TAP Air Portugal is running a new promotion that might just be worth a second look. For a limited time, you can save 30% on award flights across their network, including routes between the U.S. and Europe.
Sounds promising, but let’s break it down—because not every deal is as good as it seems.
Some Winners, Some Head-Scratchers
With 30% off, some of TAP’s award flights drop to really solid redemption rates. Others? Not so much. Here’s a quick breakdown:
✅ Miami to Lisbon: 49,700 miles round-trip – This one’s a steal. That’s under 25,000 miles each way, which is rare for transatlantic flights. For comparison, Aeroplan would charge you 80,000 miles for the exact same TAP-operated route—with higher taxes and fees.
🤔 San Francisco to Lisbon: 71,000 miles round-trip – Not bad, but nothing groundbreaking. JetBlue occasionally offers this flight for as low as 19,000 points one-way, though availability is hit or miss.
🚨 Boston to Lisbon: Over 67,000 miles round-trip – ehhh, hard pass. This price makes no sense compared to the Miami deal, proving that these discounts aren’t strictly distance-based.
How to Get TAP Miles
If one of these deals works for you, you’ll need TAP miles to book. Luckily, there are two easy ways to get them:
Capital One Miles – If you have the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, or a Spark Miles card, you can transfer points to TAP at a 1:1 ratio.
Bilt Points – Bilt also transfers to TAP at 1:1, which is great if you’re racking up points on rent payments.
If you don’t already have Capital One miles, now’s a great time to snag one of their best-ever welcome offers and build up your balance fast.
Act Fast!
There’s a catch (because of course there is). This discount only applies to flights booked by February 24th, and your travel must take place by March 31st. That’s a tight window, but if you’re planning a last-minute European escape, this could be a great way to save some miles.
Final Thoughts
TAP’s 30% award discount has some genuinely great sweet spots, but it’s not a slam-dunk across the board. If you’re flying from Miami (or another city with a sub-50K round-trip deal), this is absolutely worth jumping on. But if your route still requires 60K+ miles, you might find better options with other programs.
As always, check your alternatives before pulling the trigger. Award sales can be a goldmine—but only if you know where to look.
