TAP Air Portugal stopover deal cuts cost of second leg

Published on Aug 7, 2025, 2:30 pm CDT

5 min read

TAP Air Portugal just doubled the value of its celebrated Portugal Stopover. Travelers who book by September 8, 2025, for travel beginning September 1 may now add a second in-country hop for half the usual price. The time-limited offer builds on the carrier's longstanding free stopover of up to ten days in Lisbon or Porto, giving visitors a low-cost way to pair mainland highlights with island escapes. With three new U.S. routes feeding the network this summer, the promotion arrives as demand for multi-city itineraries continues to rise.

Key Points

Why it matters: 50 percent discount on the intra-Portugal leg halves flight costs for explorers chasing two regions in one trip.
Travel impact: Applies to routes linking Lisbon or Porto with Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, Ponta Delgada, or Terceira, plus Faro-Funchal.
What's next: Expect heightened competition as rival airlines tweak stopover perks ahead of 2026 summer schedules.
Bookings must be completed on flytap.com, the TAP app, or through an agent by September 8 to qualify.
Offer stacks with 500-plus partner discounts on hotels, tours, dining, and culture across Portugal.

Snapshot

Portugal's flag carrier has long offered one of aviation's most generous layover programs, letting passengers linger up to ten days in either Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) or Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO) without extra airfare. Ordinarily, a second stop attracts only a 25 percent markdown. Through early September, though, TAP will email eligible travelers a promo code worth 50 percent off any domestic segment booked inside the stopover window. The discount covers flights to sunny Faro International Airport (FAO) in the Algarve, lush Madeira Airport (FNC) and Porto Santo Airport (PXO) in the Atlantic, plus volcanic John Paul II Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL) and Lajes Airport (TER) in the Azores. The code can be redeemed on the carrier's website, app, or via travel advisors.

Background

Launched in 2016, the Portugal Stopover quickly won Global Traveler's "Best Stopover Program" for seven straight years. TAP's formula is simple: reward long-haul passengers who venture beyond the airport with extended layovers, discounted partner rates, and streamlined booking tools. The airline reports that more than one million flyers have used the program, pumping tourism revenue into Portuguese hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Earlier success prompted other carriers, from Icelandair to Turkish Airlines, to expand similar schemes. TAP's latest incentive lands as the airline deepens North American ties. Seasonal nonstops from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Porto, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Lisbon, and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Terceira launched in May and June, feeding fresh traffic into the stopover funnel.

Latest Developments

Second stopover now half-price through September 8

Travelers booking an itinerary with the Portugal Stopover before the September 8 deadline will automatically receive a 50 percent discount code for a second leg within Portugal. The saving applies to economy or business-class fares, excludes taxes and surcharges, and may be used once per passenger. Trips must commence on or after September 1 and conclude by March 31, 2026. Reservations must be ticketed on TAP stock and include at least one long-haul segment to or from Europe, Africa, or the Americas. Full terms sit on the carrier's Portugal Stopover page. For booking details, visit TAP's official stopover portal (https://www.flytap.com/en-us/stopover?utm_source=adept.travel).

New U.S. routes strengthen connectivity

TAP's trio of 2025 summer launches gives Americans more one-stop options into Portugal's secondary cities. Four weekly BOS-OPO services began May 14, four weekly LAX-LIS flights on May 16, and weekly SFO-TER flights on June 3. The additions raise the airline's U.S. gateways to eight and push weekly trans-Atlantic departures past sixty. Marketing executives say early load factors exceed projections, reinforcing North America as the carrier's fastest-growing market.

Analysis

TAP's decision to double the second-stopover discount is a savvy, low-risk play. Domestic Portugal sectors are short and often operate below full capacity once summer crowds disperse. By converting transfer passengers into domestic tourists, the airline captures incremental revenue, boosts ancillary spend with 150 plus partners, and spreads visitor flows to lesser-known regions such as Porto Santo and Terceira. Competitors Iberia and Azores Airlines price intra-Portugal hops higher, so TAP's half-price carrot could sway fare-savvy travelers planning multi-city Iberian itineraries. The timing is equally strategic. With the carrier's privatisation roadmap expected to finalise later this year, stronger traffic metrics fortify its valuation. Meanwhile, the enlarged U.S. footprint means more North American travelers will discover that a Portugal vacation need not be single-city. If uptake mirrors TAP's projections, the airline may extend or even permanently adopt the 50 percent model, pressuring rivals to sweeten their own stopover perks. For now, savvy travelers stand to gain the most, especially those eyeing shoulder-season escapes when hotel prices fall but inter-island fares typically stay flat.

Final Thoughts

For visitors who want castles and coastlines in one journey, TAP Air Portugal's stopover upgrade is an easy win. Half-price domestic flights make it affordable to pair Lisbon's urban buzz with Madeira's subtropical trails or the Azores' geothermal wonders, all without complex ticketing. Book by September 8, check baggage allowances on each leg, and lock in hotel deals through TAP partners to multiply savings. Your second destination might just outshine the first, thanks to the enhanced TAP Air Portugal stopover.