10 Travel Tips for the São Paulo Airports

Flying out of São Paulo doesn't have to be stressful — most airport headaches come from three mistakes: leaving home too late, not sorting out the car ahead of time, and discovering in line what should have been in your pocket. This 10-tip checklist covers the essentials for flying out of Guarulhos (GRU), Congonhas (CGH) or Viracopos (VCP) with room to spare.

The 10 tips, in order of importance

1. Work your timing backwards. Get to the airport 2 hours ahead for domestic flights and 3 hours ahead for international flights. If you're leaving the car at a parking lot with a shuttle, add the ride: arrive at the parking lot 30 to 45 minutes before your check-in time.
2. Sort out the car before the flight, not on the day. Booking parking online guarantees your spot and costs less than the walk-in price. At Bandeira Park Guarulhos and Viracopos, the online daily rate starts at R$ 18,49 (June 2026 rates) — the full table is at /precos.
3. Check your documents the day before. A valid ID or passport, your boarding pass on your phone and — for international travel — the visas and proof documents your destination requires.
4. Weigh your bag at home. Excess baggage paid at the counter is one of the most expensive mistakes at boarding.
5. Keep medication and electronics in your carry-on. A lost checked bag can't take what you need in the first 24 hours.
6. Overnight flight? Plan the trip with double the care. A rideshare at 3 a.m. is a lottery. The alternative is taking your own car: the Bandeira Park shuttles at GRU and VCP run 24/7. See the dedicated guides for Guarulhos, Congonhas and Viracopos.
7. Check in online as soon as it opens. You get a better seat and skip an entire line.
8. Stay hydrated and bring an empty bottle. After the X-ray, fill it at the drinking fountain — water at the duty-free shop is expensive.
9. Photograph your checked bag. If it goes missing, the photo speeds up the description and the reimbursement.
10. Save the important contacts offline. Airline, hotel, travel insurance and the parking lot's WhatsApp — on the way back, that's what calls the van.

Secure your parking before you fly

Bandeira Park has 4 locations: Guarulhos (GRU) and Viracopos (VCP), with a free 24/7 shuttle to the terminal; Congonhas (CGH), ~300 m from the airport with a ~5-minute walk through a covered tunnel; and the Tietê Bus Terminal, a 4-minute walk from the terminal. All operate 24/7, with R$ 1.000.000 Tokio Marine insurance per vehicle, and booking takes 1 minute at bandeirapark.online.

Two numbers help with budgeting: at Guarulhos, Viracopos and Tietê, the online daily rate starts at R$ 18,49; at Congonhas, at R$ 32,54 (covered parking spot in the underground garage) — June 2026 rates, always lower than the walk-in price. Frequent travelers also rack up rewards in Clube Bandeira: every 5 stays at airport locations, the 6th is free. And every vehicle, at any location, is covered by R$ 1.000.000 Tokio Marine insurance against theft, robbery and damage, with a photo check-in at drop-off.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I get to the airport?

2 hours ahead for domestic flights and 3 hours ahead for international flights. If you're using a parking lot with a shuttle, arrive at the parking lot 30 to 45 minutes before your check-in time.

Is it worth driving your own car to the airport?

For most trips, yes: you don't depend on anyone else on the way out or the way back, and for stays of a few days or more the parking costs less than two rideshare rides. The detailed math is in is it worth leaving your car at the airport parking lot?

Also read: how the free 24/7 shuttle works and is it safe to leave your car for several days?