Anyone flown Aer Lingus?!

[Debs Hill]

Hi guys! Seriously fed up with Virgin (price increases, poor customer service and constantly losing our pre-allocated seats!!) and want to try someone else. Has anyone out there tried Aer Lingus business class? What is the service, staff, food, seats like?
Its a bit of a hassle having to change planes in Dublin but might be worth it!
Debsx

 

[ben1993]

Not yet, but I am looking to book with them for November, their prices are reasonable and it's the best option flying out of Birmingham for us I think.

 

[Debs Hill]

Hope you have a great flight and would love to know what you think! We are also looking to fly out of Birmingham! As you say the prices are good and I can't believe that if you fly out of Dublin you don't have to go through the whole immigration thing at Orlando! Brilliant!!!
Debx

 

[squitty]

We're flying back with them in September, we're only flying one way with them (return to UK) Everything I've read has only been good things about them.

 

[irisheyes123]

I fly them most of the time the staff are lovely never had a problem the great thing about flying from Dublin you get to clear immigration and customs before you fly from dublin I can't comment on food as I never eat it. Never been in business class but the seats look big with lots of space and lie down into a bed

 

[Debs Hill]

If we are flying in from Birmingham to Dublin before going on to Orlando what happens when we get to Dublin with regards to clearing customs etc? Will we have to collect our bags and check them in again or do they go straight through to Orlando? Never done this before so all advice appreciated!!!
Sounds good so far!
Debsx

 

[MichelinMan]

I have been getting prices for July next year - Aer Lingus haven't been coming out any cheaper than Virgin, and then you have to factor in the costs of getting to Dublin (I can get free flights due to BMI points, but still have to pay the taxes).

 

[starrysky]

We flew with them last year from Glasgow to Orlando. The stop in Dublin was great no problem at all and flights on time and staff great. Food was typcal but slightly better than I've had on some flights.

We are going again with them from Edinburgh this time (for some reason slightly cheaper than Glasgow )

The only impact it might have on you with the pre clearance is I'm not 100% sure about duty free. We did not get to pre clear last time something to do with the new terminal 2.
Checked with customer service and they said all we do is get off the EDI flight follow the signs to terminal two and then we head through the pre clearance before we get to the gate and our bags go right through.

All in all a great experience with them.

 

[ben1993]

Hope you have a great flight and would love to know what you think! We are also looking to fly out of Birmingham! As you say the prices are good and I can't believe that if you fly out of Dublin you don't have to go through the whole immigration thing at Orlando! Brilliant!!!
Debx

You don't?!

 

[Elise79]

You don't?!

No there is an arrangement where US border control clear you before your flight.

Pre-clearence info

 

[ben1993]

No there is an arrangement where US border control clear you before your flight.

Pre-clearence info

Thanks! never knew that, thats great.

 

[pad406]

I live in Dublin and use Are Lingus lots, never business class though. staff are always very helpful and friendly. Food as others have said is fairly normal fare but edible. They were fantastic with us last Christmas when our flight to Gatwick, and then onto Orlando, was cancelled due to the heavy snow. Put us on the direct flight with no hassle. We were still lucky though, last plane to leave Dublin on the 23rd Dec, would never have got there without them. Will be using them again in april, only real issue is that the direct flights are only Tues/Thurs/Sat. But we'll just plan around that.

and as others have mentioned, pre-clearence, class!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

This is a bit late but we found them to be perfect.

 

[starrysky]

as others have mentioned, pre-clearence, class!

We did not get to pre clear last year, so what happens when it comes to Duty free can you still buy stuff after you clear or not. Have tried to look online but its not very clear. Thanks in advance

 

[pad406]

We did not get to pre clear last year, so what happens when it comes to Duty free can you still buy stuff after you clear or not. Have tried to look online but its not very clear. Thanks in advance

Didn't get to pre-clear lasy year as they had just opened T2 and the pre clearance wasn't available. On previous visits to the states there was never a problem with duty free, but honestly can't remember if it was before or after, pretty sure it was after. Shops won't sell you more than your allowance anyway

 

[irisheyes123]

We did not get to pre clear last year, so what happens when it comes to Duty free can you still buy stuff after you clear or not. Have tried to look online but its not very clear. Thanks in advance

Im doing this from Ireland side so UK travelers might not have the first security part I don't know how that works but After security you have duty free I did not buy anything so don't know how it works ie if you get too keep it and bring it or collect it on the other side get everything you need before you go through pre clearance as they only have a small cafe type shop it does sell soft drinks but not a great choice. Just too add you have to treat pre clearance like entering america so any food that can not enter The USA can not come on the flight with you so no fruit meat sandwiches ect... After Pre clearance you go through another security point but you are aloud to have your drinks through this one and you don't have to take any liquids out for this one .

ETA.... they don't sell duty free items such as cigarettes and alcohol on board the flight once you clear Customs and Immigration so get what you need In the one in the airport They also have a limit on how much you can buy Can't remember what it was but am going through again in november so can update then.

 

[queendisney]

I thought I'd look into Aer Lingus flights as well but got put off with the fact that to go from Gatwick to Orlando via Dublin is a 16 1/2 hour duration!!!! No I can't do that, give me 9 1/2 hours max. A flight is only ever as good as its crew anyway and airline food is never good and at best its ok. This is my experience coming from the cattle class side not the business class side.

 

[juliebro]

We had a look at the Aer Lingus flights too - but were put off by having to wait 6 hours in Dublin before the flight back to Manchester on the way back. Couldn't face that.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I thought I'd look into Aer Lingus flights as well but got put off with the fact that to go from Gatwick to Orlando via Dublin is a 16 1/2 hour duration!!!! No I can't do that, give me 9 1/2 hours max. A flight is only ever as good as its crew anyway and airline food is never good and at best its ok. This is my experience coming from the cattle class side not the business class side.

I agree, we always go cattle class, except once when my dad paid


Anyhow, any flight that is on time is a good flight, I know any flight can be delayed but so far so good with air lingus as opposed to virgin whom Ive been delayed with a few time and Monarch, well dont get me started on them.

 

[tigger137]

If we are flying in from Birmingham to Dublin before going on to Orlando what happens when we get to Dublin with regards to clearing customs etc? Will we have to collect our bags and check them in again or do they go straight through to Orlando? Never done this before so all advice appreciated!!!
Sounds good so far!
Debsx

We flew Aer Lingus Business Class, Birmingham-Dublin-Orlando in February and are flying with them again next month.

Our bags were checked through from Birmingham to Orlando, we didn't have to collect them in Dublin.

When our flight from Birmingham arrived in Dublin we had to go through security to get into the terminal, which seemed a little odd as we hadn't been anywhere 'insecure' since going through security at Birmingham. But the security people were really friendly.

Terminal 2 in Dublin is very nice. It was the temporary Aer Lingus lounge in February which was okay, but the permanent one has now opened which I've seen online and looks good.

Clearing US Customs in Dublin was a real bonus. It was very quick, hardly any queue. Although they had the machines on the desks we didn't do the photo/finger scan procedure. But we did have to identify our luggage, which was a new one for us - the US Immigration Officer had a screen on which a photo of our bags was shown and we had to confirm they were ours.

The business class cabin and seats were comfortable and the staff very friendly and efficient. Food was okay as airline food goes. Entertainment system is okay.

The layover time in Dublin on the return journey is a pain - it wasn't too bad in February but will be longer next month - but we think it's worth it to get business class at the price Virgin charges for premium economy.

If you've got any specific questions, feel free to ask (or PM me) and I'll try to answer them.