Note:
This review…read morehad to be moved from its original listing in the U.S. near Newark. It was no longer taking photos I wanted to upload, yet the Lisbon listing was.
Yelp needs to change the name of this listing! Its correct name is TAP Air Portugal and, in Portuguese, TAP means "Transportes Aereos Portugueses."
I had written a review with an update. The first review was based on 2 flights within Europe. When I added an update, Yelp removed it, citing that the update did not add much. When this happens, it could be a "hall monitor" problem where a creep in the obscurity of the internet decides to make a project out of you or perhaps colorful language in the review was not welcomed, with words like 'melodramatic Portuguese countenances that almost sing the fado' regarding the cabin crew, which is something I find more interesting than looking at vapid Americans. What's wrong with such language? The fado is Portugal's brand of the blues and have you ever noticed how soulful and intense the physiognomies of some fado singers are? I find that bohemian (af) millennial travel writers write passages like this and, in addition to passing muster, it makes reading their accounts more detailed, visual, and enjoyable. That update was actually based on 4 TAP transatlantic flights from the U.S. to Europe.
- - - - -
For the TAP flights from Lisbon to Portugal's island of Madeira and Venice (VCE), they were at about 3 stars. I liked their fares, their schedule, and the economy tickets made for a paltry number of miles to add to my United account. The flight to Madeira was better and the approach to the island, and its airport up on pylons, was spectacular. The flight to Venice was strange. Some activity on the field at VCE kept us from landing and we were sent to land at Bologna (BLQ), making the continuation a 15-minute flight. They handed out small bone-in chicken breasts, which seemed strange. In that same span of years, Iberia of Spain gave you nothing! Shorter flights now always feature snacks. Within Europe, TAP is comparable to Iberia, but slightly better.
In the update, now rolled into this one review, I had gone on to "cross the pond" with them from Newark, JFK, BOS, and MIA. They now have more U.S. gateways and more connection options from Lisbon onward. Those flights ranged from 4 to 5 stars. The best things about their transatlantic flights were their pricing, their punctuality, and their newer Airbus 330-900neo planes. The negatives were few. Compared to Iberia and yesteryear's Alitalia, their cabin crews were a little more standoffish. I also do not care for the single aisle Airbus 321-XLR with wafer-thin Recaro seats, but more carriers are using it on shorter transatlantic routes. I prefer yesteryear's bulkier upholstered seats. It's all about penciling things out. With thinner seats, they can put more of them on a plane.
Since taking those transatlantic flights, TAP has really spread its wings in North America. Beyond Newark, JFK, BOS, and MIA, they have added two Star Alliance hubs - Washington DC and Chicago. They have sensibly added service to Canada, to both Toronto and Montreal. More recently, they have expanded to the West Coast, first coming into SFO, also a Star Alliance hub, and closer to the Portuguese community in the Bay Area and in the Central Valley. They don't make the trip daily. When in NorCal, I saw their Airbus 330-900 land at SFO from the shoreline. In its distinctive livery, it made for a beautiful sight and Lisbon was now connected to America's West Coast! Lastly, I was having lunch with a friend near LAX and was taken aback seeing a TAP A330 on finals. While not daily, TAP had recently added Los Angeles!
So far, this looks like a 4-star situation. I almost wanted to drop TAP to 3 stars for a poor flight from the UK to Portugal. A younger flight attendant evidently had some coworkers or friends on board and talked to them for most of the flight, almost wincing if passengers asked (for) something (of her). This was the poorest service I've seen on a European flight.
I had not yet flown on TAP from Europe to the U.S. Not having purchased a ticket to come home, the trek I had my eye on - Iberia from the Algarve to Madrid and then to the U.S. - went way up in price. TAP delivered and I was able to get to the U.S. in summer if I first took the 6 a.m. flight from Faro to Lisbon. For about $425, that flight to MIA, with a checked bag and "my" window seat, was incredibly smooth and arrived ahead of schedule.
I'm giving TAP an entry-level 4 stars. Their branching out to more U.S. gateways is useful to customers going to Europe and beyond. It's not a strong 4 stars because I'm not a fan of any A321-XLR, their pricing tiers shouldn't be spaced as far apart as they are, and in-flight service could be a little more affable. However, there is no doubt that TAP Air Portugal has positioned itself as one of the better options for going to Portugal, Europe, and points beyond.
