Aer Lingus ATR72 Planes to Rennes in France.

Living Off The Splash

I see that Aer Lingus fly to Rennes airport in France. They use an ATR72 plane.
Can anyone tell me what it is like to fly in one of these planes. I suffer from Claustrophobia and I am a bit concerned.
Is the journey any longer because a jet aircraft is not used?
Thanks

California Dreamer

If you suffer from claustrophobia why would you get on any aircraft? It's still a metal tube flying through the air.

There really is no difference between modern prop aircraft and them jets!

Rennes is served by Aer Lingus Regional aka Stobart Air, a franchisee and props make up the majority of their fleet.

L1011

Seats are 2 each side of the aisle, ride is slightly bumpier and nosier than a jet and the journey time is longer as the cruise speed is slower. However they are not tiny and are as safe as other aircraft

roundymac

Flew Cork-Southampton on one last year. No real difference really, just a bit noisier and a bit slower than a jet. Good in flight service.

JCX BXC

Stobart are perfect to fly with, although my last flight the two cabin crew looked like they were out the night before and their uniforms (consisting of a long jacket, nearly dragging along the ground) reminded me a little of the film Angela's Ashes, they were perfectly attentive, and as there's not many passengers on board don't expect a loud annoying group (from my experience anyway).

Plus I always enjoyed looking out the window of a prop more than a jet for some reason.

faoiarvok

JCX BXC wrote: »

Plus I always enjoyed looking out the window of a prop more than a jet for some reason.

Lower cruising altitude perhaps?
Also ATRs are high-winged, so your view down isn't blocked by the wing if you're in the middle of the cabin.

cml387

It's a a three hour flight, according to the timetable.

TBH I'd find 3 hours a bit wearing in an ATR.

LXFlyer

cml387 wrote: »

It's a a three hour flight, according to the timetable.

TBH I'd find 3 hours a bit wearing in an ATR.

Eh I think you need to look again. You seem to have forgotten that France is an hour ahead of us.

Therefore it's only a 2 hour flight.

Having flown several times to Jersey on the ATR (20 minutes shorter), it's fine.

H3llR4iser

In a nutshell, if you are OK on a coach bus, you'll be fine on the ATR72 - its roomier than your average Aircoach and similar, and way more comfortable.

crisco10

I actually feel the seats have more room than the other Aer lingus short haul fleet...Although sure someone will probably know the figures and correct me!

VG31

crisco10 wrote: »

I actually feel the seats have more room than the other Aer lingus short haul fleet...Although sure someone will probably know the figures and correct me!

The cabin feels more spacious as well. The lack of middle seats is certainly a plus.

Locker10a

I too find flying on these aircraft pleasant and comfortable, and there is truly little or no difference to flying on a jet aircraft.

EchoIndia

Locker10a wrote: »

I too find flying on these aircraft pleasant and comfortable, and there is truly little or no difference to flying on a jet aircraft.

Couldn't agree more.

Living Off The Splash

Thanks everyone. It's either fly in one of these or Ryanair to Nantes then a train.

Cloudio9

Living Off The Splash wrote: »

Thanks everyone. It's either fly in one of these or Ryanair to Nantes then a train.

Yeah go with the atr.

As others have said, the lack of middle seats make these things feel roomy. The toilet was pretty tiny from memory so go before you fly!

Living Off The Splash

Although......Looking at Ryanair prices to Nantes for about €28 on certain dates in September and Aer Lingus prices to Rennes of about €90........There would certainly be a financial saving using Ryanair to Nantes. The journey by train or bus from Nantes to Rennes is about 1 hour 30 minutes and costs less than €10.

The saving would allow you have a night in Nantes before moving to Rennes. I have stayed in Nantes before and it's a great city.

Growler!!!

JCX BXC wrote: »

although my last flight the two cabin crew looked like they were out the night before and their uniforms (consisting of a long jacket, nearly dragging along the ground) reminded me a little of the film Angela's Ashes,

I don't think that would trigger the OP's claustrophobia though :-)

cml387

lxflyer wrote: »

Eh I think you need to look again. You seem to have forgotten that France is an hour ahead of us.

Therefore it's only a 2 hour flight.

Having flown several times to Jersey on the ATR (20 minutes shorter), it's fine.

Doh!

martinsvi

I like them ATR72, there's less people, less commotion, they don't feel cramped at all, legroom is good. If you're fine on a 737, I don't think you will feel any different on an ATR..

