New York (JFK) to Zürich (ZRH)

On the Ground: I hopped into an Uber and headed straight to John F. Kennedy International Airport for my TAP Portugal flight. Although I expected major delays during rush hour, the trip to the airport was surprisingly quick, which translated to more time spent in the lounge and less stress through check-in and security. It was painless, just the way I like it.

Pre-Flight: As soon as I walked up to the check-in counter, the agent greeted me with a welcoming smile. Within minutes I was on my way to security, which I breezed through. As much as I travel, there is always something that isn’t quite what it needs to be. Were the stars finally aligning for this trip? I took it all in and appreciated the seamless experience.

In-Flight: On almost all of my international flights, I go straight to the entertainment options. This is when I catch up on blockbuster movies. This time was no exception. I watched four movies during the flight. Although popcorn would have been a welcome bonus to my movie night, I did thoroughly enjoy my shrimp confit followed by an appetizing cream of chickpea soup, orange segments and salmon caviar. I selected the guinea fowl alongside some oven-roasted baby potatoes as my entrée. Aside from all the perfectly prepared food options, I was most impressed with the wine selection. I tried some vinho verde, red wine and the famous Porto wine with my cheese selection at the end. Obrigada!

The Experience: Overall, from the beautiful ticket agents with their crisp uniforms and constant smiles when I first arrived at the check-in counter until they took my headphones before we landed, I not only fell in love with the airline but also the culture it represents.