TAP Air Portugal is joining the Premium Economy bandwagon as it seeks to eek out extra revenue. But it’s doing it in … different way compared to some carriers.
TAP Air Portugal Airbus A330-900neo – Image, TAP Air Portugal
When most carriers introduce Premium Economy, they do so with a fanfare and a big recliner-style seat with 38″ of seat pitch. TAP Air Portugal has chosen a different path, and instead, is going to use its current seating and block neighbouring seats.
The airline will offer this on both its A330-900neo and Airbus A321LR aircraft. On an A330, this would be 1 person at each window seat and two people in the middle, whilst on an A321LR, it would be a blocked middle seat, for a total of 12 passengers in the cabin.
TAP Air Portugal A321LR interior – Image, TAP Air Portugal
TAP Airbus A330-900neo interor – Image, TAP Air Portugal
According to TAP, this layout ensures a quieter, more private environment for a truly relaxed journey.
On the ground, the airline is offering Premium Check-in, Priority Baggage. Fast Track Security and Priority Boarding. The soft product in the air feels more of a Premium Economy product, with a premium main meal with two hot dish options (with meal pre-selection up to 24 hours before departure), an amenity kit, a premium pillow and enhanced headphones.
For those needing points, it could be worth it, with the airline adding bonus points and more flexible booking options.
I’m not against this… but the price HAS to be right
With supply chains still taking time, TAP has chosen to go with a solution that’s on the aircraft already, as opposed to waiting for delivery of new seats that would require aircraft to be hauled back into the hangar, refitted and sent back out.
Sometimes, it’s not the extra legroom I personally like in Premium Economy, it’s how much I can spread out, so having extra width isn’t a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination.
With the seats in the first few rows, they’ll take the EcononyXtra Space (34″/33″ as opposed to the usual 31″), it shouldn’t be too much of a burden, other than not having the large recliner seat.
With TAP effectively offering EuroBusiness in its long-haul aircraft, how they price this will be key, as it will be very challenging to recommend this compared to other premium economy products. If the airline can price their premium economy a little less than the going rates of other airlines, this could be a popular move.
And maybe that momentum is needed to convince TAP Air Portugal to deploy purpose-built premium economy seats in their cabins.
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