Is Aer Lingus a Good Airline?

When it comes to traveling through an airline, most of us stick to known brands. Switching to a new carrier may be a bit ‘risky’. Especially in aspects such as comfort, safety, and cost. If you are planning to try Aer Lingus, there are important facts that enable you to make a good decision. In other words, the airline is secure, but the passengers’ journeys are vastly different.

Aer Lingus is an Irish airline which was established in 1936 and the first flight occurred in the year 1940. This airline has its main operational base at the Dublin Airport and it operates secondary hubs from the Cork and Shannon airports. The airline is historically a flag carrier that had been fully owned by the government but was privatized between 2006/2015. It is today managed as a member of the International Airlines Group (IAG) that also operates British Airways and Spain’s Iberia. Currently, Aer Lingus has a fleet size of over 50 aircraft and it has a network of about 70 routes, which are spread across Europe, United Kingdom, and North America.

Is Aer Lingus a Good Airline for Traveling?

Evaluation of this case therefore shows that in the areas of pricing, service delivery, and company reputation, Aer Lingus tends to perform quite well. It can be considered not as a luxurious airline but as stable and providing the means according to the price range. You will also have comfortable seating, free food and beverages, and free Wi-Fi on all the flights we offer.

Aer Lingus has also received high safety ratings in its operations and has no record of major accidents or safety-related issues. These good outcomes in safety have the effect of giving confidence to travelers. Further, as shown in the following sub-section, the airline is also noted for its reliability having ranked among the most punctual airlines throughout the world. Aer Lingus has maintained the second-highest on-time record for delivering its flights in 2021 among major airlines in Europe. Also, it makes the company reliable in delivering its services to the flying public.

With interlinkages with airlines in the Star Alliance and affiliation with British Airways, Aer Lingus benefits from extensive connectivity, which fuels its allure. Lastly, the airline offers relatively low ticket prices for all service classes. In addition, a good service that is not over the top makes it favorable for price-sensitive travelers.

Overview & Features of Aer Lingus

You will get certain services in Aer Lingus since it is a low-cost airline, so the plane’s expectations before booking. Here’s a list of what is offered to the passengers by the airline and a general feel of the passengers.

Know About Fleets

The Fleet Aer Lingus flies with different types of Airbus; however, the biggest one is the Airbus A330-300. The aircraft with the longest range is the Airbus A330-200 while the most frequently used is Airbus A320.

Loyalty Program

Aer Lingus has a loyalty program. Here you can earn points for booking flights with Aer Lingus directly or with other airlines in its alliance. Additionally, booking hotels with its partners, and even shopping with specific retailers.

4 membership levels include services such as access to airport lounges, priority check-in, and others. All European airlines with the IAG group share this mileage system. So you can transfer points between Aer Lingus and British Airways depending on your needs.

Aer Lingus Flights to Europe

European Flights with Aer Lingus provides flights within Europe where you’ll have to select from various fare types that entitle you to several services. Most of you would not find first and business-class accommodations and the pitch of seats does not go beyond 78 cm.

Another type of ticket that is available if you are trying to save your money is a Saver. However, the reality is that there are no cancellations, refunds, or extra charges for things such as the preferred seat or the inflight meals.

About Baggage Policy

Getting a Saver ticket entitles you to hand luggage of any size together with an additional piece of hand baggage not exceeding 10kgs. Passengers who are going to acquire tickets that are a bit expensive will be entitled to a 23kg cumulative baggage allowance on all their flights. For passengers who plan to fly business class on the transatlantic route, you are allowed up to 3 check-in bags each with a 23kg allowance.

In-Flight Features of the Airline

As such, if you’re not flying business class and ordering from the premium menu, what you get to eat on an Aer Lingus flight is what you would expect to get on any other flight. Regarding the main chicken dish, there was no very positive association, however, some of the snacks were rather tasty. Catering is not provided for the regular fare passengers. Therefore, the passenger has to carry their food Unless he or she has booked a flat fare.

Cancellation Policy

Telling how far one is in a position to cancel or change a flight is determined by the kind of ticket he or she was sold. Premium tickets often come with some form of flexibility. Whereby a ticket holder can change his or her ticket several times or be given a full refund or a voucher.

Is Aer Lingus Worth Flying With?

It can often be challenging to decide on a new airline that should be picked for carrying out the transportation process. Therefore, is Aer Lingus a viable option if a passenger is planning his/her next flight? In simple terms, if you want an ‘any air company’ that provides minimum standard safety precautions and operational regulations, then the answer is yes. But when it comes to extra services and offerings for passengers, opinions vary and the journey may not be as smooth as with other airlines.

Aer Lingus Customer Reviews

As for the star ratings and other reviews, such as those from TripAdvisor, only unhappy guests write comments. However, most of the complaints are a result of the passenger’s misunderstanding regarding the limitations of their tickets. Also, most of the reviews are positive towards the friendliness of the ground and cabin crews and managing the problems within their capacity. Although there are few complaints Aer Lingus has an above-average score that places the airline in the 3rd position. Proudly, presented 5 stars based on more than 13000 TripAdvisor responses. The airline also won the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2017 and 2018.

Indeed, the essential about economy seats is that there is enough legroom with 79 cm on average being the norm. The fact that one has to pay for food on saver tickets also invites controversy. But this is elaborated in the Aer Lingus site. Other common complaints are long airport lines. So, the impossibility of using some convenient solutions, for instance, checking in via an application, in connection with transatlantic flights. This mostly results in passengers having to get to the airport earlier than expected to check-in. Another emerging problem is that the overhead compartments are fairly small. And can be expected since saver tickets only permit carry-ons.

Final Thoughts

It’s not an easy task to choose the best and safest airline while planning your international trip. Many passengers, while traveling with Aer Lingus, are worried about whether Aer Lingus is a good airline. So, the answer is yes. Aer Lingus is safe and one of the good airlines in terms of safety and services. However, a hassle-free journey is provided to every passenger by the airline. Be happy and enjoy your Aer Lingus trip without any worry!

Frequently Asked Questions