Aer Lingus review - by Anne Parker
17 December 2006

My daughter and I travelled with Aer Lingus from Manchester to Dublin to catch a connecting flight on to New York. The flight leaving Manchester on was delayed and we had to run through Dublin Airport because our next flight was boarding. On the Friday, on the way home, the flight from New York was delayed over 2 hours which meant we we just missed our flight back to Manchester by about 10 mins. The flight left without us. This was 09.30. We went to the Aer Lingus desk and the next flight was 20.30 11hrs later. They offered us 7 euros each (£5.50) to last us all day and when I asked were we could wait they said in departure. We left the desk and then thought this is not good enough so we went back and complained and only after negotiation were we offered the opportunity to wait in the premiere lounge. Thank you Aer Lingus for trying to make our 11hr delay (which was not our fault) any easier. This was the first and the last time that either myself or my daughter will use this airline.

Aer Lingus review - by R Mason
10 December 2006

Chicago to Dublin, Ireland. This was my first time flying with Aer Lingus, and I was not one bit impressed. I was travelling with my wife, 1 child and a baby. We reserved the bulkhead seats so we would have use of the so called skycot for the baby and when they pulled out the skycot I was shocked to see that it was a cardboard box. It was unbelievable. If you travel with this airline across the ocean for 7.5 hours and you request the skycot, make sure your baby is no longer than 18 inches. Aer Lingus say their A330 aircraft have tv screens in the seat backrests, and interactive games,tv and movies to choose from. Not true. There were 5 tv screens on the plane for coach class, all in the bulk section and emergency seats (tv may or may not work and the sound is very bad). The seats are not very comfortable and the armrests may or may not be taped up with duct tape. We also flew Aer Lingus A320 Spain from Dublin. A much nicer plane with leather seats and more room.

Aer Lingus review - by Patrick Jordan
17 November 2006

This was my first time to use Aer Lingus' new on-line check in facility. It available from 30 hours before flight time, Initially it seems to be only available on flights to and from Heathrow. Web check-in is easy to navigate, and even though seat selection is available when booking, a seat change facility is offered. I was thus able to change my seat from row 6 to row 1. If others are travelling on the same reservation, their FFP details can be entered during the web check-in process too. All that remains then is to print boarding passes: the system generates two copies: one for gate staff, one for passengers to retain. The beauty of this web check-in is that if you are travelling with hand baggage only, you can go directly from the airport entrance to the gate (always remembering to bring your passport!)

Aer Lingus review - by Gavin Stewart
12 November 2006

Man-Dub on very clean comfy A320. Interesting to compare with Ryanair on this highly competitive route. The price difference is small, maybe £10-15 but well worth it. If anything price gap is closing as Ryanair seem to have upped their min starting price per leg to £9.99 (plus taxes plus etc. etc.). Proper check-in starts to feel like a treat; Dublin end has kiosks with user choice over seats. Quicker check-in with EI. Proper gates at Dublin instead of ghastly prefab structure. On board the blue leather seats are particularly comfy. FA's welcoming, mostly Irish, good smattering of more mature crew which is nice. A320 much quieter than 737's. The whole thing is a level above, and still feels more like BA than a low-cost carrier. On balance, for UK-Ireland flights EI has hit the bullseye and gets a thumbs up.

Aer Lingus review - by Alexander Mayhew
1 November 2006

DUB-BOS and JFK-DUB in Premier for a weekend trip. The aeroplanes are looking very old on the inside but as ever it is the crew that leave a lasting impression. In both cases, the crew serving the Premier cabin were faultless and made for a very pleasant journey.

Aer Lingus review - by Malcolm Carter
27 October 2006

The true litmus test of all service industries, is how they react when you really need them. My wife and I emigrated to California, USA from Nottingham, England where our parents and most of our relatives have always lived . One week ago, my father in law was rushed to hospital with heart failure and so my wife booked with Aer Lingus to visit him a week later. Two days before her flight she was informed that her father would not survive more than 48 hours or so. We immediately called Aer Lingus customer service. They got her a flight that very day with a minimal additional charge. A representative even called to inform that the minimal charge would be even less, and offered the company's sympathies. Beat that!

Aer Lingus review - by K Harris
9 September 2006

LHR-ORK. Check-in was pretty easy at Heathrow even though the recent security alerts were still in everyones minds. Aer Lingus has dark blue leather seats and I find them very comfy especially near the front of the aircraft. Aer Lingus A320/21s are an all economy layout and have 174 seats but the seats make for a crowded cabin. The cabin crew were mostly young Irish girls with one Spanish FA. They were cheerful and looked like they happy to see us. Aer Lingus have gone down the low cost road and I miss the old service. The food they serve is quite nice - panini and Coke for €5. Overall Aer Lingus did well and the fare was lower that Ryanair but I miss thge old Aer Lingus maybe it will be back someday!

