TAM Airlines

SSA-GRU on A321. I define TAM a minimal company - minimal legroom minimal onboard catering (they serve beer on internal routes) and minimal customer care by ground staff. Flight scheduled to depart from SSA at 5:17PM but took off more than 1:30 hours later due to logistics problems with crew which in the end had to be replaced. One of the many nightmares with TAM lately. The only positive point was the fast and efficient check-in.

GRU-MXP-GRU A340. This flight was overbooked so after boarding we had to hear a lady who was screaming she had lost this flight the previous night and was assigned an already-taken seat (they gave her a business class seat in the end). When we tried to buy their confort seats all have been taken and all of them by TAM staff. Crew were not friendly rude sometimes. Bad food in plastic material. Seat-pitch not good at all

GRU-FOR in economy class. Normally that's the only class available on this flight. In this case the A320 had both biz and economy. Although I had been travelling Continental Biz-First I was as expected assigned an economy class seat (had never seen a two-class plane on this leg). Once we took off I was asked if I was alone and could move and was put in a biz class seat. Could have been due to my Continental booking or because of my Star Alliance status but I understood it to be since the father of the mother and child next to me wanted to be with them. Food consisted of the usual small ham and cheese sandwich (no options). The two attendants spent much of their time at the very front of the plane by the cabin door with the curtain drawn. One dozed. As we landed no one checked to see if people had their seat belts fastened seats in the upright position etc. Not the best attention to safety but seemed par for the course.

CDG-GIG-SSA in economy. Transatlantic leg oldish Airbus 330 with a tatty interior IFE system gave trouble throughout the flight. Reasonable but bland dinner and breakfast served. Domestic leg in A320; mini-breakfast and decent coffee served. Staff courteous.

GRU-CWB the final leg in a long trip from Australia. Check in at GRU after customs was easy (no queues) no issues through security and once on board service on such a quick flight was exceptionally good. Hot snack and a beer.

We flew with TAM to and from Sao Paulo and found them at best mediocre. The food was alright and there was some IFE but way poorer than major airlines and frequently had to be re-booted by staff who frankly couldn't be bothered. The crew were poor at answering call bells and didn't seem to like their jobs. Check-in queues were very long and slow and the seats were very uncomfortable. We had exit seats on the way back but had to pay extra for the privilege and of course despite the extra leg room you still feel cramped because they are so narrow. If I was to recommend them it would only be for the price.

CWB-GRU-FRA return in First. Lie-flat bed on B777-300 ER. Check-in flawless with special service accompanying you through security lounge and gate. Lounge in GRU okay for First Class in FRA is LH Senator Lounge - crowded and inadequate for F class. Service onboard attentive food and drinks adequate (nothing special). Seat comfortable until it is laid into a bed - then the junction between seat segments creates discomfort in hip-zone. FA prepared bed with duvet and pyjamas. Deplane in GRU not okay for you are among the last in Business class to deplane and Immigration in GRU is not smooth. Flight arrived in GRU at 0400 and no transfer check-in until 0600.

Heathrow to Rio then to Sao Paulo Iguacu Curitiba Salvador Rio and return to Heathrow. Several flights arrived early delay from Curitiba appeared due to air traffic control as boarding on time. 2 hours late on return to Heathrow disappointing - little/no info at Rio and evening catering facilities airside in Rio inadequate and horribly expensive. Overall experience good check-in friendly crew. Reasonable legroom /comfort IFE catering on A330 apart from poor breakfast on Rio-Heathrow. Assigned seats for all flights prior to leaving UK which worked. A320s for internal flights less legroom but fine for these shorter journeys. The short haul ham/cheese roll is best described as adequate though we were not expecting a great culinary experience. For us on these flights TAM represented good value and an experience I would recommend. When flying out of Sao Paulo and (but less so) Rio I recommend careful watch on last minute Gate changes. Having been warned of this at Sao Paulo 5 gate changes in about 30 mins didn't surprise us and I suspect due to SP ground control rather than the airlines.

LHR-SCL via GRU in economy. LHR check at Terminal 1 the most efficient I have seen in many years of travel. Onboard the seats are not as comfortable as they should be and the entertainment system has quite a limited selection. Crew efficient and friendly. A rather depressed vegetarian dish (nothing else left) served on a poor plastic tray that slips around your fold down table was served shortly after take off - poor looking panini breakfast served before arrival. Overall the crew made this flight worthwhile and at around GBP 1000 cheaper than alternatives for this single ticket I would be tempted to use them again.

Several flights within Brazil during January-February 2011. Domestic fleet seems to consist of narrow body airbuses which are at least a decade old. Ground staff very professional and helpful; cabin crew slightly less so. Free non-alcoholic drink and snack served - the snack usually consisted of an almost inedible ham roll. Attitude to onboard safety sometimes seemed a little more casual than some airlines.