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16 Best Ways To Redeem TAP Air Portugal Miles for Max Value [2024]

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Stephen Au

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TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier of Portugal. Also a Star Alliance partner, this airline connects the world to Portugal, and Portugal to many former Portuguese colonies.

With a fleet of around 75 aircraft operating to about 85 unique destinations across approximately 35 different countries, you’re bound to find a way to get to and from Portugal.

One interesting fact about TAP Air Portugal is that all of its aircraft (except for the TAP Express fleet, its wholly-owned regional subsidiary) are Airbus planes!

TAP Air Portugal maintains a normal route network, which includes a hub and spoke model out of Lisbon (LIS), where its headquarters are located. There are also 2 secondary hubs located at Porto (OPO) and Madeira (FNC).

TAP Air Portugal’s mileage program is called Miles&Go. Most importantly, there are several different ways to use Miles&Go miles for free/upgraded flights.

You can even redeem them for partner airline flights, though you’ll find out that the redemption costs across the board are massive.

Let’s talk about some of the best redemptions you can make using TAP Miles&Go miles.

The Pros and Cons of TAP Air Portugal Miles

The problem with using an obscure mileage system such as TAP Miles&Go is that it falls under the radar for the most part.

When devaluations occur, there’s not much press coverage or push-back — but TAP Miles&Go has experienced gigantic devaluations over the years.

We’ve dissected the TAP Miles&Go loyalty program and are ready to provide you with the best redemptions with TAP Air Portugal miles.

The main pros of using TAP Miles&Go are:

  1. Great pricing for intra-zone redemptions
  2. Generous zone definitions
  3. Emirates is an airline partner
  4. Great routing rules for Star Alliance flights

Here are the main cons of TAP Miles&Go:

  1. Much of the value, particularly for long-haul flights, has been decimated, resulting in insane award prices for the most part
  2. TAP miles are hard to earn
  3. You need miles to search for award space

Using Your TAP Air Portugal Miles

TAP Air Portugal applies zone-based pricing in all cases. In particular, it has 2 award charts — an award chart for TAP Air Portugal flights and an award chart for partner flights.

We’ll first talk about the TAP Air Portugal award chart, then move to the Star Alliance chart, then the non-alliance partner award chart, and lastly, discuss award booking rules.

TAP Air Portugal Award Charts

If you’re flying on TAP Air Portugal flights only, you can book one-way or round-trip flights. Here’s the one-way award chart you’ll be subject to (round-trips are double the price):

Made with Flourish

As you can see, you can book economy or business class. TAP Air Portugal does not offer premium economy nor does it offer a first class product.

Star Alliance Airline Partners

As we mentioned, TAP Air Portugal is a Star Alliance airline. TAP Air Portugal displays round-trip award ticket prices.

One-way tickets are permitted, and you can get the price by dividing the round-trip price by 2.

You will have access to and can redeem miles for Star Alliance flights on these airlines:

SCROLL FOR MORE
SkyTeam Airline Partners
Aeroflot (temporarily suspended)ITA Airways
AeromexicoKLM
Air EuropaKorean Air
Air FranceMiddle East Airlines
Delta Air LinesSaudia Airlines
China AirlinesTarom
China EasternVietnam Airlines
Czech AirlinesVirgin Atlantic
Garuda IndonesiaXiamen Airlines

Here’s the round-trip award ticket award chart. To get the one-way price, simply divide the price by 2.

Made with Flourish

Non-Alliance Airline Partners

TAP Air Portugal is also partners with Azul, Capital Airlines, Emirates, GOL, and SATA. Award tickets on these airlines are the exact same price as tickets on Star Alliance partners, so the above award chart will apply.

Awards Bookable vs. Phone

You can book TAP Air Portugal flights and Star Alliance flights online. However, to search for award availability, you’ll need to have miles in your account.

For non-alliance partner award flights like Emirates, you’ll need to call the TAP Miles&Go Service Center at 800-931-1821 to book your flights.

