Tap Portugal business class review aboard A330/900neo bound for Canada
Tap Portugal is a very dynamic company, sometimes too much so. Relaunched by the intervention of entrepreneur David Neeleman, it has been hit hard [...]
Tap Air Portugal
Star Alliance
YVR
Tap Portugal is a very dynamic company, sometimes too much.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- A330/900 neo
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- LIS - YVR
- Price:
- 758€
- Book
Relaunched by the intervention of entrepreneur David Neeleman, it was hit hard by Covid, like almost all traditional carriers, and got a major cash injection from the Portuguese government, which is the largest shareholder.
The best bonuses
In these months Tap Portugal has reduced its fleet by eliminating older aircraft and less efficient and now operates one of the youngest and best performing fleets in the world. For long haul, it has only Airbus at its disposal. A330neo, where the acronym neo stands for New Engine Option, a model for which it was the first customer. This is the same model chosen by ITA for its new long-haul fleet.
The rest of the long-haul fleet consists of only one model, also made in Europe, namely the A32iLR.
Tap is the only European carrier, and one of the very few in the world, that operates transatlantic flights with single-aisle aircraft. The other company to use the same machine for a similar flight is American JetBlue connecting New York with London.
Reservation
I had a voucher available from a canceled flight, so I decided to take advantage of the reopening of Canadian borders to the Italians, and Europeans in general, to use it.
I chose to fly TAP because then I would have a chance to get on the Airbus A330/900neo, which I had never flown on, and most importantly to experience an intercontinental flight on a narrow-body aircraft for the first time.
I also chose to upload the points from the flight to my account. Singapore Airlines Krisflyer, I recently became Gold and so now I have to try to accumulate enough miles to get my level renewal next year and especially to get closer to my Holy Grail, A round-the-world business class ticket paid for only with points.
At the airport
Portugal's national airline Is famous for its promotion of free stopovers to all passengers flying on the long-haul network, but in my case I did not need any stopovers because my choice had deliberately fallen on a 12-hour overnight stopover between the Milan/Lisbon flight and the next Lisbon/Toronto flight so that I could spend an evening touring the Portuguese capital before boarding for Canada.
Upon arrival at the airport, I underwent a quick swab. It was actually not required since flying to Canada requires a PCR performed within 72h before boarding the first flight, a test I already had in my possession and had presented at the reception in Milan. But in these times it is better to sleep soundly and take even one more test than to end up in quarantine away from home.
The airport was quite busy even though the pre Covid numbers are still far off. That the situation is still precarious can be seen by the amount of aircraft in Tap livery that are parked on the airport runway with their engines sealed, a way the companies protect the most sensitive parts of aircraft that are not in use from wear and tear.
Before boarding, I visited both the official Tap Portugal lounge and the the other VIP lounge present in the airport Of the Portuguese capital.
As was the case in Milan on my approach flight, a little bit of chaos reigns here at the gate to Toronto.
All passengers are put in one long queue to check, or rather recheck documents. In detail, a first check is done on PCR, arrive-CAN form, and ETA, the electronic visa. A second check, after which one can rejoin the queue at the gate waiting for boarding, instead checks passport and ticket.
The chaos also continued during boarding: some passengers boarded first for I don't know what reasons, then it was the turn of non-ambulatory passengers, and finally boarding was opened in zones, starting with premium.
On board
The A330/900neo used for this flight was the first example of this model delivered by Airbus and entered service in late 2018. Today Tap has a fleet of 19 A330/900neo aircraft.
Of course, it may be a "mole," but the difference with its smaller siblings, the A350 and the Boeing 787, can all be seen: the most striking thing is the size of the windows, which in this case is the traditional (and small) one. In fact, this new A330 differs from those that, for example, Alitalia also has in its fleet only in the engine. The Rolls-Royce Trent that powers this plane is more modern, efficient, and quiet, while the rest is the classic A330 that many are familiar with.
What makes the difference is how the Portuguese carrier decided to set up the business class cabin, or Premium as it is called. First, the configuration is 1-2-1, this then allows all 34 passengers to have direct aisle access, for me one of the main requirements for flying comfortable in business class.
The orientation of the seats is the classic staggered orientation, with one row facing the inside of the aircraft and the next row facing the outside of the fuselage.
This means that if you are traveling window-side, the odd-numbered rows are the ones that are most isolated from the aisle and therefore have the most privacy.
As for the middle seats, there is a "honeymoon" configuration: the even-numbered rows are oriented inward allowing passengers to fly much closer together; of course, there is a bulkhead that can be raised in case you are traveling alone.
The choice of this configuration allowed TAP to maximize the density of premium seats on board, and, it must be said, one feels that it lacks a few handfuls of inches to be truly comfortable.
Of course, everything is new and modern compared to the original A330: a more spacious cabin, soft lighting, and much more space in the overhead compartments, with each passenger having a full compartment.
My seat was the 3k, I always try when traveling alone on long haul to be window side seat, wading outside always gives a thrill.
I am not very tall, and I can say that when seated the legroom is very generous. The same is not true when turning the chair into a bed.
