Aer Lingus Review [2024]: Are They Reliable to Fly With?

If you book flights around Europe, you'll quickly see how many airlines there are. Aer Lingus can seem like just another budget airline, often known for hidden fees and bad experiences. 

But Ireland's national airline also offers direct transatlantic flights at an affordable price, usually with preclearance to enter the United States. That looks pretty good!

So, what's it really like to fly with Aer Lingus? Do the affordable tickets truly represent value for money?

This is my complete Aer Lingus review so you know what to expect when you book travel with Aer Lingus.

What is Aer Lingus?

Aer Lingus means "Air Fleet" in Irish, and this is Ireland's national airline, which has operated since 1936. Nevertheless, it doesn't have the same name cache as British Airways and Air France. This is primarily due to problems following the financial crisis of 2008. 

Brief History of Aer Lingus

Ryanair, Ireland's biggest airline and probably the best-known budget airline, managed to dominate the local competition following the financial crisis, leading to hard times for Aer Lingus. 

Ryanair even tried to buy the airline. But Aer Lingus eventually became part of the International Airlines Group (IAG) in 2015, bringing it into partnership with airlines such as British Airways and Iberia.

Today, Aer Lingus navigates the terrain between budget and premium airlines. It runs a lot of local European flights that start with cheap tickets with basic services, and then you need to pay for extras such as meals and luggage. 

But Aer Lingus tends to land in central airports rather than the secondary airports used by true budget airlines.

Who Owns Aer Lingus?

International Airlines Group (IAG) owns Aer Lingus, a British-Spanish multinational airline holding company. IAG owns other airlines such as British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling.

Which Routes Does Aer Lingus fly?

Aer Lingus has over 100 destinations across Europe and the United States. Aer Lingus offers two categories of flights: short-haul European flights and long-haul transatlantic flights. 

Aer Lingus' IAG partners offer connecting onward flights, including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines overseas, and British Airways and Iberia in Europe.

Aer Lingus Details & Features

As Aer Lingus is a budget airline, it's essential to understand what's offered and what's not. Let's look at some of the features of Aer Lingus flights and the overall experience with this popular airline.

Their Fleets

Aer Lingus operates a range of Airbus aircraft. The largest in their fleet is the Airbus A330-300. The plane with the longest range is the Airbus A330-200, and the most common Aer Lingus aircraft is the Airbus A320. 

European Aer Lingus Flights

On European flights, Aer Lingus offers various fares, which differentiate the service you receive. There are no first or business-class sections. All seats are the standard 78cm.

You can book a saver ticket if you want affordable Aer Lingus flights. This gives you what you would expect from a budget airline. Passengers get a seat, one small personal carry-on item, and a 10kg bag. There are no refunds, and you need to pay extra to select your seat and purchase refreshments on the plane. 

You can upgrade to a Plus or Advantage seat if you're looking for more services. The premium seats on these European flights are branded as AerSpace. Passengers get the VIP treatment starting with access to the VIP lounges in the airport. 

You still get stuck in the same small seats, but it only seats two people in your row, keeping the middle seat free and reserving the overhead compartment for you. Your refreshments are also complimentary on the flight.

So, depending on your budget and what you prioritize, there are good options for everyone on these European flights, which are on the Airbus A320 or A321.

If you are looking for other budget airlines that service Europe, look into these reviews on Vueling Airlines, Wizz Air, Play Airlines, and Eurowings.

Transatlantic Aer Lingus Flights

Aer Lingus' transatlantic flights to North America are operated in Airbus A330s or Boeing 757s, so you'll get your business class section. Destinations include New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Economy class on transatlantic flights operates similarly. Passengers can get saver tickets, which include carry-on luggage and one complimentary meal, a legal requirement for a long-haul flight. You must pay for all your other food options, drinks, and extras. 

There are also standard economy seats with a 23kg checked bag and other refreshments. All economy seats have personal entertainment screens.

While the saver option might seem a bit mean, it makes the flight affordable on a budget. You could fly between Dublin and New York for as little as $200 and round-trip flights from $350.

Business Class is just as good as you would expect from other international airlines, with fully reclining seats that measure 198cm when lying flat, almost all the baggage you can carry, luxury dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more. 

Prices are also comparable with other transatlantic airlines such as British Airways and Emirates.

If you fly out of Dublin Airport or Shannon Airport to the United States, you can be precleared for arrival in the US, which saves you time upon landing. This is an attractive option for frequent flyers without baggage who want to clear the airport quickly.

Aer Lingus Loyalty Program

Aer Lingus does have its own rewards club, and you can earn points when you book with the airline or partner airlines, book hotels with partners, or shop with partner retailers. 

There are four tiers within the club offering a variety of different benefits, such as lounge access and priority check-in. All European IAG airlines use the same mileage currencies, and you can transfer points between airlines, for example, Aer Lingus and British Airways.

Aer Lingus Baggage Policy

If you buy saver tickets, you can expect to be able to carry a bag of up to 10kgs and one personal item. If you purchase more expensive tickets, you can expect a 23kg checked bag on all flights and three bags of this size if you fly business class on a transatlantic flight. 