Award Redemption Rules

There are different award redemption rules depending on which award chart you’re using. If you’re flying solely on TAP Air Portugal flights, you’ll need to follow these rules, according to TAP Air Portugal:

  • You can’t upgrade an award ticket.
  • Award tickets are valid for 1 year from the date of issue, except for promotional tickets.
  • Changes to date, time, flight number, and booking class may be made after the ticket is issued with a €50 ($55) fee.
  • Stopovers are not allowed.
  • Round-trip tickets are allowed a maximum of 4 segments.
  • One-way tickets are allowed a maximum of 2 segments.
  • To book tickets for other people, you need to send an authorization form signed by you. Authorizations must be received 24 hours after the booking is made. If the authorization isn’t sent to gfp@tapmilesandgo.com within the deadline, the reservation will be canceled.
  • You may not use miles to book flights departing from Brazil.
  • An award ticket for children will have a 25% discount on the miles price.

TAP Air Portugal also indicates these terms and conditions for Star Alliance flights:

  • Round-trip tickets are allowed a maximum of 6 segments.
  • One-way tickets are allowed a maximum of 3 segments.
  • Waitlists and side trips are not permitted.
  • 1 stopover per round-trip award ticket is permitted.
  • Open jaws are permitted and the miles charged is based on the highest award ticket area.
  • Once the ticket is issued, clients can change the schedule but must keep the same route and period of validity.
  • Award tickets are usually valid for up to 1 year after issue.
  • Award tickets are refundable only if none of the flights have occurred.
  • No-shows and miles refund request fees apply if you don’t cancel your ticket and don’t fly.
  • Blackout dates apply for certain airlines.
  • You’ll be charged the mileage price for the highest class flown on any part of your journey.

If you’re flying on the miscellaneous airlines that are non-alliance partners of TAP Air Portugal, you’ll need to follow the Star Alliance award booking rules, in addition to the following rules:

  • Permitted combinations include TAP partner airlines, TAP Air Portugal, and Star Alliance airlines.
  • For an award flight within the Azorean Islands only, 10,000 miles are required.

How To Boost Your TAP Air Portugal Miles

There’s 1 U.S.-issued credit card that earns TAP Miles&Go miles directly — TAP Miles&Go American Express® Card from Cardless. TAP Air Portugal’s 2 transfer partners are Marriott Bonvoy and Capital One.

Capital One transfers at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred to Miles&Go. That means that instead of getting 20,000 miles after transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to TAP, you’ll end up with 25,000 miles.

Hot Tip: If you want to learn more about accelerating your Marriott Bonvoy balance, check out our detailed guide on how to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

 

Cons

  • $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

 

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy 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.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • Enjoy 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 unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

See our list of the best Marriott credit cards in our detailed guide.

The 16 Best Ways To Use Your TAP Air Portugal Miles

TAP Air Portugal has undergone endless devaluations, so much of the value is unfortunately sucked out of the loyalty program, at least when it comes to redeeming miles.

After tons of research and analysis, we’ve located several sweet spots and decent redemptions you can make. These redemptions will net you solid value for your points, but it probably won’t be as amazing as redeeming Alaska miles, for instance.

With all this being said, let’s get to the best redemptions you can make with TAP Miles&Go miles.

1. Fly From Oceania to the U.S. via Dubai in Emirates Business Class (130,000 Miles)

Emirates A380 Business Class Window Seat
Emirates A380 business class window seat. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

If you’re reading this guide, you’re probably taken aback by the partnership between TAP Air Portugal and Emirates. Your confusion is most likely warranted, though this partnership is nothing but beneficial for travelers.

Emirates’ business class is one of the most aspirational business class flights you can take. With utter opulence and crazy price tags to match, you’ll get exceptional value.

Lately, booking Emirates’ business class with points has become increasingly expensive. Although it’s not much cheaper, booking Emirates’ business class is doable with TAP miles. The good news is that fuel surcharges aren’t passed on, which will keep your out-of-pocket costs low.

