Transportation

What it's like to fly on TAP, the airline with the 'most handsome crew' in the world

By Alison Millington
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tap air portugal pilot
TAP's pilots certainly seem to enjoy their jobs.  Instagram @tapairportugal

The things we look for in an airline are usually comfort, good service, and good value — but a recent travel ranking also put the attractiveness of the crew at the top of the list.

Monocle's Travel Top 50 — an annual list selected by the magazine's editors — awarded Portugal's TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) airline the accolade of "most handsome crew."

In the December/January edition of the magazine, Monocle wrote: "It feels a bit 1950s to be talking about attractive flight crew but let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy being served by a handsome fella with a nice smile and a twinkle in his eye?"

Scroll down for a look at what it's like to fly on TAP, which apparently has the most handsome crew in the world.

This is TAP Air Portugal, the airline that was recently given the accolade of "most handsome crew" by Monocle.

Fleet A319
TAP

Monocle's Travel Top 50 — an annual list selected by the magazine's editors of their "favourite fifty finds from the fast-moving world of travel" across 50 categories — awarded Portugal's TAP airline the accolade in the December/January edition of the magazine.

Founded in 1945, TAP — which has its hub in Lisbon — is Portugal's national airline, and it flies to numerous European and international destinations.

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TAP

It's the only airline to connect London City Airport and Lisbon.

According to Monocle, the airline employs more than 2,800 people across its routes.

Foi em 2014 que a @patriciamscf entrou a bordo desta maravilhosa família. Como podem ver, brinda-nos com um sorriso enorme e está sempre pronta para enfrentar os desafios do dia. 💪 Há um momento "campeão" na sua viagem pela TAP, até agora: estar a bordo durante a final do Euro 2016 e, na chegada, ouvir o comandante dizer que tinham aterrado em “Portugal, campeão da Europa!”. A festa foi de arrepiar! 🇵🇹 #NasNuvensDesde1945 // @patriciamscf got onboard this wonderful family in 2014. As you can see, she greets us with a huge smile and she is always ready to face the challenges of the day. 💪 There’s a "champion" moment on her journey around TAP, so far: being onboard during the UEFA Euro 2016 final and, at the arrival, hearing the Captain announce they've just landed in “Portugal, European champion!”. What a celebration! 🇵🇹 #UpInTheCloudsSince1945 📸 Patrícia Serras, Assistente de Bordo/Flight Attendant #tapportugal #staralliance

A post shared by TAP Air Portugal (@tapairportugal) on Mar 30, 2017 at 10:47am PDT

Its crew members — including its pilots — certainly seem to enjoy their jobs ...

... and the odd selfie is pretty common.

But there's more to the airline than its attractive crew. Here's what it's really like to take a trip on TAP.

There are six different fare levels — Discount, Basic, Classic, Plus, Executive, or Top Executive. Among other things, those in Plus and above get priority check-in and fast-track boarding.

Feriadão delícia. Here we go! #glamurama #joycepascowitch #tapairlines Portugal! 🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹

A post shared by Joyce Pascowitch (@joycepascowitch) on Oct 11, 2015 at 10:47am PDT

Prices are competitive — fares for a flight from London to Toronto (via Lisbon) start at £173, and to New York it's £207 one-way. Flights directly to Lisbon are about £42.

The Discount fare is for hand luggage only, but Basic and above include at least one 23-kilogram checked bag (50.6 pounds), with two bags for Executive and above.

Conhecendo o aeroporto de Lisboa. Fui muito bem recepcionado 💕#lisboa #aeroporto #englishbulldog #lisbon #lisbonne #portugal🇵🇹 #airportstyle #bulldogingles #taptap #tap #tapairlines

A post shared by TᕼE ᗩᗰᗩᘔIᑎG ᒪIᖴE Oᖴ ᑕᕼᗩᖇᒪIE (@bulldogcharliebrownjr) on Jul 26, 2017 at 5:11am PDT

If you fly Executive or Top Executive, you'll get free access to an exclusive lounge. At Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport, the 850-square-metre facility features rest zones, showers, a business centre, a restaurant and bar, and a children's area.

AVTP1107171859142806_
TAP

The Top Executive fare, which is fully refundable, also includes valet/car parking.

Here's a look inside the lounge.

The food-and-drink offering looks pretty appealing.

Moving onto my next destination. Last minute opportunity to enjoy #eggtarts ! Love food & wine served at #tapairlines #businessclass #lounge 🍷 次なる目的地へ。リスボン空港のTAPポルトガル航空ビジネスクラスラウンジのおつまみがクオリティ高くて驚き！生ハムもチーズもかなり美味しく、エッグタルトも焼きたてのように熱々サクサク💕 #portugal #lisbon #airport #flight #prosciutto #cheese #canapés #wine #cappicino #travel #travelgram #tasty #ポルトガル #リスボン #空港 #ビジネスクラスラウンジ #ビジネスクラス #エッグタルト #ワイン #生ハム #チーズ #カナッペ #旅 #ヨーロッパ旅行

A post shared by Polina (@polina_amadee) on Aug 21, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

TAP's A330 aircraft — used for long-haul flights — have been refurbished, and the airline is modernising its short-haul A319s, A320s, and A321s as well. There will be new Portuguese-designed seats in all classes, and a new class (Plus) between economy and executive with more legroom and "better reclining."

