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.
GOL is a major player in Brazil, and American Airlines even has a stake in the carrier, and a partnership. So I was curious to check out GOL’s most premium product, marketed as premium economy.
In this post I wanted to share my initial thoughts, and then soon I’ll have a full review. Long story short, there were things I liked and things I didn’t like, though unfortunately I didn’t really get the “standard” product, it seems.
In this post:
GOL’s 737 MAX premium economy is economy with blocked middles
GOL’s premium economy product is found in the first five rows of the carrier’s Boeing 737s. It’s the same seats as in economy, except the middle seats are blocked, meaning that there are a total of 20 seats.
So the blocked middle seat setup is similar to intra-Europe business class, except in this case there’s no curtain between premium economy and economy. The only way to know the difference is that the placards with row numbers were in dark blue in premium economy, and in orange in economy.
That means there’s no dedicated lavatory for premium economy, and for that matter, the economy passengers see all the things that they’re not getting (though there’s not much to be jealous of). 😉
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 looked up the registration code of my jet. It was PS-GPO, and it was a five-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 that only started flying for GOL back in late 2023. The jet was actually built back in 2019, and the story is that it was intended for China’s Donghai Arlines, but the airline ultimately didn’t take delivery of it. As a result, GOL acquired it, given that the airline was dealing with its own 737 MAX delivery delays.
This has the same general layout as GOL’s other 737 MAXs, as it also has 186 seats, in a 3-3 configuration. However, there are also some key differences — there were no personal device holders, the jet wasn’t equipped with Wi-Fi, etc.
I get that airline operations are challenging, though I find it a bit frustrating when you’re expecting one kind of product (including streaming entertainment and Wi-Fi), and then end up on a plane with a different product. For example, GOL advertises that premium economy has 50% more recline, but I can’t imagine this cabin had 50% more recline?
Legroom was okay for economy, but also wasn’t particularly generous. I’m not the tallest dude, but my legs were basically pushed up against the seat in front.
Each seat did have a USB-A plug, which isn’t particularly useful for most, with the increasing transition to USB-C.
While of no significance, I found it surprising how the bulkhead had both the GOL logo, as well as the Air France-KLM logo. I know Air France-KLM has a small stake in the airline, but does anyone know the backstory of this? American also has a stake in the carrier, and its name isn’t on the bulkhead…
GOL’s premium economy food isn’t good, drinks are okay
So, what special amenities do GOL premium economy passengers get? Before boarding, each premium economy passenger was presented with a bottle of water.
Then after takeoff, the flight attendant walked through the cabin with a tray that had the option of sparkling wine or some sort of sparkling apple juice. That’s a nice, premium touch (the existence of this kind of service, and not the taste of the sparkling wine, just to be clear), and I appreciated how quickly after takeoff it was served. It’s also nice how proper glassware is used.
Then after takeoff, a snack was served. This came on a tray, and by the time they got to my row, the only option was a mortadella and cheese sandwich (I think there may have been a vegetarian option otherwise). On the plus side, the chocolate dessert thing was quite tasty.
So, I don’t eat pork, for one. But even if I did, well, I probably wouldn’t eat this. I mean, I know American owns a stake in GOL, but I didn’t realize that included advising on catering. 😉
It’s my understanding that GOL serves these kinds of sandwiches on just about all of its flights of this length in premium economy. So if that’s up your alley, you’re in for a treat. If not, make sure you eat before you board, or bring your own snack.
My seat mate very much seemed to enjoy the sandwich, and kept dipping the bread in the sparkling apple juice he was served. Is that some sort of Brazilian thing, or did this guy make up his own unique combination?
GOL offers unlimited drinks in premium economy, with options including soft drinks, coffee, tea, water, wine, and beer (though I don’t believe there’s any liquor).
There were constant drink refills, and after the meal I ordered a coffee. I asked for a coffee with a little milk, but the flight attendant explained that unfortunately they only either had black coffee, or a very sugary coffee, which she described as “fat coffee” (lol?). My seat mate was downing these, and highly recommended them, so I figured I’d order one of each, and mix the two.
Yes, a super sugary hot drink is delicious, I can confirm. But I do wish they just had a little bit of milk or creamer, for those of us who prefer something in our coffee, but don’t like it sweet.
GOL’s flight attendants are great
Based on my flight with GOL, I was very impressed by the crew. All the crew members were genuinely professional, friendly, and detail oriented, both with service and safety. I think most Brazilians or people who have flown GOL know this, but I imagine that some people who may not have flown with the airline before may wonder.
GOL runs a reliable operation, so it very much feels like a full service, network carrier. In particular, the lead flight attendant was very charming, and she worked nonstop in the premium economy cabin, offering passengers as many drinks as they wanted.
Is GOL premium economy worth it?
Each region of the world has a different standard when it comes to what’s considered an acceptable product. Just compare business class on a short flight within Asia, to business class on a short flight within Europe.
In the case of Latin America, some (but not all) airlines have premium economy as their top product on regional narrow body flights, rather than business class. For example, LATAM also doesn’t have a “proper” business class on its narrow body jets.
So, what’s my take on GOL’s premium economy, and is it worth it? The way I see it, the single biggest benefit is an empty seat next to you. If that’s something you value and if the price premium is reasonable, then it could be worth it.
I personally don’t at all value the meal service, though having free drinks and a friendly, dedicated flight attendant is nice.
The good thing about GOL premium economy is that it’s often reasonably priced, so the premium isn’t huge. For example, if redeeming American AAdvantage miles on this route, economy would cost 12,500 miles, while premium economy would cost 17,500 miles. I think an extra 5,000 miles for those extra perks represents good value.
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.
GOL has a huge network to, from, and within Brazil, so in many cases the carrier will be the best option. When you do fly with GOL, there’s something to be said for booking premium economy, but just manage your expectations.
Bottom line
My GOL premium economy flight didn’t go exactly as I had hoped, given that the flight was operated by an aircraft that was initially intended for Donghai Arlines, and therefore had slightly different interiors, and no Wi-Fi or entertainment. I found that to be disappointing, since I was hoping to be able to get the “true” GOL experience, and also to stay productive during the flight.
However, aside from that, I had a generally favorable impression of GOL. The crew was friendly, the cabin was clean and bright, and the service flow was good. However, I really think GOL needs to mix up its food a bit, because those sandwiches are not tasty, in my opinion.
On the plus side, GOL charges a reasonable premium for its premium economy, so you really can’t complain for what you get.
What’s your take on GOL’s premium economy experience, and do you think it’s worth it?
for a short flight european style business class is fine.
says someone who's clearly not over 6 feet tall
Well yes, things can be a bit different in that part of the world.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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.
Did you check in your luggage or get it as a carry-on on this itinerary?
He always flys with hand luggage on review trips.
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...
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.
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.
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?
Indeed. Translation leaves a lot to be desired.
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.
Gol has some of the best lounges in Brazil. Their lounges at GRU are the best lounges at the airport.
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...
"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.
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.
Free checked luggage.
Interestingly, the description sounds like an average intra-Europe business flight.
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.
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.
FWIW, mortadella is a very popular sandwich meat in Brazil which is probably why Gol is so reliant on this rather basic light meal.
Maybe that's a Brazilian version, because Italian mortadella doesn't look like that
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.
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
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...
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 :)
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
"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!