Hello from back home, as I just flew Aer Lingus’ Airbus A330 business class on the 6hr20min flight from Dublin (DUB) to Boston (BOS), as part of my review trip.
Truth be told, after flying Etihad’s A321LR first class and Etihad’s A380 The Residence, “just” flying business class was a bit of a downgrade. Nonetheless I was looking forward to this flight, as it had been several years since I last flew Aer Lingus’ transatlantic workhorse (though I did just recently fly Aer Lingus’ A321XLR business class).
So, how was Aer Lingus’ A330 business class? It was totally pleasant, in the most forgettable way possible. Frankly there was nothing that stood out as being particularly great or terrible, which is rare, since I tend to notice everything. In many ways that’s a positive, since there’s something to be said for knowing what to expect, and not having any surprises.
I’d gladly fly the airline again if the price and/or schedule is right, as I’d neither avoid the carrier nor seek it out. While I’ll have a full trip report soon, in this post I’d like to share some initial impressions…
Aer Lingus’ A330 business class seats are decent
Aer Lingus’ A330-300s have have a total of 30 business class seats, spread across seven rows, in a staggered configuration. Aer Lingus deserves credit for the consistency of its business class product, as it has the same seats on the A330s as it does on the A321LR/XLRs.
As usual on the A330, the layout in this configuration is rather varied. You’ll find two seats in the center section in all rows. Then along the left aisle, there’s one seat per row, while on the right side, the layout alternates between one seat per row and two seats per row. So the window seats on the right side are the only ones without direct aisle access.
I was in one of the “true” window seats on the left side of the plane. It’s not the most cutting edge or spacious seat out there, but I found it to be perfectly pleasant for the short journey across the Atlantic.
When it comes to getting comfortable, Aer Lingus business class passengers get a substantial pillow and a cozy blanket, which I’d consider to be quite good.
There’s also an amenity kit, which is basic, but has all the essentials.
Aer Lingus’ business class catering is pretty good
On this flight, lunch was served after takeoff, and then a snack was served before landing. Aer Lingus’ business class catering isn’t about to win any awards, but it does the trick, and also shouldn’t leave anyone hungry.
After takeoff, the first round of drinks was served with a packaged snack of onion and paprika biscuits with spiced apple chutney.
Next there was the choice of a starter or soup. I selected the roasted tomato and red pepper soup, which was served with a side salad and a bread roll.
For the main course, I ordered the pulled mushroom and puy lentil casserole with mashed potatoes, carrots, and kale (anyone noticing how I’m mixing up my mains a bit more?!).
Then dessert consisted of an orange chocolate mousse dome, and that was served with the choice of coffee or tea.
Then before landing, I ordered the Korean BBQ marinated tofu with quinoa and barley salad, which was served with a trio of sweet treats.
The food was perfectly good across the board. I don’t think anyone would walk away from Aer Lingus business class saying “wow, that food was bad,” but I also don’t think there’s anything memorable about the catering.
Aer Lingus’ business class entertainment is fine, Wi-Fi is free
Aer Lingus offers seat back entertainment on its A330s. The system isn’t exactly cutting edge, so the screens aren’t 4K, there’s no bluetooth audio, etc. However, the entertainment options are quite good, with a large selection of movies, TV shows, games, and audio, to choose from.
The best aspect of the entertainment is that business class passengers get vouchers for free Wi-Fi, with no data caps. That would ordinarily cost €20.49, so that’s a nice added value. Wi-Fi is in partnership with Panasonic, so speeds are decent, but not amazing.
Aer Lingus crews are friendly & chatty
The crew on this Aer Lingus flight was friendly and informal, which generally matches the interactions I’ve had in Ireland. Aer Lingus definitely doesn’t offer the most personalized service, in terms of service flow, addressing passengers by name, etc., but that’s also not really what you’d expect from the airline.
Here’s one thing I have to point out, which I noticed on this flight and all my other recent flights on the carrier — Aer Lingus crews can talk. I feel like on US airlines, flight attendants will often just retreat into the galley during breaks, and quietly play Candy Crush or read a book.
Meanwhile on Aer Lingus, the crews seem to just talk, and talk, and then talk a little bit more. They seem to have so much fun in the galleys. In no way did it interfere with the service or was it disruptive, but I couldn’t help but notice that the crews were just constantly chatting with one another and laughing (which is kind of nice to see).
I noticed the same thing on my short flight from Paris to Dublin, where the crew packed in an incredible amount of social time on a short flight.
Bottom line
Aer Lingus’ A330 business class is a pleasant experience, which I’d describe as pretty average in most ways. The seats are comfortable but not cutting edge, the food is decent but nothing exciting, and the amenities are also fine. I’d say the best aspects of Aer Lingus business class are the free Wi-Fi and the generally friendly and informal service.
The reality is that not every single airline has to offer the absolute best business class product in the world. Ultimately I think Aer Lingus’ business class is good enough, and I think that’s perfectly fair given the carrier’s market position.
What’s your take on Aer Lingus’ A330 business class?
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