Here are great examples of redemptions you can make:

  • Auckland (AKL) — Dubai (DXB) – Houston (IAH) one-way in Emirates business class with a stopover in Dubai for 130,000 miles + ~$25 in taxes and fees (~34 hours in business class!)
  • Brisbane (BNE) — Dubai (DXB) – Los Angeles (LAX) one-way in Emirates business class with a stopover in Dubai for 130,000 miles + ~$110 in taxes and fees
  • Melbourne (MEL) — Dubai (DXB) – San Francisco (SFO) one-way in Emirates business class with a stopover in Dubai for 130,000 miles + ~$110 in taxes and fees
  • Sydney (SYD) — Dubai (DXB) – Washington, D.C. (IAD) one-way in Emirates business class with a stopover in Dubai for 130,000 miles + ~$111 in taxes and fees

2. Fly Nonstop Between Dubai and Asia in Emirates Business Class (50,000 Miles)

Emirates Inaugural World's Shortest A380 Flight Business Class Seat 23A - Cherag Dubash
Emirates A380 business class seat. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

This particular redemption is extraordinary. Let’s just say that it’s possible to get up to 12 hours of Emirates business class with no fuel surcharges for 50,000 miles. If this sounds unbelievable to you, it’s because it certainly has flown under the radar for a long time.

Here are some spectacular redemptions:

  • Bali-Denpasar (DPS) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates business class for 50,000 miles + ~$38 in taxes and fees
  • Osaka (KIX) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates business class for 50,000 miles + ~$107 in taxes and fees
  • Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates business class for 50,000 miles + ~$104 in taxes and fees

Bottom Line: Chances are the highest-value redemptions you can get with Miles&Go miles is on Emirates business class flights, which have high cash prices.

3. Fly Nonstop Between San Francisco and Lisbon in TAP Business Class (100,000 Miles)

TAP Air Portugal Airbus A321LRneo business class throne seat 2D
TAP Air Portugal A330-900neo business class. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

While TAP doesn’t offer as many U.S. routes as British Airways, for example, it is still a fabulous airline to take on nonstop transatlantic flights.

TAP Air Portugal’s award chart is favored towards flights on its own metal, which means that the best value will generally be on TAP flights.

Miles&Go charges 100,000 miles for flights between Portugal and the U.S. The most effective way to redeem miles in this instance would be to fly as long as possible in business class, which is achieved through San Francisco (SFO).

Best of all, the San Francisco (SFO) – Lisbon (LIS) route features the new A330-900neo aircraft with an amazing business class product.

Here’s the exact redemption you can make:

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Lisbon (LIS) one-way in TAP Air Portugal’s new A330-900neo business class for 100,000 miles + ~$647 in taxes and fees

4. Fly From the U.S. to the Azores via Lisbon in TAP Business Class (100,000 Miles)

TAP Air Portugal Older Business Class
TAP Air Portugal’s older business class is still a fantastic option to fly across the Atlantic. Image Credit: TAP Air Portugal

If you’re not all that interested in flying to mainland Portugal nonstop from the U.S., you can head to the Azores, 1 of 2 autonomous regions located around 850 miles west of mainland Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean.

This archipelago is famed for amazing nature, fishing villages, and some of the most unique plant species. It’s absolutely a niche place that you might be interested in visiting.

The most logical way to get to the Azores is via TAP Air Portugal. Best of all, you won’t pay any additional miles for adding the connecting flight from Portugal to the Azores. Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

  • Chicago (ORD) — Lisbon (LIS) – Ponta Delgada (PDL) one-way in TAP Air Portugal’s A330-900neo business class for 100,000 miles + ~$652 in taxes and fees
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) — Lisbon (LIS) – Ponta Delgada (PDL) one-way in TAP Air Portugal’s A321neo business class for 100,000 miles + ~$652 in taxes and fees

5. Fly Nonstop From Portugal to Brazil in TAP Business Class (113,000 Miles)

TAP Portugal a330-900neo business class
TAP Air Portugal’s new A330-900neo features a sleek business class product. Image credit: TAP Air Portugal

If you wanted to fly on some of TAP Air Portugal’s longest routes, you’d do well to fly from Portugal to a variety of destinations in Brazil. Most of the routes feature the A330-900neo business class seats.

You’ll pay 113,000 miles for a 9 to 10 hour flight. This isn’t the best value option, but it’s still a great way to get solid value when you think about how the cheapest business class tickets are around $2,500 to $3,500.

