Background
This series covers a recent TATL trip. For the return trip, I opted for TP due to their very low fares. TP offers 4x daily MXP-LIS service. Since I wouldn't be getting back to Milan until ~16:00, I could either spend the night at MXP and take the morning flight at 05:55 or fly to LIS at 20:25 and spend the night in LIS. I opted to just fly out and spend the night at LIS since the 05:55 flight would require waking up too early in the morning. When I booked my flight, it was originally on a long-haul A321neo, but that was swapped to an A320neo a week before of the trip.
Routing
The routing continues as:
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3TP827 - Business - Milan → Lisbon - Airbus A320neo
- 4
This report covers the flight from Malpensa to Lisbon, the Lufthansa Lounge (maybe), and the ibis Styles Lisboa Aeroporto.
Getting to Malpensa Airport
We start this report at Milano-Cadorna station, which operates one of the Malpensa Express lines. The train leaves every 30 minutes and takes 37 minutes to reach MXP T1. At €13, it does its job and is more economical and convenient than taxi or ride apps with a similar transit time. Unlike the Leonardo Express at FCO, it does make intermediate stops along the way.
Check-in/Security
Arriving at MXP T1 at 17:00, I stop at the FIDS to confirm that our flight will be leaving from the A Gates. The morning flight (TP829 at 05:55) is already up there too.
TP's check-in counters were closed. Checking their webpage, they don't open the counters until 2.5h before departure at MXP.
Luckily, MXP has nice glass windows in the check-in hall to kill some time.
GQ A320.
UX B738, AF A321, and FR B738.
The UX B738 takes their stand first.
Then the AF A321's turn.
Finally the FR B738.
Eventually a single agent shows up around 2h40m before departure and allows people to start checking in. As a Premium passenger, he waves me up first. He tags my bag to SFO and hands me my boarding pass efficiently with instructions to access the Fast Track security and how to find the LH Lounge airside.
The line for security wrapped all the way around the check-in hall.
Luckily I was eligible for the Fast Track lane and could bypass that initial mess. The Fast Track line would still have >100 people in it and took 20-30 minutes to clear security. MXP has new machines that do not require electronics or liquids to be taken out.
Following the masses downstairs.
Then into the duty free march.
The airport was packed and all seating was taken even in the halls by the shops.
Lufthansa Business Lounge
Reaching the LH Lounge, there was a line of ~20 people waiting outside. I stood there for ~5 minutes and only one person was allowed in. The lounge was already fully occupied so passengers were being forced to wait and only allowed in as passengers left. I just left and went to grab an aperitif and light meal at a restaurant.
An hour later, I returned to the lounge since the LH flights were boarding. As you can see, it is still bustling inside. I scanned my boarding pass and headed in for a quick peek before heading to the gate.
The buffet and drinks were in the back, but it was very full and I didn't need anything so I just turned and headed to use the bathrooms.
Ohh, premium restrooms, I can't wait.
Not sure what is so premium other than the old city maps on the walls.
Overall, a pretty poor experience at the LH Lounge. Clearly overrun with not only premium passengers, but also credit card holders.
Pre-Flight/Boarding
The masses outside awaiting their fate. Our gate will be declared A3, so I head off into the A pier.
MXP T1 could definitely do with a remodel.
A very retro vibe at these gates.
Boarding is called at 19:35 so I join the back of the queue.
Down the jet bridge we go.
A warm welcome on board by 2 crew members inside and I turn to find my seat.
TP's cabins are clean and modern looking with subtle red accents.
Flight
What I thought was my seat, 3F, but then quickly moved back to 4F when realized I was in the wrong seat.
The pitch on TP is very good for Euro-J standards at 33" and you can comfortable cross your legs.
Fully adjustable headrest.
The seat back is basic with just a tray table and device holder.
The literature is a safety card and BOB menu.
High level BOB menu overview for those interested.
Between seats are a USB-A and universal power outlet (110V).
New PSU with individual air vents.
My row would remain empty with a load factor of 9/16.
Since TP is essentially a LCC in Y, they quickly ran out of overhead bin space so the crew kept trying to gate check bags, but people kept refusing. The solution was to start putting them in the empty J rows…
A view of the cabin as boarding finally completes.
Since there are no IFE screens in these planes, the safety demonstration would be done by the crew.
No PDBs are offered as expected on TP and we are pushing back at 20:25. The windows were very fogged up on the port side for some reason.
The star board side windows were clear.
We had a short taxi and were taking off on Runway 35L at 20:36 into the darkness.
The window fog cleared and we can see our little LEAP-1A now as we did a u-turn in front of the Italian Alps before heading southwest.
Leveling off, the captain came on to welcome us on board and said that we would land at 22:10 with a route that would take us past Turin, Nice, Marseille, Barcelona, Madrid, and then Lisbon.
Our route out of MXP.
