What’s TAP Air Portugal Like Manchester to Lisbon; Embraer 190 Review

I like when I can to try different airlines and aircraft and we enjoyed the KLM Embraer 190 to Amsterdam experience last year so decided to give TAP Air Portugal’s service a test on the way to Lisbon. Want a quick answer - should have stuck with EasyJet.

Booking etc is simple enough and the app allowed us to checkin 36 hours in advance, although unusually I had to declare how many cases we were travelling with. Usually for a weekend break that would be 0, but this was a little longer and a bit more involved and following this you have to individually confirm each passenger’s details.

Arriving at the airport we used the self tag system then wandered over to the bag drop, which wasn’t opening a minute before the 2.5 hours pre flight. Eventually we were called forward and our bag was weighed. There’s a problem. Two passengers with two 23kg bag allowance each doesn’t allow for a single 24kg bag. A lot of hugging a puffing later and we were accepted.

Boarding was started about 30 minutes before departure time and we were the last boarding group. For around an extra £30 each we’d booked “comfort” seats. Like many airlines TAP Air Portugal have rows at the front for “business class” and these slightly better (not that I noticed) seats, when not allocated to business class by a sliding the curtain are sold as premium.

Having had boarding cards and passports checked we walked into the air bridge, onto the stairs and waited for about 10 minutes as the cleaners did their job. Once completed we were boarded quickly and the seats had plenty of legroom, unlike the “classic” seats behind which are our for return journey.

The bilingual safety demo jumped between languages then we were on our way. Once in the air a small chocolate was offered and then drink service a while later. A free cup of water or buy a hot drink. Although this purchase seemed to surprise the attendants. This is when I lowered my seat tray and noticed it wasn’t really looking healthy. I placed my half full (that’s how it’s served) tiny cup of coffee on the tray and it instantly slid towards me. I had to hold the tray up to balance anything as it wasn’t staying where it was supposed to.

Thankfully everything was tidied quickly and I could return the collapsed tray, reluctantly (the lock was jamming open) to the upright. Leaning back I realised that as soon as I did so the seat reclined, without the button being pressed.

2 hours passed and I decided the seat was less comfortable than my local bus service. Starting to feel numb in the seat I squirmed around but couldn’t get up as the seat belt signs had gone back on over Bristol and every time they came off they were back on 2 minutes later. The journey felt smooth so no idea why but we were sat down most of the journey.

Landing into Lisbon at night was pretty and following a bus transfer to the terminal and once through a very speedy passport control (no queue!) our bags appeared on the carousel 2 minutes after we reached it. So one good point.

Would I choose them again? They were tolerable and maybe arriving with mostly locals is why passports was so quick. Not the most comfortable and given then ask around £140 extra for business class (right at the front with meal plus lounge) which seems a daft price, not a carrier I’d jump to again but glad I tried it.

But that’s before the Lisbon to Manchester return leg which I enjoyed even less!