Over the summer I wrote about Aer Lingus’ new business class, which they’re installing throughout their Airbus A330 fleet.
This new product represents a huge improvement over their old angled business class seats. The new cabin will consist of fully flat Thompson Vantage seats, whereby 90% of the seats will feature direct aisle access.
Aer Lingus’ old A330 business class
The new business class cabins will have 32 seats, which actually represents an increase in premium cabin capacity.
Anyway, Aer Lingus officially unveiled their new business class product yesterday at a press event in Dublin, and it looks like a really solid product (and I’m totally jealous of the guy who’s being poured the biggest glass of champagne ever):
While staggered business class seats aren’t my favorite in the world, most of Aer Lingus’ flights aren’t that long, so the seats are more than sufficient for most of the routes they’re operating.
Aer Lingus is also improving their soft product
Beyond the hard product, I’m just so impressed by the ways in which Aer Lingus is improving their soft product.
For example, Aer Lingus will:
- Have Wi-Fi throughout their Airbus A330 fleet, with complimentary Wi-Fi for business class passengers
- Offer pre-flight dining at their lounges in Boston and New York
- Open a new lounge at New York JFK Airport
- Offer on-demand dining aboard, so you can eat what you want when you want
- Add an arrivals lounge in Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, for passengers getting off transatlantic flights
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin
New Aer Lingus routes coming soon?
I was expecting Aer Lingus to announce some new routes with the press conference, though that didn’t end up happening. Rumor has it they’ll be announcing some new US routes in the coming weeks, in particular to Dallas.
Which Aer Lingus routes will have the new business class?
I was also hoping they’d publish a timeline for when routes would get the new business class product. The first reconfigured A330 should be flying by March 2015, though no seatmaps have been updated to reflect the new product yet. Apparently San Francisco is supposed to be among the first routes to get the new product (which makes sense since it’s their longest route, and therefore a flat bed would make the biggest difference), though it hasn’t been officially confirmed.
This product will be accessible for many of us
In our circles, one of the greatest things about Aer Lingus is what a great value it can be to redeem miles on them. Aer Lingus is one of the best values for transatlantic business class travel, given British Airways’ distance based award chart.
And keep in mind British Airways doesn’t impose fuel surcharges for travel on Aer Lingus, which makes it an even better value.
British Airways Executive Club is transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards & Chase Ultimate Rewards, so there are lots of ways to rack up those points:
Bottom line
I certainly enjoyed my flights on them a couple of years back in their old business class, so can’t wait to try their new business class.
For more on my Aer Lingus experience a couple of years back, check out the trip report:
- Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge Boston
- Aer Lingus Business Class Boston to Dublin
- Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge Dublin
- Aer Lingus Business Class Dublin to Boston
Are you excited to try Aer Lingus’ new business class?
As of 8.13.15, per AerLingus, there is no pre-flight dining at their lounge in Boston.
Aer Lingus seem to have two layouts for the new business class for the 330-3 and the 330-2.
One has seat numbers to 6 and the other seat numbers to 5.
I have a booking for the old 2A and 2C which now don't exist. Any idea how these seats will now be allocated considering that the new layout has fewer seats ? I can't figure how they are going to seat me next to my partner now ?
Any enlightenment for me ?
@ Laeglig -- Have you tried going to the website or calling to change your seat assignment? You should be able to confirm it now.
I flew them earlier this week, in the product that's soon to be phased out. They're already offering the free wifi, which was a nice surprise.
If there is actually going to be J award availability out of DFW, I am all for it. Seat design is nice and who doesn't want never ending champagne? ;)
How can we search award availability on EI ?? it does not show on BA tool no?
@ concorde02 -- Some say the Qantas tool is accurate, but I've found BA Aer Lingus availability to differ somewhat. The only way to really search space as it's available to BA is to call them.
You can see availability on the Quantas website. It also shows a month at a time, which is convenient.
@ Ray - This is my understanding as well. I use the KVS tool (with my QF info for Oneworld awards) and I can see EI award availability. I'm searching primarily for late spring and summer 2015, and I see some Y availability, but not much in J.
I think they're creating a Gold Circle Lounge at JFK for premium cabin passengers. I know for a fact that they are making a pretty nice arrivals lounge at DUB.
I believe you can view Aer Lingus award availability via Qantas?
@ Ray -- BA does have access to a different sub-set of award inventory than Qantas, as far as I know.
I have been watching the business class availability on the BOS/DUB route for a year or so now, as the route is a great way to get across the ocean cheaply on Avios and then purchase a paid ticket from Dublin onward to other European destinations. During spring and fall of 2014, there were generally at least two seats 5 days out of 10 (except for summer). I have looked at ExpertFlyer and the United...
I have been watching the business class availability on the BOS/DUB route for a year or so now, as the route is a great way to get across the ocean cheaply on Avios and then purchase a paid ticket from Dublin onward to other European destinations. During spring and fall of 2014, there were generally at least two seats 5 days out of 10 (except for summer). I have looked at ExpertFlyer and the United site (which does show EI award availability) and it is basically nonexistent for the entire next 11 months. I even called BA to spot check a few two-week periods and they had nothing either. Any idea what's going on? Is this strategy dead?
Sadly I have not seen much EI availability for next year - I hope all the talk up of BOS-DUB/SNN and JFK-DUB/SNN w avios haven't diminished for most
What is the best way to search for Avios availability on Aer Lingus?
@ Kevin -- There's no way to search online, you have to call.
Ah, the dishonesty of so-called travel expert bloggers is on display in all its glory once again.
Hey "lucky" - have you looked at availability of business class seats on are lingus? Maybe that SFO flight you're flogging? Hint: aer lingus releases exactly zero business class seats on this flight. None. Evah.
But don't miss your chance to sign up for that Ink Plus card!
@ Rob -- Right, availability on the SFO route is horrible, not sure I suggested otherwise. I was simply pointing out they fly the route. The deal I highlighted was out of Boston.
While it has some nice ideas (like the tray table design), there is something about the style of seats I don't like...especially the center seats. It seems a bit too stylized. Even if it is an improvement.
The seem to have the same layout as Swiss does, but in reverse.