Is European inflight service back?
Jun 4, 2021, 4:52 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: Aer Lingus AerClub Concierge, BA Silver
Posts: 409
Is European inflight service back?
I see on the website that an update bia menu has been published (with no fresh food, but the return of soft drinks, alcohol and snacks), but I have heard multiple reports that there is still no inflight service on the European routes. Is this the case and if so, does anyone know when the service will be reintroduced?
Jun 5, 2021, 4:43 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
No still not available . In AerSpace they sometimes come around with a bottle of water but thats about it. Id say it will be another month after the travel advice hopefully changes that we will see in reintroduced on a limited basis first.
Aug 9, 2021, 2:58 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Programs: Aer Lingus AerClub Concierge, BA Silver
Posts: 409
Hi all,
I wanted to give an update on some recent European flights that I have taken and the service provided onboard. It has been alluded to on this forum and others, but I can confirm that there is a significant supply challenge with catering on shorthaul routes. I flew to Dubrovnik and back with a load of around 150 each way. I already knew that the Bia offering was limited i.e. no fresh food (no idea why when meals are provided n longhaul economy and the crew are up and down the cabin anyway?) but the catering was truly astonishing. No red wine was loaded on any flight, only 8 mini-bottles of white wine were loaded (we got the last 2 and we sat in row 2...), a couple of chocolate bars and a few cans of soda. That was it! On the return, I asked the crew after 1.5 hours if I could buy some chocolate and a water and she told me that there was literally nothing left on the trolley. Nothing, zilch, nada - no drinks, water, snacks, alcohol. All gone. She was highly mortified (and told me this) and advised me to complain directly to Aer Lingus, which I will do.
But a word of warning to you if you are flying soon, particularly for longer flights, I would recommend you self-cater.
I wanted to give an update on some recent European flights that I have taken and the service provided onboard. It has been alluded to on this forum and others, but I can confirm that there is a significant supply challenge with catering on shorthaul routes. I flew to Dubrovnik and back with a load of around 150 each way. I already knew that the Bia offering was limited i.e. no fresh food (no idea why when meals are provided n longhaul economy and the crew are up and down the cabin anyway?) but the catering was truly astonishing. No red wine was loaded on any flight, only 8 mini-bottles of white wine were loaded (we got the last 2 and we sat in row 2...), a couple of chocolate bars and a few cans of soda. That was it! On the return, I asked the crew after 1.5 hours if I could buy some chocolate and a water and she told me that there was literally nothing left on the trolley. Nothing, zilch, nada - no drinks, water, snacks, alcohol. All gone. She was highly mortified (and told me this) and advised me to complain directly to Aer Lingus, which I will do.
But a word of warning to you if you are flying soon, particularly for longer flights, I would recommend you self-cater.
Aug 9, 2021, 10:42 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Hi all,
I wanted to give an update on some recent European flights that I have taken and the service provided onboard. It has been alluded to on this forum and others, but I can confirm that there is a significant supply challenge with catering on shorthaul routes. I flew to Dubrovnik and back with a load of around 150 each way. I already knew that the Bia offering was limited i.e. no fresh food (no idea why when meals are provided n longhaul economy and the crew are up and down the cabin anyway?) but the catering was truly astonishing. No red wine was loaded on any flight, only 8 mini-bottles of white wine were loaded (we got the last 2 and we sat in row 2...), a couple of chocolate bars and a few cans of soda. That was it! On the return, I asked the crew after 1.5 hours if I could buy some chocolate and a water and she told me that there was literally nothing left on the trolley. Nothing, zilch, nada - no drinks, water, snacks, alcohol. All gone. She was highly mortified (and told me this) and advised me to complain directly to Aer Lingus, which I will do.
But a word of warning to you if you are flying soon, particularly for longer flights, I would recommend you self-cater.
