- Introduction: Across The Atlantic On The Airbus A321XLR
- Review: InterContinental Minneapolis St. Paul Airport (MSP)
- Review: Aer Lingus Business Class Airbus A321XLR (MSP-DUB)
- Review: Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Review: Hilton Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Review: Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Review: The Liffey Lounge Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Review: Aer Lingus AerSpace Airbus A320 (DUB-MAD)
- Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A321XLR (MAD-IAD)
During my trip across the Atlantic on the Airbus A321XLR, I had the chance to check out the Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin Airport (DUB), after the arrival of my Aer Lingus A321XLR business class flight. I hadn’t checked out this lounge in many years, so was curious to see how it’s holding up. For what it’s worth, the airline brands this as the Revival Lounge.
I’m a big fan of the concept of arrivals lounges, as it’s nice to have the opportunity to freshen up and grab a coffee before going on your way. To Aer Lingus’ credit, at least the airline has an arrivals lounge, since these are the exception rather than the norm.
That being said, this is also as basic as arrivals lounges get. It’s a really bare bones lounge, in terms of the size, food and drinks, seating, etc. I’d say it’s not to the same level as the British Airways Arrivals Lounge Heathrow (LHR), Lufthansa Arrivals Lounge Frankfurt (FRA), or SWISS Arrivals Lounge Zurich (ZRH). However, if you’re just looking for a place to shower, this does the trick.
In this post:
Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin location
The Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin is easy to find, as it’s located within the baggage claim hall. After you arrive on your long haul flight, just clear immigration, and when you find yourself in the baggage claim hall, walk to the very end, near baggage claim belt six.
There you’ll see the entrance to the lounge, near the baggage desks of several airlines.
Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin hours
The Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin hours vary throughout the year, based on flight schedules. Currently, according to Aer Lingus’ website, the lounge is open daily from 3:30AM until 3:30PM, so those are some very long hours. I’m a little confused by the very early opening hours, since that’s even before the first transatlantic flight lands.
Regardless, these are among the longest hours you’ll find for any European arrivals lounge.
Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin entry requirements
The Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin is strictly open to those arriving on Aer Lingus transatlantic flights in business class. So if you’re traveling in business class on one of those flights, you can access the lounge, with no guests being permitted.
Note that visits to the lounge apparently have a 45 minute time limit. On the one hand, I get it, because the lounge is small, and they presumably don’t want capacity to be an issue. On the other hand, the lounge was empty when I visited, and despite that, the only “welcome” I received from the person at the front desk was “you can stay in the lounge for 45 minutes.” Not exactly a warm greeting…
Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin seating & layout
The main section of the Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin is tiny. It basically just consists of seven seats arranged in a circulator shape, so I could see this quickly getting uncomfortable, if more than a few people wanted to hang out here.
Beyond the seating area, you have a hall leading to the entrance in one direction, and a hall leading to the showers in the other direction.
Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin food & drinks
The Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin has a very basic food and drink selection. Basically think of it as a place to grab a coffee, water, and pastry, and nothing more.
Drinks included an espresso machine, a tea selection, and to-go cups.
Then there was a fridge with soda, water, and juice.
The food selection was limited to pastries, cookies, and whole fruit. We’re talking croissants, danishes, two kinds of cookies, and a few types of whole fruit. Definitely don’t come here expecting to have a full breakfast.
Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin showers
The main feature of the Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin is the showers. The lounge has a total of six shower suites.
The shower suites are basic but do the trick. Each has a walk-in shower, a sink, and a toilet, along with a luggage rack.
Bath products in the lounge are from VOYA, and there are reusable containers with hand wash and lotion, while shampoo and conditioner are in individual containers.
The lounge also offers a steaming service, where you can have clothes steam-pressed while showering. You can just pop them in a little closet, press the intercom, and that will then be taken care of while you shower.
Bottom line
It’s nice that Aer Lingus has an arrivals lounge at its Dublin hub, given how many airlines don’t offer this amenity. It’s a handy place to grab a shower and coffee after getting off a transatlantic flight. That being said, this isn’t a particularly impressive arrivals lounge. It’s very small, has a 45 minute time limit, and the food and drink selection is very limited. But if it’s just a shower you’re after, or a to-go cup of coffee, this lounge is quite useful.
