During my Aer Lingus & Iberia A321XLR adventure, the highlight, of course, was crossing the Atlantic on two A321XLRs. However, I also had a new (to me) intra-Europe experience, which I want to talk in this post.
Specifically, between Dublin (DUB) and Madrid (MAD), I flew Aer Lingus’ AerSpace product. What is this, exactly, and is it worth it? I’ll share some thoughts on that in this post, and then soon, I’ll have a full review.
In this post:
The basics of Aer Lingus’ AerSpace product
Historically, Aer Lingus hasn’t offered a business class product on its routes within Europe. While that’s still the case, in 2019, the airline introduced AerSpace, intended to be its premium product on short haul flights. As you’d expect, this is an attempt to increase revenue, and to tap into the demand for premium products.
However, what’s interesting is that this is significantly scaled back compared to your typical intra-Europe business class. So think of it as being somewhere between economy and business class, in terms of quality.
What’s included with Aer Lingus AerSpace tickets
What’s included with Aer Lingus AerSpace tickets? The experience starts on the ground, as you receive free fast track security, as well as lounge access, including to Aer Lingus’ flagship lounge in Dublin. The lounge pass you receive when you book your AerSpace ticket indicates you can access the lounge for up to two hours, though I’m not sure to what extent that’s enforced.
Once onboard, you get a seat in the first row of the cabin of the Airbus A320, with the middle seat blocked, and a dedicated overhead bin.
This means that there are at most four AerSpace seats for sale. Given Aer Lingus’ very tight pitch in standard economy, this does offer a bit more space.
For example, on the flight I took, I was the only person in AerSpace, so I had the whole row to myself. Meanwhile the cabin was otherwise mostly full.
Once airborne, AerSpace passengers receive one complimentary drink (hot, cold, or alcoholic) and one snack (snack, sandwich, or wrap) from the buy on board menu. For example, I chose a canned ice coffee (yay Aer Lingus) and a salt and chili chicken wrap.
Aer Lingus AerSpace tickets also come with free changes, automatic standby for earlier flights, and the option to refund. Then there’s a carry-on allowance of a 10kg bag and a personal item, plus a checked bag allowance of 20kg.
There’s nothing else exciting about AerSpace. Like, it’s not a dedicated cabin, there’s no curtain, no reserved lavatory, and you’re served in the same way as everyone else, but you’re just not charged for your first drink and snack. For that matter, Aer Lingus’ A320s are super bare bones, with no charging ports, and no Wi-Fi or streaming entertainment.
I’d highly recommend selecting a window seat rather than an aisle seat, as people constantly line up in the aisle to use the bathroom, so that’s not very pleasant for the person sitting in the aisle (especially on a morning flight, where people tend to, you know…).
The one exception worth calling out is that Aer Lingus sometimes operates its long haul configured A321LRs and A321XLRs on flights within Europe. In those situations, the fully flat business class seats are sold as AerSpace, and of course that’s an amazing experience, since it’s a very different product. In those cases, all 16 business class seats are sold as AerSpace seats.
How much Aer Lingus AerSpace tickets cost
Aer Lingus has a tiered fare structure on regional flights, with four options — Saver, Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace — with each fare offering incremental perks. Obviously pricing is dynamic, so varies based on the date, route, etc.
I booked my Aer Lingus AerSpace ticket pretty last minute, so fares were higher than usual. For the flight I was looking at, the Saver fare was €161, the Plus fare was €219, the Advantage fare was €252, and the AerSpace fare was €305.
One thing I notice is that AerSpace pricing tends to be most consistent across flights than the other fare types. That’s to say that if booking far in advance, and if Saver fares are €60, the AerSpace fare is still likely to be around €300. So there’s quite a difference in terms of incremental cost based on the entry level ticket cost.
My take on the value of Aer Lingus’ AerSpace product
Is Aer Lingus’ AerSpace product worth it? As you’d expect, the answer is “it depends.” The way I view it, the biggest factors include the following:
- What’s the price premium for AerSpace over the other fare bundle that you’d book, based on what you need?
- How much do you value the individual perks? For example, if you have elite status, you might already get priority boarding and lounge access
In my case, I thought the premium for AerSpace was quite fair. I appreciated having access to the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin, and valued that at something. It was also nice to have the entire row to myself, with extra legroom as well. The inflight drink and snack I purchased would’ve otherwise retailed for €10 combined.
If I flew Aer Lingus short haul again, I’d probably pay the premium for AerSpace. However, my bigger takeaway is that I’d instead try to fly another airline in Europe that actually sells business class, especially since that can often be booked at a reasonable cost with miles & points. That’s partly a reflection of the premium product, but also partly a reflection of the lack of Wi-Fi, power ports, etc.
Bottom line
I finally had the chance to fly Aer Lingus AerSpace, which is the carrier’s short haul premium product. It’s not quite business class, but it offers lounge access, fast track security, a seat in the first row with a blocked middle, dedicated overhead bin space, and one complimentary drink and snack.
There are definitely some major differences compared to intra-Europe business class, like the lack of a curtain or dedicated lavatory, the limits on food and drinks, and lack of more attentive service. That being said, if the price is right, I could see myself paying for this product again.
What’s your take on Aer Lingus AerSpace?
Aer Lingus operate as a low cost carrier in Europe so the fares are structured accordingly.
The value prop of a blocked middle is significantly diminished when you have fixed armrests.
I actually don’t care much about the width of the seat, for me the advantage is not to have someone directly next to me. For this product however I would probably not pay the extra.