I wanted to give an update on some recent European flights that I have taken and the service provided onboard. It has been alluded to on this forum and others, but I can confirm that there is a significant supply challenge with catering on shorthaul routes. I flew to Dubrovnik and back with a load of around 150 each way. I already knew that the Bia offering was limited i.e. no fresh food (no idea why when meals are provided n longhaul economy and the crew are up and down the cabin anyway?) but the catering was truly astonishing. No red wine was loaded on any flight, only 8 mini-bottles of white wine were loaded (we got the last 2 and we sat in row 2...), a couple of chocolate bars and a few cans of soda. That was it! On the return, I asked the crew after 1.5 hours if I could buy some chocolate and a water and she told me that there was literally nothing left on the trolley. Nothing, zilch, nada - no drinks, water, snacks, alcohol. All gone. She was highly mortified (and told me this) and advised me to complain directly to Aer Lingus, which I will do.
But a word of warning to you if you are flying soon, particularly for longer flights, I would recommend you self-cater.
Aug 9, 2021, 1:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: AerClub - Concierge, Hotels.com - Gold
Posts: 934
Seems to me EI are not managing the return to flying well. So many airlines have returned with decent schedules to DUB. How ironic that EI haven't And those routes running are definintely badly catered
Aug 12, 2021, 10:17 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Aug 19, 2021, 1:56 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 5
AerSpace
Flew yesterday from Dublin to London Heathrow on an AerSpace ticket and no inflight service was offered at all. I did press the call bell and asked for my drink and snack as per the info on the Aerlingus website but was told they don't do that anymore. Add to that the lounge was also closed in Dublin due to Covid (most other things in terminal were open) and you have to wonder what benefit you get with AerSpace over the substantially cheaper tickets?
Aug 19, 2021, 10:32 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
Flew yesterday from Dublin to London Heathrow on an AerSpace ticket and no inflight service was offered at all. I did press the call bell and asked for my drink and snack as per the info on the Aerlingus website but was told they don't do that anymore. Add to that the lounge was also closed in Dublin due to Covid (most other things in terminal were open) and you have to wonder what benefit you get with AerSpace over the substantially cheaper tickets?
Aug 19, 2021, 1:28 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: AerClub - Concierge, Hotels.com - Gold
Posts: 934
Flew yesterday from Dublin to London Heathrow on an AerSpace ticket and no inflight service was offered at all. I did press the call bell and asked for my drink and snack as per the info on the Aerlingus website but was told they don't do that anymore. Add to that the lounge was also closed in Dublin due to Covid (most other things in terminal were open) and you have to wonder what benefit you get with AerSpace over the substantially cheaper tickets?
You really would wonder what EI are at
Aug 19, 2021, 2:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards Platinum, BW Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,968
Dublin EI reopens on 1st September.
Legally/Guidance nothing stopping them opening today but only for those vaccinated/recovered
DAA lounge is open
Legally/Guidance nothing stopping them opening today but only for those vaccinated/recovered
DAA lounge is open
Aug 19, 2021, 3:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,900
That will be interesting lounge staff having to refuse entry to those without DCC QR codes. Not to mention that the rules in towns and cities in Ireland are being either over interpreted or not bothering at all . The system is nuts !
Aug 20, 2021, 5:50 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: EIDW
Programs: Aer Lingus Concierge, Radisson Rewards Platinum, BW Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,968
I'm assuming the 'inside dining' rules apply so vaccinated or recovered only which is going to cause some issues, a recent PCR is probably worth more in safety terms.
I'll be in around the 17th Sept to have a look around the 'new' lounge assuming lockdown version something hasn't hit by then
I'll be in around the 17th Sept to have a look around the 'new' lounge assuming lockdown version something hasn't hit by then
Last edited by ROKNA; Aug 20, 2021 at 6:03 am
Aug 27, 2021, 4:50 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 115
TFS-DUB this week had three cans of Heineken, two cans of Magners and two red wines. And about five granola / chocolate bars. You have to feel for the cabin crew, it's almost more embarrassing than doing no service at all. By contrast, every Ryanair flight I've taken into DUB recently has been fully stocked. After the hour-long waits at check-in, the weekly emails to say that my upcoming flights have been rescheduled again, and now this, I'd genuinely pay more to fly with Ryanair.