Here are some great example routes you can take:

  • Lisbon (LIS) – Brasilia (BSB) one-way in TAP Air Portugal’s A330-900neo business class for 113,000 miles + ~$314 in taxes and fees
  • Lisbon (LIS) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) one-way in TAP Air Portugal’s A330-900neo business class for 113,000 miles + ~$313 in taxes and fees
  • Porto (OPO) – São Paulo (GRU) one-way in TAP Air Portugal’s A330-900neo business class for 113,000 miles + ~$307 in taxes and fees

6. Fly From Europe to Southern Africa via Lisbon in TAP Business Class (120,000 Miles)

TAP Air Portugal Business Class passenger sleeping
TAP Air Portugal A330 900neo business class. Image Credit: TAP Air Portugal

If you don’t feel like heading down to South America, you can also redeem miles to head to Southern Africa. TAP Air Portugal offers nonstop flights to 2 unique destinations. Unsurprisingly, these destinations are former Portuguese colonies.

Additionally, flying from deeper in Europe as opposed to originating in Portugal is the same price. The best part is that the flights from Lisbon to Southern Africa feature the A330-900neo business class.

So, let’s look at 2 solid redemptions you can make as follows:

  • Oslo (OSL) — Lisbon (LIS) – Luanda (LAD) one-way in TAP Air Portugal business class for 120,000 miles + ~$336 in taxes and fees
  • Stockholm (ARN) — Lisbon (LIS) – Maputo (MPM) one-way in TAP Air Portugal business class for 120,000 miles + ~$367 in taxes and fees

7. Fly Within Africa on South African Airways Business Class (50,000 Miles)

South African Airways JNB VFA business class seat
Image Credit: Keri Stooksbury

Here’s where things really start to get interesting.

South African Airways, a Star Alliance partner, offers lie-flat business class seats on its A330-300 aircraft. In fact, with its bankruptcy and restructuring, South African Airways now has just 1 long-haul plane in its entire fleet. That’s the A330-300 (tail number ZS-SXM).

It’s currently offered on nonstop flights from Johannesburg (JNB) and Lagos (LOS), though it is scheduled to be offered from Johannesburg (JNB) to Accra (ACC) when it’s not deployed to/from Lagos.

Here’s the redemption:

  • Accra (ACC) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in South African Airways’ A330-300 business class for 50,000 miles + ~$363 in taxes and fees
  • Lagos (LOS) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in South African Airways’ A330-300 business class for 50,000 miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees

8. Fly Nonstop From Tokyo to India in ANA Business Class (50,000 Miles)

ANA Business Class Seat
Enjoy the comfort of ANA business class. Image Credit: Stephen Au

ANA is Japan’s largest airline, and it’s got an amazing business class. Basically, you’ve got plenty to look for if you have a chance to fly ANA.

There’s yet another sweet spot here, and it’s for flights wholly within Asia. You can travel all the way from Japan to India in business class for a price of 50,000 miles one-way. Not a bad value for 10 to 11 hours in an excellent lie-flat business class product!

Here are some great example routes you can take:

  • Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Delhi (DEL) one-way in ANA business class for 50,000 miles + ~$89 in taxes and fees
  • Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Chennai (MAA) one-way in ANA business class for 50,000 miles + ~$90 in taxes and fees
  • Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Mumbai (BOM) one-way in ANA business class for 50,000 miles + ~$90 in taxes and fees

9. Fly Nonstop From Tokyo to Indonesia in ANA Business Class (50,000 Miles)

ANA B787 8 business class seats by window
ANA business class. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Not that interested in flying to India? You can check out the deep parts of Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, and pay the same, excellent price for ANA business class using TAP Miles&Go miles. The flights aren’t as long as flights to India, but it’s still a great value redemption.

