There were no delays. I almost lost my connection because of the new EES system
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 crew was excellent. What I did not enjoy was the food. I have taken many international flights and this was on the low end. Otherwise the trip was fine.
Seats were the most uncomfortable seats i ever experienced on a flight to Europe from Boston. It was a waist of money in buying premium seats for top dollars. I want my money back for what i paid extra for my seats. Awful conditions!
On the seat map for this flight with TAP was shown a business class configuration of 2 rows/8 seats. To my surprise, 4 rows/24 seats being the middle is kept empty, old European type. I chose seat 2F, the the leg room economy dimension. This is not what I paid for. Disappointed!
Boarding felt a little chaotic as everyone was waiting around the gate. Food was great, service was good.
The passport control process in Lisbon ranks as a 1 on a 1 to 5 scale. Terrible. In line 2 hours and still missed our first flight. Next day, 1.5 hours but we made the flight. The Business Class food was poor. Unidentifiable. Not tasty at all. Unacceptable in BC. Attendants were adequate. Flight left late and arrived late. After this trip, we will not be flying TAP nor will we be connecting through Lisbon.
Flight attendants in business class were rather indifferent While in second leg operated by Portugalia TAP subsidiary were outstanfy
Great service overall. One of the best international flight experiences Ive had.
The chicken was so dry it was impossible to eat. No substitute was offered. The port to charge my phone was broken and all I got was a shrug from the crew. The entertainment system was glitchy and subtitles didn’t load. Crew seemed fully uninterested and unfriendly.