Aer Lingus review - by Kevin Marshall
6 September 2006

BHX to DUB return. Check in - Understaffed and very slow. 30 minutes to check in. Security took the best part of 40 minutes to an hour, leaving a a quick run for boarding. Onboard - Preassigned seat - flight was 3/4 full on Airbus 320 but didn't seem it. Aircraft clean and well presented. Food edible, if the usual overpricing for having a nibble in the sky was in effect. FA's friendly and seemed pleased to have you aboard. Baggage reclaim about 10 mins wait. Return leg - arrived 2 hours before as instructed, to go through Fast Check in. Boarding quick and ordered - again assigned seating helps. Better service than Ryanair - and cheaper. Will use again on this route.

Aer Lingus review - by Brian Murphy
6 September 2006

The Dublin-London route is one of the busier sectors in Western Europe with a number of airlines on this route. Recently, I travelled from Dublin to London City airport with Air France CityJet and returned from London Heathrow to Dublin with Aer Lingus in Y class. The contrast between the two airlines is now very significant. Aer Lingus used be such a great Irish airline, but since it went low-cost a couple of years ago, it has gone steadily downhill and is just marginally better than Ryanair, which has total disrespect for its customers and hence I would question anyone taking this service to London. The old problem still exists on the Aer Lingus Heathrow-Dublin route - due to the congestion at Heathrow, there is very often a delay of up to 30 minutes on departure. In fact, even in the good old days of Aer Lingus, this problem was always there. There are still some good aspects with the service - the planes and seats are very clean, the FA's are professional, and there is still pre-assigned seating. However, what a shame that the excellent service which was once an integral part of Aer Lingus (remember the caring TV advertisements they used run a couple of years ago?) seem to be completely abandoned forever by the Irish national airline. You now have to pay for food and drinks on board, and in addition, the FA's make several announcements trying to sell various products on board which gets really annoying after a while, as I’m sure any business traveller will vouch for! The FA's also now appear to be somewhat indifferent, which was never the case in the past, and this also is understandable since they now have the extra burden of dealing with change on board, which I'm sure makes their job less attractive. With this new low-cost business model in operation on European routes, I would be very reluctant to try their long-haul service to the US or Dubai. What a great pity that we have lost one of the world’s truly exceptional, caring and special airlines in the past few years with respect to service and sincerity - their product could still be so good if they changed over to a full service airline like KLM and Air France on the short-haul routes, as their customer base still seems there for however long.

Aer Lingus review - by Alan Bowen
23 August 2006

An airline of two halves, good and bad. A day return from Heathrow to Dublin during the current security clampdown could have been a disaster but wasn't. Despite thousands of passengers in Heathrow Terminal 1 at 0520, check in using automatic machines was painless, and Aer Lingus allow you to choose your seat at the time of booking, no matter how much you pay. They seem particularly keen on on-time departures and achieved early arrivals on both flights. Crew seemed enthusiastic and keen to help but once on board the negatives began to appear. The A320 has 174 seats instead of the more usual 150, leg room is seriously compromised, OK for an hour but would be uncomfortable for much longer. The food, all to be paid for, has gone downhill, the full Irish breakfast which I used to look forward to was barely warm and nothing like the breakfast advertised, even the soda bread has disappeared. My neighbours sent back the ham and cheese panani as totally inedible, but were not offered a refund. For reasonable prices and on time departures, Aer Lingus seems excellent, for in flight comfort and service, there is a long way to go.

Aer Lingus review - by C Malone
22 August 2006

JFK-SNN-JFK, four hours late leaving JFK, one (of two) lost bag for just over 24 hours, pleasant flight attendants, ok food. The return trip out of Shannon however was (as a frequent flyer) the worst flight experience I have ever had. Was told Aer Lingus had 'mechanical' problems with the aircraft due to transport us. A charter was hired from Air Plus/ Comet (a Spanish carrier). It was absolutely appalling. Three hours late on departure. I expected that while the jet was chartered, it would be an Aer Lingus crew, no chance. Instead it was staffed by a Spanish crew who couldn't give a damn. I also expected that the flight kitchen in Shannon would have provided the food etc., no such luck. While most travelers sneer at airline food, this was the worst I have ever tasted. In particular the snack we were served prior to landing at JFK was inedible, a slice of 'beef' (I think) thrown between two slices of stale bread. This was the worst flying experience I have ever had and I recommend Aer Lingus find an alternative charter airline for use when things go wrong. On a side issue, was issued a boarding pass in a totally incorrect name by AL in Shannon, but this escaped the attention of the 'vigilant' APO checking ID and (presumably) comparing it with the pass at the entrance to the departure area.

