There is no nonstop path linking Sky Harbor to the Algarve, which means every itinerary in business class from Phoenix to Faro requires a smart connection, and after many trips on this corridor I've settled on two reliable strategies. The most efficient routes American travelers through Delta's Atlanta or JFK hub for a transatlantic hop, then a same-day or overnight connection via Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal, whose A330neo business class cabins offer lie-flat seating and a genuinely pleasant introduction to Portuguese hospitality before the short regional hop down to Faro. Alternatively, British Airways routes traffic through Heathrow, where Club Suite on their 777 and A350 aircraft delivers a private, door-equipped suite that's become the gold standard for long-haul comfort—though you'll then need a connecting flight, as BA doesn't operate mainline metal into Faro itself, relying instead on partner or codeshare links for that final leg.
Having flown both paths repeatedly, my strong preference is the Delta-TAP combination when timing allows a Lisbon layover of two to three hours; TAP's Lisbon hub is compact enough that even tight connections rarely feel stressful, and the Portuguese carrier's business class dining, featuring vinho verde and bacalhau-inspired dishes, sets the tone for arrival better than a rushed Heathrow transfer ever could. One insider trick worth knowing: Faro's airport gets seasonally overwhelmed with European leisure charters in July and August, so business class passengers connecting through Lisbon or London during shoulder season avoid both crowds and the worst turbulence-prone Atlantic weather patterns that plague peak summer transatlantic crossings.
April, May, September, and October consistently offer the best combination of fare value and pleasant Algarve weather, sidestepping both winter's Atlantic storms and summer's tourist saturation. Because premium award space and discounted business fares on this Phoenix-to-Lisbon-to-Faro corridor fluctuate unpredictably depending on Delta's transatlantic capacity and TAP's connection inventory, setting up automated fare alerts is the smartest way to catch a favorable pricing window before it closes.