Aer Lingus In-Flight Features

Unless you're flying in business class and ordering off the luxury menu, you can expect standard airplane food on Aer Lingus, which tends to be hit-and-miss. The main chicken meal was pretty tasteless when I flew, but some snacks were delicious. 

Remember that unless you pay for a premium ticket, you'll need to pay for most of your meals on the flight. There's a snack menu on European flights with hot sandwiches and crisps. 

On transatlantic flights, on a basic ticket, you get one free meal. Then you need to pay for all snacks and alcoholic beverages.

Aer Lingus Cancelation Policy

Cancelations and changes depend on the ticket that you buy. The premium tickets usually offer a limited number of changes or a full voucher or cash refund. 

Discount tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable, though you can request a refund of government taxes if you decide not to fly. You can book your flights with Aer Lingus directly via their website or look for Aer Lingus flight deals on most of the major travel websites, including eDreams and Lastminute.

What Are People Saying About Aer Lingus?

I'm always wary of looking at star ratings and individual customer reviews for airlines on websites like TripAdvisor. Usually, only people with a problem bother to leave a review online.

When you read the reviews, complaints tend to be down to people who didn't fully understand the limits of their tickets. But the ground and cabin crew always seem friendly and deal with the issue within the boundaries of what they're allowed. 

That said, Aer Lingus scores relatively well for an airline on Tripadvisor, with 3.5 stars from more than 13,000 reviews. The airline also won the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award in 2017 and 2018.

The complaints that come up are fairly consistent. The seats in economy are cramped, which is true, but it's the standard 79cm size you'll expect from most airlines. You need to pay for food on the flight, which is true when you purchase a saver ticket, but this is clearly stated on the website.

Other complaints include that queues in the airport are always long. Also, fast-track features like checking in on the app are often blocked, especially on transatlantic flights. This is very frustrating as it means arriving pretty early for these flights. 

Another common complaint is a lack of overhead locker storage space, which is consistent since saver flights often only include carry-on luggage.

Aer Lingus FAQs

Where Does Aer Lingus fly?

Aer Lingus flies to scores of routes to European countries and several transatlantic routes to the United States and Canada. Popular destinations include New York, Toronto, Chicago, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Madrid, Athens, Copenhagen, and Munich.

Is Aer Lingus a Good Airline?

Aer Lingus is a good airline with an excellent safety record. It offers a wide range of flight options through its membership of IAG. 

Saver tickets offer a great price but with limited services, and premium seats are as good as their competitors. There's a lot of flexibility, so you can pay for what matters to you.

Is Aer Lingus Under British Airways?

Aer Lingus and British Airways are owned by the same parent company, International Airlines Group.

Is Aer Lingus Better Than Ryanair?

Aer Lingus flights are better-rated than Ryanair flights because they fly to better airports and are more organized. Ryanair flights tend to be cheaper, and you're sacrificing various services for that lower-priced ticket. Aer Lingus is the only Irish airline with a four-star rating.

Why Is Aer Lingus So Cheap?

Aer Lingus can offer low prices firstly because it uses a limited range of airplane models to streamline maintenance. Secondly, it provides flexible tickets where you pay for what you want. You can fly on a budget if you're willing to dispense with meal services.

Is Aer Lingus Worth It?

Is booking a flight with Aer Lingus worth it? Yes, in the right circumstances. 

Aer Lingus is your best option to fly directly from Ireland to the United States. It's also flexible. Want to pay the minimum, and you're happy to have limited comfort and services on the 7-8 hour flight? Then Aer Lingus' tickets are very affordable. 

If you prefer more comfort, Aer Lingus' premium services are just as good as their competitors.

Aer Lingus is an excellent choice for a budget flight within Europe. It may be more expensive than true budget airlines, but it tends to fly to better airports. 

Aer Lingus flies into London Heathrow in the UK, just 22 kilometers from central London. Ryanair flies into London Stansted, which is 65 kilometers from London. This can save you time and money.

Cheap flights are what they are. It can look cheap on paper and cost you more as you must pay separately for many extras. 

But Aer Lingus is transparent about what to expect from each price point. It also has a lot of options, so you can pay for exactly what you want.

My Rating: 4.2/5

I'm giving Aer Lingus 4.2 stars because it offers a flexible service at a reasonable price and is clear and transparent about what you get when you buy. 

If you arrive at the airport with a Saver ticket and discover that you must pay extra for checked baggage and lunch, you should have been more careful when booking. The airline also loses points due to consistent delays and frustrations when checking in. 

It's common to show up at the airport and see that even the self-service kiosks aren't working. This means you've no choice but to stand in the snaking line, even when you don't have baggage to check. 

It also seems a bit mean not to offer any complimentary drinks on a transatlantic flight.

Pros:

• Affordable flights, including transatlantic
• Serviced at large airports
• Flexibility within ticket pricing

Cons:

• Ground service can be slow
• Limited drinks on flights
• In-person check-in

Fly with a Plan with Pilot!

Will you be booking your next flight with Aer Lingus? It offers flexible options to book the cheapest flight for what you need, but make sure you understand what is and isn't included with your ticket.

Now that you're an expert on Aer Lingus, you can start to craft your ideal travel experience for you, your family, and your friends.