Aer Lingus review - by Jorma Tervonen
22 August 2006

Brussels-Dublin-Brussels in Economy. Opted for Aer Lingus to avoid Ryanair, even if it was over 100 euros more expensive for 2 persons, since I prefer to use the main airport in BXL, instead of BXL South (Charleroi) 80 kms from Brussels. Bought a very tasty full Irish breakfast for 8 euros, money well spent. The chicken sandwich on the return flight was unfortunately without any taste. The FAs extremely professional, especially on the morning flight. Both planes seemed to be in good condition, although the leather seats start to show their age. All in all, a pleasant first time experience. Will most definitely fly Aer Lingus again.

Aer Lingus review - by Gareth Conroy
30 July 2006

SNN-BOS-SNN, Very low expectations Flight delayed 3 Hrs going out and a further 1 hr enroute as we had to go over greenland. IFE not great with no PTV's, FA's very good and friendly, had great seats and enjoyed the experience. Coming back, a different story altogether, IFE was terrible as it was all for kids, there were only about 5 kids on the plane and being a night flight they would sleep, FA's were very grumpy and couldn't smile to save their life, although we did land right on time at 05.54 for 05.55. Overall I would fly with them again but would prefer to fly BA or Virgin.

Aer Lingus review - by P Grealy
24 July 2006

DUB - BOS return in Premier. The service level on these flights were quite good but still quite behind the BA Club product. Interior seats & decor were ageing and basic (manual 60% recline) but inflight catering and crew service were good. New L'occitane travel kits are a huge improvement on prior offerings but still only plastic cutlery. Only 2 items let the service down (perhaps outside EI's control) The Shannon stopover is a nightmare on the way out. There are 4 EI flights leaving in the mid afternoon to USA and the US immigration clearance in SNN gets horribly clogged up. You must vacate the plane and then stand in a line for 30-60 mins. We were 50 places from the top of the queue when our official flight departure time passed. EI ground crew then started to filter the queue for the passengers on our flight. in the end we pushed back 45 mins late. Crew said that this happens every day at SNN. This would stop me flying with EI to BOS/NY. The EI lounge in BOS is terrible. No natural daylight and usually filled with Swiss and other airline FF. I looked longingly at the BA lounge as I made my way to the EI lounge. Finally, the usual occurred when just after the doors close, the EI hostesses give out free upgrades to friends/family who they spot in the Economy cabin. Happens every time and on both sectors, this happened again. Guess it is "Who you know"!!!

Aer Lingus review - by Nick Murphy
17 July 2006

DUB To LAX in Premier. Seats were spacious and more than enough room to stay comfortable for the almost 11 hour flight. Pre take off drinks, a canape selection and filet steak for main course - followed by two other meal services. Great wine selection and staff couldn't do enough to make sure everyone was well looked after. The 11 hours flew by with the IFE, and good mix of movies. Highly recommended and well below the price of other airlines on the route from LHR.

Aer Lingus review - by R Cesare
8 July 2006

BGY-DUB-BGY- My wife and I used for the first time this low fares airline. A320 clean and comfortable, crew very professional and friendly, cabin safety procedures very attentive. Departure from Dublin 30 minutes later, check in at Dublin airport very fast, in Bergamo not so good. Our first experience was very good and we hope to fly Aer Lingus again. Just one reproach: for the price we paid, at least one soft drink!

Aer Lingus review - by Frank Barr
1 July 2006

Flew Aer Lingus twice last month ( Dub Amsterdam and Dub Paris) having flown with Ryanair for the past eight years. Fast track check in was excellent and the Airbus A321 was more comfortable ( leg room and Seats than Ryanair's 737-800. What disappointed me though was the cabin crew. In the past they were second to none but now they seem just as sour and disinterested as Ryanair.

Aer Lingus review - by Mike Daly
26 June 2006

JFK-SNN-DUB-AMS-DUB-JFK. Leaving JFK was your typical nightmare (I have called JFK a little piece of hell on earth for many years) - EI has to do something about the check in at JFK - it seems that all the outgoing flights leave around the same time so there are about 500 people checking in at the same time. I was a little disappointed in the service of drinks on the transatlantic journey. Forget about getting a glass of wine 3 hours into the flight - FA disappeared. However, to get to Ireland, it's the cheapest way - you get what you pay for.

