Review of TAP Air Portugal flight Madrid → Lisbon in Economy

introduction

Hola amigos!

This FR is on the "scenic ride" between the two capitals of the Iberian Peninsula: Madrid and Lisbon.

I had previously flown this route on Business Class in 2019. Let's see how things are back in Y class. 

at Madrid barajas -Adolfo suarez, etc, etc, etc,

As usual during 2021, Check in was chaotic. MAD wasn't at capacity yet and thus it shut part of its facilities, such as the check in zones in Terminal 2. You feel totally silly when checking in takes longer than the flight itself ( Spain and Portugal seriously need to get their act together and build a HSR line between MAD and LIS ASAP!)

After the check in chaos, then security was quick, and we were off to the Duty Free maze

It was quite a crowded day at MAD that day. Terminals 1 and 2 take a lot of flak because they are old and dingy…but I think they aren't as bad as other "old" terminals in OECD countries. Let's wait and see what future depares for them…

We arrived with a lot of spare time so we were able to visit the Puerta del Sol Lounge.  It was a calm and peaceful moment before going down to the chaos.

BA chose MAD as the COVID storage for its A380s, they provided a nice sight

Our little Airbus made it from Portugal

boarding

Boarding was chaos. The agents were a mess and disordered…our fellow passengers didn't help either. The gate agents gave contradictory instructions, peopple did whatever they wanted… so silly for such a short flight

But I finally made it in

TAP has configured its Airbus with two types of seats (like IB). The nice reclining seats with headrests up front, and the ironing boards in the back. I was able to chose one in the front….

I like TAP's use of design and branding….in this case, in the air sickness bag:

en route to lisbon!

Done with the chaos, our little A319 was packed and ready to go… we taxied to RWY 36L.

T4S with the overseas flights, and the Sierra in the backdrop

Eventhough I loathe AV, I get a bit excited to see a piece of Colombia every once in a while

And we are off to Portugal!

We flew over the northern part of the CAM (Miraflores de la Sierra, Colmenar, and el Escorial)

Allowing us to see Franco's big cross

And El Escorial…lovely place to visit!

We then turned SW and tried to follow the Tagus

The flight is super short. I don't recall the crew even going around trying to sell us food or drinks. I never use BOB, so I didn't even bother.

The Tagus broadened and then Lisbon was in sight.

Montijo AFB and Vasco da Gama Bridge welcome us to Lisbon

LIS in sight

25 of April Bridge and the big JC statute

Downtown Lisbon

We then turned over the Atlantic

Now closer to the 25 April Bridge…I love this approach, and how low planes fly over the city.

Now over Eduardo VII park

And in a matter of seconds…touchdown!

Lots of TAP A330s basking in the sun

It is highly likely you wont get a gate at LIS….

We were then bussed to the Terminal… where the arrival circuit is a bit senseless if you're headed to Lisbon. You have to go up and then cross the mall cum airport, and then back down to the dingy baggage hall (our bags took a long time to come out BTW). The bus+ long walk felt like ages, along with the wait for the bags, it must have been as long as the flight itself!