Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

Tenger

Captain_Crash wrote: »

A flight to EDI had pushed back in DUB before going back onto stand and eventually being cancelled, they had waited until check in for the return flight closed in EDI (no one had checked in for either flight out or back, but cancellation after check in closes generally means no refunds)

I assume you have a date and flight number.
Date alone would be OK as we can check the departures info and/or flight radar to get the playback.

Checkin closes I think 1 hour before STD.

Otherwise that's just a story............

goingnowhere

40 minutes...

No point flying if there is no one onboard and if no one checks in on the far side, why burn the fuel?

If you fail to check in there is no refund, option of a voucher was provided

IngazZagni

I also know of a different flight that was cancelled during the boarding process. No one showed up for the outbound flight. The gate staff had to tell the flight crew who were on the aircraft.

I’m not going to give a date and flight number as that would allow the airline know the crew members who told me....

Captain_Crash

Tenger wrote: »

I assume you have a date and flight number.
Date alone would be OK as we can check the departures info and/or flight radar to get the playback.

Checkin closes I think 1 hour before STD.

Otherwise that's just a story............

It was Sunday's EI252.

BonnieSituation

goingnowhere wrote: »

40 minutes...

No point flying if there is no one onboard and if no one checks in on the far side, why burn the fuel?

If you fail to check in there is no refund, option of a voucher was provided

Apt username is apt.

---

It still is a bit cheeky when they know full well that no one is going to turn up for the flight, even hours out from it. But good to know for myself for next week and I will bear it in mind.

Jamie2k9

Aer Lingus are lucky to have gotten away with there sly and unacceptable handing of refunds/cancellations. They have destroyed what most would describe as good working relationship between Aer Lingus and Irish travel agents over this.

The PEK flights PR as well as media distraction has helped...

Ryanair are the only airline looking after customers for refunds.

Stevek101

Any insight into May yet everything still seems to be loaded. Ryanair have cancelled up to the 8th of May.

OU812

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Aer Lingus are lucky to have gotten away with there sly and unacceptable handing of refunds/cancellations. They have destroyed what most would describe as good working relationship between Aer Lingus and Irish travel agents over this.

*their

They really haven't "destroyed" anything. The majority of people were more than happy to receive their voucher (+10%). Some were upset, but if they pushed, they got a refund.

Personally, I think their handling of the situation showed innovation & business smarts.

BonnieSituation

BonnieSituation wrote: »

That's how I am feeling about my flight to Glasgow on Friday week. And it's what happened to me about a flight to AMS on Friday March 13th when this all kicked off.

But still I wait to send off for the inevitable refund that will ensue.

Flight cancelled officially now. So claiming the cash refund naturally.

Jamie2k9

OU812 wrote: »

*their

They really haven't "destroyed" anything. The majority of people were more than happy to receive their voucher (+10%). Some were upset, but if they pushed, they got a refund.

Personally, I think their handling of the situation showed innovation & business smarts.

Majority happy yes, personally I would accepted the voucher but they caused a lot of trouble for travel agents when it shouldn't have happened.

The handing of the situation was them just copying other airlines...nothing innovative from Shamrock house at all!

OU812

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Majority happy yes, personally I would accepted the voucher but they caused a lot of trouble for travel agents when it shouldn't have happened.

The handing of the situation was them just copying other airlines...nothing innovative from Shamrock house at all!

If a passenger is booking with a travel agent, their contract is with them & up to the travel agent to reimburse, the travel agent then claims from the airline..

I don't see what the issue is.

Jamie2k9

OU812 wrote: »

If a passenger is booking with a travel agent, their contract is with them & up to the travel agent to reimburse, the travel agent then claims from the airline..

I don't see what the issue is.

If only it was that simple, there wouldn't be problems...

It is fair to say Aer Lingus and many carriers have handled refunds/cancellations badly and have gotten away with it.

OU812

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

If only it was that simple, there wouldn't be problems...

