On the morning of 12 October, the consumer-rights platform Reclame Aqui recorded a flurry of new postings against GOL Linhas Aéreas, Brazil’s second-largest carrier, after customers received short-notice cancellations for flights later this month. One family reported that their São Paulo–Maceió round-trip on 22 October had been nullified overnight, jeopardising a prepaid hotel package. While weather-related disruptions linked to the nationwide storm system forced same-day cancellations—including Flight G3 1241 from Porto Alegre, according to flight-tracking data—several complainants allege that GOL is also trimming future capacity in response to ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine inspections. The airline, which operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, denies systemic schedule cuts and says customers are being re-accommodated. Under Brazil’s Resolution 400, airlines must offer passengers the choice of re-routing on another carrier at no additional cost, a refund, or alternative ground transport if the delay exceeds four hours. However, travellers say they are being directed only to vouchers or dates that do not match their itineraries. ANAC told local media it has opened an administrative inquiry and could levy fines of up to R$200,000 per infraction. Travel-management companies (TMCs) advise corporate clients to keep proof of extra expenses and to escalate through GOL’s corporate desk rather than airport counters, which can be overwhelmed during irregular operations. They also suggest monitoring seat availability on LATAM and Azul, both of which have announced limited ‘rescue fare’ inventory on overlapping routes. For global-mobility teams relocating staff during the school break, the episode is a reminder to build contractual flexibility into airfare allotments and to secure refundable hotel bookings whenever possible.
Source: Reclame Aqui / AirHelp tracker
