TAP Air Portugal, Portugal’s national airline, has a cancellation policy that varies by fare type, booking channel, and timing. Below is a concise overview based on the latest information from their official website.
24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation:
- You can cancel any TAP Air Portugal flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund to the original payment method, provided the flight departs at least 7 days (168 hours) later, per U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for U.S. bookings. This applies to all fare types (Discount, Basic, Classic, Plus, Executive, Top Executive) booked directly through flytap.com, the TAP app, or customer service.
- A cancellation fee applies: €30 (~$32 USD) for continental flights and €45 (~$48 USD) for intercontinental flights, deducted from the refund. If canceled online within 24 hours, no additional service fee applies. Refunds are processed within 7–20 business days, though delays up to 2 months are reported. Alternatively, you can opt for a voucher (valid for 1 year) with no cancellation fee.
- Exceptions: Group bookings (10+ passengers), codeshare flights operated by other airlines, or promotional fares may have stricter rules.
After 24 Hours:
- Refundable Fares:
- Plus and Top Executive: Fully refundable with no cancellation fee if canceled before departure.
- Classic and Executive: Refundable with a cancellation fee of $100–$400, depending on route and timing.
- Non-Refundable Fares:
- Discount and Basic: Non-refunded after 24 hours, except for taxes and fees. No travel credit or voucher is issued.
- Cancellation fees range from $100–$500 for domestic/international flights, with higher fees closer to departure (e.g., within 24 hours: $100–$400). If fees exceed the ticket value, no refund is issued.
- No-Show Policy: Failing to cancel before departure results in a no-show, voiding the ticket with no refund or credit, even for taxes, unless notified in writing (e.g., email with booking number).
- Service Fees: Refunds requested via the Contact Center or TAP sales desks incur a €40/$50/CAD60 fee per ticket, deducted from the refund. Online refunds avoid this fee.
- Miles & Go Award Tickets: Cancellations return miles to the account, minus a processing fee. Airport taxes are refunded via an online form.
Special Circumstances:
- Airline-Canceled Flights:
- If TAP cancels a flight or delays it by 5+ hours, you’re entitled to a full refund (including non-refunded fares) or rebooking on an alternative flight at no cost, regardless of the reason (e.g., technical issues, weather). If rebooked on a flight with minimal disruption (similar arrival time), no compensation is owed.
- For EU/UK departures or arrivals on TAP-operated flights, EC 261/UK 261 regulations apply, offering €125–€600 in compensation for cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice, unless due to extraordinary circumstances (e.g., weather, strikes). Compensation depends on distance: €250 (≤1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km), €600 (>3,500 km).
- Delays: For delays over 3 hours at the destination due to TAP’s control, you may cancel for a refund or claim EC 261 compensation (€250–€600) for EU/UK routes.
- Medical or Extenuating Circumstances: Refunds may be granted for illness, death of a passenger/close family member, legal reasons, or doctor’s appointments with documentation, often without fees.
- Lost Tickets: If you lose a ticket and can prove it (with payment proof), a refund may be issued after a fee, provided the ticket wasn’t used, refunded, or replaced.
