Transit in LIS
May 5, 2008, 1:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,993
Transit in LIS
Does anyone have any experience of transiting in LIS?
I will be arriving on BA and departing on TAP - both in J. I have a 3.5hr layover, so will need some entertainment!
Is there a lounge I can use or will I be stuck in some ghastly transit lounge? Any shops / cafes?
Presumably worst case scenario I can clear customs and go back through so I can use the BA/TAP lounge and other facilities?
I will be arriving on BA and departing on TAP - both in J. I have a 3.5hr layover, so will need some entertainment!
Is there a lounge I can use or will I be stuck in some ghastly transit lounge? Any shops / cafes?
Presumably worst case scenario I can clear customs and go back through so I can use the BA/TAP lounge and other facilities?
May 5, 2008, 1:12 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,768
Does anyone have any experience of transiting in LIS?
I will be arriving on BA and departing on TAP - both in J. I have a 3.5hr layover, so will need some entertainment!
Is there a lounge I can use or will I be stuck in some ghastly transit lounge? Any shops / cafes?
Presumably worst case scenario I can clear customs and go back through so I can use the BA/TAP lounge and other facilities?
I will be arriving on BA and departing on TAP - both in J. I have a 3.5hr layover, so will need some entertainment!
Is there a lounge I can use or will I be stuck in some ghastly transit lounge? Any shops / cafes?
Presumably worst case scenario I can clear customs and go back through so I can use the BA/TAP lounge and other facilities?
May 5, 2008, 1:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: BA (GGL/CCR)
Posts: 1,256
BA use the Air France lounge in Lisbon. It's small and dull but fairly o.k. No food to speak of.
But the city is moments from the airport - reckon on 15 minutes in a taxi. And the taxi fare downtown is only about 20 Euros including a generous tip, so if it were me I think I'd clear immigration and wander off to the City for a meal/museum/whatever takes your fancy.
But the city is moments from the airport - reckon on 15 minutes in a taxi. And the taxi fare downtown is only about 20 Euros including a generous tip, so if it were me I think I'd clear immigration and wander off to the City for a meal/museum/whatever takes your fancy.
May 6, 2008, 2:00 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,095
BA use the AF Salon at LIS, which (along with the TAP lounge) is located airside, but before outbound ex-Schengen passport control. Go up the escalator after security, turn right at the duty free for the AF lounge, left for the TAP.
I have never transited in LIS before but I would imagine to gain access to the lounges you will have to enter Portugal because of the passport arrangement referenced above. I doubt it would take you very long.
The AF lounge is a windowless box with limited magazines/newspapers and a couple of TVs showing CNBC. There are two iMacs for passenger use and Wi-fi (can't remember if paid). Limited selection of spirits however they have both proper and non-alcoholic Sagres, soft drinks and mixers. Food is limited to biscuits, crackers, BabyBel and Laughing Cow cheese and some pretty grim olives.
Certainly not where you'd want to spend more than 35 minutes, let alone 3.5 hours!
I have never transited in LIS before but I would imagine to gain access to the lounges you will have to enter Portugal because of the passport arrangement referenced above. I doubt it would take you very long.
The AF lounge is a windowless box with limited magazines/newspapers and a couple of TVs showing CNBC. There are two iMacs for passenger use and Wi-fi (can't remember if paid). Limited selection of spirits however they have both proper and non-alcoholic Sagres, soft drinks and mixers. Food is limited to biscuits, crackers, BabyBel and Laughing Cow cheese and some pretty grim olives.
Certainly not where you'd want to spend more than 35 minutes, let alone 3.5 hours!
May 6, 2008, 4:23 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,005
The TAP lounge is OK, and destined for greater things after the current "works" in the terminal are over. (Who knows? they may be over already...). In any case, it is definitely preferred to the BA offfer.
If you have M&M status, the LH lounge is larger and much less crowded.
TAP almost never uses an airbridge. There's a risk of spending a bit too long standing on a bus waiting for it to get fuller...
If you have M&M status, the LH lounge is larger and much less crowded.
TAP almost never uses an airbridge. There's a risk of spending a bit too long standing on a bus waiting for it to get fuller...
May 6, 2008, 5:46 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: MEL
Programs: BA Gold; VA Velocity Gold; LH FTL; Marriott Gold; ICHG Platinum AMB; Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,393
If you simply want to get work done, I can understand - any of the lounges will at least give you respite from the main terminal and hopefully the space to get some work done.
May 7, 2008, 2:02 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,768
I recommend the Duck Pies in the TP Lounge, there is a nice range of Portuguese wines too. As others have said depending upon time of day LIS is very close to the city centre, in my experience I have spent longer queuing for a taxi than I have in the taxi to my destination. If you have a full 3.5 hours on the ground I would recommend a visit into town as other contributors have suggested. The TP Lounge is OK but I wouldn't necessarily want to spend 3.5 hours there. You should allow 20-30 mins after landing for your bus transfer to the terminal (BA never use airbridges at LIS) and a further 15 to 20 mins for immigration after that everything is plain sailing. Security is particularly well organised at LIS with very short queues, BAA could learn something from LIS.
Jun 15, 2008, 3:46 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,095
Just a small update - the airside works at LIS seem to be finished and there is a nice new food court. There is a cool "Cockpit" bar that does nice trendy tapas type stuff, a McD's, Pizza Hut, restaurant and the obligatory Irish pub (!?). There's also a decent duty free shop with a good selection of wine and port. All in all this makes the AF lounge even more pointless...I couldn't understand why it was packed when the outside areas were much more pleasant to sit in.