TAP Air Portugal has restarted direct flights from Lisbon to Chicago O’Hare, New York JFK, and San Francisco airports. The service will operate twice a week.
From the Chicago and San Francisco hub, TAP offers flight connections to dozens of US other cities via United Airlines. Both airlines are members of Star Alliance, which means fliers can earn and redeem loyalty miles with each booking.
COVID’19 restrictions. Portugal has travel restrictions for people flying from the US, except for Portuguese citizens, Portuguese non-residents holding Portuguese passports, and US citizens resident in Portugal who can fly to Portuguese airports.
Other travelers, including those from the US, must comply with exemptions, such as professional requirements, study or family reunion. Everyone must have a negative coronavirus negative test done 72 hours before departure.
Currently, the airline is flying between Newark and Lisbon three times a week and between Newark and Porto weekly, in addition to Boston, Miami, and Washington Dulles, in the United and Toronto,and Montreal in Canada.
In late July, the airline inaugurated services from Boston to Ponta Delgada in the Azores.
COVID’19 Free Insurance. TAP has announced October 8th that it is now offering free COVID’19 related insurance protection for all passengers. The insurance helps manage the costs and risks associated with COVID’19 infection when traveling to any of the destinations where the company operates. This new insurance is offered by CHUBB European Group SE.
Passengers diagnosed with COVID’19 during the trip, will have insurance covering hospital stays of up to 500 euros as well as the reimbursement of room and board in the same amount. In addition to the hospital fee, the insurance also covers intensive care with a fixed maximum amount of 1000 euros.
Insurance coverage is free and effective upon arrival in Portuguese territory for all passengers purchasing round-trip tickets at Classic, Plus Executive and Top Executive tariffs.
All information and further details on the terms of the new TAP insurance can be found on the company’s website.
“Book with Confidence” Program. TAP is also offering the “Book with Confidence” protection program. The service allows free rebooking applicable to Discount, Basic, Classic and Executive. TAP is extending its “Book with Confidence” program to US customers who may be uncertain about making travel plans in the next few months. Changes to travel plans must be made 21 days before departure to take advantage of the offer.
Clean & Safe. TAP has also developed and implemented the Clean & Safe initiative, aiming at establishing hygiene safety protocols to avoid in flight COVID’19 contamination, in line with the international health and sanitary safety guidelines of EASA, IATA, DGS and UCS.
Azores Airlines. The North America Azores route is also served by SATA Azores Airlines which has resumed its international connections to North America starting July 1. The international connections include daily flights between Ponta Delgada and Boston and Ponta Delgada and Toronto.
PAJ/Staff
