Country: Portugal ·
Hub: Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO) ·
Alliance: Star Alliance ·
IATA code: TP
24-hour free cancellation: Yes — full refund within 24 hours of booking on US-issued tickets with departure 7+ days away.
Typical refund timeline: 7–21 business days for credit card refunds.
TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier of Portugal and operates from Lisbon (LIS) and Porto (OPO) to ten US cities: JFK, EWR, BOS, IAD, MIA, ORD, SFO, and SEA. TAP is part of the Star Alliance and is well-known for its Portugal Stopover program, which lets US passengers stop in Lisbon for up to 10 days at no extra fare cost while routing to other European destinations. TAP serves as a major US-Africa hub with extensive service to Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde via Lisbon.
TAP fare brands and the Stopover program
TAP economy is sold in four brands: Discount ($130 change fee, no refund), Basic ($130 change fee, cancel for credit), Classic ($90 change fee, partial refund), and Plus (free changes, full refund). The Executive (Business) class is $50 to change. Top Executive is fully flexible. Fare difference applies in all cases. Portugal Stopover is bookable on any fare and lets you spend 1–10 days in Lisbon at no extra airfare.
Miles&Go program and credit mechanics
TAP's loyalty program is Miles&Go. Cancelled tickets convert to Miles&Go credit or a TAP travel voucher worth the ticket value minus the cancellation fee. Miles&Go is part of Star Alliance, so miles can be redeemed on United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and other Star partners. TAP redemption rates for transatlantic awards are competitive.
US-Brazil and US-Africa connections via Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the best connection points for US-Brazil and US-Africa traffic because of TAP's extensive Brazilian network (São Paulo, Rio, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, Brasília) and African routes (Luanda, Maputo, Praia, São Tomé). If you're flying US to Brazil or Lusophone Africa, TAP via Lisbon is often the cheapest option. Schedule changes on the US-LIS leg can disrupt these long onward connections.
EU261 protection and TAP's disruption history
TAP has had operational difficulties in recent years (labor strikes, fleet rotations, and integration with newer aircraft). EU261 protection applies to all TAP flights, entitling you to €250–€600 compensation for cancellations within 14 days that are TAP's fault. TAP's online claim system is improving but still benefits from agent escalation for complex cases.
TAP Air Portugal change & cancellation fees in detail (2026)
| Fare class | Change fee | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | $130 | $200 |
| Premium Economy | $90 | $175 |
| Business | $50 | $125 |
| First / Suites | $0 | $100 |
Indicative fees per passenger per direction. Fare difference may apply. Refundable fare types have different rules — call to verify your specific ticket.
Common reasons US travellers call about TAP Air Portugal
- Change a TAP Air Portugal US-Lisbon ticket
- Cancel and recover Miles&Go credit
- Rebook after a TAP schedule change
- Add a free Lisbon stopover to a Europe itinerary
- Process Executive (Business) class changes
TAP Air Portugal FAQ
Discount and Basic: $130 USD per passenger per direction. Classic: $90. Plus: free. Executive: $50. Fare difference always applies.
Portugal Stopover is a free add-on TAP service that lets US passengers stop in Lisbon for 1–10 days at no extra airfare cost when routing to other European destinations. It includes free city tour discounts and hotel deals.
Within the 24-hour grace window, yes — full cash refund. Outside that window, Discount fares are not refundable. Basic fares refund as Miles&Go credit minus a $200 cancellation fee.
TAP is the largest carrier between Europe and Brazil, operating to São Paulo, Rio, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza, and Brasília. Combined with US-Lisbon service, this makes TAP a popular option for US-Brazil routes.
You're entitled to a full refund within 7 days OR a free rebooking on TAP or Star Alliance partners. Under EU261, you may claim €250–€600 compensation if the cancellation was within 14 days and within TAP's control.