TAP Air Portugal compensation
Has your TAP Air Portugal flight been delayed, cancelled or have you been denied boarding? If so, you may be entitled to up to £520 in compensation. As a passenger on a European or British airline, you are protected by EU/UK Regulation 261/2004, which entitles you to compensation in the event of a flight delay, cancellation or denied boarding, unless the delay, cancellation or denied boarding is due to extraordinary circumstances.
Refundmore makes it easy to claim compensation from TAP Air Portugal. We’ll quickly check whether your flight meets the criteria and handle the entire process – including contacting the airline and any legal proceedings.
Your rights as a TAP Air Portugal passenger
Although TAP Air Portugal strives for high standards, as with all airlines, delays, cancellations and overbooking do occur. And this can cost you time, money and hassle. Fortunately, you have rights – and Refundmore helps you exercise them.
Under EU/UK Regulation 261/2004, all passengers are entitled to compensation if their flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked. The rules apply when:
The flight departs from a European country (EU/EEA), or
The flight arrives in an EU or UK country with a European airline such as TAP Air Portugal.
You are entitled to compensation if:
You arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late
Your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure
You were denied boarding due to overbooking
Compensation can amount to up to £520 per passenger and depends on the flight distance. You can see an overview in the table below.
Overview of compensation from TAP Air Portugal
Reason | Delayed arrival | Flights under 1.500 km | Flights 1.501 - 3.500 km | Flights over 3.500 km between EU-countries | Flights over 3.500 km to/from EU-countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancelled* | 2 – 3 hours | £220 | £170 | £170 | £260 |
Cancelled /Delayed | 3 – 4 hours | £220 | £345 | £345 | £260 |
Cancelled/Delayed | More than 4 hours** | £220 | £345 | £345 | £520 |
Overbooked | £220 | £345 | £345 | £520 |
* If the cancellation occurs less than 7 days before the scheduled departure. ** If the cancellation occurs between 14-7 days before the scheduled departure.
When can you claim compensation from TAP Air Portugal?
Flight delay
In the event of a long delay of more than three hours on arrival, you can claim compensation unless the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather or a strike. It is the airline’s responsibility to prove that this is the case.
Technical problems with the aircraft, staff shortages and internal operational errors on the part of the airline generally entitle you to compensation.
Flight cancellation
If TAP Air Portugal has cancelled your flight with less than 14 days’ notice, you are entitled to compensation unless the airline offers an alternative flight that gets you to your destination close to the original arrival time. You are also always entitled to a refund of your ticket or rebooking onto another flight if your flight is cancelled.
Overbooked flights and denied boarding
If TAP Air Portugal has sold too many tickets and you have been denied boarding due to overbooking, you are entitled to compensation. This applies even if the airline offers you an alternative flight. All passengers who are involuntarily denied boarding are entitled to immediate compensation at the airport.
Extraordinary circumstances – when does a delay not entitle you to compensation?
TAP Air Portugal may be exempt from paying compensation if the delay or cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control and which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Examples of extraordinary circumstances:
Bad weather (e.g. severe storms, thick fog or lightning strikes)
Acts of terrorism or political unrest
Closure of airspace or an airport
Strikes by airport staff (not within TAP itself)
In these situations, TAP Air Portugal is still obliged to pay:
Technical problems with the aircraft
Staff shortages or scheduling errors on the part of the airline
Internal strike at TAP Air Portugal
Overbooking of the flight
In some cases, airlines claim ‘extraordinary circumstances’ even when this is not justified. This is precisely where Refundmore can make a difference – we assess your case and ensure that you only accept a refusal if it is actually valid.
What should you do if your TAP Air Portugal flight is delayed or cancelled?
It’s a good idea to take action whilst still at the airport to put yourself in the strongest possible position if you wish to claim compensation afterwards. Here’s what you should do:
• Keep your boarding pass and flight ticket – both physical and digital
• Take photos of information boards and delay notices at the airport
• Keep all receipts for any additional expenses (food, transport, overnight accommodation, hotel)
• Make a note of the official reason given by TAP Air Portugal for the delay
• Submit your claim within three years of the flight
Remember that for delays of two hours or more, you are entitled to complimentary refreshments (meals and drinks) as well as access to two free means of communication (e.g. email or telephone). For overnight delays, you are entitled to hotel accommodation and return transport.
Your rights in the event of a delay – overview
Length of the delay | Your rights |
|---|---|
2 hours or more | Free food and drinks, 2 free means of communication (phone calls, email, etc.) |
5 hours or more | Right to a refund of the ticket or rebooking onto the next available flight |
Overnight accommodation required | Hotel and transport to/from the airport paid for by TAP |
Over 3 hours on arrival | Entitlement to financial compensation (€250–600) |
How Refundmore helps you claim compensation from TAP Air Portugal
Claiming compensation from TAP Air Portugal can seem overwhelming – but with Refundmore, the whole process is easy and risk-free. We handle your claim from start to finish:
Enter your flight details into the compensation calculator
We’ll assess whether you’re entitled to compensation
We’ll contact TAP Air Portugal and handle all the details of your case
If necessary, we’ll take the case to court on your behalf
We only charge a fee if we win your case – no win, no fee
Airlines spend a great deal of resources trying to avoid paying compensation – and that’s exactly where Refundmore helps passengers stand their ground.
We have already helped thousands of passengers claim compensation from TAP Air Portugal. You can find their reviews of us on our Trustpilot profile.
About TAP Air Portugal
TAP Air Portugal is Portugal’s national airline and was founded in 1945. With Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon as its main hub, the airline operates an extensive route network with connections to over 80 destinations in Europe, Brazil, North America and Africa. TAP offers a free stopover programme in Lisbon or Porto, allowing passengers to experience Portugal on their way to or from their final destination at no extra cost. On TAP’s long-haul routes, food and drinks, as well as a personal entertainment system, are also included in the fare for all passengers.
TAP Air Portugal is a member of Star Alliance. As a member of Star Alliance, TAP passengers can therefore earn and redeem air miles on all routes within the alliance and gain access to lounges and priority boarding across many airlines worldwide.