Dear travelers,
If you’ve spent even five minutes on TikTok searching for TAP Air Portugal, you’ve probably seen a lot of negative reviews. Delays, baggage drama, strict rules, you name it. So when I booked my Venice–Lisbon–New York flight, I was cautiously optimistic… and slightly stressed.
But here’s the plot twist: I actually had a really nice experience. So if you’re flying TAP Air soon and wondering what it’s really like, here’s my honest breakdown: no airline hate, no overhyping, just facts.
This Was a Connecting Flight (And That Matters)
My route was Venice → Lisbon → New York, and TAP Air honestly feels like two different airlines depending on the flight length.
Short-Haul Flight: Venice → Lisbon
Let’s set expectations right away. The short European flight felt very similar to low-cost airlines like Ryanair or Wizz Air.
Food & Drinks
No complimentary food or drinks
Everything is paid onboard
If you’re used to budget airlines, nothing here will surprise you. Bring snacks if needed.
Baggage: TikTok vs Reality
This was the part that worried me most because I saw so many videos of people saying TAP:
Measures cabin luggage
Weighs cabin bags
Official Rules:
Cabin suitcase: up to 10 kg
Personal item: small backpack or handbag
Optional checked luggage (23 kg or more) for an additional fee
What Actually Happened:
- Nobody weighed our cabin bags
- Nobody measured our luggage
- Nobody questioned our backpacks
We checked our luggage in Venice and picked it up only in New York, even with the Lisbon connection, which was super convenient.
Seat Allocation & Classes
We got random seats, which is totally normal with TAP Air. Good to know:
If you buy tickets together, you’re usually seated together
There are: Economy, premium economy and business class
You can pay extra for: Seat selection and extra legroom seats
We didn’t pay for seat selection, and it worked out just fine.
Check-In Experience
On the way there, we did online check-in without issues.
On the way back: Online check-in was not available, so we checked in at the airport. Just to be safe, I took a screenshot showing that online check-in wasn’t possible.
Pro tip: Always take screenshots. They can save you stress if anything comes up.
Long-Haul Flight: Lisbon → New York (≈ 8 hours)
This is where TAP Air really changed my impression.
Food & Drinks
On the long-haul flight, everything was included:
Dinner
Later, a sandwich/snack
Free drinks:
Water
Coffee & tea
Soft drinks
Alcoholic beverages
Comfort & In-Flight Kit
We received:
Pillow
Blanket
Headphones
Perfectly fine for an overnight or long transatlantic flight.
Entertainment
Each seat had its own screen with:
Movies
TV shows
Music
Transit Experience in Lisbon
The transit itself was smooth, but here’s what to expect:
Passport control again
Before boarding the US flight:
They checked passport
Visa
ESTA
Everything was well-organized, just make sure you have all documents ready.
Final Thoughts: Would I Fly TAP Air Again?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer:
Short-haul flights = basic, no-frills, low-cost vibes
Long-haul flights = proper full-service airline experience
If you go in with realistic expectations, TAP Air Portugal can be a great option, especially if you get a good deal on a transatlantic ticket.
So don’t let TikTok scare you too much. Sometimes, the real experience is way better than the internet says.
Bon voyage!
Truly yours,
The Creation of Us
P.S.: Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
