sven60035

Seems they have now finally integrated the Buy A Reward Flights (their words not mine) away from the Avios Webpage into aerlingus.com !

Either via the AerClub part of the website here: Buy a Reward Flight - Aer Lingus or via this interface: https://rewards.aerlingus.com/

Still not really easy to find availability over a longer period as it's still only showing a few days before/after the date entered but at least it looks better and easier to use than the Avios page.

DELLAS

I like the layout and at least they clarify whats included. Should save people a lot of confusion.
A big improvement compared to AVIOS.COM

irishguy28

Unlike the Avios.com interface, this booking interface only allows queries that are served point-to-point by Aer Lingus themselves....🤦‍♂️

Starting from Amsterdam (for instance), you can only book a ticket to DUB or ORK. Hopefully this is an oversight on their part. (And eventually they will add BA/IB etc...right?)

DELLAS

Im sure it will be added. Im surprised it looks and works as well as it does already

Shamrock HQ have blown their budget on this one it seems

EI320

The website suggests there will be a fee for seat selection, which is a clear step backwards. There's always a catch with EI. First it giveth, then it taketh away.

ROKNA

Well the question is does the 5pm seat edit voodoo apply to tickets issued now or not

Previously Avios tickets were issued by BA, but now they are issued by EI so should appear as normal tickets on the EI website so should be included in the daily manual seat edit run so the row 2-7 isle seat assignment should work ex Dublin as it does on revenue tickets for status holders

Pete_23567

That’s only for Concierge though right?

Overall the website is very slick.. let’s see what happens as they socialise it

ROKNA

All status levels

MBDublin

Just completed a booking for August return Dub-Fao. While there is lots of availability showing I am not sure it is all real. The 1st booking I made failed and a quick check on EF showed no availability for the flights I had picked. 2nd booking with different flights worked and appeared on my AC account but still with the message that no online changes are possible and advising chat or a phone call.

Definitely a much better website than the previous version.

ROKNA

What ticket number did you get one starting with 125 or 053?

MBDublin

053 ticket numbers. The confirmation comes from rewardbooking@aerlingus,com and you don't get the pdf attachment with the details anymore.

DELLAS

That is something that always plagued AVIOS showing fake availability then placing a hold on the money on your card.

Hopefully when your booking failed they did not do the same.

MBDublin

Fortunately no hold on the card and the avios back instantly. 15000 avios+ €33.50 vs approx €350 cash for return flights is a reasonable use of avios in my view and definitely a quicker process on the new site despite the glitches.

ROKNA

Excellent proper EI tickets, the next challenge is check in does it show your Aerclub status level

BrianDromey

It’s great that EI have finally managed to get a functioning EI branded booking portal for reward flights. It a shame that you cant view your AerClub account details or combine Avios. But it’s better and less buggy than the old avios.com pages were. There are still a few quirks with the EI portal and opportunities to save. EI short haul is still cheaper via the EI portal than on ba.com. EI short haul was roughly at BA Reward Flight Saver prices and thats is still the case. However EI metal booked via BA is quite a bit more expensive in terms of Avios and cash. So watch out.

For a return LHR-DUB in Economy BA.com offers the following:
BA Services (Reward Saver)
18500 Avios + £1.00
17000 Avios + £ 9.00
14500 Avios + £ 18.00
9500 Avios + £ 35.00
7400 Avios + £ 65.00
5900 Avios + £ 85.00
EI Operated
8000 Avios + £ 63.44
7352 Avios + £ 69.10
6270 Avios + £ 76.94
4108 Avios + £ 93.44
3200 Avios + £ 103.44
2552 Avios + £ 113.44

EI.com
8,000 Avios + £39.44
7,352 Avios + £49.44
6,272 Avios + £59.44
4,110 Avios + £79.44
3,200 Avios + £109.44
2,552 Avios + £129.44

EI appears to be pricing their short haul flights similarly in terms of Cash and Avios to BA, but only on the EI portal.