I took the weekend to travel around Europe. My complete travel plan would be FNC-LIS-VIE-LHR-GVA-BRU-LIS-FNC, being the most expected flight the LIS-VIE, as it would be operated on A330 in business class. Boarding was by bus and started on time. At 13h10 all pax were on board and push back started.
Took off was at 13h23 and soon after the crew gave the welcome speach, which inclued some surprising message: "due to minimal crew, we will not provide any meal service on this flight"
I promptly asked a cabin attendent if there would be meal service, at least in business class section. Then said it would be no meal service on both classes. I started to ask for explanation and he just said "make a complain to TAP, that's not fault of the crew". There attitude was the worst possible, not even an excuse was given.
This problem has become a normal procedure with TAP, with dozen of flights leaving with what they call "minimal crew", that is, 1 cabin crew member per each 50 pax. The problem is that TAP unions, on A319 and A321 equipment, requires 1 more cabin crew member to provide onboard service, that is 4 on the A319 and 6 on the A321. As in the summer months, the number of flights grows, they cannot find enough cabin crew members to provide service on all A319 and A321 operated flights. To my complete surprise this also became a problem on the A330 flights…
So this can happen on short leg or on a long flight such this 3h20 flight LIS-VIE. Moreover, we got no previous information abouth this lack of service, so I was hungry and thirsty all the flying time. Not even a glass of water offered during all the flight. Completely unacceptable!
An empty table was all I got on this A330 flight…
It was one of the worst flights I ever did. Please be carefull when booking flights with TAP, as even in business class, the meal service is not granted. I already claimed compensation with TAP (asking an upgrade as compensation) 2 weeks ago, but could get any reply yet.
No photos !!!! You put just 1 or 2 intéressant picture
Is that a FR at all????
Hey, nice report!
This is very sad. TAP is really improving since it was sold to Gateway group. However, not having meals on Business class is tottaly unnacceptable for any airline, even more on a three-hour flight. I hope they give you a good kind of compensation.
Did you see if the other passengers were also angry?
Abraços do Brasil!
Hello Joao! Most of the passengers in the business class cabin were connecting from Brazil flights. As they did not ask the crew about the service as I did, only at the end of the flight they noticed that no service was provided at all. Before disembarking they wanted to sign a together claim, but I did not agree on that. I sent my complain to TAP 20 days ago, still without any response.