There’s a legit fare sale from Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal. They’re mostly promoting good coach deals (like Chicago to Copenhagen from $379 roundtrip), but it turns out there are even better business class offers. And the fare deals allow Lisbon stopovers at no extra charge.
The United and Air Canada partner flies rom Boston; Chicago O’Hare; Miami; New York JFK; Newark; San Francisco; and Washington Dulles. With their flights to Lisbon you can connect beyond to most of Europe.
Here are some sample deals:
- Lisbon, Porto, the Azores’ Ponta Delgada and Terceira, Madeira’s Porto Santo or Funchal, and Faro from $1749 roundtrip
- Berlin from $1899, Amsterdam from $1999, Vienna or Zurich from $2199, Paris from $2299, Barcelona or Madrid from $2399, and Marrakesh or Casablanca from $2499 roundtrip.
Here’s an example of Boston – Lisbon roundtrip:
You’ll see it’s a $76 fare each way (for business class!) plus taxes and a big fuel surcharge.
Key details of fare basis JF0EXIOA:
- Minimum stay until the Saturday after arrival or 5 days after arrival
- Purchase tickets by May 21, but there’s no guarantee availability will last until then
- Valid for travel September 8 – March 31 , with December 15 – January 13 blacked out
- $250 fee for refunds, $300 fee for changes (to then-current fare)
TAP business class J fares should earn 200% of flown miles with Air Canada Aeroplan, 125% of flown miles when credited to United MileagePlus.
There are also coach deals like U.S. – Portugal from $429 roundtrip (with some European destinations starting at $399, and stopovers in Lisbon possible).
Aeroplan nerfed all TAP business fares to 150% a couple weeks back.
@Gary, very interesting, thanks. One has to wonder if TAP is doing this to boost business in front of the auction for them? Who cares if it’s a deal?
I would likely give this a try, the new A330NEO looks good, even if my driver in Lisbon told me that TAP stood for Take Another Plane.
@Woofie – they run sales like this semi-regularly
@woofie A330NEO is a nice plane.
My small beefs:
– The IFE has a tiny selection.
– Food and service is not amazing.
Take it over AA anyday, but Polaris is better.
It would be much easier to select dates if the TAP website gave information on the days it flies. I don’t like booking when I feel doing so is like a craps shoot.