Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

Noxegon · 02-06-2019 09:22PM

Tenger wrote: »

There’s 300 ppl (and 300 in JFK) looking for rerouting and/or compensation.
That’s a big whack in the budget at the first big weekend of the Summer.

Am I correct in thinking that there are no spare long haul aircraft in the summer schedule?

02-06-2019 09:27PM

judging by twitter theyve handled it very poorly indeed

Van.Bosch · 02-06-2019 09:51PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

judging by twitter theyve handled it very poorly indeed

Yup, why would they not rebook people at the airport and make them call.

1123heavy · 03-06-2019 01:40AM

Van.Bosch wrote: »

Yup, why would they not rebook people at the airport and make them call.

I haven't got twitter but can see one guy stranded posted about it on facebook. How can any airline think it's acceptable to simply not have a plane show up and then give a silent 2 fingers to all the customers who did actually show up. Everyone seems to be scrambling to call their customer service number but no one is getting through. This will live longer in the memories of the passengers than any rebrand ever will!

cson · 03-06-2019 02:06AM

I don't think it's that big of a hit to the budget, even at a higher end estimate of €1,000 per passenger via compensation or rerouting that's only €600,000 cost to the airline which made €306m last year (0.2% of operating profit, so it'd be noticed a little in month end analytics but not much, if at all, on an annual basis).

Tenger · 03-06-2019 10:45AM

I agree with that from an analytical viewpoint. 10 cacelations over the summer will be filed under ‘extraordinary costs’ or similar. Thus the yearly recurring figures will remain pretty much the same.

But it’s a bigger issue in how they handle disruptions. I’m pretty sure that EI no longer have the staff numbers physically at the airport to deal with a cancellation anymore. (The culling of numbers was ongoing after I left 15 years ago) Thus callling a phoneline in is the only option. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly over the last 2-3 years.
With about 50% of their customers being Europeans or Americans on connecting tickets it slowly erodes their potential customer base when incidents like this occur.
BA/VS/AA/UA/DL etc can rely on their home market for future business. EI are relying on ppl choosing them based on price and convenience over those others airlines.

cson · 03-06-2019 02:28PM

Tenger wrote: »

I agree with that from an analytical viewpoint. 10 cacelations over the summer will be filed under ‘extraordinary costs’ or similar. Thus the yearly recurring figures will remain pretty much the same.

But it’s a bigger issue in how they handle disruptions. I’m pretty sure that EI no longer have the staff numbers physically at the airport to deal with a cancellation anymore. (The culling of numbers was ongoing after I left 15 years ago) Thus callling a phoneline in is the only option. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly over the last 2-3 years.
With about 50% of their customers being Europeans or Americans on connecting tickets it slowly erodes their potential customer base when incidents like this occur.
BA/VS/AA/UA/DL etc can rely on their home market for future business. EI are relying on ppl choosing them based on price and convenience over those others airlines.

I think air travel is one of those things that's very price elastic so if they continue to get their pricing algo's spot on they'll not notice any material declines. It's the same reason people bitch about never flying FR again but inevitably they will because it makes the most sense price wise.

This is especially the case in Europe which doesn't have the same incentive to stay loyal via elite programs that say the US3 would have.

Marcusm · 03-06-2019 04:35PM

Tenger wrote: »

I agree with that from an analytical viewpoint. 10 cacelations over the summer will be filed under ‘extraordinary costs’ or similar. Thus the yearly recurring figures will remain pretty much the same.

But it’s a bigger issue in how they handle disruptions. I’m pretty sure that EI no longer have the staff numbers physically at the airport to deal with a cancellation anymore. (The culling of numbers was ongoing after I left 15 years ago) Thus callling a phoneline in is the only option. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly over the last 2-3 years.
With about 50% of their customers being Europeans or Americans on connecting tickets it slowly erodes their potential customer base when incidents like this occur.
BA/VS/AA/UA/DL etc can rely on their home market for future business. EI are relying on ppl choosing them based on price and convenience over those others airlines.

Nothing extraordinary about the costs though. Normal run of the mill occurrence! I’d say there per head cost would exceed €1,000. Surely €600 per head compo plus accommodation and rerouting costs.

Time Magazine · 03-06-2019 04:48PM

cson wrote: »

I think air travel is one of those things that's very price elastic so if they continue to get their pricing algo's spot on they'll not notice any material declines. It's the same reason people bitch about never flying FR again but inevitably they will because it makes the most sense price wise.

This is especially the case in Europe which doesn't have the same incentive to stay loyal via elite programs that say the US3 would have.

American Airlines left me stranded in DFW one night about eight years ago. I average about 20 flights a year, but basically haven't flown with them since.

