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Transit and Connecting Flights in Brazil: real experience from chats

Short answer
When arriving in Brazil on a single ticket, you must claim your baggage at the first point of entry (GRU) to re-check it for any domestic flights, even if the itinerary is combined. For travel to Brazil, carry a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate and ensure you have proof of a return flight to avoid immigration issues.

From real experience

When flying Ethiopian Airlines to Brazil: 1. **Entry Requirements:** Be prepared for immigration to ask for return tickets at Moscow check-in; a booked flight with a temporary hold (e.g., Emirates 71-hour booking) can suffice.
2. **Pregnancy Travel:** Submit a filled, signed, and stamped Pregnancy Certificate and Medif form to Ethiopian Airlines via email at least one day prior to departure. Be ready to present these documents again at Addis Ababa boarding. Carry a self-responsibility letter. 3. **In-flight Experience:** Aircraft may be older (especially Moscow-Addis Ababa), but service is friendly, food is generally good, and amenities (blanket, pillow, headphones, hygiene kit on longer segments) are provided. In-flight entertainment might be limited to English. 4. **Addis Ababa Airport:** The airport is modern with rest areas and food options. 5. **Sao Paulo (GRU) Transfer to Domestic:** Even with a single ticket (e.g., Moscow-Rio), checked baggage MUST be claimed at São Paulo (GRU) and re-checked for domestic flights (e.g., Latam to Rio) after passing customs. A Latam representative might assist with baggage re-check before the main counters. 6. **Domestic Flights in Brazil:** Expect domestic flights to be cold; dress warmly. The recommended layover time for connections is 4-5 hours.
✓ 1 report from chats
When transiting through Casablanca with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) for layovers exceeding 8 hours, passengers are typically provided with complimentary hotel accommodation and meals.
Shuttles are available to nearby hotels like Relax and Sky. Checked baggage on a single ticket will transit directly to the final destination and does not need to be collected in Casablanca. Free Wi-Fi is available in the airport. It is advisable to remain within the transit zone to avoid potential issues. Travelers should also be aware that authorities may request proof of yellow fever vaccination, making it prudent to obtain this if required.
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Royal Air Marocco is a reputable airline for travel to São Paulo, offering convenient layovers and competitive prices.
Passengers with layovers exceeding 4 hours are provided with business lounge access, and those with layovers over 8 hours receive hotel accommodation. Food quality is average. Flights to São Paulo feature new aircraft, while routes from Moscow to Morocco use older but comfortable planes. Hand luggage policies are generally lenient.
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Travel rule: On a single-booked ticket, missing the first flight segment causes automatic cancellation of the entire itinerary.
Baggage cannot easily be retrieved at a stopover point without airline cooperation. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is highly recommended for travel to Brazil to avoid registration and entry issues.
✓ 1 report from chats
When flying from Russia to Brazil, passengers must collect baggage in São Paulo (GRU) and re-check it for domestic flights.
On return flights (Brazil to Russia), baggage is typically checked through to the final destination. Always verify specific airline transit procedures at the point of origin.
✓ 1 report from chats
When flying to Brazil on a single ticket involving a connection between an international airline (e.g., Qatar) and a local one (e.g., LATAM/TAM), passengers must usually collect checked baggage at the first point of entry (GRU) and re-check it for the domestic leg, even if the carrier code is shared.
✓ 1 report from chats
When transferring flights in Brazil, check the baggage tag for the final destination code.
If airlines are different or there is no interline agreement, passengers must collect baggage at the intermediate airport, clear customs, and re-check for the next flight.
✓ 1 report from chats
Guarulhos Airport (GRU) baggage claim time is unpredictable, often taking over an hour.
Priority stickers like 'fragile' do not guarantee earlier arrival and are sometimes removed by baggage handlers.
✓ 1 report from chats
Self-service machines for baggage check-in and tag printing are available at Brazilian airports and can provide information regarding baggage handling.
✓ 1 report from chats

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