Angled Flat Seats on IAD-DUB
May 27, 2018, 6:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
Angled Flat Seats on IAD-DUB
Booked my aunt on EI118 from Washington Dulles to Dublin last night. The equipment was listed as an A330-200 and I was able to reserve her a throne seat (3K) at booking. When she got to the airport last night, they told her there was an equipment change to a "larger aircraft with 2-2-2 configuration" and reassigned her seat 3C, an aisle seat.
Naturally, she called me to inquire. I pulled up the SeatGuru maps for all Aer Lingus wide-bodies and couldn't find one plane type with a 2-2-2 business class configuration nor could I find one with a seat "3C." She sent me a few pictures once she got on board and I immediately recognized brown carpets and drapes that looked like an old Qatar aircraft rather than an Aer Lingus one:
Upon further investigation, it appears that EI118 is consistently being serviced by EI-GEY, an Airbus A330-200 that Aer Lingus has leased from Qatar. They appear to have reupholstered (or slipcovered?) the seats but the rest of the cabin is straight out of the Qatar playbook. Oddly enough, this aircraft had only 3 rows of business class in a 2-2-2 configuration, whereas everything listed on SeatGuru for Qatar has 4. I haven't gotten confirmation from her yet, but I believe (based on the apparent lack of footwells) that this is an angled flat product rather than lie flat.
Just a heads up for anyone booked on that flight (or the return) from Dulles. It seems to be servicing that route pretty consistently now and it's a major downgrade from the usual equipment. No single seats in business class, and from what I gather, no lie flat beds.
Naturally, she called me to inquire. I pulled up the SeatGuru maps for all Aer Lingus wide-bodies and couldn't find one plane type with a 2-2-2 business class configuration nor could I find one with a seat "3C." She sent me a few pictures once she got on board and I immediately recognized brown carpets and drapes that looked like an old Qatar aircraft rather than an Aer Lingus one:
Upon further investigation, it appears that EI118 is consistently being serviced by EI-GEY, an Airbus A330-200 that Aer Lingus has leased from Qatar. They appear to have reupholstered (or slipcovered?) the seats but the rest of the cabin is straight out of the Qatar playbook. Oddly enough, this aircraft had only 3 rows of business class in a 2-2-2 configuration, whereas everything listed on SeatGuru for Qatar has 4. I haven't gotten confirmation from her yet, but I believe (based on the apparent lack of footwells) that this is an angled flat product rather than lie flat.
Just a heads up for anyone booked on that flight (or the return) from Dulles. It seems to be servicing that route pretty consistently now and it's a major downgrade from the usual equipment. No single seats in business class, and from what I gather, no lie flat beds.
May 27, 2018, 6:39 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 273
Elsewhere on the internet says "..the Qatar leased A330 will be EI-GEY and be in full EI colours...cabin won't be put to EI spec till next C check Nxt year"
May 28, 2018, 4:57 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DUB / DOH
Posts: 691
I have flown this layout on QR before and I thought the seats were fully flat, they may have a slight angle, but were more or less flat. Could be a different seat than the one I experienced however.
Either way, I would agree these are not as good as current EI J seats.
Either way, I would agree these are not as good as current EI J seats.
May 29, 2018, 3:55 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,868
Certainly an inferior product.
May 30, 2018, 2:58 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Aer Lingus, BA, Hilton
Posts: 33
I flew this route and aircraft yesterday in economy. Actually quite similar to the normal Aer lingus economy product. Same IFE. USB points built into IFE screen. Seat pitch seemed much the same. And seating layout was the same as had been shown on website at the time of booking.
So in economy, no issue. Don’t know about business of course.
So in economy, no issue. Don’t know about business of course.
May 30, 2018, 7:17 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naas at the weekend and FRA during the working week
Programs: EI Aer Club Concierge , BAEC Silver, Tesco clubcard
Posts: 408
Looks like the old layout...but that was fine. The main thing is the crew which are usually very good. I've used my Concierge upgrades for this trip and have to say I am quite looking forward to it. IAD is a great destination mid summer as the politicians have left for their holidays and the 4 and 5 star hotels are cheaper than what you would pay in Dublin. Bit hot though...but you cant have everything.
Jan 1, 2019, 2:24 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Aer Lingus, BA, Hilton
Posts: 33
Also the last row of business is separate from the others and right beside the galley. It should be avoided.
Jan 17, 2019, 10:00 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards Platinum, BW Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,965
C check would occur before Summer, most likely in Feb or March, but you never know, GEY has one thing going for it, rock solid reliability.
Currently 3 are undergoing checks
DUO (Bordeaux)
GAJ (Dubai)
EWR (Bordeaux)
EDY should be back flying tomorrow after getting the new livery
Currently 3 are undergoing checks
DUO (Bordeaux)
GAJ (Dubai)
EWR (Bordeaux)
EDY should be back flying tomorrow after getting the new livery