Aer Lingus review - by J Delaney
10 June 2006

DUB-BHX on 6.30am flight. All event free, flight was only 50% full. Was able to pick seat 1C with no one else next to me. Return journey on 5th June on the 8.00 am return flight. Again event free and only 50% full (Think this was mainly due to Bank Holiday in Ireland). I must say however that the new skybar menu is very good. I had a coffee and a panini for 7 Euro wish in overall terms is not bad.

Aer Lingus review - by Stephen Timmons
1 June 2006

BHX-DUB. Only cost a pound. Staff friendly and helpful. Service above the average for what is effectively a low-cost airline on these kinds of routes.

Aer Lingus review - by Dave Houlihan
1 June 2006

Just back from Budapest with 5 friends after a fantastic weekend. Flight out delayed due to incoming aircraft being delayed check in a breeze with easy pass self check in. Flight was to be one hour but was only 30 mins late. A320, new, clean - crew were one of the best I have experienced recently. Smiling, obliging, and time for few laughs as well! Landed nearly on time , bags there when arrived at the baggage belt.

Aer Lingus review - by A Hazizi Hazemi
24 May 2006

DUB-HAM sector on 8 May 2006. Aer Lingus has a better service at Dublin Airport, especially with the fast track check in point. I enjoy those hassle free service. Inflight service was okay. What should I expect for a short range flight? The aircraft looked well-taken care. I love the leather seat and the cleanliness of the cabin.

Aer Lingus review - by Jim Brown
24 May 2006

BOS-DUB return. Nice new Airbus. Well groomed staff. Technically flawless flight. Limited service while aloft - bar service, a quick undistinguished meal and staff invisible after that. Seats in economy were torture racks. Neither ground nor flight staff reflected the friendliness we encountered in Ireland. Reminded us of a line from an old Joseph Wambaugh novel, "Be civil to everyone, friendly to none". Probably last flight on Aer Lingus. We're flying KLM and Swiss next month. Curious (fearful and hopeful) to see how it goes.

Aer Lingus review - by Kevin Harris
24 May 2006

Aer Lingus has improved a lot over the last 2 years. Service is better, cabin crew look like they enjoy working for Aer Lingus. My flight to Dubai was one of the best I have had and the fare was very low compared to Emirates. With the sell off of Aer Lingus in September, it looks like the service will improve further. A new Premier class is on the cards. Long-haul service in Economy needs an upgrade.

Aer Lingus review - by Linda Pfaff
5 May 2006

Reservation indicated O'Hare direct to Shannon. Was surprised to find out Dublin was our first stop. On way, we ran into difficulty over north Atlantic - heating fan motor burning out. We divert to Goose Bay and sit on plane for 3 1/2 hours with little explanation. I do agree with Aer Lingus to error on the side of caution but they are short in communication area. We were told at 4am that we would be staying overnight in area, were put on buses and taken to what rooms were available...most in barracks on AFB. Again, no communication for Aer Lingus and no water or food in barracks. Emergency Firefighters obtained bottled water, cartons of OJ, thermos' of coffee and donuts etc plus a container of jellybeans and chocolate eggs for kids as it was Easter. Civilians gave up holiday to come and feed three hot meals and man busses to take us back and forth to different locations to eat or make free phone calls that Aer Lingus was making available so individuals could contact friends and relatives. While plane was ok'd for flight in early afternoon, we had to wait until 11:45pm to depart in order to stay in their rotation at Dublin. When we arrived there, had to sit on plane for another two hours although attendants were telling us it would be "about 20 minutes" before departing. While I'm glad I didn't have to do the backstroke in the north Atlantic, I believe Aer Lingus could have been more communicative with passengers. Thank God for the lovely townspeople of Happy Valley-Goose Bay AFB. I've never questioned my safety the many times I've flown Aer Lingus until this trip.

Aer Lingus review - by Donna Freeman
20 April 2006

Reference Jim Purves 13/01/06 - I too have written 2 letters to Aer Lingus, the first 24 December 2005, and a follow up after receiving no acknowledgement, in March 2006, I am still awaiting the courtesy of a reply. My luggage was not on my flight (MAN-DUB-JFK) and it was over 30 hours till it arrived, considering I was only in New York for 3 days, this was no consolation. I was told by Aer Lingus staff to keep the receipts of necessary purchases (clothes, toiletries etc) to reclaim on my return. I'm still waiting.

