Planning a vacation in Portugal, visiting Lisbon and Madeira, seemed like the right bet for two North American tourists attracted by the competitive prices of the national airline. The expectation of a peaceful trip quickly fell apart in a succession of operational failures and unforeseen costs that turned the week of rest into a true test of patience. Discontent reached such a level that confidence in the carrier was irreparably broken.
The passenger was adamant in concluding that, even if she were offered the trip, she would refuse to board an aircraft from this company again. The final feeling that “I wouldn’t even fly with TAP again for free” reflects the frustration of those who, even with compensation vouchers in hand, prefer to pay more with another company rather than relive the logistical chaos they faced.
This story was shared on Business Insider, an international news portal focused on economics and travel. The tourist details how the attempt to save on initial tickets resulted in a huge financial loss and emotional distress that negatively impacted the entire experience on national soil.
The first warning sign
The problems began months before departure, when the return flight to the United States was unilaterally changed by the operator. The trip was postponed 24 hours without any justification given, forcing tourists to bear the costs of an extra night’s hotel and food in the Portuguese capital.
The same source indicates that they decided to accept the change and take advantage of the extra time, but the situation worsened upon arrival at the airport. Despite showing up for check-in three hours in advance for the connection to Madeira, they were faced with a lack of available seats on the plane.
No place and stranded on land
The overbooking situation left them on the ground along with a dozen other passengers who did not have an assigned seat. The company offered compensation and meal vouchers, putting them back on a flight that departed five hours later than scheduled.
This forced change meant they arrived at their destination early in the morning, with just a few hours of rest before the activities they had scheduled. Accumulated fatigue and uncertainty about schedules began to set the tone for what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway.
Cancellations and computer failures
The return to the continent was marked by another serious incident, with the cancellation of the original flight just two days before departure. The automatic alternative presented by the carrier involved a 12-hour delay, which led them to purchase tickets from another company to guarantee a timely connection.
The aforementioned source explains that attempts to request the refund to which they were entitled proved unsuccessful due to constant errors on the company’s website. The failure messages prevented the submission of the online request and the in-person service at the airport sent them back to inoperative digital channels.
Final accounts of the nightmare
The sum of unforeseen expenses with new flights, accommodation and meals amounted to around an additional 400 dollars per person. The author emphasizes that the problem was not an isolated incident, but rather the accumulation of multiple bad lucks and service failures in a single week.
It also explains that the passenger learned her lesson and will be more diligent in choosing airlines in the future. The conclusion is that the peace of mind is worth the extra investment, ruling out any chance of risking a trip with the Portuguese carrier again.
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