Flying past Turin as we head south towards Nice.
The cabin as service starts up.
One of the very friendly FAs working our cabin comes out and distributes menus.
Tonight, we have a choice of 2 mains that both sound good.
The cart came down at 21:05 serving drinks and meals. I requested the meat pie and she handed me my tray along with offering breads from a basket. The tray contains all of the meal elements: starter, main, and dessert.
I asked for a glass of red wine. She asked if I wanted one from the north or south. I asked her which she recommends and she said north, but encouraged me to try both and proceeded to pour me a tasting.
The starter: Chicken Salad and Beetroot Humus.
My main: Beef Pie with Mushroom and Aubergine Puree.
The meat pie was excellent with a lot of meat filling and the pastry was not too soggy under reheating.
During the meal, drinks were kept full. As she recommended, the wine from Dão paired better. More breads were offered as well.
I didn't take a picture of the dessert, but the rice pudding was very good as well. Tea and coffee was proposed after the meal. TP's coffee is not very good, it is just very watered down tasting.
I do, however, really like their tableware and branding.
Packaged refreshing towels are pre-placed on the trays.
After the meal, I tried to get some work done offline since TP does not offer Wi-Fi on its narrow-body fleet and there is no IFE (in-seat or streaming). While working, the friendly crew kept coming back to offer more drinks.
Flying over Madrid.
As the cabin was prepared for landing, I went up to use the lavatory, which was still very clean despite being basic.
Our approach into LIS.
First sights of civilization.
We had a smooth, but abrupt landing on Runway 21 at 22:15 slightly behind schedule. TP pilots excel at hard braking and we quickly exited the runway to shorten our taxi back to the terminal.
Pulling into our gate.
A last look at my seat before deplaning.
A warm good night from our crew and up we go into the terminal.
Our plane ready to be tucked in for the night.
Since the gate at MXP was blind, a first look at our plane's registration and name. It was CS-TVB, a 2019-built A320neo in a 174Y configuration named Agustina Bessa-Luís after the Portuguese author.
LIS is a happening place at night with all of the red-eyes to Brazil set to leave.
I went the wrong way not noticing that they had put up detour signs.
Down the marble staircase…
Though the baggage claim…
And out of customs…
Uber/Bolt pick ups are off to the side in the parking garage. I would have walked to the hotel, but since it was starting to rain I opted to just take a ride instead for the short 1km trip.
ibis Styles Lisboa Aeroporto
The ride was short through the airport neighborhood and 5 minutes later I was dropped off at the ibis Styles Lisboa Aeroporto.
Since the hotel is ~1 year old, the rooms are modern and clean. It met my needs for a short transit stay and the breakfast was decent when compared to the TP Lounge. I would probably do the Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto next time since it is closer to the terminal and usually similar price.
I'll leave of this series here as I start my layover in Lisbon. Thanks for stopping by!
Flight Details
TAP Air Portugal, TP827
Equipment: Airbus A320neo [CS-TVB “Agustina Bessa-Luís”, delivered February 2019]
Departure: 20:25 (ATD: 20:36)
Arrival: 22:10 (ATA: 22:15)
Flight time: 2:39
Other than the disastrous experience on ground in Milan (which you can't really blame TAP for), it seems that TAP did provide you with an excellent soft product indeed. I also find it rare these days to find cabin crew being so attentive on regional flights and especially even more rare on any Southern European carrier, so thanks for this enjoyable report! I wonder how they'll perform on your long-haul flight to SFO.
Hi Thomas, thanks for the comments. Yes, TP's soft product in J far exceeded my expectations and I feel like they have improved overall since I last flew them in 2022. I can't remember the last time I was on an European carrier and saw so many smiles from the crew. Since they only do a single BOB pass in Y, it does give them more time to spend up front.
Nice to see a review on TP short-haul J.
I hate that about most European carriers in outstations. I like checking in 3h ahead of flights so I don't have to rush. IB usually only open 2h before departure in outstations.
And yet it was still slow-moving, shame!
What in the actual f....this feels more like flying domestically in the US! Usually flying within Europe is not nearly as annoying or stressful, but yet here we are!
I suppose there were no other *A lounges or Priority Pass lounges within a reasonable distance?
It's obviously made of premium materials 🤣 HAHAHA...I at least hope they had premium TP hahaha
Aesthetically very nice cabins, as far as European narrowbodies go (anything is better than sad old LH NEK cabins). Also very nice seat pitch (again, but Euro-biz standards) with 33" by far beating most other Euro carrier's 30-31" in Euro-biz, and nice amenities with the combo AC power + USB outlets. Only thing missing is streaming IFE! ...and maybe a BA-esque cocktail table between seats.
Meal looks very good and printed menus is quite fancy for short-haul J. While the lounge restrooms may not have been premium, the on board experience certainly was...again, but the low bar or Euro-biz.
Thanks for sharing!