Uh Oh: Our TAAG Flight Has A “Technical Fault” And We Can’t Enter The Country

Uh Oh: Our TAAG Flight Has A “Technical Fault” And We Can’t Enter The Country

48

Well this is developing in a rather unfortunate way.

We’re flying from Lisbon to Luanda to Sao Paulo tonight. We were supposed to have a roughly five hour layover, and we don’t have visas to enter Angola (since they’re not required for transit).

Our flight was scheduled to board at 9:45PM… we sat there for one hour… two hours… now we’re coming up on three hours. The flight was supposed to depart over 75 minutes ago, and we’re being told the plane has a “technical fault.”

They say they’ll provide their next update on the status of the flight in about 15 minutes.

Please wish us luck, because if the flight cancels we’ll be stranded here without a visa, which might just make this the first night in years that I spend sleeping in an airport.

The TAAG experience has been adventurous so far, though this was more adventure than I had bargained for!

Conversations (48)
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  1. Peter Guest

    You deserved what you got!!! Glad TAAG is in in your gun belt now.

  2. Al Guest

    Dude! And you deleted your other post! Wtf is going on with you?!

  3. Al Guest

    So this entire post is click bait considering your flight actually took off? #notevenfakenews

  4. Sandra Guest

    And, OMG...if you're gonna have a meltdown then just shut up and fly Cathay First....but you started to complain about that recently too....

  5. Sandra Guest

    Oyyyyyyyyyy

    Since you love saying that 'word' so much....that's my reaction to this innane post.

    OY!

  6. jan Guest

    I think posting experiences is fine.

    "this was more adventure than I had bargained for"

    Oh cmon! Overly dramatic and general writing style in this article makes me roll eyes. And honestly I would prefer the post content being part of the review rather than a separate topic. How many people would go to Angola or fly Taag. Does it need 4-5 topics? Which btw is probably a Portugese speaking nation? For those who want to bribe in French.

  7. snic Diamond

    Someone please explain this to me.

    Why do people read a blog about airlines and air travel, and then go to the comments section to complain that the blogger posts about his experience with airlines and air travel?

  8. Jan Guest

    I want to fly Taag and then complain about it.

  9. Number1 Guest

    @iac
    He's already landed in Sao Paulo

  10. IAC Guest

    Oh well. Luckily, you'll be able to relax in whatever fantastic first class lounge Luanda airport has to offer...

  11. CS Guest

    You should think about your future and if doing these “fun trips” for no reason is really something you still want to do at 30

  12. Number1 Guest

    Lucky
    Post something
    Come on!

  13. Number1 Guest

    He's just landed safely
    Praise da lord

  14. Julius New Member

    Apparently starting March 30th Angola will issue visas on arrival to many nationalities.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Angola

  15. Number1 Guest

    Lucky lands in 19 minutes

  16. Bruno New Member

    The flight was scheduled 11:15pm and departed 1:42am local time.
    Almost 2h30m delay.

  17. Imperator Diamond

    Well...Lucky is either somewhere over the Atlantic, curled up in a ball in an isolated corner of LAD (while the others stand guard), or in an Angolan jail.

    This is certainly going to be the mother of all trip reports.

  18. David Guest

    Classic TAAG, if it's only delayed you are quite fortunate.

  19. Tom Guest

    Lucky that you didn't have to spend the night. Hotels and Luanda are some of the most expensive in the world!

  20. Mike Guest

    I lived in Angola for about 2 years. This is what I call the "Angolan factor". There is always some sort of event screwing up the most perfectly crafted plans, and even after several frustating tries and creative inventions that would resolve the problem in any normal country... something else will happen to your solution that will screw you again.

    Anyone who has lived in Angola knows what I'm talking about.

  21. Steve Member

    Don't forget to include the bribe as one of the expenses when you file your trip delay claim with the credit card company.

  22. liam Guest

    For those who want to see Lucky's flight for a few hours:
    https://fr24.com/DTA745/10af3f9b

  23. Number1 Guest

    Air algiers is fine
    Had 4 domestic flights recently
    And everything on time
    And service better than america domestic.
    The staff attentive and snacks and drinks in abundance.
    The pilots are ex military.

  24. Alex_77W Guest

    While this could be an amusing report, what actually do you expect in terms of service? Also, how many readers will ever take a flight from LIS to LAD? And I am not even talking about LAD to GRU. I am sorry but what is the point to fly through LAD when you didn't even enter the country? There are certainly better/easier/and more mile-rewarding ways to get from LIS to GRU.

  25. Joshua New Member

    Looks like you took off! Can't wait to hear the stories!

  26. Ryan Oder Guest

    Looks like they took off

    https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DTA745

  27. Santastico Diamond

    You've got what you paid for. Enjoy Luanda's airport. :)

  28. Sam K Guest

    You may have to bribe the pilot, too.

  29. Chris Guest

    I flew TAAG from Lubango to Windhoek a decade ago. Really nice new 737s back then. Also 2 hours delayed out and back - never even heard a reason why. Got the feeling you get there when they want to get there. Good luck, Lucky!

  30. LosAngeles Guest

    Not so sure all TAAG's 777s are TCO certified for Brazil, meaning due to poor maintenance standards they're prohibited entry into Brazil's airspace. Their service is equivalent to Arik Air out of Lagos. Next you should try to fit LAM Mozambique into your itinerary.

  31. Paulinchina New Member

    Welcome to travel in Africa. If you really wanna fly Air Algerie you can expect a much worse delay. In five years I spent travelling with them only one flight left on time, 4-12hr delays were usual, with zero information.

  32. Pablo Guest

    For someone who travels all around the world you are such a whiner.

  33. Ted Guest

    Play with fire, you’re going to be burned.

  34. John K Guest

    I'm curious to know if they will allow you entry in the event of a protracted delay? Surely they wouldn't have a FCL passenger sleep in the lounge overnight.

  35. JPSAL Guest

    It probably won't be a disaster if it is indeed canceled since I've just seen they have 10 (!!!!) 777s and I cannot conceive them all being airborne tonight.

  36. T Guest

    Flightaware shows the plane has taken off.

    https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DTA745

  37. James Guest

    Makes you wonder why you make these pointless trips in the first place. Hope they have a cot for you at the airport

  38. Pita pie burrito Guest

    Tiffany will do it

  39. Z Guest

    Bad luck...It seems like they are loosening visa requirements for 60+ countries from Mar 30th and travelers from these countries will be able to get 30-day visa on arrival since then.

  40. Stvr Guest

    This is going to be a Citi trip Delay claim for the ages

  41. Mitch Cumstein Gold

    Usually in these African countries the immigration officer will let you through without a visa if you provide him "un cadeau" or "un jus" . Buy the man "un jus" and then get a real hotel room.

  42. Steven M Guest

    Perhaps you'll have time to update this page; it could benefit from some additions:
    https://www.sleepinginairports.net/africa/luanda-airport.htm

    PS Lisbon airport isn't a very pleasant place to sleep either

  43. JohnBom Guest

    Have to pay that bribe after all...

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Peter Guest

You deserved what you got!!! Glad TAAG is in in your gun belt now.

0
Al Guest

Dude! And you deleted your other post! Wtf is going on with you?!

0
Al Guest

So this entire post is click bait considering your flight actually took off? #notevenfakenews

0
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