In October 2019, TAP Air Portugal introduced a revamped economy class cabin, offering passengers two distinct experiences.

On a recent trip from Malaga to Zurich (via Lisbon), I had the opportunity to experience both the new EconomyXtra product and their standard economy class service.

To differentiate the services onboard, TAP has color-coded seats in economy class: green for standard economy, which still includes some snacks and drinks, and red for EconomyXtra customers.

TAP has since updated their service offerings. They now feature Comfort seats (red seats) and Standard seats (green seats).

Neither option includes complimentary food or drink; instead, passengers can purchase items from the onboard menu.

MALAGA TO LISBON

White Airways operated this sector and since it was such a short hop I wasnโ€™t expecting to receive much. 

This sector was operated by White Airways, and given the short duration, I wasnโ€™t expecting much. However, about 20 minutes after takeoff, the inflight service began.

The two crew members started from the front of the aircraft and moved towards the rear. I was pleasantly surprised to receive a snack platter featuring an olive tapenade with dipping biscuits and freshly cut apple.

The use of sustainable products and the interesting snack box stood out. It was the first time I had seen this in economy class, though I have since experienced it on Air Vanuatu.

TAP LOUNGE LISBON AIRPORT

During my layover in Lisbon, I visited TAPโ€™s flagship lounge. The lounge was easy to find, following signs up the escalator and turning left.

The food and drink offerings were ample, with fresh options including Pastel de Nata, a range of open sandwiches, cold meats, fresh salads, dips, and cheeses.

Drink options included coffee, juices, and a fully stocked bar on the opposite side of the lounge.

LISBON TO ZURICH

The flight from Lisbon to Zurich was scheduled for about 2.5 hours. Approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, I received my meal.

The crew completed the service in about 22 minutes, using two half carts for drinks operated by one crew member, and one full cart for meals operated by two crew members.

There was no choice of meal; I received pasta with a tomato-based sauce and vegetables, and a mini almond tartlet for dessert.

The meal was quite standard, and the sauce was slightly watery, the food wasnโ€™t amazing but certainly not terrible either. Itโ€™s quite a rarity to receive a hot meal when flying across Europe, and I appreciated the enhanced meal service and extra legroom in EconomyXtra. 

Passengers in standard economy class also received a choice of complimentary snacks.

Overall, my experience with TAP was pleasant, and I would gladly opt for an EconomyXtra seat in the future.

The upgrade offers great value and benefits, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking extra comfort and service.