A review of my flight with Aer Lingus from Dublin to London Heathrow on an A330-300 in Business Class. Flight time: 52min Flight: EI178 Aircraft type: A330-300 Aircraft reg: EI-FNG Aircraft age: 4 years Ticket cost: 149.99 Euros
I remember flying BA LHR-EDI economy pre-shuttle in the 1970's and you won't believe the breakfast. In addition to the large full hot breakfast, freshly cooked and not dried out or stuck to the dish, there was a full plate of cold sliced ham, grapefruit segments, juice, bread rolls, small glass jars of jams and honey. Dinners in the evening in the EDI-LHR direction were always nice too. It was a cold meal, always smoked salmon as a starter, then a cold plate of various meats and salad, desert, cheese and crackers, bread roll, butter.
I agree with you about Aer Lingus! What a joke! Recently flew with them from Dublin to Lanzarote which is a 4 hour flight. I paid for business class seats both ways. There was no service at all for a 4 hour flight! Not even a small bottle of water! When I asked the FA why nothing is given, she told me that is the way it is now on inter European flights! Very sad and cheap of the airline! My flight home they changed planes without letting me know and already had boarding pass printed. They stuck my wife and I in economy even thought we paid for business class seats! They only have a small cart go down the aisle and have not much on it! Again, nothing free. They spend time selling duty free, but no service whatsoever! I was totally disgusted with this airline. It would have been cheaper for me to fly with Ryanair with the same lack of service! Shame on you Aer Lingus!
I wasn't aware that EI still offered business class on this route. I thought it had been abolished a very long time ago. Are you sure you actually booked business class and not simply a seat type upgrade due to the type of aircraft being used?
Dude I LOVE your videos! It's so cool to feel like I'm actually in the airport, boarding, flying and landing in times where I cant leave my house a lot! Thank you for making these videos, ya got yourself a new sub!
I'm doing this journey in a week's time but in the opposite direction, never flown with Aer Lingus before. I personally don't see the point in splashing out on business class for such a short trip, but each to their own. Great video as always.
Thanks Shaun. I will only book the business class on such flights if I fing a good bargain and it will mostly be for the lounge access and a bit of food onboard. I never have high expectations though
I once boarded an Iberia business class flight from Madrid to London ,upon seeing the seating arrangements one of my fellow biz class passenger s declared “But there is no difference to economy “, to which I added “ The difference sir is in the price “. This got a smile from the air hostess .
This is the norm for Irish people. Nobody complains anymore and we just have to put up with lacklustre services the whole country over. It never would have happened with British Midlands (they are sorely missed).
Don't get me started on Aer Lingus and catering. The staff just don't GAF! Most flights I've been on don't have enough and return flights to Dublin will almost always run out. Management is abysmal. I don't like to swear - but Ryanair for all their faults would NEVER run out of stuff to sell you to eat and drink (or shout about throughout the flight).
Ryanair are qunts. They charge you an arm and a leg. The seats are horribly uncomfortable and there is a poxy announcement every 5 minutes. Horrid stuff.
Airport as a whole effectively closed in March 2020 with Covid and only very recently re-opened - so 18 months to revamp the lounge .... seems like an excuse (i.e. blatant lie) to save costs
Despite being Irish and generally pro Aer lingus, I would have to agree with your review, no justification for no lounge access and no on board catering.......
Love your videos but can you please shade behind the text like other bloggers do, as a lot of it is lost into the background and keep it on screen a bit longer, thanks 👍
I agree with you that this was a bad experience. Just because they are providing a much more comfortable seat doesn't mean they can deprive you of food and drink which would usually be served on similar flights (Even Ryan Air offers service on this same route !!
@@ziggy8005 Lufthansa always provides hot or cold food on short haul flights in business class/ Also every other decent airline will usually offer snacks
Complaining that a flat bed isn't good enough on a one hour flight? Would 2-2 seating in a chair that reclines, probably for more money, be a little better?
