TAM Airlines

JJ 8027 SCL-GRU on 5 Sept. 777-300 in Business Class. Had never flown TAM on anything but domestic Brazil flights so wondered how the service would be. I was impressed. Flight attendants were very friendly and welcoming with smiles. 3.5 hour flight and was served a light dinner that was tasty. Seats are not fully flat but recline was comfortable and it would be fine for a trans-atlantic flight. AVOD was good - watched movies and TV shows. Pilot kept us informed of our progress. Landed and waited 20 min for a gate but that is typical at GRU - not TAM's fault. Bag was the 2nd one off - really enjoyed the flight.

JJ 8028 29 Aug 2014. What a shambolic airline. From the inability to check in online - webpage freezing up the lack of control at the GRU check in - 20 mins wait in the business class line one check in counter open and no control to ensure that only business class pax use the business class check in a mediocre lounge and a plane which was at least 40 years old - seats not much younger - still had functioning ashtrays! As for inflight service - poor! Old business class seats with little recline no individual TV and the old 10inch overhead screen food selection limited and all brought at the same time - so choose eat the cold starter and the main course gets cold eat main course first then starter or leave the starter - only one steward for the business class cabin so service also slow. Poor safety standards on landing: no check that seats were upright classes were left at the seats and not collected and even when staff were paged they did not resolve the issue.

Very disappointed and annoyed with TAM. We had bought a flight from Sucre to Santa Cruz via Cochabamba and had to be in Santa Cruz that afternoon for an evening engagement. The TAM flight left Sucre half an hour late (or more). this is ironic as all around the airports I was seeing posted saying Thanks for your punctuality and yet the airline itself felt it acceptable to be running so late. Because of this we missed the connection to Santa Cruz and the staff at the TAM desk were not very helpful. All they were concerned about was getting more money out of the customer by charging us to change the ticket to a later flight. This at least they should have done for free and been apologetic about the poor performance of their airline! Perhaps 200 Bolivianos is not a huge amount but it is the principle of it that has so annoyed us and made us not want to travel TAM again or recommend it to anyone.

Terrible Business Lounge in Sao Paulo. No wifi awful cold food (not good sandwiches) and uncomfortable seats harsh lighting. Once you're on the flight: Inattentive staff uncomfortable seats not good food and you're lucky if you get a glass of wine in the first 2 hours. I won't be flying with them again. Make BA look like saints.

GRU-EZE (JJ8000) - Airbus A330-200. I always flew TAM and they always provided a decent service and acceptable coach class seat comfort. But the last time they were able to transform a 2.5 hours flight in a nightmare! It was an early morning flight and my seat was 35K. The interesting thing is I had flown in the very same seat in the very same plane (PT-MVP) one year earlier from GRU to MIA and it was a pleasant flight! But this time they refurbished the interior and had shrunk the space between coach seats. I couldn't find a nice position to relax myself even it being a 2.5 hours flight. The catering was ridiculous just a very small cold tasteless ham and cheese sandwich a lot worse than they use to serve on Sao Paulo/Rio de Janeiro Shuttle Service. The flight attendant told me it was an early morning flight and called that stuff "breakfast" and told me the food in night flights on that route was a lot better. I took the night flight to come back and they gave the same small cold and tasteless sandwich! For the price they put in the ticket it should be a lot better. Coach Class used to be good but lately it's a nightmare not only at TAM but on all airlines I have flown.

I add this old comment out of interest to others. LHR to Sao Paulo Sao P to Salvador. Just a few minutes before scheduled take off - flight delayed by 14 hours! (gone tech). I risked loosing my sailing holiday. The TAM functionaire accompanied and assisted me to get my baggage off the plane and spent a lot of time and effort trying to help me. I say she went well beyond the call of duty! (This flight was delayed not by a fault of TAM but of BA who "stole" their slot!) Arriving at SP they tried to organise hotels for all the passengers. Returning to LHR plane half empty - we all got to stretch out - great sleep! the first and last time that will happen!!! All in all warmly recommend TAM - it is important to know the actual cause of the problem. (This is nearly always gross overcrowding both on the ground and in the air).

EZE-GRU-CDG in December. First leg on A330 rather comfortable due to wide bodied plane but catering disappointing: The usual ham/cheese croissant and cheap lemonades no coffee/tea service or beer on a 2.5 hrs scheduled international flight. GRU-CDG was pleasant due to a brand new 777 plane and despite the 3-4-3 layout in the economy cabin rather comfortable. The design of this aircraft was very stylish and all super clean almost luxurious. Inflight entertainment decent but again catering rather poor. At least wine and beer served plus coffee and a continental breakfast before landing. Due to low fare I was rather satisfied but would not like to spend more than the lowest fare because of the sub-par catering. Ground handling staff were very friendly while on board crew just professional but not unpleasant.

MVD-GRU-MIA and return. All flights on time. Good service good aircraft great IFE adequate food and drink. Ground staff very helpful. Pathetic terminal 1 in GRU.

I'm a Lufthansa frequent flyer on the Sao Paulo-Frankfurt route but this time I decided to give TAM a try. Equipment was a Boeing 773. Seat factor: something between 95 and 100% mainly Brazilians onboard. Was pretty much impressed with the large quantity of movies and films available on the IFE. Cabin crew friendly did speak good English but I do agree with some previous reviews: too much talking and gossiping among them. Food quality was in my opinion better than Lufthansa but what a small portion I got for dinner! Good breakfast but no tea available. I found the seat more comfortable than LH: did especially appreciate the footrest each seat has. A small amenity kit was also a nice touch. At the end I have to say I was satisfied but Lufthansa will still be my first choice.

Flight booked form FRA to GRU. Planned departure 2200 hrs. After boarding completed the plane went on a hold position and all the passengers had to get out due to Frankfurt Airport Closure after 2300 hrs. The chaos was perfect! No information poor assistance. Brought us to a hotel in Darmstadt and back to the airport the following day. There - absolute chaos at the gate. Hundreds of people just a few and stressed out TAM staff. Got a comment that my LH frequent flyer status would not count anymore as TAM is now a Oneworld member although I had booked Lufthansa and this was a Lufthansa - operated by TAM - flight. Finally left on the following day. Seats very narrow! Plane totally worn out. Staff very unfriendly. Staff's priority surely were not the passengers! Staff standing in the pantry and having a good time with coffee and drinks reacting rude to any request for help or drinks. Conclusion: TAM - never again!