Aer Lingus review - by Amanda Cowan
7 April 2006

Dublin to Edinburgh. We travelled for the first time with our baby daughter and we couldn't fault Aer Lingus. We had a nice row to ourselves and had a lot of help from the attendants with our child who was centre of attention. Pilots made regular PA's about course and we flew over our home town which was nice. We paid a bit more than another low cost carrier but I figure it makes more sense when travelling with a small child. The inflight service was indicative of a low cost carrier but it was a short flight so we didn't mind, Aer Lingus have a lot of other European destinations and I feel that if the flight was any longer some complimentary cabin service would be very attractive.

Aer Lingus review - by Steve Tait
26 March 2006

Roundtrip Premium Class BOS-DUB-BOS in March. More like an enhanced economy class than competitive business class. Seats are old style with minimal recline and leg support. Food, while ample, was mediocre in quality, great wines however. Ultimate insult was the use of plastic utensils. Crews were great, very friendly and always there for you. Priority boarding and luggage retrieval at both points which was a nice surprise as many carriers have abandoned this service. Airport lounge in BOS not very comfortable. Shared with Swiss, it was overcrowded and mini furniture was a joke. Very good sandwiches including lobster and salmon. On return DUB-BOS, US immigration cleared in advance during Shannon stopover. This is a royal pain and not sure why they do it. Everyone has to get off the plane with all their belongings and then go through immigration and reboard. Saves no time as you just have to wait for your luggage in BOS when could be going through immigration there. All in all, a below competitive but still nice product. Considering the fact Aer Lingus only charges about half of what other trans Atlantic carriers do then this does become a much better value and a more worthwhile experience, but get rid of the plastic utensils.

Aer Lingus review - by Ciaran McCafferty
9 March 2006

Shannon - LHR, 26th February. Good performance from Aer Lingus. Check in took approximately 60 seconds, as there was no queue in a very quiet Shannon airport. My travelling companion and I wandered around the airport, which does everything it has to really, before passing through security and congregating at the gate with the other passengers on this full Sunday evening flight. Despite being low cost (this flight cost €1 ex-taxes!) Aer Lingus retains the quality touches that mark it out above other LCCs, such as being greeted by name by the boarding staff at the gate and pleasant, efficient staff on board. Leather seats comfortable, although we were assigned the exit row which helped with legroom. All in all, a very good flight, for a bargain price.

Aer Lingus review - by Dave Houlihan
5 March 2006

DUB-JFK return - got emergency row seats so plenty of leg room. Crew were very obliging and professional. My mother was taken ill with migraine on the flight and the crew were excellent in moving her to a row of seats where she could be less disturbed which did the trick. Food average no great shakes then if you paid 300 for a return ticket what do you expect! IFE not great would prefer seat screens.

Aer Lingus review - by Alan Smith
28 February 2006

MAN-DUB-JFK return. Flights all on time, meals of good standard (including one special order, accurate on all flights!) and decent bar service. The usual problems, seats that recline so far that if the person in front of you chooses to put the seat back you are wedged in your chair, IFE outdated and prone to not working. Customs clearance in Dublin great, but a tad pointless as it just means longer standing at the baggage reclaim!

Aer Lingus review - by Corlis Byrne
26 February 2006

LHR-ORK-LHR at least once a month for the past four years. Prices have come down as expected when EI switched to the Low Cost model. I can get a £40 (inc. taxes) return fair easily with four weeks early booking. For this price the service is rudimentary, I could not expect much more. Fastpass check-in is a lifesaver as LHR can get very crowded around tea- time and check-in can suffer large queues. Flights are popular, and cabin layout is compact. But FAs are friendly, and snacks not bad (cheaper than in LHR). Probably the most pleasant option to fly between UK and IRL for individual passengers.