Every possible inch has been expertly calculated and utilized aboard this plane; what it lacks compared to other similar cabins, such as British Airways' new business class or Etihad's, are storage spaces where, for example, one's camera or headphones can be stored.
Removing the space near the passenger's shoulder, there is a small container under the seat armrest that, given the shape, can just about accommodate documents and glasses. Then at the base of the seat is a net where shoes can be hung.
I used the compartment that once housed magazines to store my 13-inch macbook, but it was still not a convenient solution.
Management of the chair is all done from a hand control panel present at armrest height. There are various ways to position the seat and customize the seat including lumbar support.
The bad thing about these types of cabin configurations is that when you convert the seat into a bed, the legroom is reduced so much. Since the rows are staggered, the passenger's legs tuck under the table block of the passenger sitting in the previous row, here I have to admit that the space in the box is really minimized and you can also feel that the seat is narrower than on other companies.
There are 3 bathrooms available exclusively for business class passengers and they are located at the back of the premium cabin, again not an inch has been wasted.
The coffee table, with the classic faux wood trim that I find ridiculous, comes out from under the block that houses the screen. Again, the size is not huge, but especially if you are eating, it is almost impossible to move it to be able to stand up without having to fold it back down.
On-board service
While the "iron" is very nice, though not particularly generous in the space available, I have to say that what left me with a "I wish I could but I can't" feeling was the service, definitely a notch below that of other airlines such as British Airways or Lufthansa, not to mention How you are treated on board Singapore Airlines or Etihad.
The amenity kit is located directly at the seat and is not delivered as is the case with many other airlines. The case is nice, but compared to the competition it resembles one given to children rather than adults.
In contrast, the contents are much more generous than those found in Etihad's and especially Singapore's beauty salons. Inside in addition to the classic eye masks, socks and toothbrush also a comb, pen, bookmark, face and lip creams.
In general, from the moment I set foot on the plane, I had the feeling that I was in a restaurant aiming for a Michelin star but skimping on the details that make a difference.
Food & Beverage
For example, no welcome cocktail was served before takeoff, instead a hot towel was brought to wipe hands, this gesture was usual in business class but I thought it had been eliminated due to Covid.
The menu is also paper-based, but the choice is slim. There is no beverage list (available instead via the TV screen), and there is no indication of what will be served before landing other than a generic "light meal."
Meal service also gave mixed signals. Chief among them is the fact that passengers are served by the classic trolley, and not one at a time. It resembles economy service rather than business class. Very few airlines have restored service in business to the pre covid mode; almost all of them continue to serve passengers with a single tray containing everything from appetizer to dessert.
In this case TAP stands out since its dessert trilogy, namely cheese, fruit and ice cream, is served on the side, but always with the classic trolley. The quality of the lunch provided was sufficient, certainly inferior to many of the companies I have flown with, even in pandemic times.
I cannot say the same for the quality of the light lunch, which consisted of a savory plate and some fruit. It seemed to be a quick collection of lunch leftovers, just to empty the galley.
IFE
As written several times, the product offered by TAP is very good when looking at the "iron" i.e., the aircraft, the cabin, and in this case the in-flight entertainment system.
The screen is swiveling, otherwise it would be practically impossible to enjoy the TV as it is placed on the seat structure in front.
The amount of movies and other content available is absolutely sufficient to spend the 7-hour duration of this flight. More than sufficient is the quality of the headphones provided, but this is also where the fact that the plane is much quieter than the previous model comes into play.
The screen is touch and I must say that I used only that to operate it, but if you want you have a remote control that also acts as a controller if you want to play one of the many games preinstalled in the system.
Each chair has one power outlet and two USB outlets available, located at the base of the structure near the chair.
Unfortunately, no webcams filming the outside of the plane. I really don't understand how companies can skimp on an option like this that surely costs a few hundred euros and gives passengers a truly exciting takeoff and landing experience.
On one thing, however, TAP deserves (almost) praise: its onboard connectivity proposition is excellent.
There are 4 types of packages that can be purchased and the most amazing thing is that the best one is free. In fact, the Portuguese carrier has chosen to give all passengers a free onboard chat function. This means that after registering you can use Whatsapp, Messanger and other communication programs to stay in touch with the mainland. The only flaw is that the connection lasts 60 minutes, at the end of which you are disconnected and have to "buy" a 60-minute package again, again for free.
The other 3 packages are charged by traffic and not by time: 100mb (€14.99), 200mb (€24.99) and 500mb (€49.99).
In conclusion
This was my first long-haul flight with TAP, and I can't say I had a bad time, but the distance from other European airlines in terms of quality of service and gastronomic offerings is obvious.
The A330neo is an excellent machine, the cabin although "cramped" is comfortable and the entertainment system is good. Since TAP often offers very competitive fares, and the stopover over Lisbon does not waste too much time, it is definitely worth considering when the fare is considerably cheaper than other carriers. Also being Star Alliance member is a good choice for accumulating points on the companies in this alliance.
Pro
- A330neo very quiet
- The chair is modern and comfortable when seated
Against
- The service
- The menu
- The chair is uncomfortable when in bed mode