Granted AA refusing to even provide accommodation is worse than what's going on with EI at the moment, but I imagine there are a lot of unhappy Yanks complaining about Irish airlines today.

Van.Bosch · 03-06-2019 05:01PM

Marcusm wrote: »

Nothing extraordinary about the costs though. Normal run of the mill occurrence! I’d say there per head cost would exceed €1,000. Surely €600 per head compo plus accommodation and rerouting costs.

How does the re routing work? I mean they will obviously try and get you on their own flights first but if EI has to put someone on Delta or United, do they pay full whack or is there some agreements in the background?

jesus_thats_gre · 03-06-2019 05:41PM

Flew to Newark circa 3 weeks ago with AL. A JFK flight the previous day was cancelled and a lot of those passengers ended up on the Newark flight.

In the baggage hall in Newark, there was countless announcements about the location of AL provided transfer buses to JFK.

Marcusm · 03-06-2019 09:41PM

Van.Bosch wrote: »

How does the re routing work? I mean they will obviously try and get you on their own flights first but if EI has to put someone on Delta or United, do they pay full whack or is there some agreements in the background?

All will be IATA airlines. We won’t be privy to cost but will come out in the wash unless your failure rate is very high. Issue these days is that load factors are very high meaning limited additional seats to deal with IRROPS meaning extra nights in hotel.

Van.Bosch · 03-06-2019 10:05PM

Marcusm wrote: »

All will be IATA airlines. We won’t be privy to cost but will come out in the wash unless your failure rate is very high. Issue these days is that load factors are very high meaning limited additional seats to deal with IRROPS meaning extra nights in hotel.

Cheers - so you give a little, take a little. Like you say though, will be hard to get 300 e/w.

goingnowhere · 04-06-2019 09:29PM

EI has certainly carried large number of Delta passengers when they had problems. EI has an awful lot of interline agreements in place (it pays to have been in business 83 odd years).

In this case 4pm there is no way to cross the Atlantic that day really due the historical flight patterns of day over, overnight back

NSAman · 04-06-2019 10:07PM

Customer Service is one thing that ALYWAS known for when there were actually people employed. The phone lines are a disaster and the "customer service" for bag loss and/or. re-routing is a joke nowadays.

Luckily I am concierge and even with that status, getting someone to talk to at times is next to impossible.

Aer Lingus may be good when all goes well, but when there is an issue, IT SUCKS!

JCX BXC · 04-06-2019 11:42PM

NSAman wrote: »

Aer Lingus may be good when all goes well, but when there is an issue, IT SUCKS!

Like far too many companies nowadays sadly.

kevinandrew · 05-06-2019 12:04AM

The next batch of A321LR's have appeared on the Airbus production list, EI-LRB, 'LRC and 'LRD are the confirmed registrations. The first, EI-LRA, has recently been seen without its protective tape and seems to be preparing for its first engine run which should be any day now.

sherology · 05-06-2019 01:46PM

kevinandrew wrote: »

The next batch of A321LR's have appeared on the Airbus production list, EI-LRB, 'LRC and 'LRD are the confirmed registrations. The first, EI-LRA, has recently been seen without its protective tape and seems to be preparing for its first engine run which should be any day now.

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9326980

Shamrockj · 05-06-2019 02:01PM

sherology wrote: »

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9326980

Going by the picture I'm guessing the door aft or the over wings is deactived? I noticed on the seat map they have seats blocked off in those rows I'm guessing until its confirmed.

kevinandrew · 05-06-2019 02:20PM

Shamrockj wrote: »

sherology wrote: »

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9326980

Going by the picture I'm guessing the door aft or the over wings is deactived? I noticed on the seat map they have seats blocked off in those rows I'm guessing until its confirmed.

Yep, Door 3 is deactivated and appears plugged. I’m hoping they place a mid-cabin lavatory in this row like Air Transat has done as I seriously doubt 3 bathrooms and a half galley squeezed down the back is going to work in practice.

There’s no way Aer Lingus knows something about this layout that Air Transat and TAP somehow don’t.

sherology · 05-06-2019 02:35PM

kevinandrew wrote: »

Yep, Door 3 is deactivated and appears plugged. I’m hoping they place a mid-cabin lavatory in this row like Air Transat has done as I seriously doubt 3 bathrooms and a half galley squeezed down the back is going to work in practice.

There’s no way Aer Lingus knows something about this layout that Air Transat and TAP somehow don’t.

See X's on attachment. SpaceFlex to left-rear pressure bulkhead. Another galley to front of left rear door, facing the spaceflex galley. Crew might be able to huddle up behind a curtain at the rear door.

Locker10a · 05-06-2019 04:08PM

sherology wrote: »

See X's on attachment. SpaceFlex to left-rear pressure bulkhead. Another galley to front of left rear door, facing the spaceflex galley. Crew might be able to huddle up behind a curtain at the rear door.

