Information on Azores Airlines Flights

Azores Airlines may be based out of an island in the Azores archipelago, but thanks to its location between the US and Europe, it serves a much broader area. You can get from Boston to Lisbon and New York City to Paris on this carrier – and if you happen to have a stopover in the Azores, all the better.

The Azores archipelago is part of Portugal, which is what prompted my first visit – I was in Portugal on a solo trip when I realized I could get to the islands in just over 2 hours on Azores Airlines. Here’s what you need to know about Azores Airlines, yourself.

Traveling on Azores Airlines from the US

If you’re looking for an alternative airline to get you to Europe from the US, give the Azores Airlines flight schedule a peek.

Currently, the airline offers nonstop flights between US cities like Boston, New York and Oakland to Portuguese destinations like Lisbon, Porto and Terceira (an island in the Azores). You can also get to London from Boston and New York with a stopover in Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores and the home base of Azores Airlines.

Azores Airlines also connects US-based travelers with other European island chains. You can get to Portugal's Madeira archipelago (which is southeast of the Azores) from Boston and New York and to the African Cape Verde islands from Boston.

Traveling on Azores Airlines from Europe

Suppose you’re like me and you’re traveling through Europe when you realize that you can get to the Azores in just a few hours. In that case, you’ll be happy to know that you can fly directly to Ponta Delgada on Azores Airlines from several European cities, including Milan, London, Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Bilbao.

You can also fly Azores Airlines between London and North American cities like Boston, New York, and Montreal. The island-focused airline also connects London and the Cape Verde archipelago, an island nation in West Africa.

All the flights to and from London include a stopover in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island, where Azores Airlines is based.

The Azores Airlines stopover option

Most people cringe at the idea of a stopover, and I’m usually one of them, but the Azores Airlines stopover option is truly enticing. Since the Azores archipelago is so perfectly situated between the US and Europe (as well as Europe and West Africa), it is a perfect midway point to get off the plane, stretch your legs and see something new. And there is a lot to see.

I was drawn to the Azores for the whale watching tours, but I ended up also spending time surfing on the northern coast of São Miguel and planning a trip to see the twin crater lakes of Sete Cidades – one green and one blue – along with the hot springs in the Furnas Valley.

With the Azores Airlines stopover option, you can add a stopover of up to 7 days when you’re traveling between the US and Europe (like on the New York or Boston to London flights). You can spend your time on the islands of São Miguel or Terceira during the stopover, or connect to another island in the Azores.

You can add the Azores Airlines stopover option on the way to your final destination, on the way back or on both legs of the journey. I recommend stopping over at least once if you can swing the extra travel time.

Azores Airlines fare classes

Azores Airlines has 6 fare classes that range from the most affordable Economy Simple – where you can only bring a 17.6-pound (8-kilogram) carry-on – to the high-end Comfort Plus class, which includes a 33-pound (15-kilogram) carry-on, 2 oversize checked bags, advanced seat selection, lounge access, ticket changes and refunds, and priority when it comes to check-in and boarding.

For travelers who don’t require special treatment (or ticket changes and refunds), the Economy Basic fare class may be the best option. It’s one step above the Economy Simple fare and provides guests with both a 17.6-pound (8-kilogram) carry-on and a standard 50-pound (23-kilogram) checked bag.

If you're worried that you might need to change your ticket, opt for the Economy Top ticket, which allows for flexible ticket changes and refunds.

Azores Airlines check-in

The easiest way to check in for your flight on Azores Airlines is to do so online. By checking in online you can avoid waiting in the airport check-in line and will have your boarding pass on your phone. If you don’t have any baggage to check and you have already checked in online, you can head straight to airport security.

You can check-in online as early as 48 hours prior to departure or as late as 1 hour and 15 minutes before departure.

However, if you prefer to check in at the airport or have special requests, you may need to check in in person. Airport check-in is available between 2 hours (for flights from Europe) and 5 hours (for flights from Oakland) before departure. Check-in closes between 45 minutes and 1 hour before the flight departs.

There are also check-in kiosks at Lisbon Airport, Ponta Delgada Airport, Porto Airport and Funchal Airport.

Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment on Azores Airlines

To start, it’s important to note that Wi-Fi isn’t available on every Azores Airlines flight. Currently, only the A321LR planes in the fleet offer Wi-Fi service.

There are three Wi-Fi tiers. The 40MB tier is best just for texting and keeping up on socials, the 80MB tier is better for emailing and web browsing, and the 150 MB option is best for long flights and streaming. These services are available once the plane is above 10,000 feet.

For travelers who like to check out from the world during a flight (including me), you can enjoy free entertainment from Azores Airlines on your personal devices on some flights. To stream from the selection of movies and TV shows (which include several new releases), you just need to connect to the airline network and choose something to watch.

Personal device entertainment is generally only available on the new A321neo and A321LR planes, so if you’re unsure about entertainment options, you might want to download some content onto your device in advance of your flight.

Azores Airlines' change and cancellation policies

If you’re flying from or to the US on Azores Airlines you’ll be happy to know that the airline is in compliance with the US Department of Transportation and has a customer service plan for US travelers.

When you book with Azores Airlines you can expect that your ticket is fully refundable for at least 24 hours after booking, as long as the reservation is made 1 week or more prior to departure.

After that 24-hour window, your ability to change or cancel your ticket will depend largely on what type of fare you purchased. If you want to be able to change your ticket at will (including same-day changes) or would like your fare refunded to you, you’ll need to book either the Economy Top or Comfort Plus option. Both fare classes allow for same-day changes and full cancellations with a refund.

Food onboard Azores Airlines

Food is an important part of the Portuguese and Azorean cultures and the Azores Airlines inflight menu reflects that. All guests who book one of the airline’s Comfort fares – Comfort Light or Comfort Plus – will enjoy a hot meal that includes an entrée and dessert on flights over 3 hours.

Meal options may include alcatra, a traditional pot-roast-style dish from Terceira Island, and the sweet cavacas pastry from Santa Maria Island. For flights under 3 hours, Comfort flyers are served a simple snack and drinks.

Economy class travelers are served meals on certain flights, but the offering varies based on the time, duration and destination of the flight. For that reason, if you’re flying Economy, I recommend arriving with plenty of snacks. Meals are not served on flights between the islands of the Azores.