LATAM opened their first co-branded LAN-TAM VIP Lounge at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International airport in Terminal 3 on October 27, 2014. My recent trip around the world coincided with the opening, just four days prior to my arrival. I had the opportunity to visit the lounge both in the morning before heading to the city and then briefly in the late evening hours before catching my 10pm departure to Paris.
Entry to Lounge on mezza level
The spacious 20,000 sq ft lounge is open to the terminal below and provides great views of the shops below and of the tarmac but loses out in privacy and quiet due to the open concept. Despite this, the fragmented box is divided into a kitchen/eating area, a bar, a TV room, and multiple sitting areas. There is storage lockers which do not lock and shower services available for those who need to freshen up.
The conference area was still closed when I visited. This business center/conference room is not private and is open to the rest of the club.
The chic design includes extra high ceilings, an open design concept and the use of natural materials such as onyx, marble, and wood for decoration. Comfy new leather chairs and couches are plentiful with room for over 400 people, and the colors throughout the lounge highlight the region that the LATAM group hails from. There is also a “rest area” in the back of the lounge, but this area only provides chairs with ottamen and no real beds. Not to mention the room is very bright, so sleeping here would not be easy.
The lounge offers basic snacks, and since TAM discontinued First Class as of 11/1, there is no longer a First Class lounge at GRU nor a restaurant located within the lounge, which is more popular on Asian and European carriers. The breakfast spread was a step above what is found in lounges in North America by American Carriers, but hardly anything exciting.
Near the entrance to the lounge is 24 individual bathroom stalls and six showers which can be reserved through the front desk.
Overall I was not really impressed by LATAM’s first co-branded lounge. The lounge is nice and spacious, however it lacks the glamour I was expecting from the largest airline group in South America. Food options were scant, the wine wasn’t that great, the bar was not well versed in spirit selections, there was no true sleeping area, and the open concept is great for airplane viewing, but horrible for sound control. The new lounge is supposed to show commitment of LATAM to Brazil and Sao Paulo, making it their main hub in Brazil, however I think compared to LATAMs competition worldwide, the lounge is lacking.
Tarmac view from t3
More from this trip
-
- Around the world in First for 120,000 miles
- How much did my 120,000 mile + $300 ticket really cost?
- Courtyard Airport Hotel – Mexico City
- American Express Centurion lounge Mexico D.F. terminal 1
- American Airlines Admirals Club Mexico D.F.
- American Airlines Premium Lounge Miami
- Saloon VIP Terminal J Miami
- Tam Farewell to First Class B777 Miami (MIA) to Sao Paulo (GRU)
- 15 hours in Sao Paulo 15 Hours In Sao Paulo – Graffiti, History, Laughter, and Caipirinhas
- LAN TAM VIP Lounge Sao Paulo Terminal 3 (GRU)
- TAM “Business” Class B777 Sao Paulo (GRU) to Paris (CDG)
- Marriott Champs-Elysees Paris
- Malaysia Airlines “First class” lounge Paris – ICARE Lounge
- Malaysia Airlines First Class A380 Paris (CDG) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
- Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – First Class lounge
- Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur Regional Golden Lounge Review
- Cathay Pacific First and Business Class lounge Kuala Lumpur (KUL).
- Cathay Pacific Regional Business Class A330 Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Hong Kong (HKG)
- Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge Hong Kong (HKG)– The Wing
- Cathay Pacific First Class B777 Hong Kong (HKG) to Los Angeles (LAX)
