Aer Lingus Premier Transatlantic/Gold Circle Product

notuslimited

Having recently flown a couple of times with EI across the pond in Premier I have to say that you could never describe this service as "Business Class". Travelled on EI-EWR, EI-DUB and EI-CRK and on two of the four flights the entertainment system in the seat was busted. The new portable TV & Music system is fine...if you like Brad Pitt or Robert Redford as the selection of films were all from the back catalogue of both. One glass of Champagne when you get onboard and that's it. The starters were generally lukewarm while the main course was fairly nice. To my mind the Cabin Crew like to try and get the pax drunk so they will sleep (even the 10:30 departure). After dinner is served the Cabin Crew go into hiding. The premier seats on the older aircraft are fairly uncomfortable and don't allow for a good nights sleep. Overall I would suggest that the service is more akin to a Premium Economy as opposed to business class.

Another problem is the Gold Circle product. The seats in the lounges in Dublin and LHR are really uncomfortable. I've noticed that the Dublin lounge has taken out the larger glasses (so no more Double Whiskeys). The cheese is always warm and no Internet access available. In the London lounge there is Internet access but you have to pay GBP5. In NY you can get Internet access for free. In this day and age the overall level of service provided to GC passengers is pretty poor. Another bug bear is having to pay the fuel surcharge when you use the GC points when travelling across the pond. Overall pretty poor services to their most loyal customers.

highlydebased

In a few years when all the old A330's are disposed of the product should become more consistant.......

John_Mc

Neon-Circles wrote: »

In a few years when all the old A330's are disposed of the product should become more consistant.......

You hardly need a new aircraft to offer the level of service for which you're charging. Cabins can be revamped afterall...

View Profile

I used to fly Premier quite regularly but pre-9/11.

At the time I found it quite impressive, a real step up from economy.

Lounges were always fully stocked up and you could help yourself to as much as you wanted.

Seats onboard were very spacious and flight attendants very attentive to your needs.

It may have changed since but I dont think EI's Premier can be compared to 1st class on Carriers like BA, Emirates, Lufthanse etc.

I was happy to see that on the newer 330's economy class all have their own individual entertainment system. I presume Premier has somthing just as good if not better.

Like it was mentioned above, maybe with the new a/c coming in they can improve the cabin layout and services.

How does EI's Premier class ticket price compare with other Euroepean airlines??

highlydebased

Thats true. But the current aircraft are too old to be revamped, one or two are not as old, but EI dont really seem bothered

IRLConor

View Profile wrote: »

It may have changed since but I dont think EI's Premier can be compared to 1st class on Carriers like BA, Emirates, Lufthanse etc.

As far as I can tell it ranges from somewhere just above premium economy to business class. The food and service have been (IME) business class quality, but the seat is not much better than premium economy. It certainly compares poorly to BA's Club World seat. Maybe the newer seats are better, I don't know.

I don't think EI will ever run a true 1st class, (like one comparable to BA's FIRST) does anyone even do that in a A330?

oscarBravo

Don't know about 330s, but the Air France 777 I flew to and from Chile in had four first class seats.

IRLConor

oscarBravo wrote: »

Don't know about 330s, but the Air France 777 I flew to and from Chile in had four first class seats.

Yeah, and BA have some FIRST on their 777s. A 777 is about 60cm wider in the cabin than an A330 though which makes putting big seats in a bit tougher. It doesn't appear to be a dimensions thing though, I had a quick skim through SeatGuru and it appears that at least Cathay, Emirates, Korean, Lufthansa and Swissair run a first class cabin on their A330s.

Out of curiousity I ran the numbers on travelling DUB-JFK with EI and BA for two weeks starting 1 May:

€3250 - EI Premier DUB-JFK
€3000 - BA Club World DUB-LHR-JFK (DUB-LHR on EI economy class)
€7000 - BA FIRST DUB-LHR-JFK (DUB-LHR on EI economy class)

(all prices return with taxes and charges included)

If you didn't care about the changeover in Heathrow then it would make sense to fly BA Club World instead of EI Premier. Much better value for your money. If you had money to really burn then flying BA would again make sense. The changeover in LHR would be nicely softened by use of the spa on arrival on the way back.

I don't know how much it is possible to compete on price in the premium end of the market. I reckon EI have to somehow improve their Premier product while keeping the price the same. Would there be enough people in Ireland willing to pay for first class if they put in a first class option at around the €5000 DUB-JFK mark?

WexCan

It's a premium economy product as far as I'm concerned. You'd get generally better facilities from the likes of VS Premium Economy.

FlutterinBantam

IRLConor wrote: »

, I had a quick skim through SeatGuru and it appears that at least Cathay, Emirates, Korean, Lufthansa and Swissair run a first class cabin on their A330s.

I think Qantas do a first class service too. recently travelled MEL/NRT on QF and looked like a first class service there.



