TAP Air Portugal Baggage Policies and Fees

TAP Air Portugal is based in Lisbon, Portugal, and is a Star Alliance member. If you’re visiting the country on the Iberian Peninsula, you might bring back some souvenirs for your friends and family. Here’s what you need to know about TAP Air Portugal's baggage fees — because they can add up fast.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

How many bags can you bring on TAP Air Portugal?

The TAP baggage allowance depends on the fare type you book and route you’re flying.

TAP Air Portugal carry-on allowance

TAP Air Portugal passengers flying in economy class can bring one carry-on bag and one personal item. Those traveling in business class to or from North America get the same carry-on baggage allowance.

If your ticket is in Executive class domestically or to and from Europe, Africa or South America, TAP lets you carry two bags plus a personal item.

TAP Air Portugal's carry-on size limits are as follows:

• Size: 22 x 16 x 10 inches (55 x 40 x 25 centimeters).

• Weight: 22 pounds (10 kilograms).

As for personal items, TAP allows the following:

• Size: 16 x 12 x 5 inches (40 x 30 x 15 centimeters).

• Weight: 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms).

The following items count as personal items:

• Handbag, laptop bag or purse.

• Duty-free shopping bag.

• Walking aid, such as a walker or cane.

• Medical devices.

» Learn more: TAP Portugal: What you need to know

TAP Air Portugal checked bag allowance

The checked baggage allowance with TAP Air Portugal depends on the fare and destination. Here is the number of pieces of baggage you can check for free:

Medium- and long-haul flights to the African continent (except Morocco) include two checked pieces of luggage weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) each.

The maximum size for checked baggage is 62 inches (158 centimeters) total, including height, length and width, for all routes.

Children ages 2 to 11 get the same baggage allowance as adults. If you’re traveling with a child younger than 2, you can check a bag weighing no more than 22 pounds (10 kilograms), not exceeding 45 inches (115 centimeters) total, including height, length and width (but not on Discount fares). You can also carry a foldable stroller, basket or approved car seat.

TAP Air Portugal baggage fees

If you need to check more bags than the number included in your fare, you can purchase extra luggage allowance. The cost varies by season (low or high season), the route you’re flying and whether you pre-purchase extra bags or add pieces during online check-in.

Adding luggage to your ticket before online check-in opens costs from $37 (30 euros).

Below is how much you’ll pay for extra checked bags when traveling, depending on the date.

You can check what dates are high and low season for which destination on this page.

Overweight and oversized baggage fees

If your checked bags exceed the weight or dimensions of the baggage allowance included with your fare type, you’ll have to pay extra for oversized or overweight (or both) pieces of luggage. If you’re traveling in peak season, the oversized and overweight baggage fees are much higher.

Overweight fees apply to bags 50 pounds (23 kilograms) to 70 pounds (32 kilograms), and overweight dimensions that incur an extra fee are bags over 62 inches (158 centimeters). If your bag is both — over the weight and size limit — you’ll pay double.

Leverage elite status to get free checked bags on TAP Air Portugal

Elite members of the TAP Miles&Go loyalty program, as well as passengers with Star Alliance Gold status, can take an extra bag on a TAP Air Portugal flight.

• TAP Miles&Go Gold and Navigator members flying on TAP or Star Alliance network flights: One extra piece up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) in economy and one extra piece up to 70 pounds (32 kilograms) in business class.

Check-in times for checked luggage

Check-in starts 24 hours before flights to and from the United States and 36 hours before flights to all other destinations.

Depending on the airport, the cutoff time for baggage drop-off ranges from 45 minutes to two hours. For specific cutoff times, check your departure airport.

Best cards for booking TAP Portugal flights

TAP Air Portugal recently launched its first card for U.S.-based flyers, called the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Card.

But unless you’re flying to Portugal often, most people will be better off with a different card.

TAP Miles&Go is a transfer partner of Capital One. You can transfer miles into the program at a ratio of 1:1. For every 1,000 Capital One Miles you transfer, you’ll receive 1,000 TAP Bonus Miles.

You also can transfer Marriott Bonvoy® points to TAP Miles&Go at a ratio of 3:1, with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred in one chunk. For every 60,000 points converted, you’ll end up with 25,000 TAP Bonus Miles.

TAP Air Portugal baggage policy recapped

TAP Air Portugal's baggage policy is clearly defined and still manages to be confusing. Each fare type to a certain region gets a certain number of bags up to a certain size and weight limit. If you’re over the specified limit, you have to pay a fee, which varies by the travel season and the time you decide to add more baggage allowance. The fees are exorbitant by European standards, so pack light or prepay to avoid extra fees at the airport.

TAP Miles&Go Gold and Navigator members get an extra checked bag, while certain fares also get them for free, so make sure to pack accordingly when traveling with TAP Air Portugal.