After flying in Etihad’s A380 The Residence, I connected onto an Aer Lingus flight from Paris (CDG) to Dublin (DUB). I flew Aer Lingus’ AerSpace product on the A321LR, which might just be the best value premium product in Europe (since you get a flat bed, and it’s only marginally more expensive than economy).
Continue reading: My Aer Lingus Flight “Boarded” Really, Really Early… But Why?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
This is completely normal. My most convenient AF flight leaves from my airport at 12:20 but it has a long layover here to fit the banks so usually when I get to the gate at 11:30 it's already empty because almost everyone has boarded already. It doesn't matter. As long as you get to the gate before the "gate closes" time, you're covered and it's actually a good thing that there's no queue.
I am perplexed by this too. Can only think Aer Lingus contracts their gate agents from another carrier or third party and they had to get somewhere else.
How did you book the flat bed seat on this flight? They don’t market business class within Europe (wish they did…I’d fly them a lot more often)
@ PJOC -- On the standard A320s, AerSpace is just the first row of economy. However, on the A321s (which often fly Europe rotations between transatlantic flights), the entire business class cabin is sold as AerSpace, so that's pretty awesome.
How do you get early boarding to take pics for airlines you don’t fly frequently? In this case was it priority boarding thru your AA status?
@ Dn10 -- Priority boarding was because I was traveling in AerSpace, which is Group 1.
CDG generally, and Air France, specifically, (even at other airports around the world), so frequently do this 'dance,' of 'boarding' on-time or early, but then having everyone wait in the jet bridge (or elsewhere) for sometimes what feels like an hour. It's frustrating. It must be a French-thing.
Exactly. It must be a French thing. AF has done this to us at MIA, too, a few times. But, nearly always, at CDG. Lots of lining up and waiting for no real reason.
Actually, Groupe ADP, are responsible for airport services at Paris CDG. The boarding ‘horlicks’ which Ben ‘enjoyed’ had nothing to do with EI.
You sure it wasn't just that the flight left earlier? As far as I can see, and I may well be wrong, no Aer Lingus flight departs at 10:30am from Paris... seems like it's 10:10 instead, which would make much more sense
Sure, from the lie-flat seats it was no issue to be 40 min early, but flying coach I would have hated the extra time in the sardine can.
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- Yep, though sadly not in Priority Pass, and Aer Lingus AerSpace no longer offers lounge access at CDG, for whatever reason.
@ James -- Great question. So six days before departure I received a schedule change notice, that the flight would depart at 10:30AM rather than 10:10AM, and my boarding pass and everything reflected that updated timing.
Oddly, my transatlantic flight also had a substantial schedule change just days before departure. I'm curious if Aer Lingus consistently has such last minute schedule changes, or what was going on here.
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- Good to know, but at that price, I'll rough it in the terminal!
Ben, are you sure that EI are to blame for the boarding ’horlick’s’? It sounds to me that Groupe ADP failed to inform their gate staff of the flight plan changes. Alternatively, Groupe ADP gate staff were needed elsewhere for the unchanged departure schedules.
Well, they serve $150 champagne in the lounge for free.
@ FNT Delta Diamond -- Hah, that's impressive. Though it's $50 or so at retail, so unless I was going to drink two bottles, I don't think I'd get my money's worth (and after two segments in Etihad first class, I didn't need any more champagne!).
This has happened once in a blue moon on domestic US flights. Extremely frustrating if you're in Row 1 for example, because then the overhead bin space fills up by the time you board "on time". First world problems, I know.
Are you sure the announcement wasn't just announcing the gate since most European airports don't assign a gate until an hour before departure?
Ben, were you flying on the day last week that Astral had downtime? It was talked about here, several flights were made depart earlier so they could return before the system went down. https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1505633&start=50
A whole new level of admiration for airline staff. This article shows one more thing for passengers to complain about!
Why did you fly CDG-DUB nonstop? It's much easier to fly in to T5 at LHR, clear UK immigration, take the train to T2, clear security there, and take a connecting flight to DUB.
I had something similar happen to me earlier this year with a different European airline at a different European airport (I wish that I remember which one that it was, but I am sure that this happened). I waited in the lounge until what I read was the boarding time. Then, when I arrived at the gate, it was final boarding call. I asked the gate agent, surprised, but she did not have a good answer for why they boarded early other than saying that the plane was already there.
Related to Aer Lingus, I have noticed that on their boarding passes, they often list the boarding time as the doors closing time. I got worried about this once and the Admirals Club agent told me that I did not need to leave early, explaining to me that it mean the boarding time and that I did not need to leave before then to go to the gate. Another Aer Lingus flight that I was on was running late and I feared missing the connection, only to be told by the flight attendant that I could relax because what it said was the doors closing time was really just when they would start boarding.
How thoroughly original. An Irish airline?! I must mention leprechauns. Clever little me! I'll have them rolling in the aisles..
Can you advise why transitting through LHR would be easier than CDG-DUB direct? After all Ireland is and EU country so no passport control between France and Ireland.
Most certainly there is passport control between France and Ireland as Ireland is not in the Schengen area.
Quite disappointed to hear there wasn't an arrivals/transfer lounge provision from The Residence. From a transfer perspective, surely they could offer whatever they use for departures
Quite disappointed to hear there wasn't an arrivals/transfer lounge provision from The Residence. From a transfer perspective, surely they could offer whatever they use for departures
I check Flightaware before any flight I will be on, to see when the plane is arriving at the gate. Flying out of Cork airport to Heathrow on Aer Lingus several years ago, they called for everyone to get in line for boarding. I was so confused because the incoming flight hadn't even landed. I thought it was an Aer Lingus thing, really very odd.
Ben... I had the same experience boarding an EasyJet flight. It was an early morning flight and the plane was here. We did not need to take a bus this morning, but there was no jetway. We had to walk up the stairs. However, they started really early and even scanned our boarding passes. Then we just stood at the queue for 20 minutes or so. I am not sure why they board this way. I presume it gives times for the gate agents to deal with the carry-on situation, which seems to be the norm here in Europe. Many passengers still tried to sneak in more carry-on that they purchased, despite these LCCs are pretty strict.
I really prefer the Japanese way. They board 15 minutes prior to departure time and everyone just follows the rules and boards accordingly. Even their LCCs did not board super early. They weigh all the carry on and put all the labels.
Airlines sell pre-boarding and boarding priority . You should be happy that you got the privilege to board so early . Have you noticed that on Doha airport they post "Gate closing " 70 min before departure and before they start boarding .
I really dislike this sort of experience (that Ben describes)- it really devalues the customer experience. Why not let folks sit until the proper time? Nobody wants to queue up for so long, nor sit (economy anyway) on a narrowbody for extra time.
Have you thought about people who getting threre homes bombed every day. REALY!!!!¡
Talk about a load of huffing and puffing, moaning and groaning etc over literally nothing
Apologies not related to your experience, but there are some strange goings on at aer Lingus.