Covid caused a lot of restrictions but I flew buisness class last December DUB to LHR on the new A321 neo and back on the A330 -300 as a lot of cargo is carried on these. My son had built up points so we decided to upgrade. Was served tea or coffee with a snack which for a hour flight was ok . The cabin was fabulous. Got upgraded to buisness class to JFK in April and it was superb for the long flight with great service . The lounge at the Airport's was open so we availed of that too.
I once flew LAN airline from JFK to YYZ, a 55 mins flight, they managed to serve drinks, a sandwich and wine tasting, I am pretty sure I was drinking wine when the plane touched down..... the good old days
Years ago I flew Braethens SAFE from Oslo to Stockholm - one hour gate to gate. They served a five-course dinner, on china, in first class. Most amazing service I have ever had.
They are doing this on so many flights over the last few weeks, Malaga to Dublin.. twice and Lanzarote to Dublin. It all so out on the flight over is no excuse. Im so very disappointed in them
also, they could be doing this cause of COVID. And I can understand that. And plus if people start arguing about “COVID thing isn’t an excuse” like expect the world to have every single flight shut down. The coronavirus can spread around flights, for example: getting snacks, or like 7-14 crew members in the plane. And also if every flight shuts down, company’s will be bankrupt and run out of business.
I can guarantee you that the two people that were served beverages in your cabin were either deadheading crew or EI employees travelling on company passes who knew the cabin crew (most likely flight attendants as well), either way, fire a email to EI telling about your experience…..
This is marketed as 'AerSpace' which isn't quite a business product, they just happen to use transatlantic configured aircraft on some routes so you were lucky in that respect. However, the airline should make it more clear via communications and prior to booking that current restrictions have resulted in limited on board service and lounge closures. It is available on their website but should be directly communicated I believe to avoid confusion. Thankfully, this is returning to normal as travel restrictions in Ireland are lifted and flights increase, on board food and drink returning slowly and the lounge is due to re open in early September.
The product includes lounge access and meals no matter what they call it, these were not provided. I checked their website before booking and they stated their Dublin lounge is open. And at the time of flight there were no restrictions in Ireland that would justify the closure of the lounge. As I mention in the video other lounges and shops/restaurants at the airport were open. No excuse for this
@@MyTrips_Aviation As I stated, it should have been clearly communicated these services wouldn't be available directly to customers prior to booking and again after booking. The website has stated for months under their 'Airport Lounges' page that the lounge is closed. Indoor dining resumed in Ireland in the last week of July, Aer Lingus intended to reopen their lounge to coincide with this but extended the closure to September 1st. Almost all other airport lounges at Dublin also remain closed. I understand your disappointment, the airline should have been clearer and have let themselves down here.
The only reason you got a business class seat is solely because of the aircraft. It doesn't usually have a business class service because it's a 45min flight lmao What a colossal waste of money
I hope you share some critical feedback with EI about this flight. Obviously there was beverage service available in some form. I got better service DUB-EDI on an EI Regional ATR72 and that from an American who is used to little or no service when flying in the states. Your trip reports are nice to view and always informative. Nice job every time! Fly safe and take care as well.
Air Lingus as never been know a "premium" airline. And this was a very short haul flight so of course there would not be the same soft product you would have on longer haul. They were just utilizing the aircfract since so may international markets have restricted flying. Nothing to complain about here. You were lucky to get a J class international seat on such a short flight.
@@MyTrips_Aviation … poor action on her part I’m afraid. She left a sour taste in your mouth which is never a good customer flavor to leave one with. 🤨
Are them planed not closer to 12 or 13 years old. Also there's no business class tickets between ireland and uk, you sit in a business class seat but thats the height of it. Lounge access is the only issue here in my eyes, and even at that with pretty much zero traffic travelling trans atlantic it doesnt make sense for them to open it for the tiny amount using these seats on short haul. Where you offered access to any other lounges?
