Aer Lingus Fleet/ Routes Discussion Pt 2 (ALL possible routes included)

kevinandrew

Will EI-XLT stay stored for a while or can we expect it to join EI-XLR in service asap? I’m assuming it’s not exactly required so will remain on the ground until the January cycle of heavy maintenance and (hopefully) repaints start on the A330s.

Gary walsh 32

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122980178#Comment_122980178

According to flight radar xlt is operating the first Washington flight today ei 117

sherology

Looks like they're forgoing the headrest covers on the new seats (leather headrests) unless they added them afterwards (pillows are placed), and it actually is the newer longhaul 3810 Recaro seat with Bluetooth/USB C/4k 12 in inch screens, so should make folks a bit happier.

https://www.tiktok.com/@shamrockaviation/video/7450215588569435424

EchoIndia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122982260#Comment_122982260

It's showing EI-XLR on this service, STD 1230.

MICKEYG

I see EI have three flights a day to JFK this week - 105, 107 and 109. Is that usual every Christmas.

Newark is once per day. Serious capacity.

Gary walsh 32

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122982402#Comment_122982402

I see its now saying xlt is the 16 10 flight now

Captain_Crash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122982458#Comment_122982458

They’ve had 3 flights a day for the last few weeks, 4 if you include SNN. The boom is back baby haha. It’s been this way for the past few years from about Nov to Xmas.

exiledawaynothere

incident in Belfast. Breaking news.

cloudhopper19

Just to give a bit more context to the OP regarding the incident. It was a Aer Lingus regional operated by Emerald Airlines nose gear collapse during what appeared to be a heavy Landing in strong gusts. No passengers onboard only crew.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/emergency-services-scrambled-to-ongoing-incident-involving-plane-at-belfast-city-airport/a1466827077.html

L1011

Nose gear collapse on Emerald positioning flight it appears.

cloudhopper19

inside of the new cabin looks good. With new cl3810 recarro seats in economy.

Phen2206

Interesting to see the ".air" on the IFE screen. If I recall correctly I've seen that on IB too - I don't ever recall seeing it on EI before this. Is it the name of the IFE system or the name of the wifi service/service provider? I'm not exactly sure what it is…

Phen2206

Follow up: yes it was IB, not sure if its on BA IFE too…

cloudhopper19

they have it on the top of menu not sure about the welcome screen . It’s the Wi-Fi provider

Tenger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122983379#Comment_122983379

Have seen a pic of it just short of touchdown. It was nose down at a 30 degree angle.

No wonder the nose gear collapsed.

IIm guessing a combo of wind gusts and very light empty weight

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122983805#Comment_122983805

wow!!

cloudhopper19

XLR interior shot

Marcusm

IB went 1-1 in J and EI went alternating 2-2 and 1-1. I get keeping the product across the EI 321 fleet the same but it seems like a mistake.

cloudhopper19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122986289#Comment_122986289

Keep an eye out for something coming soon it might surprise you and will make you understand why the initial layout is like that .

x567

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122986720#Comment_122986720

Intriguing… ‘Initial layout’ seems unlikely to change until it’s earned its keep (and I quite like the EI J product and layout), but interested to see what’s coming down the tracks. I’ve asked Santa for full Oneworld integration, premium economy and (open to derision I know) more flights from Shannon…

cson

Rode XLR back to IAD yesterday, there's small little improvements to the J seats anyway - screens seem to be way bigger and sharper than the LRs which was nice.

Outside of that everything else is reliably mediocre to bad - the WiFi didn't work which was very annoying as I'd intended to catch up on some work. Comments from the crew of "sure what did we do before wifi on planes" are a bit unhelpful, albeit its not their fault tbf.

Mister R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123000910#Comment_123000910

Funny while I find EI crew mostly grand and friendly I also encounted a similar attitude when I had a problem on one flight, while it is trying to come off as familial it just comes off unprofessional. We aren't mates I am paying for a service not looking for some to have pints with.

xpletiv

For the cost they charge us to be honest, Aer Lingus are bottom of the barrel. Grand for Europe but I'd avoid Al transatlantic when I can usually because of price (#ripoffireland) but the service and often broken items on planes transatlantic make them very difficult to trust. Too many announcements on red eyes trying to flog things and yet one single water round on 8 hour flight. That's my repeated experience. Always try book delta ahead of them.

And their sales are always fake with prices more than they were before.

cson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123003579#Comment_123003579

Yeah they're definitely very friendly but very 'Mammy-ish' if that makes sense? <They> know what's good for you and that's the end of it.

Like we had no wifi, no amenity kits & they disappeared to the galley for 2.5hrs after the main service. I get that they're understaffed with 4 on the A321 but shouldn't have to call to the galley to get a wine top up all the same.

Oh and the J bags came out last in IAD, literally 1h15m after deplaning. Might ask them to leave the tag off it in DUB next time.

Food was excellent though, I do appreciate that they change up the menu unlike some of their sister carriers in the group.

Mister R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123003801#Comment_123003801

Yes Mammy-ish is the perfect description, and it seems being short amentiy kits/pillows etc is commonplace. Also happened me a couple of times transatlantic.

Also just pre-Covid in J had one crew member who was unable to identify the gin from the trolley, literally took out a bottle and goes "is this it?" to me. Seriously what level of training is being undertaken before they're sent off to work J.

I think they get away with a lot in terms of underwhelming service because most people in Ireland are so accustomed to Ryanair and lo-co flying. So anything seems an improvement.

California Dreamer

Its easy to blame the crew and a certain amount of responsibility should be taken by them but literally decades of poor middle managers and trainers have led to this stage. Cut a corner here and there and then gut the workforce for the inability of management to work through problems over the years and here we are! EI isn't the place it was even 10 years ago.

patrickc

Flew over and back to JFK on the 22nd back the 29th

The outbound plane was full, the return was about 70% full with only 2 in business.

It was a very uncomfortable seat for 7 hours, I'm tall but my wife who's not felt the same. Economy on the a321neo.

cloudhopper19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123008040#Comment_123008040

The new XLR have a new improved economy seat which is bigger, more padding etc . Was pleased to be able to use my AirPods at last the screens have bluetooth now which was a plus over the normal stick in ear things .I flew back yesterday from IAD on one and was impressed overall compared to the standard neo.

sherology

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123008898#Comment_123008898

Was the wifi working? Was wondering if it's a Panasonic issue (CSON posted it wasn't working on his flight) as Iberia's XLR had wifi issues on its maiden flights and it was be troubleshooted in-flight by an onboard Panasonic IFE/software engineer.

Glad the new Recaro 3810 are installed and are an improvement. For reference... It's the newest longhaul seat for wide-bodies (and now XLRs).

cloudhopper19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123009841#Comment_123009841

Yes the wifi was working although I only purchased the 3 hour option but it did work. The new screens are deffo an improvement on the older gen ones. Although I the new map software got most of my attention - it shows you what's outside which I have never seen before