Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

Locker10a · 30-10-2018 08:08PM

billy few mates wrote: »

Better to upset the passengers by not having the chicken and stuffing sandwiches from their menu than upsetting them by offering scaldy old ham and cheese sandwiches of an unknown standard from down route caterers...

Or, just load plenty of your own product to begin with so you can actually make a few sales and extra revenue from your passengers who have nowhere to shop around and nothing to do but sit around and buy food and drinks for a couple of hours at a time.

billy few mates · 30-10-2018 08:26PM

It's only extra revenue if you can sell it, if you have to throw it away because you haven't been able to sell it it's a loss.
You don't load 180 sandwiches on the off chance that 180 might buy them, you load 50 sandwiches because inflight sales data tells you that's what you might expect to sell. Some days you'll have a few left over and some days you'll have a few disappointed passengers because you sold out.
Disappointed passengers are still cheaper than throwing away excess catering, all airlines monitor this very closely.

Locker10a · 30-10-2018 09:46PM

billy few mates wrote: »

It's only extra revenue if you can sell it, if you have to throw it away because you haven't been able to sell it it's a loss.
You don't load 180 sandwiches on the off chance that 180 might buy them, you load 50 sandwiches because inflight sales data tells you that's what you might expect to sell. Some days you'll have a few left over and some days you'll have a few disappointed passengers because you sold out.
Disappointed passengers are still cheaper than throwing away excess catering, all airlines monitor this very closely.

Running out halfway through the outbound leg of a flight to Faro isn’t a few disappointmented passengers though, it’s a complete failure of product delivery. A few unsold sandwich’s are a loss yes, but so is more and more passengers buying their inflight snacks in boots or equivalent in the terminal and not purchasing on the flight itself.

blackwhite · 30-10-2018 09:50PM

The A321 flight to Malaga a few weeks ago had similar problems. I was row 2 so got fed. One of the lads I was travelling with was in row 8, and by the time trolley reached him all the hot sandwiches were sold out.

Can’t be anything but poor stock planning for that to happen TBH

California Dreamer · 30-10-2018 10:16PM

billy few mates wrote: »

you load 50 sandwiches because inflight sales data tells you that's what you might expect to sell.

It was never that amount. More like 8-10.

Regional were carrying 4 cans of Magners Cider for the entire day. I know because I asked the crew one day.

Locker10a · 30-10-2018 10:19PM

highlydebased wrote: »

Shn99 wrote: »

Is this for certain? I’ve just been told these will be going to the USA with N reg’s for storage until next year when they will return to ASL to operate for EI.

I've just heard that too.

BlueAir 734 YR-BAO is currently defending into SNN, is this also planned for next years ASL acmi deal ?

Jamie2k9 · 30-10-2018 10:20PM

Didn't they start loading first thing in the morning and stopped doing it more regularly during the day to save money. So the lesson is to fly early if you want a chicken and stuffing sandwich...

blackwhite · 30-10-2018 10:26PM

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Didn't they start loading first thing in the morning and stopped doing it more regularly during the day to save money. So the lesson is to fly early if you want a chicken and stuffing sandwich...

To be fair, I’m on the 22.00 from CDG at least 3 timed a month and it’s a rare flight that they don’t have a ham&cheese toastie available for me. I’ll always sit in rows 2-4, but given it’s the homeward leg they’ve clearly gotten that route at least well stocked

L1011 · 30-10-2018 10:51PM

I'm fairly sure we have a thread on EI Catering already, this is Fleet...

vectorvictor · 30-10-2018 10:52PM

L1011 wrote: »

I'm fairly sure we have a thread on EI Catering already, this is Fleet...

A sandwichless fleet...

kevinandrew · 30-10-2018 11:04PM

The new process had major teething issues when it was first launched but these were largely ironed out within a few months, it's much rarer for them to run out completely these days. In house catering is expensive and wastage was high with the old process, the solution was implemented poorly but once it settled and after a full year of operation is showed a reduction in wastage and no impact on ancillary revenues.

There are still flights that run out of stock but it appears to be a price worth paying. The same voices would probably cry foul if Aer Lingus outsourced to a vendor.