Took a flight fro dub to Malaga....it was the a330. Sitting in the economy, there was a raffle... "If there is a yellow sticker behind your tray table, you in a prize said the attendant. Luckily I was in. So short end of this story....asked the attendant why they were giving these seats away? " we don't sell business on "" inter European flights, only on the "outter. Shorting the story. Aer lingus would spend more trying to service business class on a short haul route. That's why they " most asked you to sit in business class. To even out the weight and balance of the plane. After all if they where flying there long haul route. They plane would be evenly balanced.
Always so happy to fly Aer Lingus but this no service is becoming a very bad habit! Family members on 2 different Aer Lingus flights from Malaga to Dublin were offered no inflight service and were told it all went on flight over. And my daughter flew from Lanzarote to Dublin.. 4 hour flight and again no service as everything was gone from flight going over. Disgraceful !
Ouch - you are correct - a bit of the 'sure it'll do' or 'isn't it grand' attitude from AL - not good enough - good video - Aer Lingus is an AIG airline - no longer Irish
I did this about the same time as you, same A330, same route in 3k. I agree, the feeble excuses from Aer Lingus simply aren’t good enough. I did at least get some in-flight service - it was tea/coffee and a twix - wow. Considering the Aerspace ticket was €145 it’s ridiculous, I only did it really for the experience of the seat on a short route. I won’t fly Aer Lingus again until they stop using Covid as an excuse for penny-pinching. BTW, I’ve been in the lounge before - it’s not that great maybe the refurb will sort that as well.
The takeoff and landing were sweet. That normally suffices when I fly. I don't like it. But no gargle on a flight out of Dublin. Let heads roll. Lovely footage, by the way. Thanks for posting.
They sell this product as one including lounge access and meals on board. And after take off they said they won’t provide the service as they didn’t have time to load catering, that’s in over three hours of turnaround
@@MyTrips_Aviation no they don’t. There is no business class on any route to the UK or Europe. Irish regulations their approach to govern covid. Well don’t on getting the big seat though.
8:!4 I think the stupid excuses are what annoy us the most - once flew Delta Dublin-Shannon-U.S., we were advised in Shannon that the APU had failed (so long-haul flight over the Atlantic not allowed), delayed by 2-1/2 to 3 hours yet when checking in for onward flight(s) in America Delta INSISTED t'was all due to 'bad weather' (Oh yeah? The 170+ of us onboard clearly heard the Captain saying otherwise). I won't be flying with that lot again. (or Air France - different story).
Planning to do this flight in the other direction, was going to fly in Aerspace or business what ever they call it. After watching this I'm not so sure, it is a pity they are owned by the same company as BA.
Can't you demand refund or compensation for not offering committed services like lounge access and catering ? Even pizza delivery offer compensation for delayed delivery 😀
@Manish Mehta Clearly the information provided on the website claim certain services were included but he did not receive them, in the USA that would be fraud.
I'm so used to fly the Boeing 788/9/10, the 77W or even the A339/A350 that I always get amazed with the overhead bins in the regular A330. They look so tiny.
I used to travel from DUB to MAN and quite often was offered a drink to ‘take away’ on landing as they just didn’t have enough time to serve a drink to the whole cabin with only 30 minute in flight 🤩 Bless ‘em!
Good seats but that is it. I would send a link to this video to Aer Lingus so at least their marketing department squirms. It seems like the FA are now using Covid as an excuse to be lazy given prompting from above to cut costs. From what you got RyanAir would not be much worse.
I don't think the product worth the price you paid. The Aer Lingus lounge was the only closed lounge despite DUB being their main hub, that's disappointing. I agree that they couldn't serve a meal on this short flight, but they could have served a drink.
I dunno if anyone else has noticed it, but about every 10 seconds or so, the sound keeps dropping out. I would love to watch the rest of this video, but as I am super sensitive to this kind of stuff, had to give up watching it. Sorry!
I will fly this route from LCY to Dublin on BA, returning on Aer Lingus to LHR in the autumn. Normally I stay on the rails to the continent, but i won't be ripped off with the pointless pcr tests. So it's Ireland for me.
