Aer Lingus Business Class to San Fran

My Thoughts

I need to go to San Fran on business soon - usually I go to the US with BA but since I'm going to San Fran this time the Aer Lingus times work for me and its direct so it seems like a good option. My question is this - is there a way I can tell from the seatmap when I'm booking whether the plane I'm booking on has the new lie-flat seats or not? Thanks!

FlutterinBantam

I very much doubt Aer Lingus have any new lie flat seats??

Could be wrong though.

ImDave

AFAIK Aer Lingus have two A330's fitted with those seats in the Premier class cabin. I recall getting an email about it last year (see link below). They arrived sometime around June of 2007. I have no idea if they are in use on the San Fran route, but they could well be.

http://www.aerlingus.com/Services/seat_demonstration.htm?sssdmh=edc2.136343

Tenger

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

I very much doubt Aer Lingus have any new lie flat seats??

Could be wrong though.

The seats on DUO and DUZ are 'lie flat'. However this does not mean horizontal. You lie flat on the seat but at an angle. So the term is misleading.

By Summer 2009 along with 2 new aircraft EI aims to have 8/10 longhaul aircraft euipped with the new cabin interior.


To answer the OP. There are 3 a/c which regularly do this route (along with LAX) so you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting DUO with the Business 'lie flat' seats and on demand entertainment.

Oilrig

Bit of a lottery I'd say, all it takes is for one to go tech and god knows what you'll get.

Good call passing on BA though...

FlutterinBantam

Bramble wrote: »

The seats on DUO and DUZ are 'lie flat'. However this does not mean horizontal. You lie flat on the seat but at an angle. So the term is misleading.

By Summer 2009 along with 2 new aircraft EI aims to have 8/10 longhaul aircraft euipped with the new cabin interior.


To answer the OP. There are 3 a/c which regularly do this route (along with LAX) so you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting DUO with the Business 'lie flat' seats and on demand entertainment.

Yes ,that's what I thought.Some business classes also have the partitioned effect which give more privacy.
Ei seems to be of a bit of a low cost system.

My Thoughts

Cheers for the info - I'll give it a go and hopefully I'll be lucky on one of the legs at least!

My Thoughts

So I set off last Sunday week and got a Taxi to Dublin airport on a horrible wet morning, made good time to the airport and got to check-in which had no queue at all, check-in was pleasant but they didn’t mention anything about the business class fast-track through security or the Aer Lingus lounge (maybe she assumed I was a frequent flyer when the stash of airline cards fell out of my passport); There was no queue at security at all so that didn’t make any odds. I went and got some brekkie and then headed up to the Aer Lingus lounge which was very pleasant. They called us when it was time to board and I went straight down and we were boarded first (was stopped for a “random” search on the gangway which ticked me off somewhat but that’s life); Unfortunately on the way out the plane didn’t have the lie-flat seats but even still the sleeperette was very comfortable and the service was efficient and consistent for the flight – the food was excellent and I arrived in San Fran on-time, relaxed and my bag was almost first off the belt.

On the return leg, check-in at San Fran was somewhat slower due to some guy having a big disagreement with the check-in assistant, once I did get to check in, they gave a voucher for the use of the Virgin Atlantic Lounge which happens to be the only lounge that is not situated beyond the security screening which makes it somewhat useless – we bypassed the lounge and went through to get something to eat before boarding; this time I was lucky and got the plane with the lie-flat seats, again the crew were very pleasant and after the meal I lay down and went to sleep for most of the journey so I can’t comment on the service (other than I remember the cabin manager covering me up with a blanket at one point in case I was cold); again the food was superb (in my opinion better than BA, Air France, or SAS – the other airlines I use a good bit) and even though we departed a little late due to a missing passenger we landed early but had to wait a few minutes for a gate but was still there on time, bags arrived out fairly fast on a separate belt.

Overall it was a good experience and I would fly with them again on this route, my only issue would be its somewhat expensive compared with say SAS or Air France and I feel its wrong having to pay the same fare for the older seats/planes but I guess they’ll upgrade them all at some point. That said being able to fly direct to your destination from Dublin is great as there’s nothing worse than coming off a long-haul in London, Paris or Copenhagen and having to get a connection home.

Tenger

My Thoughts wrote: »

Overall it was a good experience and I would fly with them again on this route, my only issue would be its somewhat expensive compared with say SAS or Air France and I feel its wrong having to pay the same fare for the older seats/planes but I guess they’ll upgrade them all at some point. That said being able to fly direct to your destination from Dublin is great as there’s nothing worse than coming off a long-haul in London, Paris or Copenhagen and having to get a connection home.

As EI crew I am very glad you had a good experience. AM surprised you liked the food but then I see it so often,repition makes it bad in mw eyes. I do agree that the lack of standard cabins is a problem at the moment. However EI plan to have 8/10 of the planned A330 with the new cabin by end summer 2009. The overhaul will begin this Oct/Nov. Also the Premier product is being monitored and crew feedback on pax satisfaction is being listened to. So EI is trying to imporve so pax can benefit from quality direct flights from DUB.