Comhrá · 30-10-2018 11:46PM

To avoid disappointment enroute, I've learned to scavenge in airports before boarding whenever possible and I've found that airport food is generally better quality than what's served on board, and can be eaten in more comfort, even if it costs a few Euro extra.

adam88 · 31-10-2018 12:31AM

trellheim wrote: »

I'm always perplexed by this - why not load more food at the outstation - most spanish airports e.g. Murcia and the like the food choice is terrible and people will buy a ham and cheese sambo if its there at a ferocious markup

I actually look forward to Ryanair’s ham and cheese panini deal when I’m flying with them. Costs a tenner but it’s worth it IMO. I’d do the same with ei if they actually had good onboard.

MuffinsDa · 31-10-2018 03:29AM

kevinandrew wrote: »

It appears bag charges and seat selection fees have returned to the new London City route, the booking engine had been showing a free checked bag and free seat selection at check in for about a month. It would have been interesting to see Aer Lingus maintain the full service product under their own brand but it looks unlikely now.

So how does the LCY RJ flights work now? Do pax check-in at T2 and the forced to walk over back to T1? If that's the case doesn't it add another 15-20 mins to their journey? Kinda negates the purposes of flying to LCY if that's the case. Or is it now fully operated from T2?

kevinandrew · 31-10-2018 04:09AM

MuffinsDa wrote: »

kevinandrew wrote: »

It appears bag charges and seat selection fees have returned to the new London City route, the booking engine had been showing a free checked bag and free seat selection at check in for about a month. It would have been interesting to see Aer Lingus maintain the full service product under their own brand but it looks unlikely now.

So how does the LCY RJ flights work now? Do pax check-in at T2 and the forced to walk over back to T1? If that's the case doesn't it add another 15-20 mins to their journey? Kinda negates the purposes of flying to LCY if that's the case. Or is it now fully operated from T2?

T2 and the long walk to T1 unfortunately.

Moving over to T2 or at least somewhere a bit closer would have made sense and may still happen in the future but for the time being it appears unlikely. It would be Cityjet's responsibility to request new stands and move their operation but how willing they are to do that depends on the conditions of the deal with Aer Lingus.

On the bright side not too many passengers should actually need to "check in" at T2, most on the LCY route would be savvy enough to do it online and carry hand luggage anyway, frequent flyers will be aware they can just go through security at T1 and shorten their walk. Sadly, not the same can be done for arrivals.

Tenger · 31-10-2018 04:55AM

MuffinsDa wrote: »

So how does the LCY RJ flights work now? Do pax check-in at T2 and the forced to walk over back to T1? If that's the case doesn't it add another 15-20 mins to their journey? Kinda negates the purposes of flying to LCY if that's the case. Or is it now fully operated from T2?

Why not send them to the magical gate 335 for bus transfer? I saw a tweet 2 days ago calling it a "terrible replica of the Hogwarts express"

California Dreamer · 31-10-2018 06:52AM

Tenger wrote: »

Why not send them to the magical gate 335 for bus transfer? I saw a tweet 2 days ago calling it a "terrible replica of the Hogwarts express"

Pretty much standard practice of any regional operator.

billy few mates · 31-10-2018 07:39AM

kevinandrew wrote: »

T2 and the long walk to T1 unfortunately.

Moving over to T2 or at least somewhere a bit closer would have made sense and may still happen in the future but for the time being it appears unlikely. It would be Cityjet's responsibility to request new stands and move their operation but how willing they are to do that depends on the conditions of the deal with Aer Lingus.

On the bright side not too many passengers should actually need to "check in" at T2, most on the LCY route would be savvy enough to do it online and carry hand luggage anyway, frequent flyers will be aware they can just go through security at T1 and shorten their walk. Sadly, not the same can be done for arrivals.

It's not a 10-15 minute walk from T2 to T1, it's about 5 minutes, I do it all the time. Most business travellers will also know it's usually a lot quicker to pass through T2 security than T1 security. The DAA show the queue times on their app and you're more likely to be queuing with business passengers who know the drill than pissed up stag and hen parties who use the T1 based airlines...

billy few mates · 31-10-2018 07:43AM

Comhra wrote: »

To avoid disappointment enroute, I've learned to scavenge in airports before boarding whenever possible and I've found that airport food is generally better quality than what's served on board, and can be eaten in more comfort, even if it costs a few Euro extra.

I never buy food or drinks on board any flight I'm travelling on. I'll either have something in comfort before I get on or have something in comfort after I arrive at my destination.

Stephen Strange · 31-10-2018 09:13AM

billy few mates wrote: »

It's not a 10-15 minute walk from T2 to T1, it's about 5 minutes, I do it all the time. Most business travellers will also know it's usually a lot quicker to pass through T2 security than T1 security. The DAA show the queue times on their app and you're more likely to be queuing with business passengers who know the drill than pissed up stag and hen parties who use the T1 based airlines...

