Nerdy takeaways
- TAP Air Portugal allows one free carry-on meeting size and weight restrictions and two on certain fares.
- Fees for checked bags depend on your destination, route and time of year.
- Exceeding size or weight limits incurs heavy fees. Pack strategically to avoid these charges at the airport.
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
On this page
- How to maximize your rewards
- How many bags can you bring on TAP Air Portugal?
- TAP Air Portugal baggage fees
- Overweight and oversized baggage fees
- Leverage elite status to get free checked bags on TAP Air Portugal
- Check-in times for checked luggage
- Best cards for booking TAP Portugal flights
- TAP Air Portugal baggage policy recapped
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:
Fare type | Flights from mainland Portugal to the islands | Flights to Europe and Morocco | Intercontinental flights |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Executive | Two pieces up to 70 lbs./32 kg. each. | Two pieces up to 70 lbs./32 kg. each. | Two pieces up to 70 lbs./32 kg. each. |
Executive | Two pieces up to 70 lbs./32 kg. each. | Two pieces up to 70 lbs./32 kg. each. | Two pieces up to 70 lbs./32 kg. each. |
Plus | Two pieces up to 50 lbs./23 kg. each. | One piece up to 50 lbs./23 kg. | One piece up to 50 lbs./23 kg. |
Classic | One piece up to 50 lbs./23 kg. | One piece up to 50 lbs./23 kg. | One piece up to 50 lbs./23 kg. |
Basic | None. | None. | One piece up to 50 lbs./23 kg. |
Discount | None. | None. | None. |
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.
Travel route | Season | First item at Discount fare | First item for other fares and second item for Discount fares |
|---|---|---|---|
Portugal, Spain and North Africa (including Morocco) | Low. | €110. | €150. |
High. | €140. | €180. | |
Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, France, U.K. and Ireland | Low. | €125. | €165. |
High. | €155. | €195. | |
Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden and flights between Accra and San Tome and Principe | Low. | €135. | €175. |
High. | €165. | €205. | |
Long-haul flights between Africa and Europe or Morocco | Low. | $322 / €280. | $403 / €355. |
High. | $387 / €340. | $468 / €415. | |
Medium-haul flights between Africa and Europe or Morocco | Low. | $290 / €250. | $371 / €325. |
High. | $355 / €310. | $436 / €385. | |
Flights between Europe or Morocco | Low. | $177 / €145. | $258 / €220. |
High. | $220 / €185. | $301 / €260. | |
Intercontinental flights between America and Africa long-haul or the rest of the world | Low. | $371 / €325. | $452 / €400. |
High. | $447 / €395. | $528 / €470. | |
Intercontinental flights between America and Africa medium-haul | Low. | $338 / €295. | $419 / €370. |
High. | $393 / €345. | $474 / €420. | |
Intercontinental flights between America and Europe or Morocco | Low. | $273 / €235. | $354 / €310. |
High. | $339 / €295. | $420 / €370. |
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.
Travel route | Season | Overweight or oversized fee | Oversized and overweight fee |
|---|---|---|---|
Portugal, Spain and North Africa (including Morocco) | Low. | €60. | €120. |
High. | €80. | €160. | |
Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, France, U.K. and Ireland | Low. | €65. | €130. |
High. | €85. | €170. | |
Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden and flights between Accra and Sao Tome and Principe | Low. | €70. | €140. |
High. | €90. | €180. | |
Long-haul flights between Africa and Europe or Morocco | Low. | $161 / €140. | $322 / €280. |
High. | $204 / €180. | $408 / €360. | |
Medium-haul flights between Africa and Europe or Morocco | Low. | $140 / €120. | $280 / €240. |
High. | $172 / €150. | $344 / €300. | |
Intercontinental flights between America and Africa long-haul or the rest of the world | Low. | $183 / €160. | $366 / €320. |
High. | $237 / €210. | $474 / €420. | |
Intercontinental flights between America and Africa medium-haul or between America and Europe or Morocco | Low. | $150 / €130. | $300 / €260. |
High. | $194 / €170. | $388 / €340. |
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 transfer partner cards
Annual fee
$95.
$0.
$95.
$250.
Welcome offer
Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
Earn a bonus of 40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel.
Earn 4 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Redeem your Free Night Award for a one-night stay at properties with a redemption level up to 50,000 points per night. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Special Offer through 6/30/2027: Get up to $100 in statement credits after spending $500 on eligible airline purchases. That's $50 in statement credits semi-annually.
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $150 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026. Terms Apply.
Earn rates
• 5 miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5 miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
• 1.25 miles per $1 on all purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 3 points per $1 on up to $6,000 a year in combined purchases on grocery stores, gas stations and dining.
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• 6 Marriott Bonvoy® points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• 4 points per $1 on up to $15,000 a year in combined purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S).
• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
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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.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, see this page.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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