TAM Airlines

First Class GRU-EZE A330: I transferred at GRU and was escorted from the fluorescent lit and well worn lounge at GRU to the aircraft I was expecting something special for the almost 3 hour international flight. Initial introductions and menu distribution coincided with juice or water in real glass but no amenity kit. Although my breakfast order from the 2 main courses was taken as well as my request for an after takeoff drink this turned out to be a joke. The meal was inedible came directly from business both courses were then presented despite my order and no after takeoff drink ever arrived. There was no other service and call bells went unanswered. The cabin is well by its sell by date grubby and although the seat is lie flat it otherwise has basic function and more comfortable when not in full recline. AVOD was ok but the screen and tint/brightness made it uncomfortable to watch. To put things in context US domestic carrier first is appalling but superior.

Flew A330 from Sao Paulo to Rio. Plane was onward to France. Plane was delayed 3 hours. There were no seats available while waiting for the flight it was extremely hot so the terminal experience was not good. Getting on this plane was wonderful after the cramped conditions onboard two Emirates flights. 2x4x2 seating configuration gave comfortable seating and much appreciated leg room. The plane was clean staff were friendly and attentive. At last we could all get some sleep.

EWR-GRU-POA roundtrip. Provider was Continental for the 4 legs of the trip. Trip was mostly good. Tam providing the usual problems. For the second time they lost the full ticket configuration and forced me to pay for excess baggage and carry bags in GRU. Amazing that they cannot do such a simple thing like hold on to their records!

JFK-GIG-EZE EZE-GRU-JFK. The seats are the best part quite comfortable and can be used as fully extended beds. Food was ok but not memorable. Staff service was not good poor English little motivation and less dedication to work. Lots of room for improvement.

London-Sao Paulo-Madrid. London-Sao Paulo: Brand new 777 very clean. Seat configuration 3-4-3 in main cabin is uncomfortable. Flight attendants were very polite and helpful. Food was OK nothing special. Sao Paulo-Madrid: Sao Paulo airport is very crowded I queued 40 minutes to check-in. Airbus A330 not so new clean. Flight attendants were OK most don't speak Spanish. Entertainment system only had two movies in Spanish.

CGH-SJP. Sad to see how standards have deteriorated lately. Check-in was convenient boarding on time. Seats on the A319 were so thin and hard that I was happy the flight was short. Crew were correct nothing special. Take off 20 minutes late but not TAM's fault. Typical full cost low service airline.

Very poor leg room seats not reclining correctly or broken. Bad or no food. Delays. Staff in general are friendly. The low level of service is a standard here in Brazil. Depending on flight there is some entertainment system however no headsets are provided.

LHR-GIG on A330. Outbound departure on time. Pre-departure drink although just water was provided. Amenities kit given. FA were professional and polite and attentive to call bells. Legroom and seat width were at par to other European carriers' long haul aircraft's. Entertainment system was ok better than nothing. Food presentation looked cheap and the quality was somewhat only for filling up your stomach. Inbound pretty much the same experience food slightly more edible. Baggage on the carousel in good time both ways.

EZE-GRU on A320. Star Alliance Gold flying business class. It took 30 mins to complete check-in process. No priority queue for security and immigration. No priority boarding for Star Gold and business class passengers. Flight departed 20 mins late without explanation. Combined drink and meal service began 1 hour after take off and service was very slow. The meal was okay and quantity sufficient. Pillow and blanket provided. Cabin was somewhat worn but otherwise clean and everything working. No IFE though. FA did not come around again for the remainder of the flight. FA spoke very limited English. On arrival checked baggage delivery was very slow and my priority tagged bags did not come off first. Overall a below average flight.

London Heathrow to Santiago Chile. Very little leg room seats rock hard. Cabin crew were down right apathetic if not rude I speak good Spanish and would have thought at least Spanish speaking cabin crew they only spoke Brazilian. The safety video was in Brazilian and aimed at kids it was in other languages but the sound was so bad. Mobiles were not switched off on take off and landing cabin crew did not check everyone was strapped in. The worst airline I have come across.