The Brazilian carrier GOL Linhas Aéreas has announced the reopening of its VIP GOL Premium Lounge located at Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. These last few days, the Brazilian airlines have restored many amenities, like onboard catering service, following a two-year hiatus due to government restrictions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s investigate further.
Reopening of the premium lounge
As part of its gradual resumption of operations after the COVID-19 pandemic, GOL reopened its Premium Lounge VIP rooms on May 31. It is now receiving both domestic and international passengers.
These VIP rooms are aimed at GOL, SMILES (GOL’s loyalty program), and partner airline customers departing from or connecting at Guarulhos. Nonetheless, anyone who wishes to purchase access can do so. Admission is free for those traveling with GOL on an international flight and who have purchased a Premium Economy fare.
Ricardo Oliveira, GOL’s Product, and Partnership Manager, said,
“We are always working so GOL can promote new passenger experiences, comfort, and differentiated products to our Customers. The GOL Premium Lounge VIP Lounges are the direct result of our efforts. We are happy to reopen these spaces after the closure due to COVID-19, and our intention remains the same: to transform the waiting for a flight into an even more pleasant and peaceful moment.”
Who can enter?
GOL’s domestic Premium Lounge is located in Terminal 2 at GRU, on the east side boarding level. It is open daily from 6:00 to midnight. Meanwhile, the airline’s international Premium Lounge is also located in Terminal 2, but on the west side boarding level, and it is open between 5:00 to 1:00.
Holders of Priority Pass, Lounge Key, Diners, Lounge Pass, and Lounge Club cards have access to the lounge with a companion. There is no charge at the lounge reception, and payment, if required, will depend on the customer's agreement with their card rules.
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Additionally, First and Business Class customers of Air France-KLM, partners on GOL and SMILES, on flights with immediate connections onboard a GOL flight, have access to the lounges.
In addition, Air France and KLM customers who are Elite Plus on the Flying Blue program (Club 2000, 2000 Skipper, Flying Blue Platinum, Flying Blue Gold) have free access as long as they are flying with AF/KL tickets on codeshare flights operated by GOL.
For members of the SMILES loyalty program, there is also access to the VIP Lounge, but it has a small print. It is free of charge for Diamond customers and one companion, provided they travel on any GOL or partner flight.
Gold members also have a free entrance and can bring a companion with a 50% discount. Finally, GOL SMILES Infinite and Platinum cards also give passengers free access to the VIP lounges with the right to bring a companion.
Rodrigo Possatto, Director of Travel and Marketplace of SMILES, said,
"The purpose of the Smiles loyalty program is to create connections, build Customer loyalty, and provide them with more and more trips. Thus, we offer services and products that bring convenience, from planning to the completion of the trip. The reopening of the lounges represents the normalization of one of the stages of this transforming experience that begins even before boarding.”
Have you ever been inside GOL’s VIP Lounge? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.