For the second section of our journey to Geneva, we flew TAP Air Portugal’s Airbus A320neo enterprise class on the 2hr10min flight from Lisbon (LIS) to Geneva (GVA). This got here after our TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330-900neo enterprise class flight from Miami (MIA).
Intra-Europe enterprise class isn’t a lot to get enthusiastic about, and this flight was no exception. Nonetheless, I discovered this to be a nice expertise, with pleasant service, respectable legroom, and energy shops. Nonetheless, I assumed the meals was simply okay, and I do want that TAP Air Portugal had Wi-Fi on regional flights.
How I booked my TAP Air Portugal enterprise class ticket
I booked our TAP Air Portugal enterprise class tickets utilizing avianca lifemiles. Particularly, I booked the next award in enterprise class for 63,000 avianca lifemiles plus $72.60 per particular person in taxes and costs per particular person:
3/06 TP224 Miami to Lisbon departing 4:30PM arriving 5:35AM (+1 day)
3/07 TP940 Lisbon to Geneva departing 7:40AM arriving 11:10AM
Factors with lifemiles are simple to return by, as this system is switch companions with Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou. On prime of that, lifemiles typically sells miles at a reduction, and likewise awards miles by a lifemiles+ subscription.
TAP Air Portugal enterprise class lounge & boarding
We had a roughly two hour layover at Lisbon Airport, although that didn’t depart all that a lot further time. For one, we needed to clear safety on the airport, along with going by immigration.
That’s fascinating, as a result of most different gateways within the area don’t require you to clear safety when arriving from america. I’m unsure if this coverage at Lisbon Airport is intentional, or if it’s simply as a result of logistics because of the terminal format.
We briefly stopped on the TAP Air Portugal Lounge Lisbon, which is completely okay, however nothing particular. I didn’t have sufficient time to totally overview it this time round, however I’ve executed so previously. Thankfully the lounge was nonetheless quiet at this early hour.
The flight to Geneva was departing from gate 15A, which is a bus gate for a distant stand. Boarding was scheduled for six:40AM, a full hour earlier than departure. In actuality, boarding solely began at 7AM, with premium passengers invited to board first.
By the point the bus was loaded up and we made the lengthy drive to the airplane, it was round 7:20AM. It should have been one of many longest bus rides I’ve ever needed to a distant stand.
It wasn’t a pleasant day in Lisbon, because it was raining outdoors, which definitely isn’t very best for distant stand operations. Our flight was operated by an virtually model new Airbus A320neo with the license plate CS-TVL.
TAP Air Portugal A320 enterprise class cabin & seats
On the ahead door we had been greeted by the pleasant crew, and headed towards our seats. As is normal on intra-Europe flights, enterprise class merely consists of financial system seats within the entrance of the cabin with blocked center seats. This offers airways numerous flexibility, as they’ll regulate the scale of the cabin between every flight, by transferring the curtain.
TAP Air Portugal’s A320neos are configured with 174 seats, and the airline chosen the Recaro BL3530 product. On this flight, the primary seven rows of the cabin had been enterprise class, for a complete capability of 28 enterprise class seats (the cabin was half full on this flight).
The excellent news is that legroom is definitely fairly good within the entrance half of the airplane. Up till the exit row (row 12), the airline has a beneficiant 33″ of pitch, whereas behind the exit row, the airline has a decent 28″ of pitch. Moreover, up till the exit row seats have snug four-way adjustable headrests, when you gained’t discover that behind the exit row.
As you may see, there’s an enormous incentive to take a seat in entrance of the exit row, even if you happen to’re not in enterprise class. It’s truly type of wonderful how completely different of an expertise an financial system passenger would have if seated in row 9 vs. row 29.
I assigned us seats 6A and 6C, the window and aisle seat on the left facet within the second to final row. In contrast to another airways, TAP Air Portugal doesn’t have a bit tray that it places on the middle seats in enterprise class, so there’s nothing bodily blocking somebody from sitting there.
So far as seat options go, there was a normal tray desk, a literature pocket, and likewise a private system holder with a cupholder. I fairly like how the airline has that further panel that may be folded down for leisure and drinks.
There was additionally a USB-A and AC energy outlet beneath the seat and to the facet, making it simple to maintain electronics charged. An AC energy outlet is an amenity that’s all too uncommon on flights inside Europe.