I don't know how much it is possible to compete on price in the premium end of the market. I reckon EI have to somehow improve their Premier product while keeping the price the same. Would there be enough people in Ireland willing to pay for first class if they put in a first class option at around the €5000 DUB-JFK mark?

Maybe not, but certainly enough liggers to try to blag their way in!!!

Tenger

notuslimited wrote: »

Having recently flown a couple of times with EI across the pond in Premier I have to say that you could never describe this service as "Business Class". Travelled on EI-EWR, EI-DUB and EI-CRK and on two of the four flights the entertainment system in the seat was busted. The new portable TV & Music system is fine...if you like Brad Pitt or Robert Redford as the selection of films were all from the back catalogue of both. One glass of Champagne when you get onboard and that's it. The starters were generally lukewarm while the main course was fairly nice. To my mind the Cabin Crew like to try and get the pax drunk so they will sleep (even the 10:30 departure). After dinner is served the Cabin Crew go into hiding. The premier seats on the older aircraft are fairly uncomfortable and don't allow for a good nights sleep. Overall I would suggest that the service is more akin to a Premium Economy as opposed to business class.

Another problem is the Gold Circle product. .................Overall pretty poor services to their most loyal customers.

To try to answer your points.
-Yes this Premier service has been downgraded in last 5-6 years while other J classes have upgrade so it is low end J or Y+.
-IFE system is a bitch. Cabin crew very strongly dislike this system as it is so tempermental. The new PMPs are popular with pax but as you said the selection is limited if you travel regularly or watch a lot of movies.
-3 new a/c to arrive in 2009. Cabin will be more consistent then. EI is deliberately keeping IFE selection reduced to cover the large capability differneces between each a/c. DUO and DUZ are the most modern. DAA comes next. LAX and EWR. Oldest a/c are DUB, JFK, ORD and CRK.
- As the older a/c are leaving soon (in airline terms) I do not believe EI will do a cabin upgrade,no plans have been heard of so far.
-You should have been offered several refills during boarding. Unless you boarded near the end. The drinks stop when doors are closed.
-Food is OK in Premier but the starters and desserts need a bit of tarting up. (please excuse the pun)
-To be honest getting pax drunk to sleep is not a policy (official or unofficial) The crew are trying to be generous with what they do have to offer. You can get constant refils of soft drink too.
-The crew don't 'hide' as such. Of the 3 in Premier one goes aft to assist the econmy service (due to EI reducing crew complement and hence service levels) The two remaing serve cockpit food and are on call in galley,they also take individual meal breaks. They should do a walk around of the cabin every 15-20 mins,trying to be unintrusive but visible. Pax apparently dislike crew constantly hovering over them.

- And yes I beleive that the GC lounge is well behind all other lounge. I have never been in the GC lounge but to me having to pay for internet is a bit ****e considering WI-FI is appearing all over the place.


I don't beleive EI will ever bring back a First Class cabin. The split between Y and J on a A330 is efficient. And while I believe the A350 (delivery from 2014) is a bit bigger but I can't see them adding another class. Unless of course we get a new CEO in 18 onths who actually wants to improve and expand the EI network and service levels.

WexTex

notuslimited wrote: »

Having recently flown a couple of times with EI across the pond in Premier I have to say that you could never describe this service as "Business Class". ... two of the four flights the entertainment system in the seat was busted. ... The premier seats on the older aircraft are fairly uncomfortable and don't allow for a good nights sleep. Overall I would suggest that the service is more akin to a Premium Economy as opposed to business class.

We upgraded to Premier (seats only, no service) MCO-DUB and had a similar experience. Crew was surly, ordered meals were not available (diabetic), a seat back did not go all the way upright resulting in a lot of scolding, another did not recline, 2 out of 5 video players did not work ... not a good experience.

notuslimited

Well this thread is certainly a blast from the past and was surprised to see it resurface. Anyway, I'm off to JFK in Premier in a couple of weeks and by the looks of things will have ORD on the way out and one of the new ones on the way back. I'lll let you know how I get on.

TingTong

notuslimited wrote: »

Well this thread is certainly a blast from the past and was surprised to see it resurface. Anyway, I'm off to JFK in Premier in a couple of weeks and by the looks of things will have ORD on the way out and one of the new ones on the way back. I'lll let you know how I get on.

How can I find out that information on an upcoming flight we are taking with EI.

Ruu_Old

You should be able to view details under your flight reservations on aerlingus.ie, it should show meal type, flight time and aircraft type.

Preset No.3

Or you could just search the threads here and get a bit of information. Of all the aircraft, -DUB is the only one left with the old configuration and old cabin. This aircraft is mainly used on the MCO route.

As for prices. I looked at Premier yesterday and it was €1800 return to JFK

mikedragon32

Zombie thread. Was moved from Aviation. Should have been locked there.