Flight booking: how it works in Brazil — first-hand

From real experience

• When booking flights, especially international ones, opt for tickets with a return policy. Services like Decolar (similar to Trip.com) offer this. While these tickets are typically more expensive, they allow for a full refund under certain conditions. This can be useful for flexibility, allowing you to cancel and recoup costs if plans change. Alternatively, for visa or stay extensions, consider traveling to a neighboring state with potentially simpler procedures.
• To book flights and specific seats (e.g., extra legroom) with some airlines, direct communication via email may be required. Airlines can provide payment links for credit card transactions, including for Brazilian Real transactions via local bank accounts (e.g., in Alfa-Bank). Changes to return dates can also be arranged via email.
• When booking flights, especially with airlines like Turkish Airlines, ensure you have a confirmed return ticket. Some airlines may specifically require their own return flight booking. Additionally, having a confirmed hotel reservation is sometimes a requirement. This is particularly relevant for travelers planning routes that might transit through hubs like Istanbul or head to destinations such as Ethiopia or Morocco.
• To travel to Iguazu Falls from Rio de Janeiro, flying is the most common option. While direct buses from Rio might not be available, connections can be made via Curitiba. It is strongly advised to book flight tickets in Brazil well in advance, as prices tend to increase significantly closer to the departure date.
• For travel to Brazil, book flights 6-9 months in advance, especially for domestic routes, to get the best prices. Accommodation can be booked via platforms like Booking.com, paying attention to reviews and ratings. Mobile internet is easily available via eSIM, which can be purchased a couple of days before departure for seamless connectivity upon arrival.
• When looking for flights from Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguacu in November-December, checking prices on Trip.com is recommended. Booking in advance is advised as prices tend to increase closer to the travel date. Currency exchange rates, particularly the Ruble's performance, can also impact the final cost.
• Accessing Brazilian airline websites like Azul (AD) and GOL (G3) from Russia may require a VPN due to potential geo-restrictions or cyber-attack mitigation measures. While Latam (LA) is also a major carrier, it's advisable to check direct booking or use aggregators if direct access is problematic. All three airlines are generally considered reliable for domestic travel in Brazil. VoePass (V3) is another option.
• A common issue when booking LATAM flights is an error where the system shifts the date of birth by one day. This can cause concern about being denied boarding, and contacting support via phone from Russia can be expensive. While there's no definitive solution provided for LATAM, an analogous situation with Gol Airlines on a domestic flight resulted in the error not being noticed during check-in. It's advisable to seek clarification from LATAM.
• For intercity travel within Brazil, various apps and services can be utilized. Bus tickets can often be booked through company websites or aggregators. For ride-sharing or private transfers, platforms like BlaBlaCar are popular. Flight bookings can be made directly with airlines or through travel agencies. It is recommended to research specific routes and providers to find the most suitable and cost-effective options.
• To find flight tickets to Brazil from Russia via aggregators like Trip.com, users often need to disable VPN and set the application region to Russia with Russian language settings to avoid search errors. Booking directly with airlines (e.g., Royal Air Maroc) via their local office/call center can allow payment with Russian bank cards and potentially lower prices compared to third-party aggregators.

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