patiolaterns

We are flying out of Lisbon airport next year and have heard that the departure process
can be difficult. Hope to get a direct flight from Lisbon to Toronto Canada.
Looking for step by step instructions starting with arriving at airport - boarding passes - getting rid of suitcases - finding departure areas etc
Thanks so much for any help from fellow travellers.

adrienne

It's not difficult at all. Sorry I can't give you a step by step guideline but when I travel I just look around and figure things out and don't memorize what I did at each airport.

Just like any other airport you get boarding passes when you check in (if you haven't printed them ahead). Look at the display and see what area you should be checking in at based on your flight. Go upstairs, answer questions, get in line to check in. Go to security, go to gate.

Getting rid of suitcases? Do you mean throwing them out or checking them? You check them at the check in desk where you get your boarding pass.

It's all so normal.

lreynold1

I agree with Adrienne that it's a pretty unremarkable and simple process. I think that maybe the one thing that confuses some people is that there are lots of signs with numbers, some are numbers of the check-in counters, some are numbers of departure gates. That's not an unusual feature for European airports (listing the numbers of the check-in counters and assigning you one based on flight number and airline), but I haven't seen it in the US or Canada.

When you arrive at the airport, look on the departure screen to find out what counter you go to to check in. Departure screens in this part of the airport don't show the gate numbers, but rather the numbers of the counters where you can check in. Those are all up a short flight of stairs/moving walkway. You may have to show your ticket to get to the check-in counter area, sometimes not.

Once you're checked in, you get your gate number and then go through security and immigration to enter the areas where all the departure gates are. Not to worry, it's easy.

TorontoSteven

It is the only airport where I arrived, checked in and got on the plane without going through security. It was early on a Monday morning. No one at security and some terminal staff member waived me through.

pizzocchieri

Some airlines now require you to print out your own boarding pass or else they will charge you at the desk for doing it for you. But for a trans-atlantic flight, I would guess you are flying a major carrier, not a low-budget one, where you will be giving a boarding pass when you check in at the desk with your luggage. But make sure you understand that before you leave.

The Lisbon airport is rather small and even if you find it slightly confusing when you get there, it won't take you more than 5 minutes to figure it out. There is always an information desk in an airport, and uniformed people walking around who speak English. You really only need to show up 2 hours ahead of your flight, and you and your luggage will be flown back to Canada.

SloJan2

It's easypeasy. As long as there isn't a strike, you're good to go!

chapla

I do remember that we went to the wrong terminal-there are 2 so make sure you know which one you need!
Security was also backed up and very slow/thorough,even checked passports!
The cheapest taxi ride to an airport, 8 euros!

Southam

It's pretty easy to find this guide http://www.lisbon-airport.com
Finding a non-stop from Toronto to Lisbon will be harder. www.itasoftware.com does not show any scheduled non-stops on that route. It doesn't deal with charters, however, which may be where you will have to look. Air Transat had flights this summer. The schedule for next year may not be available yet. In Toronto you can find travel agencies that specialize in Portugal.

patiolaterns

Thanks again to everyone for your responses

thursdaysd

While a taxi may be cheap, there's a good bus that's even cheaper. Going from the airport to town the ticket is good on public transport for the rest of the day.

wfg

Two airlines fly direct Toronto-Lisbon. SATA, a Portuguese airline based out of the Azores and
Air Transat, an airline based in Montreal, Canada. A google search will take you to either web site and SATA also has an English link. Both are decent and prices are generally less than travelling on the larger mainstream airlines.

The metro now goes right to the airport and it is a quick ride from downtown and not more than two euros.

Sher

I would suggest that you look into SATA. We flew them for the first time in August and I was very pleased with the planes, the price, the flight attendents and the food wasn't bad either.
Check into SATA Plus which is like a business class. I didn't realize that the difference in the ticket price between that and the economy seats was not that great.
They do not have individual monitors on the seat backs, if that matters to you.
I found them far superior to TAP.

patiolaterns

Appreciate your comments re: airlines with direct flights
Will check Air Transat and SATA once there schedules are out for next
year. Really looking forward to our trip to Lisbon.