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Azul, the newest and most modern Brazilian carrier that prides itself on a sparkling fleet of aircraft and impeccable service, offers the most comfortable international business class journey between North America and Brazil. Although the airline is not currently operating its usual routes due to the global COVID-19 crisis, the likelihood that it will reinstate most of the routes is very strong. I was a passenger recently on Azul’s flight between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Campinas Airport (São Paulo), and found the experience to be one of my favorites out of many carriers to date.
Azul was founded by David Neeleman, the Brazilian-American businessman who founded JetBlue years ago. It quickly built a critical and useful domestic flight network within Brazil and made Fort Lauderdale Airport its international hub in the United States, as other larger carriers who fly to Brazil have long been parked at Miami International Airport. My final destination on this particular trip was Rio de Janeiro, and I flew with Azul the entire way.
Checking-in at FLL Airport is easy, as Azul operates a prominent ticket counter with economy and business class lines. My check-in process was very easy and I was given fast passes to get through security seamlessly. In a matter of minutes, we were boarding the 9 hour and 30 minute flight to Campinas. I was welcomed into business class with champagne, juice and a selection of beverages. Azul operates a small and intimate business class cabin – which is lovely to keep noise and commotion at a minimum. As we ascended, I stored my belongings, read through the branded menu and perused the entertainment options on the large television screen in front of my seat. The seats on-board are tucked-in and sheltered, creating a strong sense of privacy.
Seats aboard international flights on Azul are completely lie-flat. After eating an delicious dinner composed of mixed greens, mushroom bisque and mango chicken – I curled-up with my comforter and laid back with a movie. I opened my flight kit was was given to me upon boarding, took out my sleep mask, ear plugs, hand cream and prepared all of them for use. As the movie ended, I slowly slid into lie-flat mode and drifted off.
Dinner and cocktail options on this flight were fantastic. I was satisfied at the end of the meal and even enjoyed a hot fudge sundae. Brazilian cordials were offered and a nice selection of Portuguese and Brazilian wine – all of which were lovely.
I slept a full 7 hours before being gently woken-up by a flight attendant for coffee and breakfast. Breakfast was heartier than I expected, with a selection of pastries, yogurt and eggs. My 9-plus hour journey quite literally flew by in a breeze and I found myself in Brazil, one of my favorite places, in a flash. The service was remarkable and the flight attendants on-board were incredibly kind and welcoming.
For anyone seeking a flight to Brazil, choose Azul. Though airline routes seem uncertain during these tough times, Azul will likely keep their presence at Fort Lauderdale Airport and are expected to open a non-stop route between New York’s JFK Airport and Campinas in the coming months. They also fly to Lisbon and paris direct. Brazil is a magical place, and worth visiting over and over, and over again.
