MitjaPod

I took TAP Air Portugal flight number TP893 from Zagreb to Lisbon in Business Class as it came at a very low price (all legs from ZAG to PDL were 182 EUR). I wanted to see if business class on TAP is really so bad as some travellers on YouTube suggested (Josh Cahill when flying TAP always says it is very bad). I guess that can be true for economy class, which I'm yet to take a closer look at, but in my opinion it's not true for business class. The drinks on offer are excellent: there is sparkling wine, several types of Portuguese red and white wine, as well as port and probably some other digestif. There is room for improvement with hot meals and dessert - both options (veal terrine and mushroom pasta did not taste very good and my neighbour found something in the terrine that looked like pubic hair). They really could improve the catering as this is the easiest and fastest way to make passengers more happy. I love the fact that for just a little more money you get a seat with more legroom that reclines and an electrical socket (in economy there is no recline and no electrical socket), as well as a free seat next to you. More details in the video:

Harper50505

IME that's a very fair representation of TAP business class. I agree the food could be a bit better but at least unlike some others (I'm looking at you Finnair) they still provide a choice on short haul. It's also good when you occasionally score the A21NLR and get the much upgraded seating - it's happened to me LIS-PDL a couple of times and also a couple of times LIS-LHR.

MitjaPod

The food was actually better on the LIS-PDL leg. It was cold cuts, but it was a very tasty selection. I will add video in this posts once I finish editing it.

MitjaPod

I did also a flight to the so-called Hawaii of Europe, the beautiful archipelago of the Azores. The flight from Lisbon to S�o Miguel takes 2� hours and lands in the middle of the Atlantic. Although there was a long delay on departure, the service on board in business class, at least as far as food and drink were concerned, was excellent and the aircraft was almost new. More in the video:

desafino

I don't think this is unique to TAP at the moment, but I felt the ground experience at both LIS and outstations on my trip was quite poor. Boarding lines were not well managed, and little coordination between aircraft and gate staff meant long, hot waits in the jet bridge.

MitjaPod

It is a bit of a mess, yes. In PDL we were left out on the Apron, and waked 100m, just to be later waiting before the arrivals entrance for a truboprop Sata plane to deboard. They also changed the gate in a matter of minutes after they announced it and people were waiting at the wrong gate. Situation caotic also at LIS, both ways, and also ny previous time in February. But this is more ZNZ problem (people not well trained) and not TAP. And they have a solution: build a new airport (as I heard on the TV).

Harper50505

IME at LIS you are very lucky to get a jetty and not a bus gate. The bus gates can be chaotic particularly when it's hot and you sit at the bottom of the steps, doors closed in the heat for sometimes up to 30 minutes, TAP use buses as holding pens and it's not good. It's also highly unlikely that they will introduce a business class bus but that would take the edge of the bad bus experience which for me is about 75% of the time.

rtool

CMN-LIS, C on TP Express

• 1 hour flight time(TP1347); 11:25am scheduled vs. 12:10pm actual
• Buses at CMN and at LIS
• Cold meal served on a tray: tuna/cucumber half-sandwich, fruit plate, choice(s) of beverages = orange, apple + coffee/tea
  • The FA really wanted everyone to eat and proactively flipped open everybody's table
  • Smiles are included

I'm used to being abused on US carriers, so obviously thumbs up from me.

Buzzflightyear

This review showcases how the Long Haul narrowbody product really upgrades the whole experience. Looks delightful! I think they've got a really competitive product. But does the LR aircraft every regularly rotate on certain routes in Europe?