TAP Portugal-what are they like?

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vc-10
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TAP Portugal-what are they like?

Post by vc-10 »

I am flying with TAP Portugal (I think, airline code is TP) from LGW to Oporto, and then back to Heathrow (dunno why we start from Gatwick). What are they like? I lloked on their website and couldn't find any diret London-Oporto flights, so will we have to change? I didn't book the flights, and have no details except the one about departure times! If it is TAP, then it will be an Airbus I assume (unless they are going to lease some Boeings), but what kind?

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sab319
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Post by sab319 »

You will probably have a transfer in Lisbon, and you will probably fly on one of TAP's A319/320/321's

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vc-10
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Post by vc-10 »

Cool! I like transfers, more chance to look at jets, and I like taking off and landing!
Thanks for the quick answer.

chunk
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Post by chunk »

I think there are direct flights from Oporto to London - not sure if it is Gatwick or LHR but sure there are...maybe they were full.

As for TAP. Well I haven't been on them but my work colleagues have and according to my boss, they suck. However he did say that was on the long haul piece from Lisbon to Luanda. He said the short haul from London was fine enough - what do you need for two hours? They also seem to lose my work colleagues bags. A lot. And I mean lose.....some have never been seen again.

There is a reason we go all the way to JNB rather than to Lisbon to get to Luanda!

jumpjet
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Post by jumpjet »

If you check out the BAA website their timetable shows that TAP have flights from Gatwick to (o)Porto three times daily..A319s mnetioned ..and three flights a day into Heathrow as well, with 319s and 320s.

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vc-10
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Post by vc-10 »

Lucky that the expensive stuff is going by road...some of the rowing stuff costs quite a bit.....
I'm looking forward to flying on an Airbus, but not nesecarily to the TAP service. They wern't reviewed very well on Skytrax.

chunk
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Post by chunk »

to be fair - Skytrax lokks like a bit of a scam. I get the feeling you pay enough for advertising and you get a good write up. Also - people writing on Skytrax? How often do you write something to a service provider thanking them for doing what they are supposed to? You don't! How often do you write to thank great service? not often. How often do you write to complain? I rest my case!

avi8tor
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Post by avi8tor »

Dear vc-10,

I wouldn't get my hopes up too much with TAP. I do not want to discourage you but apparently the Gatwick destination does not work and flights are cancelled daily. A close friend of mine works for them and can't believe what they are doing: cancelling several flights daily cause they do not have enough planes for all the routes they open and frequencies they add... And apparently on the Gatwick route there's always very little passengers booked, so they cancel :confused:

About the service: chunck is right, they suck! I fly with them at least twice a month and if I've gotten a friendly, smily crew twice in the past 6 months then it'll be already a lot... Most of them walk around miserable in the cabin, complaining how much they need to work. HELLO people! Do you not know that you're still living in fairyland?? Look out there, where in almost every other company you have to fly 3-4 sectors daily, doing long days, 5-6 days a week and being payed half of what they get!! The older cabin crew contracts in TAP (till one year ago) earn at least 2500-3000 EUR monthly. On top of that they've got very strong unions so they've got very beneficial duty/rest times... It's about time they are being kicked in their behind and wake up: THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO COMPLAIN! (Or just look at your colleagues of other Portuguese carriers that do not even earn a third of your salary, like in EuroAtlantic, White,...)

The hot snack you get on board the European flights is ok, but if you go already hungry to the airport, buy a sandwich there cause you'll be starving by the time they start the service. They usually start service at least 50 minutes into the flight.
Oh... for most of the PM flights you'll have to count on a 30min to 1hr delay on departure!

Anyway, I hope all of this will NOT happen to you. Let us know your opinion after the TAP experience!

Fly'em!
Avi8tor :D :D :D

Koenie666
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Post by Koenie666 »

chunk: I did write KLM once that I appreciated their service on the MD11

chunk
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Post by chunk »

Koenie666 wrote:chunk: I did write KLM once that I appreciated their service on the MD11
That is to your credit. I probably should too as I have had few problems with them save for one cancelled flight from Houston. Even then they came out of it ok by giving me a room at the Sofitel Houston and ended up getting upgraded the whole way back through Minneapolis the next day. And an apology of 20,000 or so FB miles!

Having said that - i guess them and AF probably don;t need the letter as i keep getting platinum status renewed!

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