Those FA know a sweet gig…well paid for your safety incase things go wrong….and no service to for a one hr trip in both directions…sweet gig. You should send an email to Corporate Office and request a change in behaviour from the Crew. Pointing out how the FA provided service to other dead heading FA. You have the flight number, date, routing and your seat assignment.
This type of aircraft is not normally in traffic on this route so you only got a better seat and that’s it. There is no service on this route normally.
Yeah, for all their hype, AIG (or AGI?!) who now own 3 quarters of Aer Lingus and co-operated by BA, definitely is lacking in the service department. All round. Sad really..
am you do know you are not going to get an inflight servive for a 50 minute trip Just because aer lingus used one of their bigger planes doesn't mean you are going to get the full Premium you paid a higher price for buisness class seat thats all just like Ryanair will charge you a higher price for their premium seats and you will get the same treatment like you did in this video
Covid will either be the excuse service providers use, to cheapen their service, or despite covid, some service providers will strive to enhance their customer experience. Probably the people served drinks on board were colleagues, but it is very shoddy and the passengers not served would be well within good reason to shout up about it. Alas Aer Lingus, and British Airways, will sacrifice a quality customer experience, to attract the low cost traveller.
Getting just like the railways. Most companies just put a white paper head rest cover on the back of a seat and a sticker on a glass window both saying first glass. Then bump up the price of a ticket.
The lounge I understand, somewhere there must be a miss communication, be it a refurb or covid closure. the food/drink service (you should have asked, as now you complain about it, but you did nothing to understand/resolve/enquire/feedback/follow up etc at the time) but the nothing premium comment at the end of the video? You’re on an A330 that normally does longhaul on a route that normally sees the 321/320 that doesn’t even have a euro type business config…yet you are in a full flat J seat? How is that not an upgrade to the normal experience on this route?
I'm not sure what you're talking about...where exactly do I complain in the video? This is a review of the flight and of the product I paid for and received. I have presented all the positives and negatives and have commented on them. There is no complaint in any of my reviews - any complaints I have I sort them out with the airlines directly as I have done in this case as well. So at which part of the video do you see a complain please? There was nothing to enquire or understand about the service. They made it clear that they would not provide any service giving an excuse which I knew was a lie and instead they served drinks to a couple of passengers that one of the FAs knew. They just didn't even think of doing it discretly - they did it in front of the rest of the business class passengers. I understand that you would have wanted me not to present this fact so the viewers were not aware of what exactly happened on my flight(?) Or does presenting the facts constitute a complain? As for the A330, this is a 1 hour flight. A flat bed and an IFE are not needed and they do not justify the premium product under any circumstances. The premium product in this case is justified by the ground services and the onbard service, none of which I received. As for the lounge, there was no miss communication at any stage. I checked their website before booking the flight as I had a long layover and needed lounge access. The website was saying clearly that the lounge at DUB is open with reduced servings. I was happy with this and I booked the ticket. The rest you have seen on my video.
Aer Lingus don’t offer Business Class on short haul routes! You lucked out in getting a better seat for sure but you really can’t complain about lounges, catering (or lack of) etc. because you got a long haul seat on a short haul route, granted a bottle of water or a coffee wouldn’t have gone amiss. As far as I know BA is the only carrier offering a C class service between LHR and DUB
This product is advertised as offering premium services like lounge access, meals onboard etc of which I got nothing so I’m not sure what you’re talking about
Absolutely appalling to charge a premium fare & offer no service at all. Yet another example of cost cutting which some airlines continue to claim is because of Covid. Sadly things at Aer Lingus started to go down hill when they joined IAG
Ok lounge is probably down to the current covid restrictions, keeping it closed is the only way to make sure you stay within the law, also understand aer Lingus is now in English ownership thanks to our incompetent government, so because its not a state owned entity keeping a lounge open when traffic is down by over 95% doesn't make sense cost wise!!! ,I bet you would close it too regardless of your opinion in this video..... everything else was a disaster....did you arrive dead??? ,
