It was a game of hurry up and wait. As advised we arrived at the terminal e hours prior to boarding. We waited about 45 minutes before anyone showed up at the check-in terminal. When someone does arrive she rearranges the line and we think we are going to be checked in. Nope. She leaves and we wait another 15 min. before anyone else shows up. One person got behind her computer and about 15 min later started to check the first person in . Then one more person arrives spends 10-15 behind the desk and then she starts checking in someone. Two more staff arrive and another 10 min or so they are ready to begin checking in people. We have a 11:50 international flight and it is 9:45. And then on of the agents, closes her desk and leaves. And every leg of our flight was delayed; we waited at terminals, we waited to take off, we waited to deplane. After arriving in Porto within 10min of our connection schwduled to take off, we were told to go to the last bus. We waited on the bus (until all the other busses had left) and then we waited another 10 min or so for one of the ground controllers who wanted a ride with us but was busy with a woman who needed the handicap van. He did not help her to the van, but was standing with her and talking with hher. We were rushed through border control and told not to wait for the rest of our party only to get on the plane and then have to wait another 45 min before we were cleared for take off. The waits were not 10 or 20 minutes, they were 35-55 minute waits each time. Miraculously, we made it back only 2 1/2 hours later than we we were originally scheduled. Given the nonchalance and seaming disinterest from many of the staff, I was expecting that we would not get on until much later than that.
4.0 OkayJeannemarie, Jun 2026MXP - LIS
It was a game of hurry up and wait. As advised we arrived at the terminal e hours prior to boarding. We waited about 45 minutes before anyone showed up at the check-in terminal. When someone does arrive she rearranges the line and we think we are going to be checked in. Nope. She leaves and we wait another 15 min. before anyone else shows up. One person got behind her computer and about 15 min later started to check the first person in . Then one more person arrives spends 10-15 behind the desk and then she starts checking in someone. Two more staff arrive and another 10 min or so they are ready to begin checking in people. We have a 11:50 international flight and it is 9:45. And then on of the agents, closes her desk and leaves. And every leg of our flight was delayed; we waited at terminals, we waited to take off, we waited to deplane. After arriving in Porto within 10min of our connection schwduled to take off, we were told to go to the last bus. We waited on the bus (until all the other busses had left) and then we waited another 10 min or so for one of the ground controllers who wanted a ride with us but was busy with a woman who needed the handicap van. He did not help her to the van, but was standing with her and talking with hher. We were rushed through border control and told not to wait for the rest of our party only to get on the plane and then have to wait another 45 min before we were cleared for take off. The waits were not 10 or 20 minutes, they were 35-55 minute waits each time. Miraculously, we made it back only 2 1/2 hours later than we we were originally scheduled. Given the nonchalance and seaming disinterest from many of the staff, I was expecting that we would not get on until much later than that.
The cabin crew were curt, not with me, but observed with other passengers. They were unduly rude and it was unprovoked and when they realized they were wrong, they made no attempt to apologize for their own confusion.
Bad boarding, threat to force bag check mid journey, lines, late, buses, more waiting awful end to end.
I will avoid TAP if I can, the ground experience was very poor with bad behaviour from the ground crew and it was only a bit better on the aircraft.
Terrible! I had to cancel our flights due to my wife Carmen requiring an unexpected second cancer surgery. I first contacted orbitz about obtaining a credit due to medical interruption and orbitz directed me to TAP. I contacted TAP and the representative directed me back to orbitz and refused to even explain what TAP’s medical interruption policy was or how it worked—I wanted that information for a second call to orbitz. Terrible service at a particularly difficult time.
Checkin was very slow, we had checked in online and hoping we could do a bag drop at the airport. However everyone with checked bags had to queue up and it took over 40mins. Our advice arrive extra early or you will be rushing to the gate.
Was a cheap flight and it got me to Portugal on time. For economy there was ample leg room and the flight attendants were pleasant and helpful.
The staff were great - very friendly and chatty. I checked in online at 9.30am, when check in had opened at 1.30am, and choices were already very limited, so act fast.
I suspect that there was an item pilfered from my bag at the TAP automated check-in counter on March 26th at Heathrow Airport around 11:30am. I think that the employee assisting me with my bags took something out of it when I was not paying attention because today, March 27th there is a notebook missing. Please check the camera to see if indeed this occurred. My description: Male, African Decent, 5'8, 180lbs medium build, wearing trousers and a jacket. Employee description: Female, Indian Decent (guessing) 5'7, slight build. Flight 1359, London to Lisbon.
I needed to add "Special Request" meal for myself and my trveling companion,and I ended up having to call their Customer Service. It took a while to get through but eventually I connected with a very proffessional and nice representative who took my request. In the middle of the conversation we were disconnected , as I was trying to all back, the TAP representative actually called me back and confirmed the special request for meals....he called me back from Portugal ! I was absolutely amazed,because that does not happen here in the USA. Perhaps some of the other airlines can learn from TAP's Customer Service. TAP's website at times can be difficult ,such as adding my TSA number. Ended up having it added at the TAP desk at the airport.