Here is a great example redemption you can make:

  • Jakarta (CGK) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA business class for 50,000 miles + ~$67 in taxes and fees
  • Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in ANA business class for 50,000 miles + ~$88 in taxes and fees
  • Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) one-way in ANA business class for 50,000 miles + ~$90 in taxes and fees

10. Fly Nonstop From Seoul to Phuket in Asiana Airlines Business Class (50,000 Miles)

Asiana Airlines A330 Business Class
Asiana Airlines A330 Business Class. Image Credit: Stephen Au

Traveling from Korea to Thailand? Since TAP Miles&Go considers all of Asia to be a single region, you can go all the way from North Asia to the depths of Southeast Asia for 1 great price.

Asiana Airlines flies from Seoul to Bangkok, but it also flies to Phuket, a beach paradise. Here’s the exact redemption you can take:

  • Phuket (HKT) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Asiana Airlines A330-300 regional 2-2-2 business class for 50,000 miles + ~$52 in taxes and fees
  • Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Phuket (HKT) one-way in Asiana Airlines A330-300 regional 2-2-2 business class for 50,000 miles + ~$41 in taxes and fees

11. Fly Nonstop From Seoul to Uzbekistan in Asiana Airlines Business Class (50,000 Miles)

Asiana A330 Business Class
Asiana’s A330 business class is a solid pick for a medium-haul flight. Image Credit: Asiana Airlines

This particular redemption falls under niche redemptions, to say the least. Asiana Airlines offers a unique nonstop flight to Central Asia.

You can fly to Uzbekistan from Seoul with the following redemption:

  • Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Tashkent (TAS) one-way in Asiana’s A330 regional 2-2-2 business class for 50,000 miles + ~$41 in taxes and fees
  • Tashkent (TAS) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Asiana’s A330 regional 2-2-2 business class for 50,000 miles + ~$86 in taxes and fees

12. Access Singapore Business Class Partner Availability on Intra-Asia Awards (50,000 Miles)

Greg Stone - Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 Business Class - Middle Seat
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 business class is bookable using TAP Miles&Go miles on intra-Asia flights. Image Credit: Greg Stone

If you follow points and miles closely, you might have heard that booking Singapore Airlines first class or business class is impossible without using Singapore Airlines’ own miles.

This is true, for the most part. However, on intra-Asia flights, Singapore Airlines releases a healthy amount of availability to partners.

When you couple this with the fact that TAP Miles&Go treats Asia as a single large region, you can get some fabulous value. Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

  • Singapore (SIN) – Beijing (PEK) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 50,000 miles + ~$14 in taxes and fees
  • Singapore (SIN) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 50,000 miles + ~$14 in taxes and fees
  • Singapore (SIN) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 50,000 miles + ~$14 in taxes and fees
  • Singapore (SIN) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 50,000 miles + ~$14 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: You can technically also book Singapore Airlines’ first class (including Suites) using this method, but award availability is nearly impossible to find. This makes business class a much more realistic goal.

13. Fly to Deep South America in Business Class from the U.S. (50,000 Miles)

Avianca Boeing 787 Business Class small rear cabin middle
Flying on Avianca business class is a great way to use TAP Miles&Go miles! Image Credit: Daniel Ross

If you’re more interested in exploring South America, you can book excellent value business class tickets by utilizing 2 Star Alliance airlines: United Airlines and Avianca.

TAP Miles&Go considers all of South America to be a single region, and the award rates for flights between South America and North America are awesome.

Here are some example routes you can take:

  • Houston (IAH) – Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in United Polaris class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Houston (IAH) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in United Polaris class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Houston (IAH) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) one-way in United Polaris class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Bogota (BOG) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) with a stopover on Bogota (BOG) one-way in Avianca business class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Newark (EWR) – Lima (LIM) one-way in United Polaris class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Newark (EWR) – São Paulo (GRU) one-way on United Polaris class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – São Paulo (GRU) one-way on United Polaris class for 50,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees

14. Fly Transcontinental Business Class Within North America (45,000 Miles)

Air Canada Business Class
Air Canada Signature Class on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is flown on some transcontinental U.S.-Canada flights. Image Credit: Air Canada

North America is a big continent. TAP Miles&Go considers the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean to be a single zone under partner award bookings, so there are opportunities to get transcontinental business class for cheap.

