is only an extra $74.70 over the (fairly high) $249.90 economy “light” fare. So again, I’d say that’s a solid value."
Why is $74.70 for a poor sandwich and a few drinks considered a "solid value"? You could probably purchase them for less 2 rows back.
How many times I have flown their Premium Economy and complained afterwards their use of 'premium' ist just disguise for charging more and exempting themselves from offering real business standards...
The answer is always lame and vague, trying to blame me for having business class experience and higher standards.
Even milage acquire is stingy, far from proper...
It's inaccurate, and indeed unfair, to say that the difference is restricted to snacks and drinks. There's separate check in, more luggage, and access to certain lounges (I didn't get to use one the one time I flew them GIG-CGH). It's quite decent value for money overall.
What does "Anticipation up to 6h before the original flight ..." mean on the fare description? Does it mean that you can switch to an earlier flight if space is available?
It seems to be some kind of fat-free mortadella, but the Brazilian mortadella is practically the same as the Italian one, many with pistachio.
Brazil is the country with the largest number of Italian descendants in the world, even surpassing Argentina (which proportionally has more) or the United States.
I'm not sure what's happening to you, Florida Man, but you can't be serious in saying that a one way short haul flight in pimped economy with just a few beers and an... interesting... sandwich (really, look how it displays on top of your article. I thought I ended up on a different kind of site), is worth a whopping $325 in total. I mean, compare it to your recent BoA flight which went for just twice that, and where you got to enjoy a significantly better product over a significantly longer period of time.
I mean, the 'hard' product (no pun intended after you sandwich photo) is still a short haul economy seat, and lots of 'perks' aren't applicable to most people or are already integrated in loyalty status. Because not everyone needs to check 2 bags, not everyone has a need to constantly change their ticket (because that's something people with first class tickets on China Eastern in Xi'an do, not us here. Right?), not everyone understands what 'anticipation on the day of the flight' is or why they should pay for it. So you basically end up paying $75 extra for a few drinks and a snack. Not even in Scandinavia or New Zealand would you pay that much for a beer and a snack.
The only exception I'd make is if the price is in R$, not US$. Then it'd be a bargain.
Beyond disgusting. We used to have top notch inflight food service in Brazil. Delicious hot meals served even on the shortest flight. This picture is so depressing.
We were booked on GOL from Miami to Brazil a while back, when our cruise on the Amazon got canceled due to low water levels! I was booked in “Plus” and GOL assured me I would get a refund, but that it would take a few weeks. After several weeks I called again and their rep again assured me of a refund, but it would take up to 90 days! I never go the refund.
He wrote this literally the sentence before.. he values the free middle seat and for sure I would also pay that to not have to sit on the lap of some stranger as most economy flights feel like nowadays.
Exactly. I’m Italian and never have seen mortadella that looks like that. Fa schifo! Way too dark/red compared to what it should be: pink
That "fat coffee" could have been 3-in-1 coffee mix drink.
Why airlines struggle to ensure tasty and esthetically-pleasing sandwiches on board? How about something akin to Japanese sando or Italian tramezzino? It's not a rocket science...
Hey Ben!
An Asian guy living in Brasilia here. Gol has a major hub at Brasília International Airport and I fly with them all the time. I'm really sorry you were not on their typical 737s, where the first five rows indeed have bigger legroom and greater recline.
Gol's seats are a lot more comfortable than what LATAM Brasil has with their old A319s and A320s, and their signature orange-accented cabin design is quite aesthetically pleasing. (Again, sorry you didn't get to experience it.)
The Air France-KLM thing has been there since the 2014 FIFA World Cup. I believed they increased their stakes in Gol sometime before then.
I frequently fly on their BSB-MIA/MCO routes, and I agree their premium economy is a good product.
Gol has some of the best lounges in Brazil. Their lounges at GRU are the best lounges at the airport.
You forgot the blocked middle seat. Take off the $30 that you definitely would pay for the beer and a snack in Scandinavia and it's only $45 for guaranteed elbow room.
I took Premium Economy flight from Orlando to Brasilia April 18, 2025 recently and it was the WORST experience and product I ever had!, I swear you are better off connecting thru a different airline than using Gol. This airline is going down and they can't possibly be offering anything PREMIUM whatsoever. I was SHOCKED, disappointed and SAD in this flight and I wish I could say something more positive, but I feel cheated!, normally I dont write reviews but this one deserves it: , the FOOD was awful, the flight attendants could care less of making you feel special , I asked for some WINE and I was told they didn't have alcohol on that ROUTE, wait, you are offering a PREMIUM experience but they dont offer the BASICS? Maybe for PURCHASE, beer or wine?! They use the same domestic aircraft that flies inside Brazil, ....do us a FAVOR Gol, please go out of business! Also, they didn't credit me for my miles with AA because they sold me an I inventory ticket, in PREMIUM economy, the list goes on and on and on, please everyone, STOP using this airline! I have many more flights to Brasilia coming up and I rather use Azul or LATAM connecting in Refice or Fortaleza! AVOID GOL!!!