You Trip Report

	DATE	FLIGHT NUMBER	SEAT	AIRCRAFT
23 Jul 25	TP238	41H	A330-900 Neo
CLASS	VIEWS	LANGUAGE	AUTHOR
Economy	34	English	jetsetpanda

Prologue:

Hello and welcome to this summer report. This trip was a short one - a little more than a week. I had to make this journey for a wedding in Bordeaux and afterwards visited Hamburg for the first time.

I do not have too many pics to share since I did not intend to do a full report. I found a great one way fare on TAP and bought the cheapest one. Even with *A Gold status I couldn't reserve a seat and when it was time to check in the system assigned me a middle seat.

I tried every trick to change it to an aisle but was unsuccessful so I resorted to plead my case at the gate.

I arrived at the airport about 2 hrs before dept. and at the gate the agent was able to change me to an aisle seat towards the front. However I noticed that the flight was not too full and I was hoping to score one of the couple seats in the back without a neighbor. The gate agent advised me to check back 30 min. before boarding because that's when the seat inventory opens and she can assign me to an empty row in the back. Later on I was issued a new boarding pass with seat 41H and no neighbor.

The flight was scheduled to depart from the A-gates at the Intl Terminal. This is the opposite from the G-gates where the other *A flights depart and also where the UA lounges are located. I don't know why this was the case but it was a hassle to visit any *A clubs. Technically I could have walked to the G gates after security but we are looking at a good 15-20 min walk.

Time to board and after being greeted at the door I walked all the way back.

View from the back seat. Incidentally when I checked in TAP offered me an empty seat next to me if I was willing to pay $50. Thanks but no thanks.

View from my window seat.

Take off.

By SFO.

After we leveled off service started with distribution of a candy/sweet.

Then the main meal - chicken or pasta.

Chicken stew was good.

TAP offers a pack of traditional vinegar and olive oil as dressing.

Metal cutlery appreciated. To be honest for a meal in Y this is very correct. Of course there is room for improvement and a better appetizer could be served but this is not bad at all.

I went to the WC and later on a FA told me to help myself to the snacks.

Time passed and as we approached LIS it was time for the breakfast service.

A very quick affair with a sandwich and a muffin.

Landing in LIS.

We arrived about about 1 hr earlier and had to hold at the runway for a good 30+ min. for a gate.

Finally we were parking at the gate.

The line to go through the automated kiosks in Immigration was long and I spent a good 30+ min there. Back at the terminal and it was time go to to the TAP lounge in the Schengen side for a shower.

The showers are small and a bit warm but they serve their purpose.

Let's check out the buffet starting with the renowned "pasteis de nata".

Caramel mousse and fruit salad.

Variety of croquettes.

Salads.

Cakes.

Some sort of chili/vegetable stew with rice.

Pasta with tomato sauce.

Duck with rice.

========== San Francisco Intl Arpt (SFO) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 10/10

Access and parking: 9/10

Services and activities: 9/10

General cleanliness: 10/10

========== TAP Portugal - Airline ==========

Cabine comfort: 10/10

Crew: 8/10

Entertainment: 9/10

On-time performance: 10/10

Appetizer: 6/10

Starter: 0/10

Main Meal: 9/10

Main Meal-2: 0/10

Cheese: 0/10

Desserts: 8/10

Alcohols: 0/10

Mid-flight snack: 9/10

Breakfast or light meal before arrival: 8/10

========== Lisboa (LIS) - ==========

Security/Immigration efficiency: 5/10

Access and parking: /10

Services and activities: 8/10

General cleanliness: 9/10

Summary:

TAP is a good option when the price is right. I find it silly that seating assignments cannot be modified after check in until 30 min. before departure at the gate, especially for those pax holding elite status like *A Gold.

Crew can be efficient but distant or friendly and engaging. It's a mixed bag.

The catering is fine and at least there are dedicated snacks after the meal service.

3 Comments

Vendredi13 — Aug 24,2025

Woof ! JetSetPanda !

Not so easy to find a good fare between Europe and USA in the middle of summer (and European vacation;)
Considering your status, the "no choose seat" is unbelievable. Luckily, you were well advised at the gate.
On board, your dinner is decent. The chicken looks better than any that's flown on Air France for the past two years. Good point about the metal tools.
Lots of traffic on arrival... vacation time ! Catering at the Schengen lounge seems to be correct too.

Great Job Adan with this very interesting report. Thanks for sharing !
Reply
SERGE13 — Aug 25,2025

Thank you for this report.
Interesting..
Reply
fabrice — Aug 28,2025

Thank you ! J’aime bien TAP !
Reply

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