TAP Air Portugal – or Transportes Aéreos Portugueses – is Portugal’s national airline carrier. A full-service airline and member of the Star Alliance, its offering differs greatly between its short-haul and long-haul routes. While its transatlantic fleet offers some of the best priced business class fares you’ll find, its short-haul service feels more like a low-cost carrier.
Headquartered in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, its primary focus is the European market. But its Atlantic coast location also makes it very convenient for direct flights to the Americas. In particular, it’s a major operator to and from Brazil and is the best airline for flying direct between the US and Portugal.
Routes, network and fleet
In 2023, TAP carried just shy of 16 million passengers to 84 destinations across 34 countries. By far its biggest market is Europe, accounting for around two thirds of all its flights. Internationally it also serves Africa and South, Central and North America.
It currently operates seven direct routes between Lisbon and Porto to and from Boston, Chicago, Miami, Newark, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. Handily, both Lisbon and Porto are epic cities well worth visiting.
The TAP fleet is extensive and has in recent years had a much needed update. Added to its roster of aging aircraft are the more modern Airbus A320neo, A321neo, A330neo and A321LR models. This has dramatically upgraded my opinion on TAP, as many of its planes are now much more comfy and far better equipped than they were a decade ago.
It’s worth checking what plane your flight will use, especially if you’re flying transatlantic. The gulf in quality, comfort and facilities between the old and neo models is significant.
How fare classes work
TAP has a mind-boggling array of fares and classes. Its short-haul flights within Europe and North Africa offer five fare types across budget and business class. Its longer haul “intercontinental” flights offer six fares across budget and business. There are no premium economy or first class options and not all fares are available on all routes.
Fares in Europe and North Africa
Most TAP flights within Europe and North Africa offer business and economy class. As a full-service airline, all fare classes include a 10kg (22lb) carry-on bag alongside the usual small personal bag. You can also cherry pick the services you want and add them to your fare.
Economy class is split into Discount, Classic and Plus fares. Discount fares include a carry-on bag but nothing more. Classic fares add a 23kg (50lb) checked bag and standard seat selection. Plus fares add to that with an extra legroom ‘comfort’ seat where available, premium check in and priority baggage. This is great for dodging the typically long queues I’ve experienced checking bags with TAP Air. The Plus fare also comes with the option to cancel your flight and get a refund, although inevitably there’s a sizable fee to pay.
Business class is split into Executive and Top Executive fares. Both offer the works – two carry-on bags, two checked bags, premium, priority and fast-track everything, lounge access, and on-board meals. And of course, the business class cabin. The sole difference between them is that Top Executive fares can be changed without charge or refunded with a charge.
I’ve never really understood this approach. Business class is most likely exactly that – business people hopping mostly around Europe on day or overnight trips. The added cost to cover all that luggage, plus meals, for a two or three hour flight seems wasteful. I always opt for a Discount fare. Then I can add any extras like comfort seats, which are the same as business class seats.
Fares to and from North and South America
TAP’s intercontinental flights cross the Atlantic to various points in North, Central and South America. Brazil is unsurprisingly its biggest market, operating an average of 13 flights a day on 15 different routes.
In economy class, TAP’s Discount, Classic and Plus fares come with the same services as their European equivalents. The only difference, apart from increased fees for ticket changes and refunds, is that each comes with meals included. TAP also adds yet another fare class, enticingly called Basic. This is just a Discount fare with a checked bag added. Both business class fares also come with the same services as short haul.
Onboard – seats, facilities and meals
TAP’s fleet is divided into short and long-haul aircraft. Short haul routes are mostly catered to by a variety of A319, A320 and A321 models, new and old. Its long-haul fleet uses A330s, including the A330-neo, and some smaller narrow body A321-200LRs. That LR stands for long range, by the way. If you find yourself in a neo configuration, short- or long-haul, you’ll be comfy and well catered to. Less so with the old models.
On board short-haul
TAP’s short-haul economy seats, demarcated by their green headrests, mirror most low-cost carriers. Leg room is 28 inches, seats don’t recline and there are no charging points or headrests. But they’re comfy enough to squeeze into for a few hours, even without in-flight entertainment or WiFi.
There’s a dedicated “comfort area”, denoted by red headrests. Seats here recline, offer 32-33 inches of legroom, power sockets, headrest and a table. These are significantly more comfortable and, depending on the upgrade or Plus fare price, worth considering for flights over two hours. On most regional routes, business class is simply comfort area seats with the middle seat kept empty – another reason to bypass it.
Meals – or rather snacks – in economy come via a food trolley service and are payable only by card. Business class meals vary massively depending on the route you’re taking, from snacks to plated menus with glasses of wine.
On board long-haul
The A330 has probably the best configuration of any plane for long-haul economy class. Its 2-4-2 layout means if you’re traveling with a companion, you can get your own ‘private’ pair of window seats. Not being subject to the idiosyncrasies (and restroom habits) of your fellow fliers on long flights is a privilege worth taking into account when booking.
Economy
The Recaro designed seats are ergonomic and comfy and have supportive headrests you can fold into all manner of shapes. Two magazine racks offer plenty of room to store your stuff and every seat comes equipped with USB-A and AC power sockets. Economy seats offer a just about manageable 31 inches of legroom and a 4-5 inch recline. TV screens are adequate, but I’ve always found the film library a little behind the times.
The dedicated comfort area in long-haul covers seven or 11 rows depending on whether you’re on a regular or neo A330. Seats increase legroom to 32-34 inches and recline to 5-7 inches. In reality the difference is negligible, but if you’re tall it’s an affordable way to find a little more room. This part of the plane tends to be less busy than the standard economy, so you’ve also got more chance of scoring an empty neighboring seat.
Meals, including beer and Portuguese wines, are complementary and perfectly acceptable. Expect the usual pasta, chicken and fish options. You’ll need to order in advance for vegetarian or other dietary requirements. Anyone looking to ease the trip with liquor will be disappointed, as none is available. You’ll get a second snack towards the end of the flight and can ask for more drinks from the galley at any time.
Business
Business class is a world apart, although the experience varies by plane model. The good news – all business seats recline on all models. The bad news – a crazy array of configurations means some plane window seats don’t have direct access to the aisle. Paying business class fares but still having to climb over a slumbering neighbor to hit the restroom? Unacceptable! Once again it’s the A330neo you need to book with its superior 1-2-1 configuration.
Otherwise, seats are wide, legroom plentiful, and Wi-Fi and entertainment systems excellent. Meals have a distinctly Portuguese focus with menus created by renowned Portuguese chefs using local ingredients. Tableware is custom made with Vista Alegre, each dish inspired by a national tradition. The wine selection is extensive and the desserts and cakes, naturally, outrageous.
Lounges
TAP has two lounges at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport. The Premium Lounge is in the Schengen area, the wrong side of security for long-haul destinations like the US. That’s long made it a risky place to relax, as security queues at Lisbon airport are notorious for being slow and unpredictable.
In January 2024, TAP opened its Atlântico Premium Lounge in the Non-Schengen area. Located after security in Terminal One, it’s a more relaxing option for transatlantic travelers. Don’t get too excited though – modern and clean it may be, but it doesn’t compare to lounges from premium airlines. An entirely self service restaurant style setup with some dedicated work areas and a small lounge area, well run but very busy. Much like Lisbon airport itself.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
