CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 12 months 4 hours ago) and read 1942 times:
Hi!
I need a feedback from our good enthusiasts from Brazil and specially from S.Paulo area. I'll be flying from Curitiba to S. Paulo/Guarulhos on the 29th. June. I'll fly first a Airbus A320 from TAM to GRU and then I'll have about 3 hours until I get my TAP flight to LIS. How is GRU for spotting and photos? Also how is TAM? I'll be mostly flying also TAM from Curitiba to Assuncion/Paraguai, this time a Fokker F100, any comments on that too?
Glad to ear from you guys.
Regards
123 From Bolivia, joined Nov 2003, 739 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (8 years 12 months 4 hours ago) and read 1911 times:
GRU is not very nice as an airport, whereas spotting is great depending on the hour. Noontime is normally weak.
Tam is great. If you take the F100 take front seats, left side (2x3 seating), they are better.
Once you are in ASU you will note that GRU is tons better than ASU where spotting can be closed in to spotting birds because there are not many flights to-from ASU.
If you tend to be on the hungry side make sure to vacuum up your meal tray because options in the international area of GRU are limited to snacks, and since TAM meals are normally very good, there is no reason to leave anything behind.
PU151 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (8 years 12 months 3 hours ago) and read 1885 times:
I agree with 123, GRU depends on the hour. The best hours AFAIK are early morning to around 10 AM, and after 7 or 8 PM, that's when you catch most of the intercontinental flights. On the other hand, at any time of the day you will see tons of Brazilian planes, and with some luck even one of our gorgeous Plunas!
As for the material side of the airport, well, you can find great spotting locations, but you'll have to walk for them. And again, 123's right, I hope you're not hungry when you get there, because a sandwich is all you'll be able to find.
I dunno about the 3 hours thing. I would say that if you fly there late in the evening you've got enough time to see loads of interesting planes, so good luck!
S.p.a.s. From Liechtenstein, joined Mar 2001, 950 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (8 years 12 months 3 hours ago) and read 1877 times:
Jose,
You have two options for photos...
1) Observation deck at terminal 2(TPS2)/wing D: this is located on the second floor, or one floor above the departures floor. From there you can spot/photograph through the windows.(not tinted, clean most of the time). Traffic wise, the afternoon is rather slow on Terminal 2, so I would suggest ...
2) The self-service restaurant on terminal 1/wing A: This is located just at the very end of the hall, departure level, after the last check-in counters (normaly TAP uses them) and from the windows you have a nice view onto the apron. Traffic is a little better this side than on TPS2. Food is nice and not very expensive too.
On the 30th you said? I think I'll not be in the town but I'll send you a private msg with my contacts.
Jtamu97 From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 655 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (8 years 12 months 3 hours ago) and read 1822 times:
There is also a McDonalds that has windows all in front were you can view most departures and arrivals as well as the occasional internation arrival at a nearby gate. When I was there in October I got a great shot of the Swiss Md-11 being pushed back right by the restaurant. It is not so great for pictures, but you can see most aircraft.
123 From Bolivia, joined Nov 2003, 739 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (8 years 12 months 3 hours ago) and read 1792 times:
Wait.... you are giving ideas that are out of the international transit area and I think CV990 will be 3 hours in international transit.
It would not be reasonable to recommend CV990 to clear customs and duties just to eat and check planes... for such a short time... because CV990 would have to pay airport taxes to reenter international transit area (I think there is a 12 hour limit between one and the other flight but I am not sure of the conditions).
S.p.a.s. From Liechtenstein, joined Mar 2001, 950 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (8 years 12 months 3 hours ago) and read 1763 times:
123,
You're wrong.
He will be arriving on a domestic flight from Curitiba, so he has to leave the domestic arrivals area and go to TAP check-in counter to make the check-in for the international flight.
Maybe he can have his bags tagged to LIS at Curitiba (I doubt it, though) but no way he will have a boarding card.
Rgds
Renato
Edit:
Jay, the windows I mentioned are just one floor above the McDonald's, actually, directly over it.
EddieDude From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 7170 posts, RR: 45 Reply 8, posted (8 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1676 times:
I just want to emphasize that depending on the time of the day, doing the line to go through the migratory authorities counters from the check-in area to the gates area can be really nasty so calculate your time well. I think you can get some decent photos from the McDonald's.
S.p.a.s. From Liechtenstein, joined Mar 2001, 950 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (8 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1646 times:
Eddie...
TAP leaves from Terminal 1, and the McDonnalds is on Terminal 2... as I mentioned, the number of movements on TPS2 this time of the day is rather slow, maybe one flight (LAN). SAA arrives around 15.00 but they normally park it on a place where you can't photograph it.
OTOH, Terminal 1 has more departures (IB, AF, BA, AZ) plus a better placed observation area (the restaurant I mentioned on msg #3), so you can even make some decent photos of remote parked planes...
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (8 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1624 times:
Hi guys.
Thanks for all your feedback, really appreciated a lot and hope to have some good time to see some decent airplanes, mainly from Brazil will be awesome. I'll let you know after, I'll make a trip report on that!
regards
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From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Bolivia, joined Nov 2003, 739 posts, 
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From Liechtenstein, joined Mar 2001, 950 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 655 posts, 
From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 7170 posts, 
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