- 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)
To kick off the return portion of my trip across the Atlantic on the Airbus A321XLR, I visited the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin Airport (DUB), prior to my Aer Lingus AerSpace flight to Madrid (MAD). I hadn’t visited Aer Lingus’ flagship lounge in years, and was looking forward to seeing how it’s holding up.
Ultimately I’d say it’s a perfectly okay lounge, but nothing special. It’s quite nice physically, with a variety of comfortable seating options. I also appreciate the barista coffee. However, aside from that, there’s not much in the way of special amenities, and the food and drink options are surprisingly limited.
Let me also remind everyone that Dublin Airport has a US PreClearance facility. So for those on US-bound flights, there’s the separate 51st & Green Lounge, where many US-bound travelers will spend most of their time.
In this post:
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin location
It’s a bit of a haul to get to the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin. After clearing security, turn right, and follow the signage in the direction of “Airline Lounges.” This is the same direction as all the gates, plus the US PreClearance facility.
Eventually you’ll find both stairs and elevators leading in the direction of the lounges, which is in the same direction as gates 336-426, and also in the same direction as the US PreClearance facility.
Once on the lower level, you’ll see the signage pointing toward airport lounges. Just walk down the corridor, and you’ll see the entrance to the Aer Lingus Lounge on the left.
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin hours
The Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin is currently open daily from 4:15AM until 9PM, covering virtually all departures from the airport. You can expect that hours will be adjusted over time, to reflect flight schedules.
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin entry requirements
Who can access the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin? The lounge is open to the following customers:
- Aer Lingus business class passengers (the airline only offers business class on long haul flights)
- Aer Lingus Advantage and AerSpace customers (these are the more premium fare bundles for Aer Lingus short haul flights, and you must present your lounge invitation email to access the lounge this way)
- Aer Lingus AerClub Concierge, Platinum, and Silver members, when traveling on Aer Lingus (Concierge and Platinum members can bring one guest)
- Premium British Airways and Iberia customers, though only over non-peak hours, after 9AM (otherwise passengers are sent to other lounges)
Note that at least technically, lounge access is restricted to a period of two hours for Advantage and AerSpace customers. At least that’s what my lounge invitation said, though I’m not sure about enforcement. Let me emphasize that the restriction is reportedly for the amount of time you can spend in the lounge, rather than only being able to access a lounge two hours before departure.
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin seating & layout
The Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin is spread across two floors, offering guests a variety of seating options. While the lounge is a good size, the catch is that Aer Lingus has a heavily banked network, so you can expect the lounge will get super busy during the morning rush, and then be quieter throughout the rest of the day.
As you enter the lounge, you’ll find one of the main areas of the lounge. This feels spacious, as the ceilings are really high, and there are floor to ceiling windows. This section has rows of seats facing one another, including partitions between seating areas, to make the space feel a bit more private.
I also appreciate the variety of seating options, including semi-private cubicles, each with a table and charging ports.
The lounge has a wall with a tribute to significant people and events in Ireland’s history, which is a cute touch.
Off this main room is a smaller seating area, with swiveling chairs.
In the other direction, there’s a hall connecting to the other part of the lounge. This hall also has the main buffet, as well as some communal high-top seating, looking out over the apron.
Past that is the back part of the lounge on the ground floor, with more chairs, sofas, and dining tables.
The lounge then has a second floor, which can only be reached via a staircase.
The staircase is mighty narrow, especially when you consider how long it is, and that many people will be dragging luggage up it, so it’s kind of a tight space for two people to pass one another.
As you arrive on the second level, you’ll find a bunch of semi-private pods looking out over the apron, which is probably the ideal location for plane spotting from the lounge.
If you turn right, you’ll find yourself in another large seating area.
Meanwhile if you turn left, you’ll find a small area with just under a dozen swiveling chairs.
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin food & drinks
For a flagship lounge, the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin doesn’t have a terribly impressive selection of food and drinks. Food is self-serve, from a buffet in the center of the lounge on the first floor.
During my visit, the breakfast selection included pastries and croissants, a few types of cereal, whole fruit, cookies, oatmeal, and a selection of yogurt parfaits and chia pudding.
Drink options included a barista coffee station, juice, espresso machines, canned soda, and bottled beer and tonic water.
Then the second floor had an additional coffee station, also with to-go cups.
I’m not sure if the food selection gets better later in the day, but aside from the barista coffee, I found the selection to be quite limited. Having oatmeal be the only hot option is not what you’d expect for the primary lounge of a long haul carrier.
Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin bathrooms & showers
The Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin bathrooms are located on the lower level of the lounge. The men’s room had two sinks and two stalls, which doesn’t exactly seem like sufficient capacity, given the size of this lounge, especially without any urinals.
The lounge also has three shower suites, located on the upper level. I didn’t take a shower this time around, but during my visit last time around (going back many years), I found these shower suites to be absolutely awful.
The rooms had zero ventilation, the shower wouldn’t actually stay on, the water wouldn’t get warm, and the lights in the shower room were on an auto-timer, and would turn off after a few minutes of sensing no movement. The issue is that movement inside the actual shower wasn’t sensed. I’m not sure if those issues have been resolved, but based on my last experience, I’d rather not shower at all than shower here.
Bottom line
The Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin is a decent facility. I like the lounge’s general layout, with high ceilings, and great views of the apron. Furthermore, it’s nice that the lounge has barista coffee. However, beyond that, I find this to be a pretty underwhelming lounge.
In particular, the soft product leaves a bit to be desired, as the food and drink selection isn’t great. I actually found The Liffey Lounge, which is next door and open to Priority Pass, to have a better selection in that regard.
So this isn’t a bad lounge if you have some time to kill, but I also wouldn’t recommend arriving early to use it.
What’s your take on the Aer Lingus Lounge Dublin?
It's my 'home' lounge. It's a disappointment in terms of offerings, but I understand it as the only business class flight that uses it is Toronto (US has 51st and Green). But why they can't do proper food or even a G&T in the morning I'm not sure. I do like the design having said that.
By the way, there is a lift upto the second floor I believe. Also, BA status members can enter also, my silver has gotten me in on an EI saver ticket a few times.
I flew SEA-DUB-TFS in February and checked out this lounge in the early afternoon. Of course, it was pretty busy. Food wise, they had some yogurt stuff in the fridge like what you saw and they also had some decent sharp cheddar cheese trays available. I noticed they also had some pre-made sandwiches available but you had to ask the bar attendant for them. From the look of them, they looked like the same pre-made...
I flew SEA-DUB-TFS in February and checked out this lounge in the early afternoon. Of course, it was pretty busy. Food wise, they had some yogurt stuff in the fridge like what you saw and they also had some decent sharp cheddar cheese trays available. I noticed they also had some pre-made sandwiches available but you had to ask the bar attendant for them. From the look of them, they looked like the same pre-made sandwiches available in the 51st&Green lounge. The highlight for me was the pre-wrapped sliced bread (seen in your pic showing the fruits). Omg, it was so good. Dense but moist. I took a couple of slices with me along with some cheese to eat on my DUB-TFS flight.
Funny enough I find the 51st & Green Lounge to be a much nicer lounge overall.
Funny enough I find the 51st & Green Lounge to be a much nicer lounge overall.
Flying through DUB next month: can someone verify that they will let you access this lounge prior to going through US preclearance? I ideally would like to check out both this lounge and the 51st&Green
@ Portlanjuanero -- Yes, absolutely!
Yes, but they'll often try and push you down to 51&G to encourage pax through pre-clearance as soon as possible - but there's no rules against it, so go for it.
At least they allow it. Iberia has flat out refused me entry to the terminal 4 Schengen lounge at MAD, insisting I go through passport controls first and use the 4S lounge.
I agree with this review. The lounge is consistent with Aer Lingus's TATL business class product; perfectly fine but unremarkable. For the price and award availability though, I am a fan of Aer Lingus.
Showers and Barista coffee is nice. Is Dublin a major transit hub that justifies much more in amenities. AF doesn't have barista coffee in their lounges.
Lucky, don't AA elites get access to this lounge now too?
I would not bat on the selection of food getting better later in the day. It’s the same nice design as London, but in the afternoon the food selection is non-existent. It’s actually the worst lounge for food I can think of in Europe. The contract lounges in other Irish airports, are better.
"...in the Schengen area, so you can use it regardless of whether you’re traveling on a Schengen or non-Schengen flight (since border patrol for non-Schengen flights is beyond this area)."
FYI, Ireland's not part of Schengen (Europe yes, Schengen no due to the CTA we have with the UK) so there is no Schengen/non-Schengen area and there is also no border control counters anyway in the departure flow for any flight.
How far in advance of your flight did you get a lounge invitation email?
@ Odhran -- The invitation came a day before the flight.
Nice review.
One thing to note, Ireland isn’t in the Schengen area so I don’t think there’s a Schengen area of the airport.
@ SY90 -- Whoops, d'oh! Updated the post to remove that reference. Thank you.