It's really not a 5 minute walk from T2 security to gate 202.

troyzer · 31-10-2018 09:20AM

You have to wonder why airports don't have cinemas and chippers.

Absolute no brainers. Maybe a bowling alley.

California Dreamer · 31-10-2018 09:30AM

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/uk-regulators-to-examine-aer-lingus-takeover-of-cityjet-route-1.3680966

I can’t see the issue to be honest.

LXFlyer · 31-10-2018 09:42AM

Stephen Strange wrote: »

It's really not a 5 minute walk from T2 security to gate 202.

Yeah I’d have to agree. The 3XX gates are an acceptable walking distance from T2 security but expecting people to walk to the 2XX gates is taking the proverbial.

That’s a dilution of the EI product - I too would have expected them to use the bus gates to be honest.

Captain_Crash · 31-10-2018 09:49AM

LXFlyer wrote: »

Yeah I’d have to agree. The 3XX gates are an acceptable walking distance from T2 security but expecting people to walk to the 2XX gates is taking the proverbial.

That’s a dilution of the EI product - I too would have expected them to use the bus gates to be honest.

I know its rudimentary, but on Google maps here using that string technique for mapping we all learned in school, it doesn't appear to be that much further.

LXFlyer · 31-10-2018 10:00AM

Captain_Crash wrote: »

I know its rudimentary, but on Google maps here using that string technique for mapping we all learned in school, it doesn't appear to be that much further.

I’d disagree. Using my own walking timings, somewhat more realistic, by the time you reach Marquette you’d already have reached the 3XX gates. There’s still a fair walk to go beyond that to the 2XX gates taking into account the distance you’ve had to walk already.

Stephen Strange · 31-10-2018 10:31AM

LXFlyer wrote: »

Yeah I’d have to agree. The 3XX gates are an acceptable walking distance from T2 security but expecting people to walk to the 2XX gates is taking the proverbial.

That’s a dilution of the EI product - I too would have expected them to use the bus gates to be honest.

I'm surprised they aren't using the bus gates, considering arriving pax are brought by bus to T2.

31-10-2018 10:32AM

Still shorter than some of the walks in Heathrow T2+3 and in Gatwick south and north terminals by 100-200m

Captain_Crash · 31-10-2018 10:32AM

LXFlyer wrote: »

I’d disagree. Using my own walking timings, somewhat more realistic, by the time you reach Marquette you’d already have reached the 3XX gates. There’s still a fair walk to go beyond that to the 2XX gates taking into account the distance you’ve had to walk already.

I'll admit, I don't have a habit of timing my walks in the airport, but I've never found any amount of walking in DUB to be that strenuous. At worst a minor inconvenience.

MuffinsDa · 31-10-2018 10:33AM

kevinandrew wrote: »

T2 and the long walk to T1 unfortunately.

Moving over to T2 or at least somewhere a bit closer would have made sense and may still happen in the future but for the time being it appears unlikely. It would be Cityjet's responsibility to request new stands and move their operation but how willing they are to do that depends on the conditions of the deal with Aer Lingus.

On the bright side not too many passengers should actually need to "check in" at T2, most on the LCY route would be savvy enough to do it online and carry hand luggage anyway, frequent flyers will be aware they can just go through security at T1 and shorten their walk. Sadly, not the same can be done for arrivals.

That's ridiculous! I'm flying with them early tomorrow morning actually, always used BA for work but this time was going with family and WX was a lot cheaper so I booked that, and then got transferred to EI. I didn't mind too much losing the freebies of WX (seat selection, food and drinks etc) as I thought at least we'll get to use EI lounge in T2 for breakfast, but it looks like there isn't much point in even bothering with that! How could Aer Lingus put their brand on this sort of crap!

31-10-2018 10:39AM

Some of the routine distances in amsterdam are 300m further some of the distances in JFK are 400m further, the walk in Orly from checkin to the regular Dublin gate is 150m further as well. If people weren’t complaining about walking they’d be complaining about having to use a bus. Honestly folks you can pick lots of airports Irish people regularly use around the world where walking distances are similar or even longer than Dublin.

On a technicality if you have only got carry on you can use the security lanes in T1 and save your poor legs a few mins walking. It is being advertised onboard apparently but website still says checkin in T2.

Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

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