TAP PortugalTP

TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier of Portugal and one of Europe's most established airlines, founded in 1945. Headquartered at Lisbon Portela Airport, TAP operates an all-Airbus fleet to over 90 destinations across Europe, Africa, North America, and South America.

As a member of Star Alliance since 2005, TAP offers global connectivity through partner airlines including United, Lufthansa, and Air Canada. The airline holds a unique position as the leading carrier between Europe and Brazil, operating more flights to Brazil than any other European airline. TAP also maintains strong connections to Portuguese-speaking African nations including Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.

TAP is known for its Portugal Stopover program, voted the world's best stopover program for seven consecutive years, allowing passengers to explore Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days at no additional airfare cost.

Carry-On Allowance

Personal Item (all fares):

• Dimensions: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in)
• Weight: 2 kg (4.4 lbs) maximum
• Must fit under seat in front

Cabin Bag (overhead bin):

• Dimensions: 55 x 40 x 25 cm (22 x 16 x 10 in)
• Weight: 10 kg (22 lbs) maximum
• Economy Class: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item
• Executive Class: 2 cabin bags + 1 personal item (Europe, Africa, South America, domestic)

Fare Class	Personal Item	Cabin Bag	Total Items
Discount	1	1	2
Basic	1	1	2
Classic	1	1	2
Plus	1	1	2
Executive	1	2	3
Top Executive	1	2	3

Checked Baggage

Standard Size: 158 cm (62 in) linear maximum (length + width + height)

Europe & Morocco:

Fare	Bags Included	Weight per Bag
Discount	0	Purchase from 30 (~$33)
Basic	0	Purchase from 30 (~$33)
Classic	1	23 kg (50 lbs)
Plus	1	23 kg (50 lbs)
Executive	2	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Top Executive	2	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Long-Haul (Americas, except Africa):

Fare	Bags Included	Weight per Bag
Discount	0	Purchase from 70 (~$77)
Basic	0	Purchase from 70 (~$77)
Classic	1	23 kg (50 lbs)
Plus	1	23 kg (50 lbs)
Executive	2	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Top Executive	3	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Africa (except Morocco):

• All Economy fares include 2 bags at 23 kg (50 lbs) each
• Executive includes 2 bags at 32 kg (70 lbs) each

Overweight & Oversized Fees

Condition	Low Season	High Season
Overweight (24-32 kg)	60 (~$66)	90 (~$99)
Oversized (>158 cm)	60 (~$66)	90 (~$99)

Maximum: 32 kg per bag; heavier items require TAP Cargo

Elite Status & Credit Card Benefits

Status	Domestic/Europe	Long-Haul
Miles&Go Silver	+1 bag (23 kg)	+1 bag (23 kg)
Miles&Go Gold	+1 bag (23 kg)	+1 bag (23 kg)
Navigator	+1 bag (23 kg)	+1 bag (23 kg)
Star Alliance Gold	+1 bag (23 kg)	+1 bag (23 kg)

Special Items

Item	Fee	Notes
Golf clubs	Standard bag fee	Counts as 1 checked bag
Skis/snowboard	Standard bag fee	Counts as 1 checked bag
Bicycle	75 (~$82)	Must be boxed, handlebars turned
Surfboard	Standard bag fee	Counts as 1 checked bag
Car seat	Free	Gate-check available
Stroller	Free	Gate-check available
Wheelchair	Free	Advance notice recommended
CPAP	Free	Carry-on, doesn't count toward allowance

Purchase Tips

• Online discount: Save approximately 20% by purchasing extra baggage online before check-in
• Pre-book at booking: Lowest prices available during initial reservation
• Airport fees: Significantly higher than online prices

Fees as of January 2025. Verify at flytap.com/baggage.

TAP operates an all-Airbus fleet including A330-900neo and A321LR (Long Range) aircraft on long-haul routes, featuring modern cabins with the Airspace by Airbus design.

