The plane was small and one felt the turbulence much more. The lines to get through immigration were insanely long.
It was a good experience overall. We were however delayed by over 3 hours due to a security issue with one of the passengers inadvertently leaving a power bank in a luggage she was using as carrying on but then had to be moved int check in due to spacing issues. The airline staff had requested that she checked her bags in, but should have reminded her about removing all hazardous material like her power bank. When she eventually remembered as we were on the plane, we had to turn back and go through security all over again. Hence delaying our takeoff. The incident could have been prevented if staff reminded these passengers to remove their power banks.
We upgraded to business class. Nice seat with lots of room but otherwise not impressive.
The value is there, but the layovers in Lisbon were not great. The passport control was so bad that a 2 hour layover became very tight and on the return the Terminal was barebones which made it a long 3 hours.
The layover was only one hour and a huge line for passport control. If I didn’t cut the line and argue was every single official, I would’ve spent the night in this one. Obviously.TAP AIR people. do not take into account.this problem with their flight scheduling, which is extremely frustrating. Poor food choices, on the pasta was offered, they ran out of chicken right away. All the sodas and water poured in a tiny 70 mL cups, which is not enough to keep hydrated on the long flight. I had to ask for 34 cups at a time. Flight attendant seemed to be tired and overworked.
I am not very tall, and had a difficult time getting my carry-on placed in the overhead bin while passengers were behind me waiting to get to their seats. After struggling with the luggage, I turned it around, and left it, knowing it was not properly placed, but believing there was adequate room for it in the bin. When the flight attendant came through the cabin, she asked whose bag it was, and scolded me for not positioning it correctly. She turned it around and moved on. I thought that her approach was totally unprofessional, calling out a passenger in that manner.
Plane was delayed, reading the gates on their screens was horrible. They posted it a half an hour before the plane boarded. By the time I got there with my premier boarding they have filled the plane because it was over booked. Gate closed at 12:03 I was there at 11:54 plane took over around 12:20. I was told they would put me on the next flight. I had to go to TAP information desk. They didn’t give me a voucher they just said they would put me on the next flight. At the desk I was told I had to punches a ticket. The woman said buy it online because it’s cheaper. It in fact was not cheaper. But I had gotten out of the long line that formed so I paid 200$ for a new ticket. At a later flight, not the next flight. I had checked my bag and was told it would be on my new flight. I was then bumped to an earlier flight and was told my bag would also be on my flight. After landing in Madrid loosing a day in my hotel i landed without my bag. They didn’t load it on any flight that day. It arrived in madrid the next day. Essentially ruining the first two days of my vacation. I’m now seeking compensation.
Didn't like much. Wheelchair assistance was almost nonexistent. No one at TAP check in process helpful. On the plane, stewards were not friendly and disorganized. Food was terrible for 8 hr flight. We were skipped at snack time and even though we tried to get attention using overhead call system no one even looked up at us to acknowledge. Being at the back of first section and by the lavatory we only were able to request when they came to pick up everyone else's garbage and they were nonchalant...no apology or even choice. The 1/2 half bread with slice of cheese was a waste. Deplaning was horrible but I'll blame lisbon airport for that. Plane left late at made good time still arrived about 15 behind schedule and for using remote deplaning and bus to terminal took another 20 min to gate. Those with connections were highly stressed. Took us 2 hrs from landing to get to ground transportation and exit airport. And that was with wheelchair assistance.
Bad boarding, threat to force bag check mid journey, lines, late, buses, more waiting awful end to end.
Great price for really nice seats and the plane and staff were great, only 5-10 minute delays!
