Aer Lingus Fleet/ Routes Discussion Pt 2 (ALL possible routes included)

in the last 12 months I have flown Air France (LH and SH business and SH economy), Air Canada (LH Business and economy) KLM (LH business and SH economy), Aegean (SH business and economy), Delta (LH business), American (Latin America economy), Aer Lingus (LH business and SH and LH economy), Ryanair.

I have flown Aer Lingus regularly for over 20 years for work and pleasure. Primarily economy flights.l but with a sprinkling of business. I even remember the old short haul business service.

I have posted before that in the past I would have found a way to fly Aer Lingus but now I try to avoid except when only alternative is Ryanair.

Why do I think it is has gone downhill -

• Cancelled flight (while at the gate). These things happen but no one there to support passengers and this was in Dublin. On the contrary, a long delay happened on a KLM flight due to adverse weather and they helped passengers re route at the gate.
• Tired and dirty aircraft on several economy flights - maybe I have been unlucky but no excuse to find gum on a seat and crisps on the floor.
• The lounge in Dublin is crowded and food offering is mediocre although the 51st and Green lounge is a good ish alternative.
• No longer a lounge offered in Paris.
• One leg in business class was very good. Return had inedible food and stand offish service. But the seats were good and was comfortable overall.
• Stitching seat pockets shut. Why?
• No food available on an economy flight - it was not loaded.
• And a particular bugbear of mine - being asked to move from a prepaid seat to accommodate people who were too stingy to buy in advance.

The only positive left that I see is excellent cabin crew who are generally customer focused and friendly. For this reason I will choose Aer Lingus for SH economy when up against Ryanair, and where there is a direct flight, but will lean towards Sky Team. I also think that airlines like American, Delta, KLM and Air France have upped their game.

Is that a thing? If the 'crew requests it'? Are you obliged to move?

Yup, passengers have a requirement to follow all crew instructions. I doubt much of a fuss would be made over something like a seat, in a plane full of people you’d always find someone happy to help, but strictly speaking, yes!

All of the issue discussed above are fixable if the CEO wants them to be. Other airlines flying out of Dublin get them right day in and day out.

Ryanair are a better product for leisure economy IMHO due to the insane focus on the base product

Request

“Sir, would you mind moving seat so this couple can sit together ? “

Instruction

“Sir, I need you to move seat because the person sat at the over wing exit is not able to operate it”

One requires you to follow the instruction, one doesn’t.

That's mad. They know the passenger is underage but still allow an exit row seat to be purchased for them?

Yeah pretty much, happens more than you’d think. If the crew are sound and no once causes a fuss you’d likely get a free drink or two and the charge would be refunded also.

More of an issue with aircraft swaps tho, for example, EI’s A320, 321 & 32N’s have different exit rows. So if you book let’s say 13A, a nice exit row that also reclines, for a flight to FCO and then get an aircraft change to a 321, you’ll still be in 13A but it’s no longer an exit row and doesn’t recline because the exit is behind in 14….. would you move out of a prebooked seat then? 😜

Sure this is 4 years old and things may have changed post pandemic but for those who have asked the Las Vegas question I thought this was quite informative.

https://youtu.be/E3jfvncofiA

Hope you're not on United... 😁😁😁

Sitting on lrc and it sat in man for 2 hours. Now sitting in Dublin to depart while they’re waiting to replace a panel.

If it gets to the point where the cap'n is coming down and telling you you have to to X or Y then the best case scenario you are looking at is being politely escorted off the aircraft if you don't.

The only thing different on the LR are the tanks, software, and and more potable water. Replacing 'a panel' is just run of the mill - someone/thing damaged the (undefined) panel.

In theory, as the a320 series is designed for multiple take-off and landing cycles a day for its life, it should be pretty fresh with just one or two daily cycles. It's been running late since MAN this morning... Happens. Perhaps the panel got damaged in MAN, and was scheduled for replacement later on the day in DUB before heading across the Atlantic.

On its way to PHL now with a scheduled landing less than an hour late.

They don't... Typically... One TATL, One UK/EU. A320 4. Cruise is not a big draw on an airframe... Take off (engines)/landings (gear)/pressurisation cycles (frame)/ground-ops (bangs and knocks) are.

Any idea why EI moved from T5 to 7 in JFK. Any connection airside are gone as you have to come out and queue up again with TSA at 5 if ongoing with Jet Blue.