It is fair to say Aer Lingus and many carriers have handled refunds/cancellations badly and have gotten away with it.

It's quite *literally* that simple. That's Consumer Law 101 & how business works.

Passengers who booked direct, got onto the company they had the contract with, they were offered rebooking at no charge, a voucher +10% or if they pressed, a refund.

Passengers who booked with a travel agent went to them. The travel agent gets a substantially discounted seat price so they can make their cut on it, they deal with the airline.

Passenger -> Airline
Passenger -> Travel Agent -> Airline

That's the chain. The airline shouldn't deal with any passengers who didn't book directly as they're not their customer.

billy few mates

I have an upcoming flight booked with them for the end of May, they've already written to me on a few occasions telling me that I could rebook it for later (which is no good to me) or I can have a voucher refund +20% but I don't want an Aer Lingus voucher for the same reason that I'd never buy an Aer Lingus (or Ryanair) voucher for myself or anyone else for that matter.
Am I right in thinking that if I wait until they cancel the flight I can just ask for a full refund...?

BonnieSituation

billy few mates wrote: »

I have an upcoming flight booked with them for the end of May, they've already written to me on a few occasions telling me that I could rebook it for later (which is no good to me) or I can have a voucher refund +20% but I don't want an Aer Lingus voucher for the same reason that I'd never buy an Aer Lingus (or Ryanair) voucher for myself or anyone else for that matter.
Am I right in thinking that if I wait until they cancel the flight I can just ask for a full refund...?

Yes

joeysoap

I have 2 claims for refunds with AL and 1 with Ry. Ry have asked for patience while they ‘work’ through the backlog

refer to your recent request for a refund on your booking confirmation Xxxxx.

Due to the high volume of flight cancellations due to COVID 19, we are experiencing an unprecedented high volume of requests. We are currently working through the backlog and ask that you please bear with us.



Al meanwhile keep sending me emails informing me I can change my flights. ( both cancelled ) the latest today

This despite having applied for refunds for both flights on 17th March and receiving acknowledgments of same.


Thank you for your email. Your case reference is xxxxxxx We will review and process your request as quickly as possible


In short neither are happy with refunding and I suppose you can’t blame them.

BZ

EI-LAX positioning BOD - SNN today for what one would presume will be long term parking.

murphaph

billy few mates wrote: »

I have an upcoming flight booked with them for the end of May, they've already written to me on a few occasions telling me that I could rebook it for later (which is no good to me) or I can have a voucher refund +20% but I don't want an Aer Lingus voucher for the same reason that I'd never buy an Aer Lingus (or Ryanair) voucher for myself or anyone else for that matter.
Am I right in thinking that if I wait until they cancel the flight I can just ask for a full refund...?

That's what I have done but be prepared fora game of chicken in which despite knowing days in advance that your flight is cancelled,. EI will not send you any notification of this. Only if you hit the check in button will you see your outbound leg cancelled but the return probably not, with an advisory to contact customer support. I could not get through on the local number EI provided so resorted to Facebook to get them to confirm the flight was cancelled. During this exchange the agent was pushing (though in fairness not hard) the voucher. I just asked them to confirm that I can also submit a claim for refund. They said yes and said it would be looked into. In fact under the current law there is nothing to look into. If the airline cancels the flight, you are entitled to a full refund.

A voucher for an airline that may not fly from my city post crisis is worth less than toilet paper.

California Dreamer

But at least the fleet is flying well..........:)

blackwhite

OU812 wrote: »

*their

They really haven't "destroyed" anything. The majority of people were more than happy to receive their voucher (+10%). Some were upset, but if they pushed, they got a refund.

Personally, I think their handling of the situation showed innovation & business smarts.

the vouchers haven't exactly been fast in turned around. Submitted a request last week for a US trip first week of May. No sign of anything yet, and the trip still listing on my EI profile

goingnowhere

EI-LAX is now stored in SNN after flying in from Bordeaux after maintenance

Kcormahs

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.rte.ie/amp/1129572/

Lufthansa group looking for state aid from Germany Austria Belgium and Switzerland (where it has its airlines based)!with urgency. Loosing 1m per HOUR!

