Aer Lingus' New Transatlantic Fares Don't Include Blankets & Headphones

I understand the idea of making customers pay for seat assignments and checked luggage, this is nothing new.

However, I am really surprised by the decision to remove headphones and blankets from passengers who book the saver fare. This costs almost nothing to the airline, and is not something passengers would pay a premium for anyway. It will certainly slow down the distribution of blankets and headphones and will look quite awkward... A very cheap move.

Lucky, when are you planning on releasing the article on the best first class products that you mentioned you were working on following your la premiere flight

Look on the bright side Lucky. Once you've flown all the First and Business class products you can then move onto these cheap airlines. Call it job security.

1) I don't care for Economy headphones that the airline give out as they are usually terrible. I bring my own.

2) This sounds really hard to enforce. Not sure the crew is going to check everyone's fare class to see if they get a free blanket or headphones.

Lucky, have they reduced the lowest economy fare by $40 or have they increased the Smart fare by $40 charging you extra for what used to be free?

I don't understand why this is considered cheap. AA has been doing this since the 90's and they are still considered as a full "service" airlines.

For what it’s worth, the Saver fare is actually cheaper than the equivalent fare a day ago. The new ‘Smart’ fare is directly equivalent to the old ‘Low’ fare and includes exactly the same stuff. So this isn’t like how United introduced Basic Economy, these are new cheaper price points that were not available before.

Last time I flew Aer Lingus (in may, day time flight) they just dropped a bag full of blankets near the middle lavatory and it was a free for all first come first serve. It was clear they didn't have enough for everyone, and I wondered if it was meant to be that way or if the ground crew didnt drop off enough by accident. Previously they had a blanket and pillow at every seat, though that was a red eye.

I've never used blankets or pillows on transatlantic economy to be honest, so its not much of a loss. Would still purchase the smart fare so I can check a bag and select my seat. I usually pay extra for the exit row any way.

Is it just me for everytime I read aer lingus I am reminded of a much more pleasurable word.

Blankets and headphones don't "cost almost nothing." Blankets particularly are washed and then repackaged after each use, and headphones similarly have headphone covers replaced, or just replaced entirely and then repackaged again. There's probably a cost of $5-10 for both each trip.

Sure, it's not huge, but then these fares have been cut back as well.

What about Miles? Is one eligible for Avios on any of these flights?

The headphones thing is actually concerning because Aer Lingus's A330's have a type of headphone jack that won't accept your typical 3.5mm headphones, so you have to use theirs or have a special adapter.