Aer Lingus link with Aer Arann?

Steyr · 08-03-2010 07:44PM

Growler!!! wrote: »

If its in GWY in the morning I might get to see it.:)

Snap! Il be out in the morning i hope.

alpha2zulu · 08-03-2010 08:18PM

Just seen this set on another site of the rollout at SNN, definetly one of the smartest looking ATR's in the sky!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanair/4415211276/in/photostream/

Butch Cassidy · 22-03-2010 04:59PM

Has anyone flown with these Aer Lingus regional/Aer Arann flights? I've noticed that the fares (well, "fares", the actual end price you pay to travel) have risen quite significantly. You could've got a Dub-Gla flight before March 28 for about €50-€60 and now a return flight is starting at €80 with the "zero fare" option.

Why introduce a new service and charge so much extra for it?

BuffyBot · 22-03-2010 09:28PM

Has anyone flown with these Aer Lingus regional/Aer Arann flights?

The agreement only starts on the 28th.

Butch Cassidy · 23-03-2010 11:49PM

Sorry, should've said has anyone booked any of the filghts.

What's the overhead cabin baggage storage like on these planes? I flew on one to Cardiff a few years ago and I remember the plane and storage space was tiny but checked baggage wasn't charged for.

BuffyBot · 24-03-2010 11:02AM

Well checked bags will be charged (as per standard EI rules). Cabin baggage allowance is smaller than EI's mainline allowance. From what I remember the bins are small enough.

Melion · 26-03-2010 06:15PM

Last one was finished in our hangar today. EI-REP

hurleronditch · 26-03-2010 09:23PM

Was in and out of LCY a few times in the last few days and saw one of the EI ATRs both landing and taking off. great looking bit of kit.

Though i end up there way more often than i would like, i just love that airport. Actually get there as early as i can so i can sit at the window watching the lovely little ones come in and out. todays favourite was a gorgeously swift looking luxair embraer

alpha2zulu · 27-03-2010 10:46PM

With all the -500's now in the EI operation, what happens to the IOM-LCY route.

I know RE pushed for LCY steep approach certification for the -500's, but with all of them gone is that route just going to be a 42 from now on? Haven't heard of the 72-200's being rated for the steep aaproaches into LCY yet.

Anyway best of luck to all the REA crew with the new venture starting tomorrow:)

annex · 09-04-2010 04:30AM

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

I've noticed that the fares (well, "fares", the actual end price you pay to travel) have risen quite significantly. You could've got a Dub-Gla flight before March 28 for about €50-€60 and now a return flight is starting at €80 with the "zero fare" option.

Why introduce a new service and charge so much extra for it?

Funny you mentioned the fare. I fly to Glasgow a fair bit, I usually fly out on Thursday and return on Monday, the last 4 flights I made averaged out at €54.28 but when I looked for a flight for later this month early next month I was quoted €85.70 (both of those include the €10 booking fee) I will be getting the Ulster Bus service over to Glasgow (Belfast-Stranrar) for £39.50 return. I am not in any great hurry so its no big deal, would rather have more money in my pocket.
In just over a year I spent €1000 on flights to Glasgow, they wont be getting any more from me in the near future!
And I wont fly Ryanair!!!

airvan · 09-04-2010 12:41PM

The reason fares have gone up is nothing to do with the Aer Lingus connection. Fares are seasonal. They increase during the peak period which starts after March and usually ends in October. That's why they appear to have changed. It's the same with most airlines. Most timetables run from March to October.

It's supply and demand that's all. More people travel at this time of year.

You'll find hotel rooms have got more expensive too.

annex · 09-04-2010 07:50PM

Here are some flights I made the past year.
May 28 - June 2 2009 €56.21
July 17 - July 20 2009 €66.76
Sep 23 - Sep 26 2009 €49.19
Dec 10 - Dec 14 2009 €52.20
Feb 11 - Feb 15 2010 €55.97

Those fares were not "seasonal" they are different times of the year and different times of the day. I have never paid over €70 for a flight to Glasgow, why over the last year have they been between €49-€66 and now all of a sudden they hit the mid 80 euro mark for the same flight.

annex · 09-04-2010 07:59PM

I would like to add that the flight in May last year, the total tax was €46.21 and the tax for the same flight over the same weekend this May is €71.72.

Butch Cassidy · 24-04-2010 02:42PM

You are quite right annex. The flights to Glasgow - and all of EI's flights in general - have gone up and up in price quite substantially over the past year. It's now a standard 80Euros or so to get to the UK ie. with a "free" fare you end up paying about 80 quid there and back in the taxes, charges and mystical "handling fee". I know part of this is that feckin' airplane tax but at the same time they're not doing themselves any favours. As you said, you can go via Stranraer which while a bit more hasslesome you can at least leave it until a few days beforehand to buy rather than having to buy a flight months in advance to get the mythical "free" fare plus taxes and charges and fee.

The thing I want to know is how is the baggage situation on this smaller planes? As far as I remember when I last flew with Aer Arann they didn't have a checked luggage fee and there was very little space in the overhead bins. So even if you had one of them hand luggage bags you'd probably have to check it in if there's not enough space which is another cushy few quid added on top. It's bizzarre with this Aer Arann thing, more frequency yet they're making us pay through the teeth for it!

It's also a longer flight.

GeturGun · 24-04-2010 08:04PM

Yeah I had a plan last year to fly every month so supplemented my holiday flights with some day-trips/2-day trips to the UK and they were available all over the place, if you had a zero fare each way, the total was €42.something. Generally to Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick and Edinburgh. Some I even booked in Feb for Aug/Sept so you could get them well in advance as well.

They are very few and far between this year, I have managed to get 2 x forty-something fares so far this year and that was by watching and waiting and grabbing them when they popped up. I'm not going to be able to do as many at those €70/80 fares this year though.

I dunno, maybe half the pax at double the fare makes more revenue in the long run for them........

It's not going to so their LFs any good though.

Butch Cassidy · 04-05-2010 02:28AM

Oh FFS they've changed their baggage size limit now!

http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/Support/helpBaggage.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1049828202.1272929598@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddadekfmfhmmhcefecfigdffgdfki.0&Category=2&P_OID=-536880753&C_OID=536889336#carryon

Aer Arann were the last of the Irish carriers to start charging for hold luggage and even at that they've been fairly decent and not too much of a rip off. I'm really not seeing the merits of these "regional" flights. I've a normal hand luggage bag that did me grand for the Airbus but now it's too big for the ATRs so I'll have to pay €24 return for that as well as the hike in price up to €80 starting price return - starting price ie. "free fare" booked months in advance.

Aer Lingus link with Aer Arann?

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