Will Aer lingus be bailout by the Irish government? Could that happen if it came to the worst?
Or Iberia-VY by the Spanis Gov?

Kev11491

blackwhite wrote: »

the vouchers haven't exactly been fast in turned around. Submitted a request last week for a US trip first week of May. No sign of anything yet, and the trip still listing on my EI profile

Applied 3 weeks ago and still waiting.

Former Coach

My flight to San Fran. at the end of the month is cancelled (email received this morning).
I’m completing the Refund form but not sure which drop-down option is most applicable when it comes to the ‘Flight related refund’ stage. Most likely are ‘Cancellation due to a disruption’ and ‘ General cancellation and request for Govenment taxes refund’.
Any suggestions??

BonnieSituation

Former Coach wrote: »

My flight to San Fran. at the end of the month is cancelled (email received this morning).
I’m completing the Refund form but not sure which drop-down option is most applicable when it comes to the ‘Flight related refund’ stage. Most likely are ‘Cancellation due to a disruption’ and ‘ General cancellation and request for Govenment taxes refund’.
Any suggestions??

Do not do this ‘ General cancellation and request for Govenment taxes refund’.

---

Go other and then fill out comments.

You can add in flight related refund cancellation due to disruption if you want.

IQO

https://twitter.com/paul_deegan/status/1248264692725940226

Recent Aer Lingus flight over the Great Wall of China

Jack1985

Not sure if anyone noticed DEO had to take a spin down and back to Bordeaux today, this to faciliate dropping off the pilots to bring LAX home as no alternative transportation is available currently (BOD for example is closed to commercial traffic).

NH2013

Jack1985 wrote: »

Not sure if anyone noticed DEO had to take a spin down and back to Bordeaux today, this to faciliate dropping off the pilots to bring LAX home as no alternative transportation is available currently (BOD for example is closed to commercial traffic).

Expensive lift. :eek:

Irish Steve

NH2013 wrote: »

Expensive lift. :eek:

Probably cheaper than paying to park a 330 at Bordeaux, among other issues.

goingnowhere

Also a chance to get some currency on type for pilots on A320 family, not many A320 flights currently

Also keeps DEO up to date to avoid a check after parking for too long

Nijmegen

One thing to bear in mind with vouchers is that if companies flee to bankruptcy as a way to restructure (as airlines have a tendency to do) then you'll be very, very far down the list of unsecured creditors.

sailing

goingnowhere wrote: »

Also a chance to get some currency on type for pilots on A320 family, not many A320 flights currently

Also keeps DEO up to date to avoid a check after parking for too long

I suspect all of the airlines will soon be doing circuits for currency.

Cloudio9

What’s the story with a credit card charge back on flights?

Sheep Shagger

Cloudio9 wrote: »

What’s the story with a credit card charge back on flights?

Half the threads in the travel section are about this - yes you can do a charge back if your airline won"t refund you in cash.

L1011

Refunds have nothing to do with fleet and there's a bazillion other threads on it...

PatrickSmithUS

Anyone see the insane compensation claim that has gone in against them in the US?

California Dreamer

PatrickSmithUS wrote: »

Anyone see the insane compensation claim that has gone in against them in the US?

Ah here! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

PatrickSmithUS

California Dreamer wrote: »

Ah here! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

??? It's insane. Staff must have thought it was a prank when they tried to get her out of the loo. There's more details on here.



I could get over it. A friend who works in Aer Lingus sent it to me.

BZ

EI-DAA heading to SNN shortly for parking.

Inquitus

Only 2 Aer Lingus flights in the air right now, dailies to BOS and ORD.

billy few mates

sailing wrote: »

I suspect all of the airlines will soon be doing circuits for currency.

