This leg would be the last one of my weekend trip to Barcelona. As I deboarded from the previous flight BCN-LIS, through the airbridge at gate 23 I noticed that it would be the same aircraft continuing to FNC 1h10 later. I still had some time and so I went to TAP Premium lounge. There was a big line to enter there and inside it seemed like a cabin at the end of a long haul flight… almost no food, newspapers spread everywhere, not good at all. I think TAP should think to offer a different product on its lounge, maybe adding a new lounge for its non-Schengen passengers and trying to diversify the catering.
I arrived back at gate 23 at 20h40 and boarding was already going on. Flying C class I was able to board through the left side of the gate without any lines or waiting time. This priority boarding is also available for Victoria Gold, Victoria Silver and Star Alliance Gold passengers travelling Y class.
The plane would be almost fully booked and doors were closed 10 min before departure time. The A320 José Régio was airborne at 21h12, 2 min after schedule time of departure, taking off from runway 03. After a right turn to south it would be 1h25 more to our destination, FNC.
Soon after it, the crew came along with towels and menu, distributed to each passenger. As on the BCN-LIS flight a dinner would be served on C class cabin, but, fortunately, the contents of the meal would not be the same. Due to the short flight time, no pre-dinner drinks/spirits and pretzels were offered as on longer european flights. Dinner was served right away: Appetizer: salt cod confit, tomato with olive oil and green salad; Main Course: duck rice, mushrooms and rosemary; Dessert: Chestnut pudding, anise-flavoured yoghurt cream. Food was delicious, excellent for the quality and amount offered. Drinks and hot bread were offered several times along the meal.
Soon after it was time for the onboard sales service and started descending to Funchal, Madeira, landing at runway 23, 15 minutes ahead of schedule time.
An excellent C class product on this domestic flight of 1h30.
Thanks for this new post. The catering is god for the duration of the flight . The starter is typical Portuguese and I love it . Arriving ahead of schedule is always a good thing . I really have the feeling that after difficult times TAP is again on the map of decent airlines !
Thank you for sharing this report.
it seemed like a cabin at the end of a long haul flight...
I thought that was a perfect allusion to describe the situation.
I like the design of the menu's cover, and even the existence of a menu on a short flight like this is a job well done by TP. And serving duck for a main (albeit not a breast) continues to show, like in your previous reports with TP, that they have some creativity in their catering. The offering certainly looks good.
Thanks for sharing this short and informative report.
I agree with the above that it is nice to see a printed menu on a domestic flight. I suppose for the Portuguese going to Madeira is equivalent to going to Hawaii for Americans.
This is the first time that I see a duck with rice dish featured on a plane. In Peru there is a similar arroz con pato dish that is part of the local cuisine. Anything bacalao is good to me so I have no doubt that the appetizer was enjoyable. The dessert sounds very interesting and I imagine that the spicy anise flavored cream paired well with the earthiness of the chestnut.
The meal on this flight was excellent! Please be aware that this kind of meal (lunch or dinner) in only offered on flights departing between 11h30 and 14h29 and between 18h30 and 21h29.