Avis du vol entre Lisbon et Frankfurt en classe Affaires avec TAP Air Portugal

Introduction

Having flown to Lisbon on a A321neo-LR the day before, it was time to head back to Germany. Today's ride would be on an Airbus A330-900 with long-haul seating. Checking the seat map the day before departure, it seemed as if the aircraft was changed to an A330-200 last minute though.

TP is also using some widebodies on flights to Europe, although this is rarely the case. 

Ground experience

I arrived at LIS airport in the early morning. The airport was very busy and looked old. There were a lot of queues and the terminal building was filled with passengers.
There was a priority check-in area for business class passengers and Star Alliance status holders. Looking at the seat map one last time, it seemed as the 332 was swapped out again. I asked the check-in agent and she indeed confirmed, that the 339 was scheduled to operate this flight. 

Terminal 1 houses most of the legacy carriers, whereas Terminal 2 is used by low-cost airlines.
The terminal building in T1 looked dated, being opened back in 1942. The hallways, the entrance and especially the check-in area were especially busy.  

airline lounge

TAP Portugal is offering only one lounge in terminal 1. The TAP Premium Lounge is located inside the security area, before passport control. This meant that Schengen as well as non-Schengen passengers are using the same lounge. There is an elevator going up to level 1, you can’t really miss it. 

If you are traveling in business class or you are a Star Alliance Gold member, you are entitled to use this lounge. There was a small queue at the entrance, but nothing too bad. Upon entering the lounge, nearly every seat was occupied. The lounge is not that big, considering that it is the only lounge for TP at its hub.  

This is the only picture I managed to take, because I didn’t want to disturb other passengers. TP went with a very modern and futuristic design inside this lounge, which I didn’t find to be too relaxing. The bright lights had a bit of a hospital or a dentist’s office vibe. But I think this is just personal preference. There was a lot of foot traffic and the lounge wasn’t as quiet as I have hoped. 

The buffet area however was nicely stocked and there were plenty of things to choose from. 

The lounge offered views onto the apron and departing aircraft on runway 02. 

After a quick drink I spent the remainder of time in the Lounge ANA (lounge operated by the airport company, not by All Nippon Airways) next door. The lounge is accessible with a Priority Pass membership.

This lounge felt more open and bigger than the TP lounge. Food selection was decent and there was more than enough seating.

All very quiet, pleasant, cozy  and not nearly as bright as the TP lounge.

The TP lounge left me disappointed. The lounge was overcrowded and too small for passenger demand. I would even say that the size of the lounge wouldn’t even be sufficient to handle the demand for the Schengen flights only.
Maybe I was just unlucky and visited the lounge during peak time, but I would definitely recommend to head for the Lounge ANA if you can access it. 

But this isn't an isolated TP problem, as I have seen quite a few other airline lounges struggling to keep up with passenger demand in Europe. 

aircraft

Carrier:                         TAP Air Portugal
Type:                              Airbus A330-900
Registration:               CS-TUK
First flight:                   28/06/2019
Cabin configuration: 34J / 264Y 

Cabin / seat

The TP A330-900 features 34 business class seats and 264 seats in economy class. Business class can be found in the first cabin between doors 1 and 2, while economy class occupies the rest of the aircraft in two cabins.

J class is configured in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, offering direct aisle access for all passengers. A similar configuration can be found on some of the newer UA, AF and ET aircraft. Row 1 only has two middle seats.

TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330-900 business class layout @aerolopa

The cabin looked fresh and modern, being introduced in late 2018. The seats were kept in the typical TP coloring. I really liked the design. Overhead lockers could be found over each seat, resulting in more than enough storage space.

What are the best seats for couples?
The middle seats in odd numbered rows (1E+F, 3E+F, 5E+F, 7E+F, 9E+F) are positioned next to each other, further away from the galley. Not only does this provide extra privacy, the design of the seats makes communicating very easy. 1E+F don't have any window seats in the same row, creating extra privacy. They are however close to the main galley, which might be bothersome on overnight flights. 

What are the best seats for solo travelers?
Odd numbered window seats (3A+K, 5A+K, 7A+K, 9A+K) are closest to the window and are more private, thanks to the console between the seat and the aisle. These seats also slighty face towards the windows, away from the rest of the canin. Row 9 is missing a window on each side.  

My seat on this flight was 5A. I really liked the white seat shell in combination with the dark wood finishes on the console. Everything looked new and clean. The "entrance" to the seat looked quite small at the beginning, but there is enough space to get in and out of the seat without issues.

The cabin was about 60% full on today's flight.  

The seat controls were along the console on the right side of the seat. A closable literature pocket and storage bin was provided, next to the new IFE controller.

Here is a shot of the middle aisle seat 6D. You can see that the seat is facing into the aisle and doesn’t offer a lot of seclusion. In terms of privacy, they are the worst seats in this cabin.

The IFE monitor was stowed for take off and landing. I really like monitors which are stowed away. They give you more room when you are not using it. Very practical indeed.

Altogether a really nice hard-product. The cabin felt airy and new. The seat material was of a nice quality and the true window seats felt private. 

food / beverages

Because of the lack of catering on my TP flight (MAD-LIS) the day prior, my expectations were pretty low at this point.

Since this flight originated from their hub, there was still hope that TP’s catering could deliver on this three hours flight.  

Breakfast was served after take off. The meal consisted of some ham, tomatoes and an egg muffin. Accompanied by bread and dessert, the meal was what you would expect from an European carrier. Nothing too bad, but nothing fancy either. It tasted good nevertheless.

lie-flat bed

With some more hours remaining, it was time to check out the bed. There was a small pillow and a rather thin blanket at each seat. The armrests could be folded up to add a bit more space for your shoulders.

I found the bed to be very comfortable.  

The foot cubby was of an average size, not the smallest, not the biggest out there. The space was totally fine to lounge. 

Lying down, the legspace was about average. I didn't feel too restricted in legroom by the foot cubby.

I would definitely feel comfortable spending up to twelve hours in this bed. I suppose TP is providing bedding on long haul flights, so I am excited to try them Transatlantic.

Service

The overall service was responsive. The female flight attendant was quite friendly, somewhat above average for European flight at least. She brought the breakfast and offered drink top ups. 
 
There is something about the enthusiasm between European crews and Asian crews which sets them apart.   

IFE

The screen could be deployed by pulling the little latch at the bottom of the screen. The screen was wide and bright, although the frame around it was a bit reflective.

As usual on shorter flights, I just put the moving map on the screen and finished some work on my laptop.