TAP contract lounges: recent changes and Star Gold access
Apr 19, 2019, 2:27 am
#1
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
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TAP contract lounges: recent changes and Star Gold access
Refused entry to airport lounge in FAO yesterday despite access being a published benefit of Star Alliance Gold. Lounge angel said that as of this week TP has cancelled the use of the lounge and will not pay it. Luckily, Priority Pass still accepted. Seems to also apply to business class travelers at FAO. How far will this once charming and now just cheap and crappy airline descend?
Apr 19, 2019, 2:49 pm
#2
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You're not missing much. Lounge is crap but yes its a cheap move. They are a high fares low service airline.
Fly Lufthansa, avoid the often canx shuttle flight. They have a good record of paying for lounges vs TAP or BArb.
Fly Lufthansa, avoid the often canx shuttle flight. They have a good record of paying for lounges vs TAP or BArb.
Apr 20, 2019, 8:30 am
#5
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It’s just the one lounge at FAO, yes, but it was better than nothing. TAP fares have increased significantly recently whilst their service now just feels cheap. The once charming crews seem to be grumpy too. I always preferred the TAP crews to Lufthansa but now they’re both just as bad. At least Lufthansa is more likely to be on time whereas I have not been on time on a TAP flight in about 2 years.
Apr 20, 2019, 8:34 am
#6
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Is the lounge operated by TAP? If not, it's just a contract lounge and apparently TAP no longer provides access for at least some categories of its passengers who previously had access.
Apr 20, 2019, 8:42 am
#7
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It’s a contract lounge, yes. But LH, BA, SK all contract to it for premium and status passengers. TP no longer does, which is crappy for a Portuguese airline at a Portuguese airport.
Apr 23, 2019, 3:13 am
#9
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I also remember when DL pulled SkyTeam ElitePlus lounge access at ARN even as DL Elite+ flying all other SkyTeam carriers (other than DL) had contract lounge access at ARN for economy class-flying SkyTeam ElitePlus passengers. It led to the sort of absurdity whereby a DL Platinum flying AF or even OK in economy class could get lounge access at ARN, but a DL Platinum flying DL in economy class couldn't get lounge access at ARN.
Apr 24, 2019, 8:51 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LIS
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Unfortunately, and contrary to what you imply, this actually seems to be the rule in alliances: most airlines do not offer free access to contract lounges to elite pax of other alliance airlines. Even if it may be characterised as a race to the bottom, TP is following the rule of full service airlines.
Apr 24, 2019, 11:20 am
#11
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Sorry that is not true. Contract lounge accesss for alliance elites travelling economy is pretty common.
Apr 24, 2019, 3:30 pm
#12
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Unfortunately, and contrary to what you imply, this actually seems to be the rule in alliances: most airlines do not offer free access to contract lounges to elite pax of other alliance airlines. Even if it may be characterised as a race to the bottom, TP is following the rule of full service airlines.
As a Star Gold, I've had various Star Alliance carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL Star Gold.
As a Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald, I've had various Oneworld carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL Sapphire/Emerald.
Apr 30, 2019, 5:10 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LIS
Programs: FB LTPE, TP Gold, All Gold
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As a SkyTeam ElitePlus, I've had various SkyTeam carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL SkyTeam ElitePlus.
As a Star Gold, I've had various Star Alliance carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL Star Gold.
As a Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald, I've had various Oneworld carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL Sapphire/Emerald.
As a Star Gold, I've had various Star Alliance carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL Star Gold.
As a Oneworld Sapphire/Emerald, I've had various Oneworld carriers provide me with contract lounge access even when flying them in economy class and being an OAL Sapphire/Emerald.
That was my experience with Star and SkyTeam, but I stand corrected. In any case, as mentioned, it is indeed quite unfortunate when it happens.
May 1, 2019, 11:43 pm
#14
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If an airline provides lounge access at an airport it should not matter to the passenger whether this is directly owned or contracted out. What is the point of an airline alliance if benefits are not recipricated? And before you all scream about what is a published benefit and what is not, I know, but just find it tiresome to have to figure out the specifics of the airline/alliance/airport/status in order to know what my benefits are.
My point was, and is, that TP now feels cheap.
My point was, and is, that TP now feels cheap.
May 2, 2019, 12:29 am
#15
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https://onemileatatime.com/cheap-tap...s-class-fares/
Seems pretty cheap to me. Picked one up today. The miles I'll earn on a DUB-LIS-SFO routing are easily worth $150-175 to me in future flights by themselves. It would seem you're not exactly dealing with an airline that's going to be driving you to your plane in a Porsche from a special terminal dedicated to premium class passengers.
$675+ TAP Business Class Fares From Europe To The US (One-Way)