I was sent a video advertisement by AerClub earlier this week to rate, as part of a survey.

Apparently, the idea was to emphasise the Avios link (despite not even bothering to include the Avios logo, that those that already know it would instantly recognise) but the jarring collection of mismatched stock-video footage of "travelling couples/families/groups/solos" and the inane on-screen text didn't really make clear what the ad was intended to convey.

They certainly said nothing about having to firm up your plans at least 60 days in advance, if you want to use those Avios!!!!

I think someone in AGL is losing the run of themselves.

Interesting post on this topic today on Head for Points:

Head for Points: Is Aer Lingus blocking Avios redemptions within 60 days of departure?
https://www.headforpoints.com/2023/1...ore-departure/

I was seeing this problem too but didn't twig what was happening!!!!

And now a AVIOS promo !

"Boost your Avios balance today! Collect an extra 50% bonus Avios when you buy or gift Avios from now until 12 November. That means if you buy 20,000 Avios, you'll collect 30,000 Avios!"

it used to be 24 hours ... so you could make a booking at 1pm for a flight departing the next day at midday

blocking redemptions within 60 days is ridiculous

And now the seats are back.

Amazing what a little article can do :-)

aren't Aer Lingus still blocking redemptions within seven days?

I don’t see them back for what I’m looking for in the first week of January. And there was lots of availability a couple of days ago.

I’m still hopeful that extra seat will appear for our BHX-DUB next year. Nothing yet, but we still have plenty of time 🤞🏽

Yes, apologies. I didn't notice that 60 days has now shrunk to 6 days. First day bookable as of now (Thu 9th) is Wed 15th.

That's great that they have moved it down to 6 days and I appreciate your article drawing attention to this! I do want to ask though - I first posted about this issue here and in other places on flyertalk over a month before you ran an article, and my posts got almost no interest or traction. What is the best way to contact you when these things occur, since you have a lot better ability to draw attention to these kinds of issues?

DM me here or go via the email address in the HfP site footer - either ok.

At least for Americans, generating even one Avios resets the expiration (maybe it's different if you live in the UK?). Shop for something very inexpensive on https://www.shopping.ba.com/ perhaps?

Not sure when this changed - if it's since the changeover from avios.com to rewards.aerlingus.com, or whether it was quietly re-introduced before the Avios site went dead - but the 60-day block on Avios redemptions on the shorthaul EI network is back again.

The first date showing availability on the shorthaul network is 8 June.

On longhaul, you can redeem for departure as soon as tomorrow.

whilst Aer Lingus Avios availability on short haul is shockingly bad ... it's not quite as woeful as 60 days !

ORK - LHR on Apr 20th - last flight of the day
SNN - LHR on Apr 16th - last flight of the day

Maybe ORK and SNN are the "exception" - though even from here, you have to admit that looking for a flight on the shorthaul network within 60 days is almost certainly going to leave you disappointed.

Only 6 ORK-AMS flights are available within the next 60 days (1 each on Wed 15 May, Sun 19 May, Sun 26 May, Mon 27 May, Tue 28 May & Thu 6 June). From Sun 9 June onwards (i.e. 60 days into the future) all flights are availalble.

I checked DUB-AMS; not a single flight available within the next 60 days, but every single one of the 3 or 4 daily flights becomes available to book on every date from Sun 9 June onwards.

Considering that, exactly 12 months ago you could book shorthaul departures for the very next day, this is not at all a good recurrence.