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TAP Air Portugal may not be the largest airline in Europe, but as the national flag carrier of Portugal, it flies to over 80 destinations across over 30 countries and connects several U.S. cities to Europe through its primary hub in Lisbon.
Its frequent flyer program, TAP Miles&Go, flies under the radar for many. But for those who frequently fly on TAP or its partners, it can be a compelling opportunity for travelers looking to unlock elite benefits and earn Star Alliance elite status.
If you're aiming to enhance your travel experience with lounge access, priority boarding, or upgrades, here's what you need to know about earning and maximizing TAP elite status.
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TAP Elite Status Qualification Requirements
New members without status start with base-level membership, but you can earn your way up to Silver, Gold, or Navigator Status.
Members qualify for TAP Miles&Go status by earning Status Miles. These are separate from redeemable Bonus Miles, which can be used to book award flights. Status Miles are earned by flying on TAP flights or Star Alliance flights. As with most airline programs, these Status Miles reset each year, so you’ll need to continue to earn them to keep your status.
These are the number of Status Miles you’ll need to earn to qualify for each level of elite status:
| TAP Miles&Go Status Tier | Status Miles Required to Reach Tier | OR Segments Needed to Reach Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | 30,000 Status Miles | 25 TAP flights |
| Gold | 70,000 Status Miles | 50 TAP flights |
| Navigator | 125,000 Status Miles | 70 TAP flights |
Elite status in the Miles&Go program is based on your travel during a 12-month membership cycle, which kicks off the month after you first joined. Once you qualify for or renew a status level, it stays active through the end of the next full cycle.
Maintaining status
To earn status, you'll need to accumulate the miles or flight segments (shown in the chart above). However, once you've qualified for TAP elite status, maintaining it is a bit easier. That’s because the number of status miles required to renew your status is lower than what’s needed to earn it initially.
Here’s what you’ll need to maintain your status:
| TAP Elite Status | Number of miles or segments required to maintain status |
|---|---|
| Silver | 20,000 or 15 TAP Air Portugal Flights |
| Gold | 50,000 or 40 TAP Air Portugal Flights |
| Navigator | 100,000 or 70 TAP Air Portugal Flights |
Keep in mind that to qualify for or maintain Navigator status based on flights, of the 70 TAP flights needed in total, at least 10 must be in Plus, Executive, or Top Executive fare classes.
Earning Status Miles
To earn status miles with TAP Air Portugal's Miles&Go program, you must fly on TAP or Star Alliance partner airlines and credit the flights to your Miles&Go account. These flights earn status miles, which count toward elite status. Flights on non-alliance partners (Azul, Emirates, GOL, Azores Airlines) only earn redeemable miles and do not count toward status.
You can also boost your status miles by spending on the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Credit Card. As a cardmember, you can earn 1 Status Mile for every 5 miles you rack up on eligible purchases, up to 10,000 Status Miles each year.
Related: Earn Airline Elite Status Without Flying: Status Match, Fast Track, Card Spending Opportunities
Convert redeemable miles to Status Miles
An interesting option for those looking to top off their Status Miles towards earning a tier, or maintaining one, is to convert some of your redeemable Bonus Miles into Status Miles. You can redeem them in this way at a rate of 2 Bonus Miles to 1 Status Mile.
You can only convert up to 20,000 Bonus Miles, netting you a total of 10,000 Status Miles each year, so it is primarily helpful when you just need a few more Status Miles to reach the next level.
Benefits of TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go Status
Just by being a member of TAP Air Portugal, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits through their Miles&Go program. This includes earning and redeeming miles not only on TAP flights but also across the Star Alliance network and other partner airlines.
Members have access to exclusive promotions, the ability to upgrade to business class using miles, and discounted award tickets for children. Additionally, the program offers unique perks such as birthday surprises and the option to borrow miles when you're short on a redemption.
But the real magic happens once you start earning elite status. Here are the benefits available at each level.
Silver status benefits
Silver members enjoy the following perks when they fly TAP:
- Earn 25% more Bonus Miles (On TAP flights only)
- Priority Check-in
- Priority Airport service, including check-in, security, and baggage
- Dedicated customer service phone line
- Unlimited access to STAR Alliance lounges on international flights
- Up to four passes to Star Alliance lounges in Lisbon when traveling on TAP-operated European or North African flights
- Get a miles advance of up to 5,000 miles if you don’t have enough to purchase your trip.
- Free standard seat assignment at the time of booking
- Last-minute upgrade option
In addition, earning TAP Silver level, you'll also earn Star Alliance Silver status, meaning you'll have many of the same benefits when flying on partner airlines as well.
Gold status benefits
Gold members enjoy all of the Silver member benefits plus the following perks:
- Earn 50% more Bonus Miles when flying TAP.
- Free Comfort Seat selection at the time of booking.
- Member and one guest have access to Star Alliance lounges whenever you travel on TAP or Star Alliance partners.
- One extra complimentary checked bag.
- Gold members are exempt from certain service fees related to award tickets.
- Get a miles advance of up to 10,000 miles.
- Enjoy up to 40% off when redeeming a companion ticket
- Gift Gold status to a friend (Note: This benefit is only available to members who obtained Gold status through Status Miles or TAP flights.)
- Bonus Miles don't expire
In addition, Gold members will enjoy Star Alliance Gold status.
The highest level of TAP Miles&Go status is Navigator. In addition to all of the benefits listed above, Navigator-level members will receive the following perks:
- Complimentary seat selection for the member and up to four companions traveling on the same booking
- TAP Premium Lounge access for one guest, even if they aren’t flying with the elite member
- Get a miles advance of up to 20,000 Bonus Miles
- Free checked sports equipment (up to five bags)
- Free unlimited Wi-Fi on A330-900 and A321-LR aircraft
- Two free business-class upgrades
- Get guaranteed seat availability: Executive (business class) up to 72 hours before departure, and Economy up to 24 hours before departure when flying Plus
- Rollover of 10% of Status Miles earned when you earn over 100,000 Status Miles in a year
In March 2025, TAP Air Portugal launched a lifetime benefit that allows members to accumulate Miles for Life towards lifetime Gold or Navigator status. Much like those in similar “million miler” programs, these miles do not reset each year, but rather accumulate for the lifetime of the member (counted back to 1998). In order to qualify for lifetime status, you will need to earn:
- 2 million miles on TAP flights — Gold for Life
- 3 million miles on TAP flights — Navigator for Life
All benefits are identical to the annual status tiers, except that they do not reset each year. You can not lose lifetime status once earned.
Our Take
If your primary goal is earning Star Alliance status, there may be other programs that offer an easier path. However, TAP elite status can be a valuable reward for loyal flyers looking to make the most of every trip. Elite members enjoy valuable savings on seat selection, checked baggage, and waived award fees.
For travelers who frequently fly with TAP, achieving elite status can significantly enhance the overall travel experience. Benefits such as lounge access, priority services, and potential upgrades contribute to a more seamless and comfortable journey.
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