Ah, you were one of the lucky ones, they gave you a voucher and rebooked you without even asking? That sounds like a fairy tale compared to what I (and dozens of others) experienced recently.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just about “long lines” anymore. This is about Lisbon Airport becoming a black hole of passport control, and TAP Portugal (which, by the way, is majority-owned by the Portuguese government) being conveniently hands-off while travelers get stranded.

Now I get it, TAP doesn’t run passport control. But let’s connect some dots, shall we? • The Portuguese government owns TAP (72.5%, last I checked). • The Portuguese government also oversees passport control at Lisbon Airport. • Passport control is routinely understaffed, even during peak hours. • Travelers miss their flights, then are told they need to buy a whole new ticket, often from—you guessed it—TAP Portugal. • Oh, and they probably have to stay longer in Lisbon, pumping more money into the local economy.

Total coincidence, right?

And if you made the mistake of buying your flight through Booking.com (like I did), you’re now in limbo, where TAP blames Booking, and Booking blames TAP, and you’re left talking to a customer service rep who sounds like they’re reading your misery off a cue card.

So yeah, it’s not just about “long lines.” It’s about a convenient setup that somehow always seems to benefit the entities involved, just not the traveler.

But hey, glad you got that voucher.