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 way of the hub airport of the whole continent, São Paulo Guarulhos Worldwide Airport (GRU), which providers the higher São Paulo metropolitan space – a megalopolis so monumental it matches Mega Metropolis One in every 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 wholly sufficient expertise in each sense.

Espaço Banco Safra Lounge São Paulo – Entry & Entry

The Espaço Banco Safra Lounge is positioned within the VIP lounge house on the prime of the escalators on the very entrance of Terminal 3. The entry is positioned proper behind the set of duty-free retailers which instantly observe the safety examine, however earlier than the opposite procuring areas which lead into the remainder of the terminal.

For those who’ve by no means been to South America earlier than, and Brazil specifically, it is perhaps disconcerting to must undergo a number of procuring areas in each airport. After many visits, I’ve discovered that the nation is infamous for placing duty-free retailers 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 finest curiosity to calm down distant from the excessive strain 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 Economic system (Versatile) fare to full enterprise class.

Passengers travelling in enterprise class or increased 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 accessible with Precedence Go; nevertheless, solely between the hours of 11pm and 2pm. 

Sadly, the entrance desk employees weren’t too useful at first. Once I approached with my Precedence Go card in hand, the employees’s first response was asking if I spoke Portuguese. 

Whereas I’m lucky sufficient to talk the native language, this could be troublesome for a overseas traveller who didn’t converse the language, and is especially odd in an airport the place even the fragrance gross sales individuals converse English superior to my Brazilian Portuguese.

Because it turned out, they had been to wave me off as a result of the Precedence Go program doesn’t grant lounge entry on the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge between 2pm and 11pm each day. Nevertheless, I managed to clarify I used to be travelling in Air Canada enterprise class, and shortly thereafter the tone modified, and my boarding cross was scanned at double tempo.

After scanning my boarding cross, I used to be capable of enter and take within the sights of the actually expansive lounge. Personally, I used to be a bit of bowled over by the welcome I obtained, regardless that the environs appeared nicer than the American Categorical Lounge positioned straight throughout from the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge.

Within the employees’s defence, they instantly provided me the Wi-Fi password, and directed me each to the departures board and complimentary magazines (largely in Portuguese).

Espaço Banco Safra Lounge São Paulo – Seating

After getting my bearings, I used to be capable of make higher sense of the whole lounge. The extraordinarily excessive ceilings make it really feel much more open than its measurement may counsel, and in addition prevented it from getting muggy, which might be by design because of the locale.

There was plentiful seating of each selection accessible, together with basic lounge favourites resembling stuffed chairs and couches, and naturally desk seating with cushioned eating chairs. 

The lounge is separated into completely 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 sufficient sufficient for the needs of sitting, enjoyable, and ready for a flight.

Energy shops, nevertheless, 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 telephone died. I discovered one accessible 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 bogs. Regardless of being very busy, the bogs had been really stored spotless, and I observed cleansing employees going out and in in very quick intervals, so cleanliness is certainly superior to what we sadly typically see in North America.

The bogs consisted of a number of particular person rooms, which was a pleasant contact for friends 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 decisions on the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge had been served buffet-style.

The easiest way I may describe the primary programs of hen, beef stew, a number of varieties of rice, and classics resembling 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.

Thankfully, there was sufficient foot visitors to forestall any unpleasant or tasteless movies from forming atop the recent choices. Chilly meals choices had been offered 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 weird top made it barely awkward to try to serve oneself – clearly, a deal with hygiene isn’t restricted to the bogs right here.

Whereas the primary programs of meals had been nondescript, the espresso and dessert on supply had been terrific. I don’t say this as hyperbole: the candy passionfruit mousse was probably the greatest 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 pleasure 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 employees mixing cocktails or pouring wine. Alcoholic drinks had been totally 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 totally on the honour system, as I noticed no employees manning and even eyeing the alcoholic coolers for any motive apart from restocking.

There have been additionally limitless non-alcoholic drinks accessible.

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 respectable, the environs snug, and the Wi-Fi comparatively fast.

Whereas I want the entrance desk employees 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.

For those who’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 actually suggest the Espaço Banco Safra Lounge; nevertheless, I wouldn’t counsel it as a must-see vacation spot in the event you’re tight on time between connections.