TAM Airlines, the biggest airline in Brazil, operates out of three hubs: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. The carrier flies to 67 destinations in 18 countries, including Miami, New York and Orlando in the United States.
TAM’s frequent flyer program is called TAM Fidelidade. Although the program’s award chart is somewhat complicated, it has several good redemption options.
When Should You Use TAM Fidelidade Awards?
TAM Fidelidade has three redemption levels: Promo, Classic and Unrestricted. Promo is the airline’s version of a saver fare. You’ll want to book those seats and avoid the more expensive Classic and Unrestricted.
The best way to use TAM Fidelidade points are for domestic awards in Brazil. They are capped at 8,000 points each way. Considering the size of Brazil, that can lead to some valuable redemptions.
There are other redemption deals in the program. Awards between Brazil and other South American destinations are only 7,000 to 10,000 points each way. And promo fares for one-way flights between Brazil and North America are 25,000 points, which is better than what U.S.-based programs offer.
Another good use of TAM Fidelidade points is for round-trip flights between the U.S. and South Pacific, which includes Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia. At 60,000 points roundtrip, it’s the best redemption in the TAM Fidelidade oneworld award chart.
Partners Bookable Online:
- None
Partners Bookable by Phone:
- Air Canada
- Air China
- airberlin
- American Airlines
- ANA
- Austrian Airlines
- British Airways
- Brussels Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Finnair
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- LAN Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Malaysia Airlines
- Qantas
- Qatar Airways
- S7 Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- SriLankan Airlines
- Swiss
- Turkish Airways
When to Book by Phone:
- For partner airlines
- To book complex itineraries
- When making changes to an existing itinerary
See below for our phone booking tips.
When to Book by Email:
TAM requires you to submit a form when booking award tickets from Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, London, Miami and Santiago. Once completed, it should be sent to emision.internacional@tam.com.br.
How to Search for TAM Fidelidade Award Seats Online:
Go to TAM’s webpage, and enter your flight information. Be sure to check “use Multiplus TAM points” in order to search for award flights. Click “search.”
On the next page you’ll see a week of flights and their cost in points. Choose the departure date you want and click “next.”
Choose your return flight and hit “next.”
How to Confirm and Book TAM Fidelidade Flights Online:
You’ll be required to log in after you’ve selected your dates. After logging in, you’ll have to confirm your itinerary and pay for the applicable taxes and fees.
Phone Booking Tips
TAM Fidelidade Call Center: 1-888-235-9826
The wait time is typically short, but some agents aren’t as knowledgeable as others, particularly when booking complex itineraries. It’s best if you can find the flights you want ahead of time and give that information to the agent when you call. If you’re still having trouble, trying calling back and talking to a different agent.
TAM charges BRL 50 (about $13) for booking award flights over the phone. That includes flights that can’t be booked online.
Important Award Booking Considerations:
- No fuel surcharges on TAM flights and most partners, or on any flights originating in Brazil
- Points expire after 2 years
- Refund and change fees range from $30 to $200