Lisbon Airport Long Wait

[Pug1]

Hi everyone, we fly TAP from Porto to Lisbon on 18th April to connect with Emirates to Dubai same night. We arrive in Lisbon at midday and Emirates departs at 21.15 so a long wait. Not sure when the Emirates check-in will open for the Dubai flight. I understand there are two pay-for-access lounges in Terminal 1, the Blue lounge and ANA. The former is not as good as ANA but ANA has a three hour maximum stay. If we can check our bags in at around midday, we are happy to go into town for a few hours and then book the ANA lounge for the three hours before we head for departures at say 19.00 hours. Does that sound like a good plan or has anyone been to Lisbon airport recently and can offer alternative suggestions?
Our TA could probably have booked the TAP flight as Emirates but didn't - probably our fault as we decided late to fly from Porto instead of taking the train.

 

[Gold Member]

Assuming that you don’t want to leave the airport and if both lounges are pay per use set at a maximum of 3 hrs, why not buy two passes allowing 6hrs? I doubt the Lounge Dragons would care unless there’s an overly restrictive policy they must enforce. Or you could just buy 1 pass and hope they don’t police the stay time, but then cough up the second entry fee if asked.

I’ve been through the Lisbon ANA lounge once before and despite the massive overcrowding ruining the experience, I can honestly say that the custard tarts were amazing. Fresh and hot from the oven with the flaky pastry, yum.

 

[Pug1]

Assuming that you don’t want to leave the airport and if both lounges are pay per use set at a maximum of 3 hrs, why not buy two passes allowing 6hrs? I doubt the Lounge Dragons would care unless there’s an overly restrictive policy they must enforce. Or you could just buy 1 pass and hope they don’t police the stay time, but then cough up the second entry fee if asked.

I’ve been through the Lisbon ANA lounge once before and despite the massive overcrowding ruining the experience, I can honestly say that the custard tarts were amazing. Fresh and hot from the oven with the flaky pastry, yum.

Good lateral thinking, thank you. We're happy to go into town if we can check our luggage in on arrival from Porto. Since Emirates has an earlier flight departing 14.15 that may be possible as their check-in desk might be open for our later flight. I understand the Blue lounge does not have any time limit but is much smaller and not as nice as ANA. Yes, we are looking forward to trying the genuine Portuguese tarts.

 

[Mattg]

I don't think you'll be able to check-in for the Emirates flight more than around 4 hours before departure. You could see if they'll accept your bags when check-in for the previous flight is open, but I wouldn't count on it. You also wouldn't be able to access the airside lounges until you've checked in.

I'd find a place to store your luggage at the airport and take the metro into central Lisbon for the day. The metro station is right next to the airport and you can get downtown in around 30-40 minutes.

 

[Pug1]

I don't think you'll be able to check-in for the Emirates flight more than around 4 hours before departure. You could see if they'll accept your bags when check-in for the previous flight is open, but I wouldn't count on it. You also wouldn't be able to access the airside lounges until you've checked in.

I'd find a place to store your luggage at the airport and take the metro into central Lisbon for the day. The metro station is right next to the airport and you can get downtown in around 30-40 minutes.

I suspect you are right. I thought the ANA lounge was before security but not sure. We'll play it by ear and are happy to catch the metro into town. There is a luggage storage facility there. We have four nights in Lisbon at the beginning of the holiday so will be able to check out options then. We are doing the Douro River cruise with Viking.

 

[Mattg]

I suspect you are right. I thought the ANA lounge was before security but not sure. We'll play it by ear and are happy to catch the metro into town. There is a luggage storage facility there. We have four nights in Lisbon at the beginning of the holiday so will be able to check out options then. We are doing the Douro River cruise with Viking.

I can confirm the ANA lounge is after security.

 

[Pug1]

I can confirm the ANA lounge is after security.

I can confirm the ANA lounge is after security.

thank you for that mattg:

 

[Pug1]

Just returned from this trip and by way of feedback we used the ANA lounge in Lisbon, and it was fine. It was self-service for the food and drinks, and we enjoyed a couple of glasses of nice Portuguese red and some snacks. Our flight to Dubai was late night so the lounge was not too crowded when we got in. The Emirates check-in at Lisbon was a shambles with the local crew, who arrived in singles at about 4 hours before flight time and then proceeded to have a chat and a team huddle! Then the two ladies in front of us were forced to unload some stuff from their check-in cases, presumably because they were overweight. The check in persons then watched those ladies stuff all the unloaded pieces into their carry on!

 

[Mattg]

Just returned from this trip and by way of feedback we used the ANA lounge in Lisbon, and it was fine. It was self-service for the food and drinks, and we enjoyed a couple of glasses of nice Portuguese red and some snacks. Our flight to Dubai was late night so the lounge was not too crowded when we got in. The Emirates check-in at Lisbon was a shambles with the local crew, who arrived in singles at about 4 hours before flight time and then proceeded to have a chat and a team huddle! Then the two ladies in front of us were forced to unload some stuff from their check-in cases, presumably because they were overweight. The check in persons then watched those ladies stuff all the unloaded pieces into their carry on!

Did you leave the airport at all? If so, were you able to store your bags somewhere?

 

[Pug1]

Did you leave the airport at all? If so, were you able to store your bags somewhere?

We were going to do so Mattg but decided not to for a couple of reasons. First Lisbon airport was closed due to a drone sighting so our flight from Porto was delayed. Second one of the metro lines was on strike. Since we had been in Lisbon for four days before the cruise, we decided to hang around the airport and use the ANA lounge for a few hours before our flight to Dubai. There is a left luggage facility at Lisbon airport as you previously suggested.

 

[Mattg]

We were going to do so Mattg but decided not to for a couple of reasons. First Lisbon airport was closed due to a drone sighting so our flight from Porto was delayed. Second one of the metro lines was on strike. Since we had been in Lisbon for four days before the cruise, we decided to hang around the airport and use the ANA lounge for a few hours before our flight to Dubai. There is a left luggage facility at Lisbon airport as you previously suggested.

Ah, "em greve" - one of the most common phrases I've heard when using the trains in Lisbon!