Airline TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal is the national airline of Portugal, established in 1945.

Portugal is a highly popular tourist destination. Even during the financial crisis, the airline continued to transport numerous travellers. In 2014, it welcomed 11 million passengers, rising to 16 million by 2018.

It serves 87 destinations across 38 different countries, primarily in Europe, Africa, and South America. It also operates flights to the United States (New York, Chicago…) and the Gulf (Dubai).

As a European airline, TAP Air Portugal is subject to EU law.

Here are your rights on a flight operated by this airline.

TAP Air Portugal aircraft at the airport

Can you get a refund for your TAP Air Portugal flight?

If you decide to cancel your trip, there is no legal framework for a refund. It is purely contractual.

TAP Air Portugal offers two classes:

Economy class, called “Economy”
Business class, called “Executive”

You will find different fare options. In Economy class, you have the “Discount” option, the “Classic” offer, and the “Plus” offer. The latter provides additional options, including changes and refunds.

There is also an optional travel insurance that may cover cancellation. It allows for a refund under certain conditions.

The European regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 provides for certain situations that entitle you to a refund, regardless of the fare chosen. This applies if your flight is cancelled or overbooked, or if it is delayed by more than five hours.

Your rights in case of flight disruption with TAP Air Portugal

If your flight with TAP Air Portugal experiences disruptions, except in certain cases, European regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 applies.

It sets out a number of obligations for airlines. By selling you your boarding pass, they commit to taking care of you until your arrival.

In case of disruption, this means they must:

get you to your destination as soon as possible
offer you re-routing in case of cancellation or overbooking
cover incurred expenses (meals, accommodation, up to two phone calls).

Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 also provides for a fixed compensation, the amount of which is calculated according to a scale defined in the texts. It varies depending on the type of incident, the flight duration, and the extent of the delay.

The regulation (EC) No. 261/2004: which flights are covered?

Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 applies to:

any flight departing from an airport within the European Community area (including Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland)
any flight arriving in this area, operated by an airline based in one of its member states

As a European airline, TAP Air Portugal is covered by this second point.

Compensation provided in case of incident on your TAP Air Portugal flight

In case of an incident, there is a fixed compensation scheme for your TAP Air Portugal flight. The amount depends on the situation.

In case of flight delay

If your flight with TAP Air Portugal is delayed, compensation is available. However, it is not automatic. It depends on the extent of the delay.

It amounts to:

€250 for a flight of less than 1500 km with a delay of 2 hours or more
€400 for a non-EU flight of 1500 to 3500 km or an EU flight of more than 1500 km with a delay of 3 hours or more
€600 for a non-EU flight of more than 3500 km with a delay of 4 hours or more.

In case of cancellation

In the event of a flight cancellation, the same scale applies, but compensation is due even with a shorter delay. However, it is halved. Thus, it goes from:

€250 to €125 for a flight of less than 1500 km with a delay of less than 2 hours
€400 to €200 for a non-EU flight of 1500 to 3500 km or an EU flight of more than 1500 km with a delay of less than 3 hours
€600 to €300 for a non-EU flight of more than 3500 km with a delay of less than 4 hours

In case of overbooking

Overbooking or over-reservation occurs when an airline has issued more tickets than there are seats on a plane. If all passengers show up, it may deny you boarding.

The airline is entitled to do so, but must offer you re-routing as soon as possible.

Additionally, it must compensate you according to the same scale as a flight cancellation. However, unlike cancellations, it is unlikely that the airline will make it difficult for you to receive compensation:

because overbooking does not require compensating everyone
and especially because the airline will find it harder to deny its responsibility.

In which cases is compensation not due?

Indeed, for TAP Air Portugal to compensate you, its responsibility must be established.

Thus, in certain cases, it is not obliged to do so:

if it notified you at least 15 days before your departure
if it re-routes you with the same departure and arrival times
in case of extraordinary circumstances (bad weather, security risks for staff or passengers, strikes…).

And if the airline is on strike?

A strike exempts the airline from compensating you. With one exception: a strike by its own staff.

If traffic is disrupted due to a strike by air traffic controllers or baggage handlers, TAP Air Portugal will not be held responsible. These professions are not under the airline's control.

If TAP Air Portugal's staff goes on strike, it is different. The airline can anticipate the disruptions this will cause.

In this case, TAP must compensate affected passengers.

What to do if you encounter a problem with TAP Air Portugal?

The airline is your point of contact, regardless of the issue encountered.

It must take care of you until your arrival. Moreover, it is best placed to inform you. In case of a claim, it is still your point of contact.

We therefore advise you to:

ask for the cause of the incident
keep your boarding pass
note the actual departure and arrival times
claim reimbursement of your expenses
do not sign any document that waives your rights.

It is essential to keep your documents and not waive your rights. Although the process may be lengthy, in France, you have up to two years to file a compensation claim.

Has your TAP Air Portugal flight been disrupted? Delayed supports you in your claims

Filing a claim with TAP Air Portugal or another airline can quickly become lengthy and complicated. Even if you know your rights, processing times can sometimes be daunting.

Was your flight delayed or cancelled? Were you denied boarding due to overbooking?

Why not entrust your case to us?

Delayed, a specialist in air passenger rights, supports you in your compensation claim process.