Not all. A friend of mine works for a large European carrier, they've put the entire fleet into storage and are letting crew recency checks, SIM checks, medicals, IDs etc lapse when they fall due. They have banned all training and purchasing of parts (they're going to rob some aircraft to keep the others serviceable in storage.
He reckons that once this crisis has passed they'll only return the fleet will be less than half the size they were before this thing started so won't need the numbers they now have.

cson

What do we think the fleet will look like in 12 months time?

I think its safe to say every carrier will be materially smaller than they were pre COVID.

Can see a lot of the Euro routes outside the core getting cut, can see pretty much every Eastern European route for the chop and most of the Italian ones outside of Rome. I think the US network will survive mostly intact but MSP, PHL, MIA could be under pressure as well as MCO if the Disney traffic doesn't come back.

Accelerated retirements of the older frames and anything coming off lease won't be replaced. They'll lean heavily on the A321neo fleet.

sherology

billy few mates wrote: »

.He reckons that once this crisis has passed they'll only return the fleet will be less than half the size they were before this thing started so won't need the numbers they now have.

That's an absolute given in my opinion. Trunk routes to hubs and capitals and interlining will become the new normal for the foreseeable future with a slow build-out to pre-crisis fleets and routes taking a [long] 'time'. I also see IAG 'encouraging' it's airlines to synchronise their schedules to facilitate interlining within the group to keep cash 'inside' the overall grouping. EI interline more outside the group than inside. If that does occur, and BA is also a smaller airline, perhaps a move to T5 at LHR may be on the cards, using BAs lounges etc. This would facilitate faster/easier connections, and reduce EI expenditure at LHR.

If you pine for the 80's... You're in for a nostalgic trip when things thaw out and start to move again.

Bucket and spade routes likely to rebound, TATL back to an extent, hopefully EI will have the Atlantic to itself for a period as US airlines focus on rebuilding larger eurohubs etc.

Let FR have the lean euro-routes (and for the love of God get the interlining with them done - plenty of time to iron out the business kinks now so they're ready in autumn-ish) and let EI focus on rebuilding DUB as their transfer hub to cities they can make some coin in.

Personally, I think the LR fleet will stay at 4 (or very close if #5 is already in production) with the XLRs coming in 2023. It's a better all-rounder.

AndyBoBandy

Not sure if this was already posted, but I found it on Youtube,

RC model of an MD-11 in Aer Lingus livery;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhkfExFG2B8

Comhrá

Not sure if this was already posted, but I found it on Youtube,

RC model of an MD-11 in Aer Lingus livery;

Marvellous. Those big RC models are a real labour of love.

BonnieSituation

I thought they were just gonna drive around and sound like the real thing. I did not expect them to fly! Amazing.

AndyBoBandy

BonnieSituation wrote: »

I thought they were just gonna drive around and sound like the real thing. I did not expect them to fly! Amazing.

If you go down the YouTube rabbit hole, there’s a whole world of replica RC jets of all shape and size, that fly and are made to stunning detail, and painted in lots of various liveries.

BonnieSituation

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

If you go down the YouTube rabbit hole, there’s a whole world of replica RC jets of all shape and size, that fly and are made to stunning detail, and painted in lots of various liveries.

I already spied some in the side bar.

I'm 2 weeks out from a thesis deadline. I'm so proud of myself that I managed to avoid going down that rabbit hole.

They're so bloody cool.

Tenger

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

If you go down the YouTube rabbit hole, there’s a whole world of replica RC jets of all shape and size,.......... .

I've seen the military ones, with working landing gear, weapons bays that open and braking chutes upon landing.
Just amazing.

Irish Steve

if you fancy a challenge, try one of these, over 40 years old, best way to describe them even with modern radio gear is that you are trying to balance a tennis ball on the point of a knitting needle. Rotor diameter of 1.5 Mtrs, you do NOT get too close to these beasts, 7Kg in full flight trim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0WKlKbKUNg