Aer Lingus Business - my experience so far
Mar 30, 2017, 2:53 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
Aer Lingus Business - my experience so far
I have been wanting to try Aer Lingus Business Class for some time now, and am currently writing this from outside the lounge at Gatwick.
My route today is Gatwick - Dublin - Boston, Aer Lingus weren't the cheapest (that honour goes to Norwegian and Icelandair, who offer a different kind of business class) but were almost £1k cheaper than BA and VS. And it turns out that there's a reason for that, as Aer Lingus offer a different kind of business class too.
My journey started with the Aer Lingus app.
It's not very good, but after multiple attempts to reset my password and a few Twitter exchanges, I managed to log in.
For my flights, mobile check in was not offered so I went to the desk top website.
Seat selection (or re-selection) was not available so no opportunity to pick different seats. Oh well. That's not a hardship.
At Gatwick this morning, went to the Business Class Check In and was ignored by the one member of staff on duty, so joined the back of the Economy queue. I should add, I'm not one to make a scene. Quietly seething suits me ;-) and anyway, I don't like having to ask for something that I am entitled to, if that makes sense.
Boarding pass in hand, I notice that there's no Gatwick Premium sticker on it. I think the sticker is just for show, but it's reassuring, should the bar code fail.
Fastrak is anything but, but really, that's no hardship.
I have walked through the shopping area to the No.1 Traveller Lounge, where I am turned away, apparently my boarding pass is the wrong sort, and I should have known to ask for an invitation from the check in agent.
So here I am, people watching in Gatwick as the Aer Lingus Twitter feed has gone mysteriously quiet, pondering what my day would be like had I stuck to my usual Virgin Atlantic service.
My route today is Gatwick - Dublin - Boston, Aer Lingus weren't the cheapest (that honour goes to Norwegian and Icelandair, who offer a different kind of business class) but were almost £1k cheaper than BA and VS. And it turns out that there's a reason for that, as Aer Lingus offer a different kind of business class too.
My journey started with the Aer Lingus app.
It's not very good, but after multiple attempts to reset my password and a few Twitter exchanges, I managed to log in.
For my flights, mobile check in was not offered so I went to the desk top website.
Seat selection (or re-selection) was not available so no opportunity to pick different seats. Oh well. That's not a hardship.
At Gatwick this morning, went to the Business Class Check In and was ignored by the one member of staff on duty, so joined the back of the Economy queue. I should add, I'm not one to make a scene. Quietly seething suits me ;-) and anyway, I don't like having to ask for something that I am entitled to, if that makes sense.
Boarding pass in hand, I notice that there's no Gatwick Premium sticker on it. I think the sticker is just for show, but it's reassuring, should the bar code fail.
Fastrak is anything but, but really, that's no hardship.
I have walked through the shopping area to the No.1 Traveller Lounge, where I am turned away, apparently my boarding pass is the wrong sort, and I should have known to ask for an invitation from the check in agent.
So here I am, people watching in Gatwick as the Aer Lingus Twitter feed has gone mysteriously quiet, pondering what my day would be like had I stuck to my usual Virgin Atlantic service.
Last edited by Sealink; Apr 7, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Mar 30, 2017, 3:44 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 150
I flew through Gatwick with priority boarding three weeks ago, and due to the unusual way Gatwick board planes(pass doc check in to a waiting area, and then board), the priority boarding was only used at doc check to get us in to that waiting room, there was a separate queue for it that was served before regular boarding. Once inside the waiting area it was a free for all.
I think you should have a much nicer experience once you get to Dublin!
I think you should have a much nicer experience once you get to Dublin!
Mar 30, 2017, 5:10 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
I flew through Gatwick with priority boarding three weeks ago, and due to the unusual way Gatwick board planes(pass doc check in to a waiting area, and then board), the priority boarding was only used at doc check to get us in to that waiting room, there was a separate queue for it that was served before regular boarding. Once inside the waiting area it was a free for all.
I think you should have a much nicer experience once you get to Dublin!
I think you should have a much nicer experience once you get to Dublin!
Mar 30, 2017, 7:06 am
#6
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
If you start your journey with EI anywhere outside Dublin, don't expect a business class service before you get to Dublin. EI operates as a LCC in 90% of its network and pretends it's a 'normal airline' for the TATL routes. With that knowledge in mind, it'd be difficult to judge EI 'business class' before having flown the actual business class sector from DUB to BOS.
Mar 30, 2017, 7:21 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
If you start your journey with EI anywhere outside Dublin, don't expect a business class service before you get to Dublin. EI operates as a LCC in 90% of its network and pretends it's a 'normal airline' for the TATL routes. With that knowledge in mind, it'd be difficult to judge EI 'business class' before having flown the actual business class sector from DUB to BOS.
Fastrack security lounge access and priority boarding at Gatwick. I had my expectations of what they offer in flight in Europe
Last edited by Sealink; Apr 7, 2017 at 4:46 pm
Mar 30, 2017, 8:25 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
I would still like to hear your view of the TATL J experience please if you have time to file on landing. EI often turns up as the least expensive way to get from ORD to London and other termini in Europe, in all classes, but I've never yet had a go. I can live with a DUB transfer to save $1,000+ but not if the flight experience is in-your-face mediocre.
Mar 30, 2017, 8:45 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BHD
Programs: BAEC Gold, Radisson VIP, Hertz Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 162
If I'd paid for a business class ticket and some jobsworth refused me entry to the lounge because I had the wrong boarding pass, I would lose my sh*t..I mean seriously??
Mar 30, 2017, 9:28 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: AerClub Platinum, ClubCarlson Gold, Hhonors Silver, IHG Spire Elite, Hotels.com Gold, BA blue
Posts: 65
I flew through Gatwick with priority boarding three weeks ago, and due to the unusual way Gatwick board planes(pass doc check in to a waiting area, and then board), the priority boarding was only used at doc check to get us in to that waiting room, there was a separate queue for it that was served before regular boarding. Once inside the waiting area it was a free for all.
I think you should have a much nicer experience once you get to Dublin!
I think you should have a much nicer experience once you get to Dublin!
That bus journey when you land from DUB is a pain too.
In saying that, DUB>LGW is generally a third of the price of a DUB>LHR.
Mar 30, 2017, 10:09 am
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
I would still like to hear your view of the TATL J experience please if you have time to file on landing. EI often turns up as the least expensive way to get from ORD to London and other termini in Europe, in all classes, but I've never yet had a go. I can live with a DUB transfer to save $1,000+ but not if the flight experience is in-your-face mediocre.
Mar 30, 2017, 10:33 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,899
That is certainly annoying. The lounge should have phoned EI handlers check in / ticket desk and arranged this so called invite for him.
Mar 30, 2017, 10:45 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CGX
Posts: 168
I would still like to hear your view of the TATL J experience please if you have time to file on landing. EI often turns up as the least expensive way to get from ORD to London and other termini in Europe, in all classes, but I've never yet had a go. I can live with a DUB transfer to save $1,000+ but not if the flight experience is in-your-face mediocre.
Mar 30, 2017, 11:09 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,702
Sure AAdvantage Earning will be with us soon. Now EI is back in OneWorld
Mar 30, 2017, 12:04 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,130
Credit where it's due: this is a superb flight (transatlantic) - and free WiFi too!
I actually did that rookie thing of finishing a lovely meal thinking it was the main course - to discover it was the starter! Pics will follow at some point!
I actually did that rookie thing of finishing a lovely meal thinking it was the main course - to discover it was the starter! Pics will follow at some point!