TAP Portugal

TP331 LGW-OPO Efficient check-in given an invitation to the No 1 Traveller Lounge in South Terminal Gatwick. The lounge is adequate if unexceptional. Flight was well above average with attentive cabin crew and really excellent imaginative catering. The only downside was our baggage was given priority stickers which almost automatically relegates then on most airlines to being delivered last!

CPH-LIS return. Flights on time seating was OK and legroom with no worries even if I am tall and overweight. A hot meal was served (a very positive surprise) it wasn't to my taste but other passengers really enjoyed it so I cannot complain. Only thing that annoyed me was the cabin crew who spoke very bad English and an attitude that made me feel as if passengers were a major source of trouble to them. Entertainment options on this 3 hour flight was equal to zero. Altogether I got an OK flight but TAP should really Work hard on learning their staff what service attitude is all about.

Porto via Lisbon to Casablanca in May 2013. The 19 seater plane (Beechcraft 1900) was overbooked and I was selected to stay aground but told so only after all other passengers had boarded. No possibility therefore to find any candidates among other passengers willing to take compensation and stay an additional night in LIS. Poor communication from handling officers and ground staff made for frustrated feelings and a spoiled trip.

ORY-OPO. Smooth check-in boarding on time. Comfortable seats with enough space for legs (I'm 1.92 tall). Crew should smile more they were professional but looked like they were doing their job without making an effort to be polite with passengers.

Milan-Lisbon return. This route is usually quite expensive but I managed to find an excellent deal with TAP. MXP- LIS: quite old A320 old style but extremely comfortable seats cabin crew very professional. A small sandwich was served with a good selection of beverages and spirits. Landed in Lisbon before schedule. LIS-MXP: very early morning flight completely full. Many passengers with connections at Malpensa on the way to China. Again Airbus A320. We were served breakfast which was quite satisfying in my opinion: a slice of cake some fruit and a yoghurt. Coffee tea and a wide range of juices available. No smile from cabin crew one of them was even rude with customers. Good value for money but I would recommend TAP to reconfigure and update their internal seats: they are yes comfortable but extremely old-style. The price paid was extremely good.

Business Class BSB-LIS A340-300. Retrofitted aircraft (TOB) with comfortable seats very convenient IFE a small choice of good Portuguese wines but poor sparkling wine (not Champagne). Food more than OK and friendly staff all the way including captain announcements.

AMS-OPO. Flight initially delayed by 1 hour. We were informed at the airport so it wasn't that bad. Flight itself was fine I was expecting worse. I just found the seats really narrow and the leg room tight. Other than that a smooth flight. The cabin crew were ok not friendly nor grumpy. I was expecting worse (based of stories from others) but it wasn't that bad.

London Gatwick - Funchal return. Internet check in was a breeze 48 hours before departure. Bag drop at LGW was handled quickly and courteously and although TAP's website stated only one cabin bag was permitted I was allowed to take on a small cabin bag and laptop. Aircraft was an A320 less than half full. Pushback on time and flight time about 3 hrs 15 mins. Cabin crew were friendly albeit largely invisible after breakfast which was a very small savoury roll and yoghurt drink. No personal IFE drop down screens every 4th or 5th row showed a few programs but mostly flight mapping. Return journey from FNC lunchtime departure on a half full A319 pushback 10 minutes early. Snack size hot pasta and fruit puree dessert served midway through the flight. Otherwise pretty much as per the outward journey.

Scheduled to fly Boston to Ponta Delgada 10 May in business class. Our connecting flight from ABQ was cancelled due to equipment failure with the result that we could not reach Boston in time to make this flight. We phoned Air Portugal's 800 number from the ABQ airport and the call was routed to Portugal. Their reservations staff could not have been less helpful. Because a travel agent had made our booking they insisted that only she could change or cancel it. I explained that she was at a funeral out of state but they insisted that the rule was the rule and would not help me schedule another flight. They did say that another flight would cost us $2600 per person when she scheduled the change. We cancelled our trip.

LHR-Lisbon return. Flights were fine no complaints. On time arrived early a bit no-frills in terms of the plane interior with blue leather seats that looked ragged and about a decade old (which contrasts quite a bit with the beautiful staff uniforms) but they were comfortable enough for 2 hour flights. Considering the price paid I was expecting a bit more in the way of food - not just a no-choice sandwich even on an early morning flight but at least the coffee was good and you could have as much as you wanted and anything else you wanted to drink. The staff at the TAP office in central Lisbon were very accommodating and friendly.