EI A320, different interior

irlrobins

Flew to LHR this morning on a Aer Lingus A320. But this A320 had a very different interior than normal (different seats, overhead lockers etc). Why is this? Is it because:

a) it's one of the leased planes?
b) the plane had been ordered from Airbus by another airline in a different configuration but cancelled at last minute and went to Aer Lingus instead?
c) Some other reason?

Just wondering...

*Kol*

irlrobins wrote: »

Flew to LHR this morning on a Aer Lingus A320. But this A320 had a very different interior than normal (different seats, overhead lockers etc). Why is this? Is it because:

a) it's one of the leased planes?
b) the plane had been ordered from Airbus by another airline in a different configuration but cancelled at last minute and went to Aer Lingus instead?
c) Some other reason?

Just wondering...

I may be wrong but I recall hearing that they took some aircraft from the factory that were originally to go to Iberia or Iberworld??

irlrobins

Yeah I thought I had read that here as well. Just can't find the thread.

Cessna_Pilot

(b)

saeglopur

yeah they got 3 from airbus last year that were part of a cancelled ib order afaik. they still have the ib seat config which means that there is no 1def, rows 1-7 have ib business seat leg room;) and there is no unlucky row 13.

Dacian

Actually it was 2 aircraft originally supposed to go elsewhere. The have a coat locker instead of row 1DEF. At least 1 has been partially updated to EI standard. It now has 1DEF but still has the different seats with Business class legroom at the front. Boarded it last week coming home from Heathrow, hesitated for a sec, probably looked a bit confused as one of the crew asked me did I need hlp finding my seat.

Personally prefer the EI standard cabin.

River Song

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure EI-EDS and EI-EDP were originally going to Comoro Island Airline, but were redirected to Aer Lingus before they were painted. I could be wrong though. EI-EDP has been going back and forward between DUB and LHR all day, according to www.acarsd.org, so it was probably that one you were on. I've heard that the seats from row 6 back are tight compared to the standard EI config, I've been hoping to get on one of them and I might get a chance when I fly with EI this Autumn, fingers crossed!

Jim236

Michael_E wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure EI-EDS and EI-EDP were originally going to Comoro Island Airline, but were redirected to Aer Lingus before they were painted.

Yeh it says they were originally for Comoro Island Airlines on planespotters.net, but thats wrong, I remember they were definitely for Iberia. They even have the Iberia interior.

irlrobins

Thankfully the flight home was on a standard interior A320. Yes, leg room was tighter than the normal seats and what I missed most what the extendable head rest with "ear muffs". Much easier to nap when you have those.

Edit: and the coat locker wasn't present.

owenc

Dacian wrote: »

Actually it was 2 aircraft originally supposed to go elsewhere. The have a coat locker instead of row 1DEF. At least 1 has been partially updated to EI standard. It now has 1DEF but still has the different seats with Business class legroom at the front. Boarded it last week coming home from Heathrow, hesitated for a sec, probably looked a bit confused as one of the crew asked me did I need hlp finding my seat.

Personally prefer the EI standard cabin.

Naw that iberia cabin sounds much better its got business seats which i don't think aer lingus have so why would you want to get that changed?

irlrobins

The aer lingus seats are much comfier. Trust me.

bkehoe

Hmm, I was on one of the 'unique' A320s last year and I thought the seats were much much better. Much more sensible having the seat back pocket on the top of the seat in front too as it gives more legroom with the same pitch. I'm pretty sure they were Recaro seats.

BuffyBot

They're better - from rows 1 to 7. Anything behind that is pretty awful IMHO.

Dacian

owenc wrote: »

Naw that iberia cabin sounds much better its got business seats which i don't think aer lingus have so why would you want to get that changed?

The Iberia 'business' seats have a bit more legroom than EI, but the 'economy' seats have a lot LESS legroom than the EI ones. They are all still 3 on each side so the same width as the EI seats, and they don't have those handy EI adjustable headrests to hol your head while you snooze.

owenc

Dacian wrote: »

The Iberia 'business' seats have a bit more legroom than EI, but the 'economy' seats have a lot LESS legroom than the EI ones. They are all still 3 on each side so the same width as the EI seats, and they don't have those handy EI adjustable headrests to hol your head while you snooze.

Well i suppose the aer lingus one would be best then.

Fratton Fred

bkehoe wrote: »

Hmm, I was on one of the 'unique' A320s last year and I thought the seats were much much better. Much more sensible having the seat back pocket on the top of the seat in front too as it gives more legroom with the same pitch. I'm pretty sure they were Recaro seats.

I flew o one last night and I presumed that it was one of the Iberia ones. i thought the seats were very nice and yes, they are recaro.

i was in row 6 though, so i probably had a bit more leg rom.

irlrobins

Well at least EI has seats, regardless of what type. Flew into Bordeaux a couple of weeks ago and there are five Thai Airways brand new A330 parked up there. Turns out the seat manufacturer failed to deliver...

dfx-

Anyone know which ones they are?

I was on one two weeks ago, can't for the life of me remember which..