How to check in for your TAP Air Portugal flight

Checking in on time matters if your flight is delayed or you're denied boarding. In those cases, turning up for check-in by TAP's deadline is one of the conditions for claiming compensation for a disrupted TAP flight under UK261 (or EU261 for separate flight bookings outside the UK). It doesn't apply if your flight is cancelled.

Key takeaways

1. Online check-in on flytap.com or the TAP app opens 36 hours before departure.
2. Check-in and bag-drop desks at London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester open 2.5 hours and close 45 minutes before departure.
3. At Lisbon and Porto, the check-in and bag-drop cut-off is 45 minutes for domestic and European flights and 1 hour for intercontinental flights.
4. TAP requires every passenger to be at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure, whichever way you checked in.
5. On European routes, seat selection costs extra on Discount fares and is included on Classic and Plus fares.
6. Online check-in isn't always available. Some airports make you collect your boarding pass at the desk, and TAP may ask to see the card used for the booking in person.

Why you need to check in for your TAP flight

You might wonder why TAP can't take your documents at booking and let you go straight to the gate when you get to the airport. Check-in is when TAP confirms your identity and checks your travel documents against the entry rules for your destination, and those rules are set by governments, not the airline.

It's how you get the boarding pass that lets you pass security and the gate, and it's a moment where you can also change your seat or add hold luggage. It gives TAP a final passenger count too, which the airline needs to work out the aircraft's weight and balance before departure.

What you'll need to check in

• Your booking reference or e-ticket number (TAP's airport kiosks accept your TAP Miles&Go customer number too)
• A passport, or a national ID card if it's accepted for your destination
• Any visa or travel authorisation your destination requires
• The payment card used for the booking, in case TAP asks to see it at the desk
• A certified letter of authorisation for any child under 18 travelling to Portugal without a parent or legal guardian

How to check-in TAP Air Portugal online

Checking in online is the quickest way to get your boarding pass.

Checking in on flytap.com

To check in on the website, go to the check-in page on flytap.com and enter your booking details. You can choose or change your seat, then save your boarding pass to your phone or print it at home. If you want to add hold luggage or an upgrade first, you'll find those under Extras and Upgrades in Manage booking.

Checking in on the TAP app

The app does everything the website does, with a few extras that help on the day:

• Boarding passes for everyone on your booking in one place
• Offline access to your boarding pass from the app's home screen
• Live updates on your flight status, booking changes, boarding and baggage

Mobile or printed boarding pass?

TAP accepts a boarding pass shown on your phone or tablet, so there's no need to print one at home. The exception is airports where TAP requires boarding passes to be collected at the desk, even after you've checked in online. If you're unsure about your departure airport, arrive early enough to visit the desk. A printed copy can also be a good option in case your phone dies.

What time does TAP online check-in close?

TAP doesn't publish a closing time, so treat your airport's desk deadline as the limit.

We highly recommend downloading the TAP mobile app because it also allows you to manage your booking and get immediate updates or changes to your flight.

When you'll still need the check-in desk

• TAP asks to see the payment card used for your booking in person
• You're flying from an airport where TAP requires boarding passes to be collected at the desk
• You have hold luggage to drop off (some airports have kiosks where you can print your own bag tags first)
• You've booked special assistance, which you should request in advance through TAP's assistance request form

TAP Air Portugal seat selection: what your fare includes

If your fare includes seat selection, you can pick your seat when you book and don't need to wait for check-in. If it doesn't, TAP gives you a seat automatically when you complete your check in. You only have to pay for a seat if you want to choose a specific place to sit on the plane or change the one you've been given.

Checking in at the airport

If you didn't check in online, or you have bags to drop off, you can use TAP's kiosks or desks at the airport. Every airport TAP flies from has a staffed check-in desk, and some have self-service kiosks too.

Self check-in kiosks

Source: flytap.com

Kiosks are usually located next to the check-in desks. If you've never used one, the process is much the same as checking in online:

• Enter your booking reference, e-ticket number or TAP Miles&Go customer number
• Choose or confirm your seat
• Print your boarding pass and any bag tags
• Take your tagged bags to the bag-drop desk

Check-in desks and Premium Check-in

The check-in desk is there if you have any problems with your booking, your documents or your bags, or if TAP has asked to see your payment card in person. Opening times vary by airport, so check the table above to make sure you arrive at the right time.

At Lisbon and Porto, TAP runs Premium Check-in desks that offer faster check-in and bag drop. You can use them if you're flying in Business or Economy Prime, or on a Plus fare, or if you hold a Star Alliance Gold card or TAP Miles&Go Gold or Silver status.

Dropping off your bags

If you've checked in online and have hold luggage, you will still need to go to the check-in desk or kiosk to drop off your bags. The deadline is the same as the check-in cut-off in the table above, which is 45 minutes before departure at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

Typical TAP opening hours for bags drop

Travelling light? All European fares come with 1 x 10 kg of hand luggage. If that's all you're taking, you can skip bag drop and head straight to security.

If you're connecting to another TAP flight, how far your bags travel depends on the length of your stopover:

• 6 to 24 hours: TAP checks your bags through to your final destination. If you'd rather collect them at the stopover, tell the agent when you drop them off.
• More than 24 hours: your bags are checked only as far as the stopover, and you'll need to collect them and recheck them for your next flight.

Disrupted TAP flight?You might have a right to compensation.Check Your Flight

Travel documents for long-haul TAP flights

Long-haul routes come with extra document checks, so leave more time before you fly.

For the US, you'll need a visa or an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before you travel. ESTA covers UK nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries on trips of 90 days or less. Still, there are exemptions, so you should check your eligibility and apply on the official ESTA website.

TIP: For UK nationals travelling with TAP to the US on a single booking, who need ESTA, the application timing is no later than 72 hours before their US flight departs.

On every flight from Portugal to a non-Schengen or intercontinental destination, Portuguese border officers check your documents and interview you. Waiting times vary, so head to passport control as soon as you've dropped your bags.

Common TAP check-in problems

If none of these fixes it, contact TAP customer service before you travel.

If your flight has already been delayed or cancelled, check if your flight qualifies for compensation.

Claim with AirAdvisor and get up to €600 compensationFind out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight