I not too long ago returned from a go to to South America, which I set out upon for a possibility to brush up on my newly gazetted Portuguese language expertise.
This necessitated going by the hub airport of your complete continent, São Paulo Guarulhos Worldwide Airport (GRU), which providers the better São Paulo metropolitan space – a megalopolis so monumental it matches Mega Metropolis Certainly one of Decide Dredd fame, and has the gridlock visitors to match.
Previous to my return to Canada, I had the chance to go to the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge, and let me inform you, it was a completely ample expertise in each sense.
Espaço Banco Safra Lounge São Paulo – Entry & Entry
The Espaço Banco Safra Lounge is positioned within the VIP lounge area on the prime of the escalators on the very entrance of Terminal 3. The entry is positioned proper behind the set of duty-free outlets which instantly comply with the safety test, however earlier than the opposite procuring areas which lead into the remainder of the terminal.
In the event you’ve by no means been to South America earlier than, and Brazil specifically, it could be disconcerting to need to undergo a number of procuring areas in each airport. After many visits, I’ve realized that the nation is infamous for placing duty-free outlets in each airport, with hawker salespeople seeking to wave down the unwary traveller at each alternative.
Consequently, it’s just about all the time in your greatest curiosity to loosen up distant from the excessive stress gross sales pitches in one of many lounges.
On this case, I used to be lucky to have entry as a result of I had used eUpgrades to bump my Air Canada Premium Financial system (Versatile) fare to full enterprise class.
Passengers travelling in enterprise class or larger on a Star Alliance airline can get pleasure from complimentary entry to the lounge, which was branded as a Star Alliance Lounge. It’s additionally listed as out there with Precedence Cross; nonetheless, solely between the hours of 11pm and 2pm.
Sadly, the entrance desk workers weren’t too useful at first. Once I approached with my Precedence Cross card in hand, the workers’s first response was asking if I spoke Portuguese.
Whereas I’m lucky sufficient to talk the native language, this is able to be troublesome for a overseas traveller who didn’t communicate the language, and is especially odd in an airport the place even the fragrance gross sales folks communicate English superior to my Brazilian Portuguese.
Because it turned out, they had been to wave me off as a result of the Precedence Cross program doesn’t grant lounge entry on the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge between 2pm and 11pm day by day. Nevertheless, I managed to elucidate I used to be travelling in Air Canada enterprise class, and shortly thereafter the tone modified, and my boarding go was scanned at double tempo.
After scanning my boarding go, I used to be capable of enter and take within the sights of the actually expansive lounge. Personally, I used to be just a little bowled over by the welcome I obtained, despite the fact that the environs appeared nicer than the American Categorical Lounge positioned immediately throughout from the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge.
Within the workers’s defence, they instantly provided me the Wi-Fi password, and directed me each to the departures board and complimentary magazines (principally in Portuguese).
Espaço Banco Safra Lounge São Paulo – Seating
After getting my bearings, I used to be capable of make better sense of your complete lounge. The extraordinarily excessive ceilings make it really feel much more open than its dimension may recommend, and likewise prevented it from getting muggy, which might be by design because of the locale.
There was plentiful seating of each selection out there, together with traditional lounge favourites corresponding to stuffed chairs and couches, and naturally desk seating with cushioned eating chairs.
The lounge is separated into totally different devoted seating areas. Nearer to the entryway was a seating space with some plush chairs, in addition to many eating tables designed for consuming.
Each of those areas had been positioned nearer to the kitchen and buffet space for handy entry.
I examined every sort of chair. They had been ample sufficient for the needs of sitting, stress-free, and ready for a flight.
Energy retailers, nonetheless, had been a bit extra sparse, and so I needed to rotate the place I sat to be able to lastly discover a charging outlet earlier than my cellphone died. I discovered one out there nearer to the again of the lounge, additional away from the primary eating tables.
Nearer to this rear space was additionally the hallway that led to the loos. Regardless of being very busy, the loos had been really saved spotless, and I observed cleansing workers going out and in in very quick intervals, so cleanliness is certainly superior to what we sadly typically see in North America.
The loos consisted of a number of particular person rooms, which was a pleasant contact for visitors to get pleasure from further consolation and privateness.
Espaço Banco Safra Lounge São Paulo – Eating & Bar
As is so typically the case at eating institutions in Brazil, meals selections on the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge had been served buffet-style.
The easiest way I might describe the primary programs of hen, beef stew, a number of forms of rice, and classics corresponding to cheese bread and sliced ham, was that they had been edible. There was nothing notably particular nor offensive in regards to the choices on show, although it was sometimes salty like most native fare.
Fortuitously, there was sufficient foot visitors to forestall any ugly or tasteless movies from forming atop the recent choices. Chilly meals choices had been introduced alongside baked items of middling high quality and freshness.
Once more, whereas nothing caught out to me as memorable, nothing was subpar.
One side that I discovered to be a bit annoying was the place of the sneeze guards. The bizarre peak made it barely awkward to try to serve oneself – clearly, a deal with hygiene isn’t restricted to the loos right here.
Whereas the primary programs of meals had been nondescript, the espresso and dessert on provide had been terrific. I don’t say this as hyperbole: the candy passionfruit mousse was among the best desserts I’ve eaten in a protracted whereas, and I’d gladly pay for it had been it to go on sale.
As a coffee-producing nation, I can solely assume it was a matter of nationwide delight that the espresso, even when allotted from automated machines, was additionally tasty.
In contrast to on the American Categorical Lounge throughout the best way, there have been no bar workers mixing cocktails or pouring wine. Alcoholic drinks had been solely self-serve, typically from a fridge which had an indication indicating that solely individuals 18 and older ought to be serving themselves.
Like many issues in Brazil, this gave the impression to be enforced solely on the honour system, as I noticed no workers manning and even eyeing the alcoholic coolers for any motive aside from restocking.
There have been additionally limitless non-alcoholic drinks out there.
Conclusion
To wrap up, I used to be refreshed after going to the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge, however didn’t really feel like I’d be lacking it when the decision to board was lastly put out for my flight. The meals was first rate, the environs snug, and the Wi-Fi comparatively fast.
Whereas I want the entrance desk workers had been a tad extra pleasant on the outset, I additionally perceive that they needed to do their job and attempt to management entry to an in-demand lounge.
In the event you’re seeking to divert your self for a number of hours, and keep away from some high-pressure gross sales pitches whereas strolling the flooring of Guarulhos Worldwide Airport, I can definitely suggest the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge; nonetheless, I wouldn’t recommend it as a must-see vacation spot for those who’re tight on time between connections.
