Careful with "phantom" VARIG flights (use TAM to fly to Paris)

According to news reports, VARIG currently has many "phantom" flights that exist only on paper, or on the computer. You can buy a ticket and reserve a seat on one of these flights, but they always get cancelled on the day, leaving you with a re-routing problem.

Until VARIG resolves its financial situation, I am avoiding their flights. There's also been a run on VARIG miles, with lines at ticket offices of people trying to redeem their miles.

For my vacation in France, I bought tickets on TAM, which gives me miles on American Airlines. Unfortunately TAM is not part of the One World Alliance, so I can't use the their lounge or first class check-in line.

The flight from Salvador to Paris via São Paulo was good: on-time, good service, average food, crowded.