AVTP2810161710119946 HDR
TAP

By March, the A320s will have the new seats with green shades for economy and red for economy Plus.

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TAP

The in-flight entertainment system on long-haul flights offers award-winning movies, TV programmes, and box sets, games, and documentaries.

AVTP0503171776131103 HDR Editar
TAP

Passengers also have access to a selection of newspapers, TAP's in-flight Up Magazine, music, and, on some A330 and A340 aircraft, 12 TAP radio stations.

Economy and Executive passengers will also find support for tablets, with power and USB sockets that will enable them to enjoy their favourite entertainment.

Here's what the new Executive class — with new reclining lie-flat bed seats, USB sockets, noise-cancelling headphones, and private storage — looks like on the A330.

AVTP0503171776131171 HDR
TAP

Executive passengers will enjoy their in-flight entertainment on bigger, more modern HD screens.

AVTP0503171776131177 HDR Editar
TAP

In-flight meals are included in all classes, even on a Discount fare. The menu focuses on Portuguese products and traditional desserts.

24_Executivo_a_ser_Servido.JPG
TAP

Depending on the length of the flight, economy meals can include hot or cold dishes or sandwiches.

In business class, chefs prepare dishes including a breakfast of bread, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, and yogurt. Lunch, dinner, and supper are a choice of meat, fish, or pasta — traditional Portuguese fare.

Executive passengers can even preorder meals on some flights.

#tapairlines #airfood #firstclass

A post shared by Diogo Abreu Rodrigues (@diogoabreurodrigues) on Aug 10, 2017 at 3:53am PDT

This passenger said: "I would like to thank TAP airlines for the lovely meal during my flight to Portugal...Salmon Soufflé, Chicken Salad, Cheesecake and Wine from the Douro Valley...it was delicious and much needed!"

There are even vegan and veggie options.

And, of course, there's a wine list.

To top it all off, the crew does sound pretty great.

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TAP

"It feels a bit 1950s to be talking about attractive flight crew but let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy being served by a handsome fella with a nice smile and a twinkle in his eye?" Monocle wrote.

"The largely Portuguese crew embody many of the nation's best traits: they're friendly, welcoming and multilingual (they must speak Portuguese, English and a third language)," the magazine went on.

Há 3 anos que o @pierre.costa1 entra a bordo dos nossos aviões com um sorriso na cara, sabendo que cada dia que o faz é um dia que se transformará numa história única, como aquelas viagens que partilha com a sua “mana emprestada” @sarasimoescoelho ou o dia em que aquela menina com aquele brilho nos 👀 voou pela 1a vez num dos seus voos. ❤ #NasNuvensDesde1945 // It’s been 3 years since @pierre.costa1 gets onboard our planes with a smile on his face, knowing that each day will become a unique story, like those flights he shares with his “sister from another mother” @sarasimoescoelho or that one day when one little girl had that one look in her 👀 for flying for the first time on a flight that he was in. ❤ #UpInTheCloudsSince1945 📸 Pierre Costa, Comissário de Bordo/Flight Attendant #tapportugal #staralliance

A post shared by TAP Air Portugal (@tapairportugal) on Mar 3, 2017 at 12:05pm PST

"On our travels we've always found them to be polite but never obsequious — and did we mention handsome too?"

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Ali2 (1)
Alison Millington
Ali is Deputy Editor of Life Insider. Based in the London office, she oversees and often personally contributes to Insider's lifestyle, entertainment, digital culture, health, and royals coverage, working with a team of reporters who cover travel, food, fashion, beauty, fitness, nutrition, relationships, film, TV, celebrities, and influencers, just to name a few topics. While in the UK Ali has previously been editor of The Daily Muse by Fenwick and sports, food, and drink reporter at Marketing Week. She graduated from the MA International Journalism course at City University London and is proud to be Canadian. You can follow her on Twitter at @AL_osaurus. Selected stories: I've visited the Greek island of Santorini twice — and if you think it's just a tourist trap, you're going to all the wrong places What it's like to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a misunderstood illness that leaves people in wheelchairs and derails entire careers I moved from Canada to the UK 7 years ago, and while I love London, I can see why Meghan Markle prefers my home country I compared economy and premium economy on British Airways one week apart, and for less than $200, I'd upgrade every time I've lived in London for 6 years — here are the places where you should actually eat
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