Are you considering booking a flight with TAP Air Portugal? As Portugal's flagship carrier, TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) has been connecting travelers across Europe, Africa, North America, and South America since 1945. With a modern fleet of over 100 Airbus aircraft and membership in the Star Alliance, it's a popular choice for budget-conscious flyers seeking affordable transatlantic routes. But what do real travelers say? In this comprehensive guide to TAP Air Portugal reviews, we'll dive into honest feedback from passengers on platforms like Reddit, Trustpilot, TripAdvisor, and expert sites like The Points Guy and Business Insider. Drawing from recent 2025 experiences, we'll cover pros, cons, ratings, and tips to help you decide if TAP is right for your next trip.
Our analysis is based on aggregated user reviews and expert insights from reliable sources, ensuring a balanced view. As travel enthusiasts with years of experience reviewing airlines (including personal flights on TAP), we prioritize transparency and trustworthiness— no sponsored content here. Let's break it down.
Overall TAP Air Portugal Ratings: What Do the Numbers Say
TAP Air Portugal earns mixed but generally positive ratings across major review sites. Here's a snapshot from 2025 data:
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Trustpilot: 1.3/5 stars (based on over 4,000 reviews). Common complaints include delays, cancellations, and poor customer service, though some praise in-flight comfort.
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TripAdvisor: 3/5 bubbles (from thousands of reviews). Travelers appreciate affordability and routes but criticize baggage enforcement and ground staff.
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Skytrax (AirlineQuality.com): 3/5 stars. Strengths in cabin comfort (7.6/10) and meals (6.9/10), but weaknesses in entertainment/WiFi (6.3/10) and crew service variability.
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Reddit (r/travel threads): Informal polls and discussions rate it 6-7/10 for value, with users highlighting safety and European routes but warning about overbooking.
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The Points Guy and Business Insider: Expert reviews score business class around 7/10, noting solid lie-flat seats but lackluster luxury compared to competitors like Delta.
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Flight-Report.com: Average 7.1/10, with high marks for cabin crew (7.7/10) but lower for WiFi.
On-time performance hovers around 62% (per Going.com data), and safety is top-tier—AirlineRatings.com ranks TAP as Europe's safest airline and fifth globally. Overall, TAP Air Portugal reviews suggest it's a strong budget option for short-haul and transatlantic flights, scoring an average of 6.5/10 across sources. It's not luxury-level like Emirates, but it beats many low-cost carriers in comfort.
Pros of Flying TAP Air Portugal: What Travelers Love
From Reddit threads to expert analyses, positive TAP Air Portugal reviews often focus on value, safety, and unique perks. Here's what stands out:
Affordable Fares and Extensive Network
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Many reviewers on Going.com and BlondeVoyage901.com praise TAP's competitive pricing. Round-trip flights from the US to Lisbon often start at $300-500 in economy, with business class deals under $1,500 (e.g., Boston to Lisbon for $1,461).
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The airline's hub in Lisbon provides easy access to 93 destinations, including underrated spots like the Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, and smaller European cities (Florence, Bordeaux). Reddit user Bubbly_Luck6939 in r/travel called it a "great idea for open-jaw tickets" (flying into Lisbon and out of Porto).
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Free stopovers in Portugal (up to 5-10 days) are a hit—perfect for exploring Lisbon or Porto without extra airfare, as noted in Business Insider and TAL Aviation profiles.
Safety and Modern Fleet
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TAP's all-Airbus fleet (including A320neo, A321neo, and A330neo) is one of the youngest in the world, with low emissions. Reviewers on Trustpilot and Skytrax frequently mention this, with SchmoopsAhoy on Reddit ranking it among the top 15 safest globally—far ahead of US carriers.
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Awards include Europe's Leading Airline to Africa and South America (World Travel Awards, 2014-2021), boosting trustworthiness.
In-Flight Experience
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Meals get rave reviews for quality, especially Portuguese touches like regional wines, Francesinha sandwiches, and fresh seafood. The Points Guy highlights multicourse dinners on china plates, with options like salmon or ravioli.
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Economy seats offer 32-33 inches of legroom with recline, while business class features lie-flat seats (up to 60 inches pitch). A Trustpilot reviewer called a Lisbon-Miami flight "very nice" with spacious seats, pillows, blankets, and kind attendants.
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Entertainment includes movies, TV, and Portuguese lessons—solid for the price, per Flight-Report.com.
Friendly Cabin Crew
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Many TAP Air Portugal reviews commend the crew's professionalism. On Reddit, users like castaneom and rebordacao describe them as "friendly and professional," with flexible baggage checks in some cases.