Aer Lingus review - by Ian Gallagher
26 February 2006

Shannon - Boston, on A330-300. Booked online, the fare was okay at 250 euros one way, a lot of people head over to US for Christmas shopping so fares are not as low as they used to be. Check in was a breeze with a friendly agent, then to duty free to pick up a few last minutes gifts, and then on to US emigration. This is great as normally in Shannon it is quick with little queues compared to landing in the US. Seat was allocated at check in, so there was no real rush to get on board, unlike other low cost airlines where the rugby scrum is the norm. Crew were welcoming and friendly on boarding, seat was a window seat, which was my pre assigned seat. It is handy to get this when booking a flight as the flight departs from Dublin, and if you don't have one, normally you get a less than desirable middle row seat! The flight departed on time. There was a little turbulence at the start, so no bar service until a while into the flight. In-f light entertainment started, which had good sitcoms and a movie, which was one in the cinema. The bar service had free soft drinks and alcoholic drinks to purchase. Had a soft drink and some pretzel type snacks. Plus bought a wine for the meal at 5 USD. The meal was the normal chicken or beef that was quite edible and enjoyable. Then duty free service where you can buy bars of chocolates and crisps for the movie, which is a great idea! Several more sitcoms before landing. A small snack served with tea and coffee, which was not the best, but okay. Landed ahead of time and the bags arrived. Overall a great flight, good value, good service and great crew, well done Aer Lingus.

Aer Lingus review - by Alan Wan
21 February 2006

LHR-ORK return. First time I've used Aerlingus in a very long time. The flight was a bargain £43 return and I had no complaints at all. I used the self service machine at LHR there was hardly a queue and as it was a day trip I was able to print off my return boarding pass. I did not purchase any food or drink on board the flight, however I saw other passenger have the breakfast at 7 euros. It looked good quality and value for money. Put it this way it was better than what I paid and ate at LHR before boarding. I usually fly to DUB from LGW with Ryanair at least twice a year if I can go with Aer Lingus for similar money say an extra £10 over Ryanair I would do it. This was low cost but not low service.

Aer Lingus review - by G Chew
19 February 2006

SXF (Berlin)-Dublin, then DUB-MAN. Checkin in Berlin took less than a minute even with bags, though the flight was delayed for 20 mins and there was no information. Everyone was crammed into a room only big enough to hold about 50 people, so was very uncomfortable. No staff on hand, then when they did arrive, they let everyone board at once, no priority boarding for families etc. I managed to get three seats to myself, which given the flight was nearly full was an achivement. The seats were comfortable, and the staff friendly. Bags were delivered promptly in Dublin. Excellent value for Euro 45, only booked 2 weeks in advance. The DUB-MAN flight wasn't as good. I chose the EI flight over Ryanair, which had identical flight times, even though Ryanair was a few Euros cheaper. In retrospect it was the wrong decision as our flight was delayed for nearly 2 hours (on a 30 minute flight); not what you want at 6.30 am, when everyone had to get up at 3. It also meant that I missed my meetings, which was the only reason to get the early flight. No complimentary drinks served when we were waiting on the ground. Only positives were being able to use the Fastpass checkin in Dublin, and being able to select a seat at the front, and getting BA miles. I suppose on Irish-UK flights it best to take the cheapest flight irrespective of airline. Flight was 1 Euro + taxes.

Aer Lingus review - by Colm Connolly
23 January 2006

DUB-JFK-DUB in Economy and a pleasant surprise. FastPass self-service checkin is one of the most user friendly self-service checkin systems around (available at both DUB and JFK). Flights both ways boarded/departed on time and arrived on time or early. Crews were visible and friendly on both flights, and willing to provide drinks etc upon request. The mean meal was adequate on both flights (outbound a nasty pasta salad was served, with a rock hard chocolate/rice krispie cake for desert while the main course was fine, inbound a great salad and desert with a so-so main course of fatty beef casserole). Seats were roomy for Economy class, but IFE is a terrible shame. Having no form seat back IFE is verging on pointless nowadays, so Aer Lingus really needs to get up to speed! Snacks served before landing (quite good scone outbound, only a disappointing small cup of orange juice on return!) and when landing luggage arrived relatively quickly. For €290, I wasn't expecting very much, and I was pleasantly surprised. However Aer Lingus need to sort out the IFE systems and also the quality of food provided - and consider providing even a muffin or pastry on the return flight - a single tub of OJ isn't very good!

Aer Lingus review - by Bryan O'Sullivan
21 January 2006

DUB-ORD-DUB A pleasure to fly Aer Lingus. A return fare of €280.00 - I don't know how one can fly transatlantic cheaper. Flight departed early. Food on outbound flight was adequate but on return leg was excellent. Inflight entertainment was great, although no PTV's. FA's were excellent and are one of EIs strongest assets. I would have no hesitation in recommending Aer Lingus and will fly them again to Chicago.

Aer Lingus review - by Justin White
20 January 2006

Dublin-Lisbon return - cabin crew looked tired and jaded. No passion in the job any more. Would have loved an Irish breakfast for E7 but they ran out in row 5 - I was in row 10. Had a breakfast on the outbound flight but slopped about and 'burnt' in the tray. The tea offered was lukewarm as well. Have flown all over the world with the One World Alliance and was sorely disappointed with Aer Lingus and its shoddy service at check-in, bad meals, lack of care of passengers and the emphasis on collecting money at every turn.

