TAP Portugal

BUD-LIS-MIA in January 2013. Nice and polite crew landing on time good catering. The greatest surprise was overnight service in Lisbon: private transport to 4* hotel downtown (everything included in the very reasonable price). On the way back from MIA 6 hours in Blue Lounge also very good experience nice assistance and food.

MIA-LIS on a quite new A330. Flight full and on time. Nice tasty meal good inflight entertainment system and very attentive crew who managed to re-launch the AVOD system as it was not working at all seats. After that ok. As usual with TAP a very smooth quiet flight. Close to landing in Lisbon a nice breakfast was served. As first flight arriving in Lisbon 30 minutes after landing we left the airport.

Checked in for a scheduled flight from Miami to Lisbon and on to Manchester UK. Flying Executive (Business) with departure scheduled for 16.30 Mon 3rd June. Waited with no information in lounge until 21.00 when agency staff arrived to collect our bags as we were going to be taken to a hotel for the night. Provided with adequate accommodation and dinner and breakfast. Taken back to airport at 12.00 noon when were rechecked onto the supposedly repaired aircraft and a connection from Lisbon to Manchester. Scheduled take off 15.00. At 14.25 asked the lounge staff to confirm if we needed to go to the gate as the Departures board had not changed. They had no information and could not get a reply by telephone from TAP so we were advised to go straight to the Gate. No TAP staff there and very few passengers. Went back with other passengers to the Check-in Desks which were simply chaotic. Offered seats on an alternative flight by BA but warned by other passengers that BA were not honouring TAPs tickets. This was because of the difference in value and even after wasting an hour walking round the airport with a TAP staff member the best we could get was an economy ticket in exchange for our TAP Club equivalent. Ended up paying 650$ extra for World Traveller Plus upgrade so we could at least sit together on what was a full flight. Finally departed 28+ hours late. Claim going in to TAP. Whilst the outbound flight was on time TAP's idea of Executive Class is a joke.

Helsinki Vantaa to Lisbon. Excellent flight unlimited drinks (FREE) and excellent food! Nice crew very friendly.

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.