Cons of Flying TAP Air Portugal: Common Complaints
No airline is perfect, and negative TAP Air Portugal reviews often highlight operational issues. Based on 2025 feedback from Trustpilot and Reddit:
Delays, Cancellations, and Overbooking
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A major pain point: Trustpilot is filled with 1-star reviews about delays (e.g., 2-hour waits) and cancellations without same-day alternatives. One user reported a flight canceled months in advance, forcing extra hotel costs.
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Business Insider's 2025 review details red flags like itinerary changes two months out and overbooking (bumped from a Madeira flight). Reddit's r/travel echoes this, with Justinewantz calling TAP "HORRIBLE" due to delays and a near-crash landing.
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Punctuality at 62% means planning buffer time, especially at Lisbon's busy airport (described as a "nightmare" for immigration by FindYourselfACity on Reddit).
Customer Service and Refunds
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Ground staff and phone support get low marks. Trustpilot users complain about unresponsive claims portals ("impossible to make a claim") and rude airport reps. Refunds can take months, per Business Insider.
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Baggage rules are strictly enforced: Carry-ons must weigh under 8kg (17.6lbs), with fees for overages. Reviewers on TripAdvisor and Skytrax warn of this, even in business class.
In-Flight and Ground Shortcomings
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WiFi is spotty and paid (unreliable per The Points Guy). Meals are good but not gourmet—some find them "economy-like" in business.
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No premium immigration lanes or dedicated buses, as noted in Going.com's review. App and website glitches make changes "an ordeal" (BlondeVoyage901.com).
Real Traveler Stories: TAP Air Portugal Reviews from 2025
To give you firsthand insights, here's a summary of recent experiences:
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Reddit (r/travel, July 2025): In a thread on Portugal itineraries, users like silver70seven called TAP "the Delta of Portugal—good airline" with cheap trains between Lisbon and Porto. However, chrismcnally paid extra for seats (50-60€) and warned about random assignments.
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Trustpilot (August-September 2025): Positive for long-haul comfort (e.g., A330neo seats), but scathing on disruptions—one reviewer lost luggage for 4 days, another faced overbooking by 10 people.
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Business Insider (April 2025): A personal account of multiple cancellations and extra costs ($400+), recommending alternatives like Delta for peace of mind.
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The Points Guy (July 2024, relevant to 2025): Business class on A321LR is "adequate" with throne seats for privacy, but lacks luxury—recommend for deals under $3,500 round-trip.
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Going.com Guide: Praises cheap fares to exotic spots (e.g., Chicago to Casablanca for $444) but notes strict carry-ons and slow refunds.
Business Class vs. Economy: Which to Choose?
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Economy: Budget-friendly with decent comfort. Reviews suggest opting for Economy Xtra for extra legroom. Great for short Europe hops.
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Business Class: Lie-flat seats and better meals make it worthwhile for transatlantic flights. The Points Guy rates it 7/10, ideal for solo travelers in "throne" seats. Fares start at $1,200 one-way, per expert deals.
Tips for a Better TAP Air Portugal Experience
Based on TAP Air Portugal reviews, here's expert advice:
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Book everything upfront (seats, bags) to avoid fees—website glitches are common.
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Weigh carry-ons at home; enforcement varies but can sting.
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Allow extra time at Lisbon Airport for immigration.
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Use Star Alliance perks (e.g., United miles for awards: 88,000 economy round-trip).
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For refunds, file via flytap.com or call +1-800-903-7914—patience is key.
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Download the app for real-time updates on delays.
Final Verdict: Is TAP Air Portugal Worth It
From our analysis of TAP Air Portugal reviews, this airline shines for affordable, safe flights with a European flair—perfect for budget travelers to Portugal or beyond. If you prioritize value over perfection and can handle potential hiccups, it's a solid 7/10. However, for seamless service, consider alternatives like Lufthansa. Always check recent reviews on Trustpilot or Reddit before booking.
Sources
TripAdvisor - TAP Air Portugal Reviews
Reddit - Experiences with TAP Air Portugal and Portugal Itinerary Advice
TAL Aviation - TAP Air Portugal
Blonde Voyage - The Complete Guide to TAP Air Portugal
Trustpilot - TAP Air Portugal Reviews
Business Insider - TAP Air Portugal Review
The Points Guy - TAP Air Portugal Business Class Review
Skytrax - TAP Air Portugal Airline Reviews
Flight-Report - TAP Air Portugal Passenger Reviews
Going.com - TAP Air Portugal Guide
Reddit - TAP Air Portugal Discussion
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