What do you make of the Aer Lingus Arrivals Lounge Dublin?
Agree. The welcome was very unwelcoming!
As to the 3:30 a.m. opening time, the first Aer Lingus flight has a 4:25 STA and has actually arrived as early as 3:39 a.m. in the last few days.
We were there in May. Unimpressed. Aer Lingus is a cheap airline. Business Class from SFO; underwhelming, and that’s being kind.
Arrivals lounge was as described, a shower, and a coffee.
Would fly a different airline next time to Ireland.
Next time which airline are you going to fly to Ireland that has a +better+ arrivals lounge, then?
Not sure what the point really of such arrival lounges are. In some way I guess they are not used as much as you might think considering just a handful of airlines have it. If it was really in demand then more would have them, especially at their hub cities and there would be partners such as SkyTeam arrival lounges, contract lounges, priority pass, etc. Generally this is not the case though.
The main reason I've used arrivals lounges is after an overnight flight and needing to go straight into work. This is especially important for London flights, many of which operate overnight from the US east coast. You fly overnight, getting a decent sleep on a lie-flat bed in business class, land in London early in the morning, the arrivals lounge enables you to shower and change into fresh clothes, you head into central London to...
The main reason I've used arrivals lounges is after an overnight flight and needing to go straight into work. This is especially important for London flights, many of which operate overnight from the US east coast. You fly overnight, getting a decent sleep on a lie-flat bed in business class, land in London early in the morning, the arrivals lounge enables you to shower and change into fresh clothes, you head into central London to the office and are able to work/start your meetings immediately. This is a big productivity booster for the business travelers that are the bread and butter of premium classes on these trans-Atlantic routes.
Even for leisure travelers, you often can't get into your hotel room immediately when you arrive in the morning, so an arrivals lounge enables you to clean yourself up, have breakfast and begin sightseeing right away.
I wouldn't ever use an arrivals lounge if I were arriving in the afternoon or evening after a day-time flight though.
Nothing like a Full Irish Breakfast (the various London arrivals lounges generally have the English version thereof), and sad they waste an opportunity to serve that as a welcome
Aer Lingus isn't a premium airline and they don't try to brand themselves as such. This is honestly good enough.
In fact, it's quite surprising that they even still operate an arrivals lounge, when the likes of Air France have closed their CDG one.
Ben - you interaction with the Lounge Warden seems typical of most Aer Lingus ground staff in Dublin.
Bunch of sourpusses who obviously hate their jobs.
Have to say it was a little welcome surprise to be able to shower & have a coffee before pickup a car rental. And absolutely loving the AerLingus crews in general , a breath of fresh air in how they always manage to make my flights to date feel special. It a thought profession for sure , Keep you the good work and thank you.
David ModMansions
Attempted to use arrivals lounge after arring at 10am and traveling in business class. Lounge was overcrowded with a 30 minute wait for a shower. Unfortunately I needed to leave. The lounge is too small considering the number of flights arriving with 17-30 business class passengers each morning. Aer Lingus needs to rethink its commitment to this amenity.
If this is 3.5 stars, which it isn’t really, I’d hate to see anything less. 3.5 means top third. Compared to other arrival lounges, what is a worse option? Even for normal lounges, this is quite abysmal. Closer to 2.0 IMO.
3.5 doesn’t give much space before you get to perfect so definitely move that star count down.
3.5 doesn't mean top third, it means that it's not perfect, not quite good, but it has its benefits - showers, coffee, sugary snacks.
If your goal is a shower, it does the job. Little more. Voya is an excellent Irish brand. Great gift items.
The arrivals lounge is the best thing about Aer Lingus transatlantic business flights.
When you have an immediate meeting, the day you arrive, the shower is unbelievable benefit that makes this so valuable.
The Aer Lingus customer service response for complaints on terrible service on the flight, inedible food, have been to send emails that they will respond have resulted in never investigating or responding.
“The food selection was limited to pastries and cookies”
Hey, they have fruit as well!
Given how tiny it is, I can see why they have a time limit for guests.
@Ben, there's a little card with a QR code next to the pastries. Was that for an extended menu of some sorts?
@ hbilbao -- Sharp eye, but nope. It just had allergen information for the (limited) options.