The Advantage fare, which is one step below AerSpace, is also fully refundable, includes fast-track at Dublin Airport, lounge access in Dublin and "select" airports, free seat selection during booking apart from the first row. I do not see the value of paying for AerSpace for free snacks, priority boarding (almost never enforced outside of Dublin) and sitting on the first row. I have seen really absurd price differences between Advantage and AerSpace fare (€100+...
The Advantage fare, which is one step below AerSpace, is also fully refundable, includes fast-track at Dublin Airport, lounge access in Dublin and "select" airports, free seat selection during booking apart from the first row. I do not see the value of paying for AerSpace for free snacks, priority boarding (almost never enforced outside of Dublin) and sitting on the first row. I have seen really absurd price differences between Advantage and AerSpace fare (€100+ extra for the latter). Unless one is looking to build up Tier Credits (40 with Advantage versus 50 with AerSpace) or it is an A321 flight, I see no reason to pay for AerSpace.
Oh Boy what a con trick. 300 or so EACH WAY in the 320 in a packed and tight all economy plane.
If you plan you can do that same journey in Business Class for the same money and on an airline where they show some respect.
Better to bet on a horse than to waste money like this. This is the airline to avoid if you are travelling in Europe as well...
Oh Boy what a con trick. 300 or so EACH WAY in the 320 in a packed and tight all economy plane.
If you plan you can do that same journey in Business Class for the same money and on an airline where they show some respect.
Better to bet on a horse than to waste money like this. This is the airline to avoid if you are travelling in Europe as well as others emanating from the same country. My experience of Aer Lingus lounges at Dublin is that they have filthy seats and are full of uncleared garbage so it's an airline to use only if desperate in my humble opinion.
How much space is available in the "dedicated overhead bin"? That bin holds emergency equipment. My experience is that these bins don't have a lot of available space; at least they don't have as much available space as other bins.
You only get lounge access flying out of Dublin, you don’t if you’re departing anywhere else in Europe. And Aer Lingus priority boarding is a joke. Nothing is enforced and it’s just a free for all..,
There’s an Aer Lingus lounge in Heathrow T3. A nice lounge, too.
T2
Flying BHX to DUB, aerspace's premium price isn't worth it on such a short flight ( 1 hour) but the benefits of advantage (fast track and lounge access) are
But y9u have to choose wisely as majority of flights are not AL 737, but their Emerald Airlibes ATR 72, now that's a tight seat!
Aer Space is only worth it on a321. It's a bit of a faff on a320.
Love our trip reports.
Please see the typo: "That’s to say that if booking far in advance, and if Saver fares are €60, the AerSpace fare is still likely to be around €300"
You mean 160 euros and not 60 euros
@ Calidude -- Thanks for reading! I might be missing something, but I don't think it was a typo? My point was to say that if the Saver fare is €60 (unless the €160 Saver fare on the flight I booked), the AerSpace fare is still likely around €300.
My bad. Excellent trip reports
While the wrap may have been refrigerated, I’m pretty sure it was chili, not chilly.
@ Never In Doubt -- Lol, good catch, fixed.
You'd have to pay me to sit in the first row of a Euro-Config narrowbody, as the leg room is significantly worse than in all other rows.
I guess at least with Aer Lingus I know I won't end up there unless I buy the extra fare.
@ Chris -- I respect your take, but I have to disagree there. Aer Lingus' pitch is under 30" on the A320, and the front row has a decent about of leg room, by comparison.
Agree, row 1 actually often has better space than other rows in European J. Can't stretch your legs out as much maybe, but the knee space is significantly better.
I guess everyone is different, but I don't know why anyone would care about knee room. I'm 190cm with about average length legs for that height, and every bulkhead tow in Euro C made me suffer. Isle seats where the legs can be extended a bit into the isle are slightly less worse, but FAs are usually pretty aggressive at rolling over them with a card or telling you to move them away.
Just as a data point:
I’m 195 cm and can’t (literally) fit in a standard slimline seat. My knees are pressing up against the seat in front every single time. But the bulkheads are good. I would GLADLY pay €150++ to sit in the first row, and regularly do so. As I see it, the only perk with LH Senator is free bulkhead seating in C.
(Flying intra-EU on LH, OS, LO, SK, AF quite regularly - same everywhere.)
“The one exception worth calling out is that Aer Lingus sometimes operates its long haul configured A321LRs and A321XLRs on flights within Europe.”
Bingo. That’s the best!
Next time, try the cheese toastie...so good!
Btw, i flew DUB-TFS in February on EI on their A320s and wow...that flight took me back to the 1990s of travel, No in-seat power, no wifi, no anything. Note that DUB-TFS is almost 5hrs long!!! The only "modern" thing and redeeming quality about the plane was the mood lighting and the older seats which offered decent padding.
I blame myself that I wasn't prepared for it...
Next time, try the cheese toastie...so good!
Btw, i flew DUB-TFS in February on EI on their A320s and wow...that flight took me back to the 1990s of travel, No in-seat power, no wifi, no anything. Note that DUB-TFS is almost 5hrs long!!! The only "modern" thing and redeeming quality about the plane was the mood lighting and the older seats which offered decent padding.
I blame myself that I wasn't prepared for it since i had nothing downloaded on my phone nor did I have a book on me. LOL. I came in from SEA in J and thankfully had my phone fully charged and, since I knew they were all BoB in Y (no Aer Space to beach markets), i brought some snacks from the lounge. But man, thankfully I was jet-lagged and managed to doze off for a couple of hours. I made sure to prepare for the return flight!! :)
do paid business class long-haul fares (LAX-DUB-PRG for instance) include AerSpace seating on the intra-Europe segment?
@ listen -- It generally is included on revenue fares, I believe, but obviously award tickets is a different story, given segment by segment pricing.
Ditto.
Mine was in economy. Tried twice :)