Aer Lingus review - by J Brabowski
14 January 2006

O'hare to Shannon and back. Third time I've flown Aer Lingus. The flight crews are aloof, and it is difficult to engage them in any conversation regarding questions you might have. Saw the same attitude with other passengers as well. Overall, the crew creates a cold and aloof atmosphere that is not indicative of Ireland. A shame since Aer Lingus is directly representing Ireland. For a long flight, the seats are terrible. Very little room and little padding. The aircraft looks a little long-in-the-tooth. The rates are cheap, I guess you get what you pay for, but on a long flight, saving some money is not worth what they offer. Last time I use them for long flights. Just like baseball, three strikes and your out.

Aer Lingus review - by Jim Purves
13 January 2006

Reference Mr Curnock saying he is writing a letter of complaint - I wouldn't bother. Aer Lingus ignore you. I travelled Chicago to Dublin/Edinburgh on 9 November with my elderly Mum. The seats we were allocated were in an area where the heating did not work. We were freezing!! I complained several times to stewards who were not really interested. We just put on two heavy coats and clothing from our hand baggage and shivered in misery for the entire flight. One steward was particularly uncaring. I wrote a pleasant letter to their Customer Care Unit a week later. They mislaid it, so I faxed another copy . This was 2 months ago and I haven't had the courtesy of an acknowledgement. I forwarded it to Dermot Mannion (the new Chief Executive) and he also appears to be lacking in manners. Forget e-mails - they are never acknowledged and it's pointless telephoning as Customer Care don't take calls. This is the first time I've felt the need to comment about poor service provided by any airline I've travelled with. I am not impressed with the experience. Please focus some attention on basic good manners Aer Lingus!!

Aer Lingus review - by Kirk Carter
13 January 2006

Chicago to Dublin/London . I was surprised how tatty the Airbus A330 was, and how little room there was between the seats for a transatlantic flight. With the seat pushed back in front of me, I could not sit with my legs together - and watching the film from a window seat from the small drop down monitors in the centre, gave you a stiff neck. I did find the attendants somewhat aloof, but not unfriendly. The food was good and information from the flight deck. The Airbus A321 From Dublin to London was very nice. Lots of room and a spacious feeling with friendly cabin crew. Overall I liked Aer Lingus and would fly with them again anytime within Europe, just not Transatlantic.

Aer Lingus review - by Ross Kelly
12 January 2006

Aer Lingus to Bristol recently. Aircraft was a new A320 with nice comfortable leather seats. Check in at Dublin was fast, used the fastpass check in at Dublin which is very quick and easy to use. Flight left right on time and service on board was good with a good selection from the pay bar that wasn't too pricey. Got the flights at a good price that worked out cheaper than Ryanair. Flight was less than 70% full. Would choose Aer Lingus over Ryanair on this route anymore, its a lot more of a civilised flying experience, better service and more advantages, ie. 30mins fastpass check in, 20kg bag allowance and assigned seating.

Aer Lingus review - by John Curnock
4 January 2006

Recent flight with my family 28th December departing Chicago 6.10pm. Very disappointed with the attitude of the cabin crew - they were rude. Rushing to serve dinner the trolley collided with my arm on Two occasions on the third occasion the trolley collided with the arm of the seat spilling dirty dinner trays over me. No apology just a squeal of "whoops" I asked the hostess to slow down, but she must have taken offence to my request because I was passed over when coffee was being offered to other passengers. Having rushed to serve dinner the Hostess then returned to their rest area where they then talked endlessly whilst passengers were trying to get a few hours sleep - thank goodness another passenger asked them to keep quiet otherwise I'm sure they would have kept us awake all night. I have for the past 25 years travelled extensively around the world using most international airlines including Aer Lingus this is the first time I have felt so disappointed that I find myself writing a letter of complaint.

Aer Lingus review - by Jim Walsh
1 January 2006

ORD-DUB-SNN-BOS. First experience on Aer Lingus. Bright planes, good seating, 2x4x2. Food very adequate for airline. Friendly, competent Flight Attendants. Clearing customs in Shannon a plus. Reasonable airfare. Good experience.

