TAP Air Portugal compensation: how to claim
TAP Air Portugal is registered in Portugal, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Portugal (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- 3 years (Portugal)
TAP Air Portugal is registered in Portugal, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because TAP Air Portugal is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How TAP Air Portugal handles claims
The TAP case at the Court of Justice set the limits on knock-on delays: an extraordinary circumstance on an earlier flight only excuses a later one where the carrier proves a direct causal link and shows it could not re-organise. If TAP cites a problem on a previous rotation, that judgment is the answer.
Lisbon is a hub for Brazil and West Africa, so a large share of claims are in the €600 band.
Madeira and the Azores are part of Portugal and therefore intra-EU, so a Lisbon–Ponta Delgada flight is banded on the intra-EU rule.
Portugal allows three years, and ANAC is the enforcement body. Responses are frequently slow.
What a delay on TAP Air Portugal is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon (LIS) → Porto (OPO) | 277 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Lisbon (LIS) → Paris (CDG) | 1,470 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Lisbon (LIS) → Barcelona (BCN) | 994 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Lisbon (LIS) → Rome (FCO) | 1,839 km | EU261 | €400 |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from TAP Air Portugal, by what happened
- TAP Air Portugal: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- TAP Air Portugal: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- TAP Air Portugal: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- TAP Air Portugal: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your TAP Air Portugal flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to TAP Air Portugal yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
TAP Air Portugal: common questions
How much compensation can I get from TAP Air Portugal?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. TAP Air Portugal is registered in Portugal, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does TAP Air Portugal have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against TAP Air Portugal?
In Portugal, where TAP Air Portugal is based, the limit is 3 years, counted from the date of the flight. You can usually also claim where your flight departed or arrived, which may give you longer — for example six years in England and Wales.
Where do I send a claim to TAP Air Portugal?
TAP Air Portugal takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is TAP Air Portugal, Customer Support, Aeroporto de Lisboa, Edifício 25, 1704-801 Lisboa, Portugal. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old TAP Air Portugal flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.