Executive Class (Business)

A330-900neo:

• Configuration: 1-2-1 staggered layout
• Seat pitch: 42" (107 cm)
• Seat width: 22" (56 cm)
• Recline: Full lie-flat (77"/196 cm bed length)
• All seats have direct aisle access

A321LR (Long Range):

• Configuration: Alternating 2-2 and 1-1 rows
• Seat pitch: 44" (112 cm)
• Seat width: 22.3" (57 cm)
• Recline: Full lie-flat (80"/203 cm bed length)
• "Throne" seats in rows 2 and 4 offer maximum privacy

Executive Class Amenities:

• Noise-cancelling headphones
• Power outlets (115V) and USB ports
• Amenity kit by Benamor (Portuguese brand)
• Soft-touch fabric seats with cushions
• Premium bedding with duvets on long-haul

Economy Class

EconomyXtra (Comfort Area):

• Seat pitch: 32-33" (81-84 cm)
• Seat width: 18" (46 cm)
• Extra legroom and priority boarding
• Available on A330neo and A321LR

Standard Economy:

• Seat pitch: 31" (79 cm)
• Seat width: 18" (46 cm)
• Standard recline

Premium Economy (Coming 2026)

TAP is introducing a neighbor-free Premium Economy product on A330neo and A321LR aircraft starting summer 2026, with 12 seats per aircraft featuring blocked middle seats for enhanced privacy.

Entertainment

Long-Haul (A330neo, A321LR):

• 13" Full HD personal screens
• 500+ TV programs and series
• 130+ films in multiple languages
• 120+ albums and 1,000+ music tracks
• Bluetooth connectivity for personal headphones

Medium-Haul:

• Streaming to personal devices
• TAP app required for entertainment

WiFi

Available on A330-900neo and A321LR aircraft:

• Messaging: From 3 (~$3)
• Browsing: From 10 (~$11)
• Streaming: From 20 (~$22)

Navigator status: Free unlimited WiFi on long-haul flights

Meals

Executive Class:

• Multi-course Portuguese-inspired cuisine
• Vista Alegre porcelain tableware
• Premium wine selection
• Pre-meal selection available online
• Champagne service

Economy Class (Long-Haul):

• Complimentary hot meals
• Portuguese wines and beverages
• Special meals available (order 24 hours in advance)

Economy Class (Medium-Haul):

• Buy on board: Sandwiches, snacks, and drinks

Portugal Stopover Program

TAP's signature benefit allows a free stopover of up to 10 days in Lisbon or Porto on any connecting itinerary:

• No additional airfare for the stopover
• 25% discount on domestic Portuguese flights during your stopover
• 500+ partner offers including up to 50% off hotels, restaurants, tours, and activities
• 4% additional discount on Booking.com accommodations
• Voted best stopover program in the world for 7 consecutive years

How to book: Select "Add Stopover" during booking on flytap.com, choose your city and dates

Booking Tips

• Discount/Basic fares have no checked bags included; factor this into total cost
• Classic fare is the sweet spot for most travelers (1 bag included)
• Book directly on flytap.com for easiest changes and support
• Tuesday/Wednesday flights often have lower prices
• Connecting via Lisbon to Brazil or Africa is often cheaper than competing airlines

At the Airport

• Lisbon (LIS): Allow extra time for security; Terminal 1 serves all TAP flights
• Porto (OPO): Smaller, faster airport; TAP Premium Lounge is excellent
• Fast Track: Available for Executive Class and Miles&Go Silver+ at select airports
• Lounge access: Executive passengers and Gold/Navigator members get access with one guest

Maximizing Miles&Go

• Transfer partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One Miles all transfer to Miles&Go
• Partner earning: Credit miles on United, Lufthansa, or other Star Alliance flights
• Sweet spots: Award flights to Brazil often price competitively
• Status match: TAP occasionally offers status matches from other programs

Brazil Connections

TAP operates more flights between Europe and Brazil than any other carrier:

• Direct flights to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Porto Alegre, Belem, Natal, Maceio, Salvador
• Two checked bags included on Africa routes (excluding Morocco)
• Portuguese language service and crew

Common Issues to Avoid

• US flights: Online check-in only opens 24 hours before (not 36)
• Discount fare traps: No changes allowed, no bags, non-refundable
• Weight enforcement: TAP strictly enforces the 10 kg carry-on limit
• Connection times: Allow 90+ minutes at Lisbon for international connections
• Stopover booking: Must be added during initial booking, not after

Article last verified January 2025. Always confirm current policies at flytap.com.