Review: TAP Air Portugal Lounge Lisbon Airport

I'm Portuguese (although part of the 'diaspora'), but I share your hatred of sardines... and your bafflement with that shop. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it. I despair that that's going to be one of the last Portuguese things visitors will see just before they fly out...

'enhanced' security for US bound flights.
Just wondering if that paranoid nonsense will ever stop. Ridiculous.

You definitely scored the cleanest-looking photos of non-Schengen area ... I took a number of photos of the super-dirty parts of the terminal last year that are cringe-worthy.

"At the top of the escalator was the entrance to the airport’s contract lounge, which can also be accessed by Priority Pass members."

It looks like other airlines can access it too? Including some Star Alliance members?

"I despair that that’s going to be one of the last Portuguese things visitors will see just before they fly out…"

Those stores are actually popular with tourists, so don't worry if that is the last thing they see.

Sardines are delicious, especially when cooked the right way. The bones as with any fish,can be an issue
I have a dozen cans for emergencies lol

I doubt it was a miscommunication that had them start boarding, but leaving passengers in the jetway. I get that fairly often in Europe, they start scanning boarding passes and checking IDs before the cabin preparations are complete, once the crew is ready they let passengers on board.
I don't know if it really saves time, and I mostly experienced it on short haul. But I guess that is what happened.

I'm a bit bored today, so...

In case you hadn't noticed, Lucky, you've developed a writing tic. It seems to be appearing more frequently - eg, twice in this short para:

"In terms of the lounge’s views, it nearly had decent views of the apron. However, due to the way the slats of the terminal exterior are configured, you’re somewhat limited in terms of the views you’ll get."

You could shorten...

The lounge nearly had decent views of the apron.

... you'll get somewhat limited views.

I lost count of how many "in terms of"s there are in this short post.

The other tic I've noticed is you often introduce photos with "as follows" or "pictured below" - when you don't actually need any words. You could end the sentence with a colon if you wanted to be fancy.

Blah blah.

I don't much like sardines but my dogs love them. And they keep their coats shiny, too. I do like the packaging though.

This lounge is still a massive improvement compared to the "Blue Lounge" which is mainly for LH Business pax. An absolute joke. Also weird that the sardines store is in the Non-Schengen Area since most countries forbid the import of all fish and meat products from abroad.

Im curious... is there a right or wrong answer about what you think about trump?

@The nice Paul

I've noticed a tic you have as well: being a dick. There's brevity for you.

@ Matt

Thanks, Matt. I love it when people notice my dick. 🙂

There is a "business class line" at the final security check. They don't always have it labeled (and when they do it's a very small sign) so you just have to walk to the front and ask them. This can easily save you over an hour as that line can get very long and painfully slow.

"Upon arrival I followed the signage towards my departure gate, since I figured TAP had a lounge in their non-Schengen area."

@Ben, for someone whose job is to be informed about travel, it just seems odd that you seem to be making some basic travel mistakes these days, what with the ridiculous (not to mention unrealistic) LHR connection and now this. I would've thought that you'd find out TAP's lounge location *before* actually visiting, especially since you were looking forward to checking this one out. Are you just getting old now? 😉 😛

In defense of sardines: There wouldn't be so many sold in supermarkets etc. if there wouldn't be demand, and there has been quite some increase in focusing on special brands, design, eco-stuff and so on. I think most people like sardines, many people like special sardines, and one does associate them with Portugal - the national arts and crafts shops feature them as well. I think the circus design and the selfie throne are well-done for the usual audience, and of course the vast majority of countries does allow the import of canned food. Finally, the nice thing about sardines vis-a-vis Lusitanian wine bottles (which I prefer also) is that they don't break, so they make some sense for the carry-on.

@thenicePaul I always enjoy reading your corrections 🙂

Perhaps you were unLucky about the bar, but when I was there the bartender was keen to be creative, and made me the best Caipirinha I ever had.

The uncomfortable furniture in the TAP lounge gets one ready for the uncomfortable business-class seats on TAP aircraft!

Lucky, you really got lucky because there are times that immigration lines are mad at LIS, both to enter Portugal / Europe as to leave.

"really can’t go to Portugal without having one."

Do you mean "can't leave Portugal without having one"?

+1 The nice Paul. I also noticed that the first half of any non-review post from Ben can usually be skipped without missing much. I usually look for the word "Well,"☺️

That nap room photo was hilarious.

Your comments about "sardines" are racist. Typical North American attitude to other peoples' food. There are several so called NA foods that I can think of that are quite horrible Your review on the TAP lounge and TAP biz confirm that no one should take this airline unless the price is right.

@Lucky:

Please give us a bit more detail on the security questioning. For instance...

Was it a uniformed TAP employee or some other Portuguese governmental employee?
I can imagine what you're general feelings are toward this administration, but what was your actual, worded answer?
What was his/her response?
What were they asking other passengers ahead of you who may have been of Portuguese or non-American citizenship?

Their old lounge was really crowded, too.

I had the best gin and tonic of my life in this lounge. The bartender was a true showman. Ice cubes spun around the glass to chill it. Tonic water poured over a spoon. Cucumbers and herbs cut and placed carefully on the sides of the glass. It was a double too. And I had two of them.

Hi great article thank you. We are traveling DUB-LIS-CUN in Business on TAP so it will be non-shenghen to non-shenghen. I have heard we should not follow signs to connections as it will bring us to the non shenghen area with no lounge (we have an 8 hour wait!). Based on your experience, what should we do when we arrive in Lisbon from Dublin?

Lisbon is the most confusing airport I have ever encountered. When arriving in transit, DO NOT follow the Connecting Flight signs unless your final destination is somewhere else in Portugal, otherwise you will end up going in a big circle and having to pass through security again. Instead, look for the small exit on the right, which leads to the Sardine Shop. If you want to go to the main part of the airport or to the lounge then do follow the Connecting Flight signs, but then after, you will have to pass back in through security. One time I ended up going round the circuit twice in a row until I exasperatedly asked a staff member to explain exactly where I was supposed to go.

Being a smoker, I appreciate the fact that Lisbon airport is the only one I know which still has a smoking area inside the departure area.

Regarding the Sardine Shop, the sardines themselves are a rip-off, but they also sell tins of other types of fish, e.g. squid, octopus, swordfish, and salmon as well other less common varieties. You just need to look around and read the labels on the shelves.

We're doing the same in July (2022) Business also, though we wont have any time to spare as layover is only 1hr 50 mins.., any advice on directions once landed in Lisbon?

Are there showers available in the lounge?

We will be there in December for a 7 hour lay over. Is there a time limit for the lounge? We will be purchasing a day pass.
And…
Ok so I must know what on earth did you say at the gate? I would be so caught off guard I might just say exactly how I felt then say I packed my bags and they have been with me the whole time in case you were wondering ‍♀️

More than half of voting citizens in the USA understand Trump is a circus clown.