Aer Lingus review - by Noel O'Sullivan
22 December 2005

DUB-LAX. I have flown with Aer Lingus quite a number of times from Dublin to Los Angeles and I have to say Aer Lingus FAs are top class for efficiency and natural friendliness. The planes (Airbus A330) are comfortable with reasonable legroom for such a long day flight and the in-flight entertainment is pretty good. However, Aer Lingus need to change the menu for the in-flight food service because the meal that is served prior to landing at LAX can only be described as disgusting and has been the same for over 12 months.

Aer Lingus review - by P Grealy
20 December 2005

Day trip DUB to MAN. Out 0930 and return on 2120 both departing on time. Comfortable leather seats out and back. I did not bother with the catering (we were only in the air for 28 mins!). For a total fare (including taxes) of €59 I cannot complain.

Aer Lingus review - by Fred Wiseman
10 December 2005

DUB-LAX return. Outbound, fast check in, Immigration was fast and easy. Seats were very poor on outgoing leg. Was first in line at LAX for check in but the surly check in person would not reassign seats claiming they were all pre assigned. Did not want to make a scene as the TSA would likely arrest anyone causing fuss. Endured the same cramped seats on way back. Toilet was falling apart.

Aer Lingus review - by Maurice Maguire
2 December 2005

MAN-DUB-SNN-BOS. Aer Lingus's four main advantages are: 1) US immigration in Ireland when travelling from Dublin to the States (even allowing for the hassle of the Shannon stopover); 2) Excellent cabin crew; 3) Safety record; and 4) Price. Our fare from Manchester to Boston was actually less than the fare from Dublin to Boston on the same flights - presumably intended to drum up business in the UK, but not marketed properly (if at all) - and probably quite annoying if you're Irish and hapen to find out! Check-in fine, leather seats, but no free catering Man-Dub - then a horrendous delay at Dublin while they changed aircraft because of a technical fault. (If we had flown Man-Bos direct, we'd have been there instead of still somewhere in darkest Ireland). Legroom and seats DUB-BOS just about passable on the Airbus 330, food in economy marginal in appearance, quality and quantity. But the disappearance of the historically free alcoholic drinks regime was a severe shock to the system! (I recall getting an upgrade with them Dublin-NY some ten years ago (when they still had the Boeing 747s) and was absolutely bowled over by it. Not so today, I suspect! FA's must be among the best in the world, especially when compared with some of the southern European outfits such as TAP and Iberia, but yes, they do tend to congregate in the galleys especially on the night flights. So, a five-point action plan for Aer Lingus. 1) Get the transatlantic services sorted in terms of in-flight entertainment, comfort in both business and economy and food and drink. 2) More committed and energetic response to communications from customers. 3) Embellish the gate area at Dublin : it's off-putting in the extreme. 4) Behave like a national airline and at least restore the TAB programme or equivalent. 5) Assimilate inferior aspects of service to that of other OneWorld partners. The variations are annoying in the extreme.

Aer Lingus review - by David Hoppin
30 November 2005

JFK-SNN-BOS in Business Class. C-class fares approx half of other carriers with no B.S. regarding restrictions, limited seat inventory, etc. Great inflight experience in both directions -- good meals and friendly staff, though it is necessary to repeatedly ask for refills since FA's tend to congregate in the galleys. Seats are not sleepable for me but perfectly adequate.

Aer Lingus review - by Joe Walsh
22 November 2005

DUB-SNN-JFK Business Class. I use Aer Lingus regularly for travel to Europe and the U.S. I find them light years ahead of Ryanair who seem to take pride in being cheap and nasty. Aer Lingus' prices are reasonable these days. Check in using fast pass was very simple and quick. It's a huge advantage pre-clearing U.S. immigration in Shannon or Dublin. Once on board the flight left on time, service on board was excellent as always. I travel with many airlines and am hard pushed to find better cabin and cockpit crew than Aer Lingus for friendliness and professionalism. The food was very good, Hot canapes with drinks after take off followed by dinner. I had a vegetable terrine to start followed by the vegetarian option of stuffed mushroom pasta. For dessert there was an amazing pear and blueberry tart with warm creme anglaise. The only areas that Aer Lingus needs to improve on are their seats and IFE. Long haul business class should have lie flat beds. They are now the norm and people expect them. Aer Lingus' seats while comfortable and with plenty of space are of the older design that do not lie flat. As they increase their long haul destinations this must change. Also only 8 IFE channels and 1 in economy are not enough. That I hope will be addressed also .Flight landed in JFK on time and baggage was delivered very quickly. All in all Aer Lingus rarely disappoints me and I would prefer flying with them hands down to any U.S. or European airline.