As for the crew looking like they've been out the night before, remember that some of them work for 12-13 hours at a time, it's not that difficult to mistake the two looks

L1011

JCX BXC wrote: »

their uniforms (consisting of a long jacket, nearly dragging along the ground) reminded me a little of the film Angela's Ashes

The wear the Aer Lingus uniform, though.

kevinandrew

The ATR is pretty nice, especially the newer -600s which make up most of the fleet now. I still prefer the A320s, it's quieter and to me feels a little more spacious but the ATR is bright and airy with comfy seats and plenty of legroom. It's far superior to any Ryanair cabin on a similar flight length.

The long jacket JCX mentions was probably the seriously ugly overcoat, most of the uniform is fine but but that coat is a total 90s throwback.

Locker10a

kevinandrew wrote: »

The ATR is pretty nice, especially the newer -600s which make up most of the fleet now. I still prefer the A320s, it's quieter and to me feels a little more spacious but the ATR is bright and airy with comfy seats and plenty of legroom. It's far superior to any Ryanair cabin on a similar flight length.

The long jacket JCX mentions was probably the seriously ugly overcoat, most of the uniform is fine but but that coat is a total 90s throwback.

I reckon Aer Lingus are going for the Guinness world record for longest current uniform... their current one has been worn now since I think 1996/7? And there's no sign of any update

Cloudio9

Locker10a wrote: »

I reckon Aer Lingus are going for the Guinness world record for longest current uniform... their current one has been worn now since I think 1996/7? And there's no sign of any update

Could do with an update alright. The Ryanair one is very nice.

kevinandrew

I like the concept of the uniform, it stands out from the crowd without being garish but the cut is dated. An update can probably wait until a full rebrand is considered and that's a few years away yet I'd say.

L1011

The lav on newer delivery narrowbody jets is as small really. I can barely turn around in one if required!

Cloudio9

L1011 wrote: »

The lav on newer delivery narrowbody jets is as small really. I can barely turn around in one if required!

maybe you're getting bigger :pac:

Locker10a

Cloudio9 wrote: »

L1011 wrote: »

The lav on newer delivery narrowbody jets is as small really. I can barely turn around in one if required!

maybe you're getting bigger :pac:

No, honestly the toilets on the Airbus spaceflex are the smallest toilets I've ever experienced in the world.

H3llR4iser

L1011 wrote: »

The lav on newer delivery narrowbody jets is as small really. I can barely turn around in one if required!

Ahaha...I thought the same last time I was in the loo on a Lufthansa A320Neo. Everyone's gonna know if you are going for a number 2...because you'd have to reverse in!!!

martinsvi

ah yes, blame your own weight gain on loos getting smaller!!

L1011

martinsvi wrote: »

ah yes, blame your own weight gain on loos getting smaller!!

I'm a stone lighter and a jeans size smaller than a few years ago. Still some stone heavier (and amazingly only one jeans size bigger) than when I was a skinny young thing flitting back and forth to LCY on WX though

Donegal Storm

I've flown DUB to Donegal countless times in the ATR and never had a single bad experience, in fact I'd say it's probably my favorite flight. The low altitude means you can see features on the ground a lot more clearly and follow exactly where you are and also get a great view of cloudscapes. There's also the fast service and the novelty factor of being in a much smaller plane. Only issue I've ever had is a sore neck from looking out the window the whole flight

You might be a bit nervous at first with the small size and the noise of the propellors but it's perfectly fine

L1011

Donegal Storm wrote: »

I've flown DUB to Donegal countless times in the ATR and never had a single bad experience, in fact I'd say it's probably my favorite flight. The low altitude means you can see features on the ground a lot more clearly and follow exactly where you are and also get a great view of cloudscapes. There's also the fast service and the novelty factor of being in a much smaller plane. Only issue I've ever had is a sore neck from looking out the window the whole flight

You might be a bit nervous at first with the small size and the noise of the propellors but it's perfectly fine

You'd miss the Logan Saab 340 on that flight - for the single seats and the Tunnocks teacake and tea more than anything else!

Donegal Storm

L1011 wrote: »

You'd miss the Logan Saab 340 on that flight - for the single seats and the Tunnocks teacake and tea more than anything else!

I had a pretty hairy flight on the Logan from Glasgow to Donegal about 5 or 6 years back, a good old fashioned December storm meant we spent around half an hour circling/violently bumping above CFN before eventually landing, I'm fine with flying but that one definitely tested my metal!

It was usually a nice flight though, the single seat isles were great, only problem was the overhead lockers were beyond tiny