Lastly, the overhead console on the Airbus A320neo had each studying lights and particular person air nozzles.
So far as intra-Europe enterprise class goes, I’d say this is likely one of the higher setups there may be. Legroom is great, the seat is functionally designed, and the charging choices are nice.
TAP Air Portugal A320 enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
Whereas TAP Air Portugal does a very good job with energy shops, sadly the airline falls flat with regards to Wi-Fi and leisure on quick haul flights. There’s no Wi-Fi and no streaming leisure on the service’s quick haul fleet, so plan your flight accordingly, and convey your individual leisure.
TAP Air Portugal A320 departure from Lisbon
At 7:40AM, boarding was full. At this level the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, whereas standing on the entrance of the cabin going through all passengers. I all the time discover this to be a pleasant, private contact, and need it’s one thing extra pilots would do (time allowing).
He suggested us of the flight time of 2hr10min, and acknowledged that we had been simply ready on some paperwork, which ought to arrive inside 10 minutes. Every thing ended up taking a bit longer than deliberate. At 7:55AM the principle cabin door closed, after which the protection demonstration was carried out. Nonetheless, we didn’t push again for an additional 20 minutes, till 8:15AM. There was no communication as to what was making that further delay.
It was arduous to take photos out the window as a result of rain, however are you able to establish that horny(ish) AF (not Air France) airplane within the distance?!
At 8:20AM we started our taxi, after which 10 minutes later we had been cleared for departure on runway 20, the place we had a midfield takeoff.
Whereas it wasn’t the prettiest day outdoors, I did benefit from the views of Lisbon on departure. It certain is a reasonably metropolis!
Regardless of a clean climb out, the seatbelt signal stayed on for round 20 minutes.
As soon as it was off, the crew sprung into motion, beginning with closing the curtains between cabins.
TAP Air Portugal enterprise class snack service
Simply over half-hour after takeoff, the crew handed by the cabin with the snack service. There have been no selections, however fairly every passenger was supplied with a tray containing a chilly snack. This included some chilly cuts and cheese, tomato and mozzarella, carrots, and a mini-quiche. There was additionally a bread roll, plus some recent fruit.
The snack was tremendous by European airline requirements, however might’ve undoubtedly been higher. To British Airways’ credit score, I recognize how the airline usually has a number of selections for brief haul catering, whereas so many airways don’t. For instance, I’m not an enormous fan of chilly cuts, so I didn’t eat a lot of the snack.
The crew then got here by the cabin with drinks, and I had a espresso and a water.
The most effective a part of the meal was having fun with the views outdoors the window…
TAP Air Portugal A320 enterprise class bathroom
There was a bathroom on the entrance of the cabin, reserved completely for enterprise class passengers. It was as no frills as they get, with no particular facilities. However a minimum of it wasn’t as closely trafficked (presumably) because the financial system one.
TAP Air Portugal enterprise class service
Very like on my transatlantic flight, the crew on this TAP Air Portugal flight was wonderful. They had been pleasant, and so they supplied passengers bread a number of instances, and continuously got here round with drink refills. I don’t know if the airline has had a change in tradition, or if I simply received fortunate, as a result of this doesn’t match my earlier expertise with the airline.
TAP Air Portugal A320 arrival in Geneva
At 10:50AM Geneva time, round 70 minutes after takeoff, we started our preliminary descent for Geneva. 5 minutes later, the seatbelt signal was turned on, and quarter-hour later, the captain introduced that we’d be touchdown in round 20 minutes.
The realm round Geneva has among the many most lovely views you’ll discover at any main airport, so my eyes had been glued out the window all through the descent.
We ended up touching down in Geneva at 11:30AM.
From there we had a 5 minute taxi to our arrival gate, the place we pulled at 11:35AM, round 25 minutes delayed.
Backside line
I are likely to assume that Europe has the worst quick haul premium cabins you’ll discover anyplace on the planet, so I attempt to handle my expectations accordingly. With that in thoughts, I assumed the TAP Air Portugal flight was good for essentially the most half.
The cabin was truly fairly snug, with loads of legroom, energy shops, and a helpful private system holder. Moreover, the crew on this flight was pleasant. That being mentioned, I didn’t significantly love the snack, and I do want that TAP Air Portugal had Wi-Fi or streaming leisure on quick haul flights.
What’s your tackle TAP Air Portugal’s Airbus A320neo enterprise class?