Air Canada uses wide-body aircraft with proper business class seats on some of its transcontinental routes (frequencies may vary). When you use TAP miles, you can get some attractive redemption value:

  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class for 45,000 miles + ~$170 in taxes and fees
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Newark (EWR) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class for 45,000 miles + ~$139 in taxes and fees

15. Fly From North America to the Caribbean in Business Class (45,000 Miles)

Air Canada 787 Signature Class
Enjoy Air Canada’s 787 business class on select leisure flights to the Caribbean. Image Credit: Air Canada

Air Canada has an extensive network of flights to the Caribbean. We can leverage this to book nonstop flights from Canada to the Caribbean for great value.

Just be sure to try to find wide-body aircraft or planes with at least angled-flat seats.

Here is 1 route redemption you can make:

  • Toronto (YYZ) – Bridgetown (BGI) one-way in Air Canada 787 Signature Class for 45,000 miles + ~$108 in taxes and fees

16. Fly From North America to the Caribbean in Economy Class (30,000 Miles)

United B737 800 Island Hopper HNL PNI seat pitch
United Airlines Economy. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Our very last redemption is a relatively simple one. Flights from North America to the Caribbean can be expensive, especially during high season.

If you have no desire to fly in business class or first class on a shorter flight such as this one, you can redeem TAP miles for 30,000 miles one-way for flights anywhere from the U.S. and Canada to the Caribbean.

Here are some great example routes:

  • Denver (DEN) – Nassau (NAS) on United Airlines economy class for 30,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Houston (IAH) – Port of Spain (POS) on United Airlines economy class for 30,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Newark (EWR) – Grand Cayman (GCM) on United Airlines economy class for 30,000 miles + ~$29 in taxes and fees
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Aruba (AUA) on United Airlines economy class for 30,000 miles + ~$39 in taxes and fees

Final Thoughts

Between Emirates business class redemptions, niche Star Alliance business class flights, and even transcontinental flights within North America, there are tons of ways to redeem TAP Miles&Go miles for maximum value.

This traditionally obscure mileage program has a bunch of great options you can take, despite having experienced lots of devaluations over the years.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Card from Cardless was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I earn miles on TAP Miles&Go?

The easiest way for U.S.-based consumers to earn TAP miles is to transfer them from Marriott Bonvoy or Capital One Miles-earning credit cards.

You can transfer Capital One miles at a 1:1 ratio or Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio, plus a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred to TAP.

Additionally, you can earn Miles&Go miles using the TAP Miles&Go Amex card.

Is it possible to earn TAP Miles&Go miles by using credit cards?

There’s no way to earn TAP miles directly, but you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points or Capital One miles and then transfer them to TAP easily.

All you do is add another step, and all of a sudden, you have a bunch of TAP miles!

What are TAP Miles&Go miles worth?

It depends wildly on how you redeem them. We have demonstrated how you can get 15 to 17 cents per mile in value. However, with bad redemptions, you’ll easily go down to 1 to 2 cents per point.

Are TAP miles refundable?

TAP miles are refundable if the travel has not yet commenced.

You’ll pay a $62 change fee after issuance for select requests. Depending on what you want, you’ll be charged a cancellation fee plus a re-crediting of miles fee ($148 for flights outside of Europe).

When do TAP Miles&Go miles expire?

TAP miles expire after 3 years, regardless of earning activity. You can pay a fee to extend the validity of your miles for another 3 years. However, you can’t continuously extend the miles.

Is TAP Air Portugal part of United Airlines?

No. While TAP Air Portugal and United Airlines are both in the Star Alliance, they are not the same company.

TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier of Portugal, while United Airlines is an American company that operates flights from many cities in the U.S.

How much does it cost to buy TAP Miles&Go miles?

The price to purchase miles is €35 (~$39) per 1,000 miles. You can purchase a maximum of 20,000 miles per transaction and up to 100,000 miles per year.

How do I join TAP Miles&Go?

Do I need to be a TAP Miles&Go member to search for awards?

Yes. Additionally, you need to have earned at least 1 mile to search for flight awards. In order to get around this, you can search via another partner’s website, such as United Airlines.

How many TAP Miles&Go miles do I have?

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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