While Aer Lingus offers a solid business class product on their longhaul flights, the airline doesn't offer business class on their intra-Europe flights (they axed it in 2002). For a few years there have been rumors of Aer Lingus introducing business class on short-haul flights, though it hasn't happened. In a way that's a bit…
Continue reading: Aer Lingus Introducing Flat Bed Business Class On Some Shorthaul Flights
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During the summer months Aer Lingus already operate 330s to faro and Malaga between transatlantic flights. They have been doing this for a few years
A shame they aren't putting any effort into the catering - feels like a missed opportunity...
"While a flat bed is hardly necessary on a short flight within Europe"
I'm not sure I agree for Aer Lingus. For flights arriving around 5am the flights likely depart at times that don't make it too easy to sleep on an already short flight (e.g. NYC departure of 6PM, with a 6 hour duration). You can squeeze another hour sleep on the connection.
As Niall said, they've had great success with doing this with A330s on the high traffic sun holiday routes in the summer. It makes logical sense to use the A321LR for this too. My experience is that LHR, LGW, and other UK traffic on EI is primarily Irish & British passengers, so the demand might not be huge. However, my wife and I were on a morning flight from DUB-FCO a couple of years ago where probably 85% of the passengers were connections from US or Canadian flights, so this would be a huge advantage for them, especially if they deploy any on the 2.5 hour + European flights.
EI has my favorite shorthaul Y service and soft product in the world, so I am so glad to hear of these shorthaul J improvements!
It is also great that some of the Irish government and union concerns about IAG's takeover of EI have been listened to. At a time when IAG is putting most of BA's products down the toilet, EI continues to improve!
@vlcnc EI has incredible quality shorthaul buy onboard catering in Y, better than what you get in F on any domestic US carrier flight.
Great news! I expect Aer Lingus to do very well with this.
@Anthony Thomas - Do you agree or not? LOL. Anyway, Its not about offering a flatbed so people can sleep ;-). It offers a seamless cabin experience overall room - much more comfortable seat over a standard Y bench.
Also if you've ever arrived somewhere overnight on a short JFK-BRU or DOH-BKK flight for example, and then had to make a connecting flight...sometimes you are still a bit sleepy and a flat bed would be welcomed.
Its no different than AA using 76 and 75s on 2.5 JFK-MIA, a flatbed is not needed, but its there if required. Aircraft utilization is key!
Am example for other European carriers on what to do for connections in Business.
I agree that catering is unimportant on such short flights - just avoid annoying people by charging them.
"eight of the 14 "
I know this is what journalism schools teach, in order to use words unless numbers are large (defined arbitrarily as over ten) , but I suggest that it should be subject to the override: "all numbers in a given phrase should be in the same format: digits or text".
So "8 of 14" or "eight of fourteen".
@Bagoly agreeee that's so annoying. conventional rules be dammed we are not in Victorian England.
Great move, finally an airline offering a consistent experience in premimum cabins.
The only other airline at least planning this is SQ, so Are Lingus is in great company!
Bagoly - it's not really an example for anyone else as none of them, to my knowledge, have a fleet of long haul configured planes sitting around doing nothing all day.
Despite my usual rule that non-stop flights take precedence over flights with transfers, I might be tempted by this now - only because of US pre-clearance in Ireland. And J class throughout means I could now get away with a decent-sized carryon for the whole journey (hold baggage is a definite no-no for me).
Why is Aer Lingus releasing no business class award availability US to Ireland and back? Anyone?
Correction: They mostly axed European Business Class in 2002. It was retained on select key routes like LHR, CDG, AMS, FRA until 2005.