Looks like 3 toilets at the rear too. Going to be a very congested unpleasant section.
The 757 had 3 economy toilet too I think, all at doors 3 though. Which allowed equal access/distance for all economy passengers. And prevention of a total bottleneck especially when there’s service going on.

Shamrockj · 05-06-2019 04:17PM

This space flex layout on a transatlantic flight must the worst decision they have made in awhile. Not exactly 4 star...

kevinandrew · 05-06-2019 06:01PM

Shamrockj wrote: »

This space flex layout on a transatlantic flight must the worst decision they have made in awhile. Not exactly 4 star...

If it does prove to be a complete disaster, knowing what Aer Lingus management are like they’ll be too stubborn to admit they got it wrong and attempt to change things.

It could end up being be an awful lot of hassle for a extra 6 seats!

sherology · 05-06-2019 06:24PM

kevinandrew wrote: »

If it does prove to be a complete disaster, knowing what Aer Lingus management are like they’ll be too stubborn to admit they got it wrong and attempt to change things.

It could end up being be an awful lot of hassle for a extra 6 seats!

I don't think they gain any seats... on the actual layout... As there is a single toilet on one side (as per current a321) - -3seats - and a galley on the other side (giving more space to the crew albeit all on one side so still odd) - -3seats. These are before the back door where those 6 seats would be on a normal a321 with SpaceFlex.

My feeling is, as this is a lease (and not owned by EI), the galley and unhindered cabin floor area may be at the behest of the lessor for future proofing. Costly to retrofit it later, and an open plan floor makes it easier to reconfigure.

So no extra seats, but easier to remove a galley unit and toilet unit, and add 6 seats later if the lease is not renewed.

kevinandrew · 05-06-2019 06:51PM

sherology wrote: »

kevinandrew wrote: »

If it does prove to be a complete disaster, knowing what Aer Lingus management are like they’ll be too stubborn to admit they got it wrong and attempt to change things.

It could end up being be an awful lot of hassle for a extra 6 seats!

I don't think they gain any seats... on the actual layout... As there is a single toilet on one side (as per current a321) - -3seats - and a galley on the other side (giving more space to the crew albeit all on one side so still odd) - -3seats. These are before the back door where those 6 seats would be on a normal a321 with SpaceFlex.

My feeling is, as this is a lease (and not owned by EI), the galley and unhindered cabin floor area may be at the behest of the lessor for future proofing. Costly to retrofit it later, and an open plan floor makes it easier to reconfigure.

So no extra seats, but easier to remove a galley unit and toilet unit, and add 6 seats later if the lease is not renewed.

The total seat number is expected to be 180, I believe there’s 174 or 176 on the 757 fleet so an increase of sorts for a like for like replacement as these are initially intended to be.

I also think these tend to be quite long term leases so the lessors future requirements shouldn’t really be of much consideration, unless Aer Lingus/IAG really had the wool pulled over their eyes. Air Transat have also leased their A321LR’s and have been able to choose the cabin they see fit. Not sure about TAP but I’d be surprised they’re weren’t leased as well.

alancostello · 05-06-2019 06:54PM

kevinandrew wrote: »

The total seat number is expected to be 180, I believe there’s 174 or 176 on the 757 fleet so an increase of sorts for a like for like replacement as these are initially intended to be.

Four of those increase are J seats too so much higher revenue if they fill them (or worth an additional two Y seats in the same place over the 757)

geecee · 06-06-2019 10:25PM

Flying Economy from DUB to Newark this Sunday
Does anyone know if the AL A330s AVOD system has a slot for a USB stick with which i can watch my own TV shows, or am I stuck with their (admittedly not so bad) selection
Thanks in Advance!

Cloudio9 · 06-06-2019 10:40PM

geecee wrote: »

Flying Economy from DUB to Newark this Sunday
Does anyone know if the AL A330s AVOD system has a slot for a USB stick with which i can watch my own TV shows, or am I stuck with their (admittedly not so bad) selection
Thanks in Advance!

No. USB for power only.

Bussywussy · 07-06-2019 04:35PM

kevinandrew wrote: »

The total seat number is expected to be 180, I believe there’s 174 or 176 on the 757 fleet so an increase of sorts for a like for like replacement as these are initially intended to be.

I also think these tend to be quite long term leases so the lessors future requirements shouldn’t really be of much consideration, unless Aer Lingus/IAG really had the wool pulled over their eyes. Air Transat have also leased their A321LR’s and have been able to choose the cabin they see fit. Not sure about TAP but I’d be surprised they’re weren’t leased as well.

Its 16/168 config

Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

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