Star Alliance Gold Benefits - TAP Portugal
Mar 12, 2018, 1:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, JetSmarter, Global Entry, CLEAR
Posts: 102
Star Alliance Gold Benefits - TAP Portugal
Hi everyone,
I am considering using TAP Portugal for the first time and had a quick question. I have Star Alliance Gold and was wondering if you buy the 'hand baggage only' ticket if you are able to select seats in advance? I see that we are allowed to bring extra baggage but I cannot see anywhere about the seat selection or lounge access.
Thank you in advance!
I am considering using TAP Portugal for the first time and had a quick question. I have Star Alliance Gold and was wondering if you buy the 'hand baggage only' ticket if you are able to select seats in advance? I see that we are allowed to bring extra baggage but I cannot see anywhere about the seat selection or lounge access.
Thank you in advance!
Mar 12, 2018, 4:55 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,956
With *G and a hand baggage only fare you get:
Lounge access = yes
Priority boarding and security = Yes
Hand baggage = 1+1
Free checked in luggage = none (*G benefit does NOT apply)
Seats = pay in advance or at check-in, free 3 hours before departure.
Lounge access = yes
Priority boarding and security = Yes
Hand baggage = 1+1
Free checked in luggage = none (*G benefit does NOT apply)
Seats = pay in advance or at check-in, free 3 hours before departure.
Mar 22, 2018, 9:05 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Brasil/Spain (but a heart in Scotland)
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Iberia Oro, SkyTeam - Elite Plus, Le Club Accor - Platinum
Posts: 408
I am Star Alliance Gold and have never had a problem checking in a bag for free on hand baggage only fares...
Mar 22, 2018, 4:27 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Mar 23, 2018, 9:55 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,730
"Never had a problem" being code for successfully sweet-talking the agent into overlooking the rules, or for encountering agents who just didn't know/realise/check that you are not entitled to a baggage allowance?
Mar 23, 2018, 2:21 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SFO/JFK/MGA
Programs: UA 1P MM, AA-PP, AS, DL, HH G, SPG Gold, TA nada
Posts: 2,043
Just flew them last week, inter Europe, checked in online. Had all *G benefits. Didn't use there lounge as I have PP and like their lounge better, but was allowed to access it.
Mar 24, 2018, 1:45 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
I've no idea if this is a fluke, down to my ineffable charm,the kindness (or ignorance) of the agent, or a glitch in TP's system. And so far I've not been silly enough to delve deeper
I'm no longer in TP's fan club, so my experience of these fares in the last year were limited to a couple of MAN LIS trips when Ryanair were more expensive.
Mar 24, 2018, 12:26 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: SFO
Programs: OZ Diamond/*G, IHG Diamond Amb, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,239
*G were allowed a free bag on discount fares until about 6 months ago....they perhaps were not yet trained on the new rules but I'm not sure I'd risk it if I didn't want to pay the bag fee.
May 4, 2018, 7:46 am
#10
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,171
May 16, 2018, 3:41 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: A3 Gold, LH SEN, DL PM
Posts: 69
But i couldn't create boarding passes because i changed my seats now the want to charge me for the seats..
When can i deploy the mobile boarding pass? I read 3 h before takeoff?
May 16, 2018, 1:11 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
I could use the online checkin today. I could add 1 piece for free with no charge. I have other bookings without status it says it exceeds the free allowed luggage.
But i couldn't create boarding passes because i changed my seats now the want to charge me for the seats..
When can i deploy the mobile boarding pass? I read 3 h before takeoff?
But i couldn't create boarding passes because i changed my seats now the want to charge me for the seats..
When can i deploy the mobile boarding pass? I read 3 h before takeoff?
May 17, 2018, 3:20 pm
#13
formerly kiwi_norway
Join Date: May 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: A3*G, NZ*S, Avis PC
Posts: 390
It seems TAP have shifted their luggage policy for *G back to allowing one free bag, even on their "Discount" fares. I booked a flight a few months ago, that I just checked in for. When I booked, I'm 99% sure their website said that *G on discount fares got no free checked luggage unless the one ticket spanned multiple *A carriers. I checked it again a few days ago, and they've reverted the wording to allow 1 checked bag for all *G (it specifically states that this extra allowance includes those flying on Discount fares). I rang their CS team, who confirmed this.
Now, at online checkin, the system states my allowance is 1 free bag.
Now, at online checkin, the system states my allowance is 1 free bag.
May 21, 2018, 4:11 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: BCN/ RIO/ World
Programs: AV Diamond, TK ELP, IB Oro, AD Diamante, NZ Gold, QF Gold, Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 64
Seat selection is not a Star Alliance Gold benefit. On discount fares, TP charge for seat allocation. But on the plus side usually they put SAGs in the front rows of Y which have significantly more legroom than down the back on their new 320 fleet cabins.
Lounge access will of course be honoured with any fare type.
Lounge access will of course be honoured with any fare type.
Jun 27, 2018, 10:54 am
#15
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: United 1K; Hilton HHonors Gold; Marriott Platinum
Posts: 28
Providing a data point: last Sunday I was able to check in one bag for free on a discount (cheapest) fare from LIS to AMS (Star Gold). I was expecting to pay for the bag but took my chances when I saw that pre-paying would be slightly less.