Aer Lingus

Travelled with Aer Lingus Regional (operated by Aer Arann) return from Birmingham to Shannon. Flights early in both directions. flight attendants attentive and friendly. Plane on outward journey was 23 years old! Seats were old and tatty but nonetheless clean and comfortable. Return flight on a modern aircraft which was in immaculate condition. Comfortable leather seats made the journey more endurable and the plane was spotless.

EI 638 to Brussels. Fly Aer Lingus about 2 times a month for both business and pleasure. Unfortunately not much pleasure flying with Aer Lingus and getting worse. At the gate there was a team of 5 identifying bags take off passengers and put in the hold. Despite my bag being within guidelines (I have measured it) it was confiscated. I was first told that it was too big when I challenged this I was told that it was a health safety risk and would not fit in the bin. Strange as the same bag has been on about 20 flights with EI. It was rude and humiliating treatment by the staff but based on many reviews here it is a common theme. When I got to my seat there was plenty of space in the bin. Arrived late into Brussels and then had a 40 minute wait for my hand luggage. People will be more forthcoming with bags if they are given back to passengers as they get off the plane - Air France and US carriers have no problems doing this If someone has a problem maybe it is because they have documents laptops etc which they would prefer not to go into the hold for obvious reasons. At this stage I will use Aer Lingus when I have to but if there is any reasonable alternative then I won't and certainly not for leisure flights. As an aside the cost of the flight was in excess of €500.

Flew Dublin to Rome in A320. Flight was on time staff pleasant and seat pitch reasonable. My only quibble was that in Row15 service arrives last of all.

DUB-CDG Return. A very pleasant trip good service from cabin crew. Slight delay returning due to circumstances outside Aer Lingus control. Catering is paid for but not too expensive. Competitive fares make this route worth considering on Aer Lingus.

AMS-DUB October 9th and back again October 12th. Both times just after 1PM. No delay on first flight half-hour delay on second but reduced to 20 minutes on arrival. Hand luggage was slightly (about 1 inch) too broad but was never measured or weighed and therefore it wasn't a problem. Both flights about three quarters filled - all single travelers myself included got either a window or aisle seat with the middle seat left clear. Friendly staff and clean planes. On short haul flights no television screens with flight information. Available food on plane very limited. Inflight magazine one of the most boring I've read so far. Good value for money I'd use them again but not for a flight with a layover since (small) delays seem to be common.

Budapest to Dublin on a packed flight early September. We were greeted at check in by the advice that wife's bag was 3 kg over and even though we had only one carry on bag well below 7kg no leeway was allowed. Aer Lingus is the only airline we experienced in 15 international flights that has a 20kg (not 23kg) hold baggage limit. To determine whether or not they are value for money I now routinely add $50 (that's what 3kg cost me) to their fares when I compare them. Food was non-existent so it's not easy to rate it.

Flew with them yesterday Alicante to Belfast. I travel that route a lot due to work commitments and have rated theirs the best service in the past (compared to rivals Easyjet and Jet2). However the legroom on the Airbus 319 last night was simply dreadful. Ok I'm 6'3" but have never had such a problem with them before. My knees were jammed into the seat back in front of me and I couldn't get comfortable. 3 hours of that discomfort and I was ready to scream. I checked the website to see how to complain and I have to do it in writing - no email address is provided. How very convenient (for them not a complainant) Add to that the fact that my first two drink choices (none too demanding - a can of Fanta and then a can of Diet Coke ) were sold out and I'm less than impressed. It appears that due to their move from Belfast International to Belfast City airport they're dumping the Alicante route shortly - on the basis of last night's experience I won't miss them.

DUB-BOS return JFK-DUB. Service was very good steward was friendly and attentive food on the flight from Dublin to Boston two levels higher to rate than on the flight home (over seasoned crab cakes and greasy) I immediately got a different menu offered.

Connecting flight from DUS to DUB and DUB to DUS no business class available even when booked for the whole flight to BOS that means no lounge in DUS. Female Personnel on board from DUB- DUS (not at the terminal) was disinterested to rude the word please was unknown. The staff were busy on both flights immediately after take off to prepare coffee and sandwiches for their needs and only one had to perform the sales!

BOS-DUB-BCN return. A333's between BOS and DUB were clean comfortable and had great entertainment systems. The inflight meal was pretty good for airline food and the service was very good. A320's between DUB and BCN were clean and a little less leg room. They charged for everything including water. When boarding in BCN they weighed our carry on luggage (never had carry ons weighed on any airline ever before including the flight to BCN) one was a bit over so we had to check it at an extra 50 euro.