We recently made two domestic flights with two different companies, with only 24 hours between one flight and the other (round trip). The purpose was to cover the delivery of the first E190-E2 to an airline, at Embraer's headquarters in São José dos Campos.
As our flight was for corporate purposes and not for tourism, so without the possibility of cancellations and delays, we decided that an assessment would be ideal for the public to know how companies behave in this situation, in which the focus of the trip is punctuality.
Since then, we have made clear our preference for Guarulhos Airport on this trip, as there is a direct bus connecting the airport to São José dos Campos, the final destination of the trip.
This is the evaluation of the return flight, carried out through Azul Linhas Aéreas.
Company: Blue Airlines
Flight: A.D. 4014
Avia Airbus A320-251N (neo) – (PR-YRB)
Order date: 04/04/2018 Open Hours: 18:40 pm → 20:30 pm
From: Guarulhos/Sao Paulo (GRU)
To: Brasilia (BSB)
PURCHASE
Tickets were purchased via the Submarino Viagens agency website, using a credit card to speed up payment confirmation. For this segment, the amount of R$ was paid 156,84 including departure tax.
I chose to use the Submarino website when making a query and noticed that the price charged on the website was cheaper, while Azul increased the rate as soon as I logged into my Tudo Azul to finalize the purchase.
Baggage check-in and extra services options were not used for this flight. Because the purpose was to fly with the bare minimum, to cover an event in another city.
Unlike GOL, Azul maintained the stability of the price charged, increasing the price of the segment 2 days after the purchase.
CHECK IN
As I originally bought a flight for 22:45 pm, with the intention of anticipating it, I left it to check-in at the airport. Arriving at Guarulhos Airport, almost 1h30 before the flight, at 17h00, I headed to the Azul desk at TPS 1.
I arrived reasonably early at the counter, in order to anticipate the flight as soon as possible. An employee directed me to the counter responsible for the advance, which unfortunately took a long time to assist me, in the meantime this same employee tried to make the reservation through the self-service totem, without success.
The employee's service was exceptional, he really helped me a lot and even prioritized the queue, as my flight would leave in less than an hour. However, the procedure adopted at the check-in counter scared me, this is not the standard I have encountered with Azul since 2016, when I started flying with the company, they put engers in front of me, who could be directed to other counters, even with excess suitcase, for a moment I thought I would have to wait until 22:45 pm.
With a boarding issued 10 minutes before the start of boarding, I had a surprise, seat 9E on an empty flight, that's right, that seat between two engers.
EMBARKATION
Boarding at Terminal 1 at Guarulhos Airport is already well-known, it is a smaller terminal, at one point this is good, as it speeds up the boarding and disembarking procedures, at the other it complicates a lot, as the place is too tight to board simultaneously four flights with the A320neo and one with the E-Jet.
Because of this reason above, I again waited for the boarding line to end to direct me to the plane.
Boarding at this terminal is done through a short walk on the patio and stairs, for an enthusiast it is excellent to see and hear other planes, for a lady of less age, there is a risk of rain.
I boarded the aircraft normally and managed to accommodate my carry-on bag, I sat in my middle seat, which actually had two people next to it, and the plane with just over 50% occupancy.
As soon as boarding was finished, I asked the flight attendant to change my seat, I was really uncomfortable. I pointed out that I had a preference for a window and was promptly attended to, and accommodated in seat 7F. PERFECT!
VOO
This was my first flight with the A320neo, although before that I had already found the aircraft while recording a story. I always heard, even from the manufacturer itself, about the silence and quality of the “new” plane.
The interior looks like the last A320ceo that came out, at this point I opted to exclude the seats, since they are part of a company option and not the standard delivered by the manufacturer.
It is a pleasant interior with LED lighting, with similarities to Boeing's Sky Interior, launched at the beginning of this decade, before Airbus. One thing I hated was the air conditioning outlet, it's too far from the window seat, unlike the 737. If you have a enger next to you, you'll accidentally squeeze him into the seat.
The seats chosen by Azul, which are also fitted to some Avianca Brasil A320neos, are pleasant, that's all. They could have the option of mixing the comfort of GOL's new seat, described in the previous review, with the adjustable headrest, which really makes a difference if you plan on sleeping.
Anyway, the Azul seat is a little too rigid, especially in the central part, and has an adjustable headrest. Nothing reminds you of the seats that equip the E-Jets, in my opinion the best in the national market.
The space between one seat and another is adequate, a little smaller than that found on GOL, but it is something between 1 and 2 centimeters. The recline is terrible, half compared to GOL, which worked better at this point. If it didn't have the headrest it would be very difficult to sleep.
The aircraft was clean, and with uncomfortable headboards. The plane is super silent, you can barely hear the engine during the flight, and it really represents an evolution, compared to the other planes of the previous generation, and even the E-Jets, which are very noisy during the flight. Pressurization is in the standard of the old A320 (ceo), and done progressively.
The flight left on time, and arrived at the scheduled time at Brasilia Airport. Positive point for this type of displacement.
ON BOARD SERVICE
The on-board service was the one already known to Azul customers, consisting of several snack options and a good availability of drinks, with three types of juices, three types of soft drinks and water, always accompanied with ice.
The snacks offered were: potatoes, guava, airplane-shaped candy and a packet of peanuts. It's a good combo, and capable of basically feeding one person. Positive point for the company that maintains its standard and a little variety.
ENTERTAINMENT
On Azul's A320neo, the Live TV system, on the screen in the seat in front of it, was unavailable on this flight, the company will only start installing the antennas in July of this year.
To compensate for this point, Azul provides the Azul Play on-demand system, which is distributed to the customer's mobile device through a Wi-Fi connection.
Unlike Avianca and GOL, on Azul we don't find internet on board, the downside of entertainment (or need for work), however there are two 110v outlets for three seats, enough to plug in a notebook.
Because of the plugs it was not possible to put my backpack on the seat in front (8F). Here's the tip for those who are going to board, it fits all the seats in the window.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to know the direction that Azul takes with entertainment. Since the E-Jets, I think Live TV is very basic compared to the evolution that has occurred in the last three years, the system works via satellite and could, in the same place of installation, house a Ka-Band type internet antenna, but Azul does not seem to be interested in this type of system.
A magazine is available in the seat pocket for those who prefer to read while travelling.
CONCLUSION
In general, the flight was pleasant, especially for a short domestic stretch, the comfort and lack of vibration of the new A320neo helped a lot in the general appearance, another merit of the equipment used.
The only points that I highlight as negative is the service at the check-in counter, which took a long time to solve my problem and allowed other people to in front. Azul's entertainment is confusing and indigestible the way they manage it, for me there would be a combination of Live TV with internet via Wi-Fi, at least on the E-Jets and A320neo.
We want to point out that this flight was carried out on a corporate basis, so I didn't have time before the flight, as I was at an Embraer event.
