Aer Lingus is Ireland’s flagship carrier, serving destinations across Europe, North America and the Caribbean. The airline has a proud tradition of connecting the Irish diaspora with home while supporting tourism throughout the region.
The airline’s fleet favors Airbus across its network. Long-haul routes use A330-300 widebody planes and A321neo (A321XLR/LR) aircraft for transatlantic flights. Short-haul European routes operate on A320 family planes, while regional flights use ATR 72-600 turboprops operated by franchise partner Emerald Airlines.
I’ve flown Aer Lingus a bunch and what always stands out isn’t just the solid cabin experience, but the crew. They’ve consistently been some of the friendliest folks in the sky, and that can make a huge difference on any flight.
Aer Lingus short- and mid-haul flights
Hopping around Europe on Aer Lingus feels pretty familiar if you’ve flown other major European carriers. It’s a comfortable ride, though if you’re on the taller side, you might find the legroom a little snug. The airline’s A320 and A320neo planes are set in a one-class 3-3 layout with 17-inch wide seats set 28–30 inches apart.
If you want more comfort, I’d suggest booking the AerSpace fare tier, which has dedicated seating in the front row. It’s a standard Euro-Business Class with the middle seat blocked.
Aer Lingus flies the A321neoLR on some longer European routes, which offers wider seats, more legroom, a 23 cm in-flight entertainment screen and power outlets. On the A321neo, the AerSpace fare gets you the long-haul Business Class seat in a private cabin. Other perks include a more generous baggage allowance, flexibility for flight changes, fast-track through security and lounge access where available.
Classes and services on long-haul flights
Aer Lingus offers two classes of service on its widebody planes and long-range A321s. Other narrowbody planes and the regional fleet have a single class of service, though you can book a special front-row fare with some nice perks.
Business Class on long-haul flights
I find Aer Lingus business class to be a comfortable and worthwhile upgrade. Beyond the great seat, you get lounge access and other benefits that make the journey much smoother.
The seats themselves are better than average, at 56 cm wide with a 196 cm lay-flat bed. Add in the cozy duvet bedding, and you’re set for a decent night’s sleep over the Atlantic.
To keep you feeling fresh, they provide a Jo Browne amenity kit with essentials including a premium eye mask, socks, eco toothbrush, moisturiser and lip balm, though contents may vary.
Seating tips on Aer Lingus Business Class
Aer Lingus arranges business class cabins differently from other airlines, alternating between 1-2-2 and 1-2-1 rows across six rows. This layout lets couples share a window seat while ensuring singles get all-aisle access, though it leaves only 2K, 4K and 6K with a window and no direct aisle access.
The airline uses a similar idea on the A321neoLR, but it’s a little less ideal for solo flyers. The 2-2, 1-1 cabin with 16 seats means that if you’re in a window seat of a pair, you’ll have to do the awkward climb over your neighbor. If I’m travelling alone on this plane, I’d skip the view and grab one of the four single “throne” seats or an aisle seat.
One more tip: while the single seats have more storage, the footwell is a bit narrower. Taller travellers might feel a little cramped in the feet when the bed is fully flat.
Economy long-haul flights
I’ve found Aer Lingus economy is more comfortable than many other airlines for long-haul flights, mainly because the seats are a touch wider. The pitch (the distance between rows) is pretty standard, so it might feel tight for taller folks, but for a 5-hour flight, it’s a great value compared to business class.
Better seating on Economy flights
On Aer Lingus’s A330 planes, economy seats offer comfortable spacing. Seats are 17–18 inches wide and 31–32 inches apart.
I’ve learned that paying to pick my seat is worth it to ensure I get a spot I’m comfortable with. As a short person, legroom is less of a priority for me, but I still value having control over where I sit rather than leaving it to chance. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to window versus aisle seats, and booking early gives you the best selection.
On the Airbus A321neoLR flying routes to and from North America, you’ll find Economy seats in a 3-3 configuration. They’re 43-46 cm wide with 8-81 cm of pitch, but if you need more legroom, aim for the exit rows 14 and 15.
In-flight dining
Aer Lingus’s in-flight dining is good and you won’t have much trouble finding something you’d enjoy, though it’s not quite restaurant quality.
You must pay for meals and snacks when flying in Europe.
Business Class in-flight dining on long-haul flights
The business class dining is generous, with a mix of international dishes and some Irish flair (the cheese plate is a personal favorite). You’ll get two full meals on transatlantic flights - a main hot meal after takeoff and a second service before arrival (afternoon tea on day flights or a light breakfast on overnight flights). If you’d rather maximize sleep, you can ask for a lighter meal to be served early.
And here’s a pro tip: if you’re flying out of New York-JFK, the pre-flight dining in the Aer Lingus Lounge at Terminal 7 is a solid treat, with buffet-style meals that let you maximize rest on board.
Economy in-flight dining on long-haul flights
On transatlantic flights, Aer Lingus serves a complimentary meal and soft drinks. One small quirk I’ve noticed is that on overnight flights from the US to Dublin, the breakfast snack before landing is often quite light - typically just a small food item with tea, coffee or juice. I always pack a granola bar just in case. On longer flights from cities like Chicago, Orlando, and Los Angeles, you’ll get a warm breakfast sandwich, which is a nice touch.
Economy in-flight food and beverage on short-haul flights
On flights within Europe, you can buy food and drinks from the “Bia” buy-on-board menu. The selection includes hot sandwiches and toasties, and even a traditional Irish breakfast (with sausage, bacon, and pudding). The prices are pretty much what you’d expect to pay at the airport.
In-flight entertainment
Aer Lingus' in-flight entertainment is on the higher end overall. The long-haul Business Class features a 41 cm high-definition touchscreen display and noise-reducing headphones, while the economy class has 23 cm screens, plus USB and AC power outlets.
I find the airline offers a good selection of new-release movies, programs, music, games and even LinkedIn learning courses. With the Aer Lingus app on your smartphone, you can pre-select your in-flight playlist. If, like me, you’ve ever regretted the in-flight entertainment being cut off right in the middle of a good movie, you can use the Aer Lingus app to pick up where you left off on a later flight.
Wi-Fi and power
Aer Lingus offers high-speed satellite Wi-Fi on most of its long-haul fleet, except for a few A330s, and on all of the A321neo flying mid- and long-haul flights. However, the A321neo only offers a Wi-Fi service option, not a separate messaging and SMS network.
Unless I’m working, I generally just use connectivity to keep in touch with family through messaging, but you can still do that with a Wi-Fi connection. The only real difference is the price is higher for Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fi fees are reasonable, with options ranging from chat packages for an hour to full connectivity for the entire flight. Just know that Wi-Fi is activated around 20 minutes after takeoff and is deactivated during landing. If you’re flying business class on a long-haul route, the Wi-Fi is free.
Keeping your devices charged is easy in long-haul cabins, as both business and economy have personal charging points and USB outlets. However, on the short-haul A320s and regional planes, there’s no Wi-Fi or power, so I always bring a portable power bank just in case.
Aer Lingus lounges
The Aer Lingus 51st&Green Lounge at Dublin Airport is a gem, especially because it’s located after US pre-clearance at the end of the US gates corridor. This means you can clear US immigration and customs in Dublin (a huge time-saver) and then properly relax before your flight. It’s a modern, comfortable space with great runway views if you enjoy plane spotting like me. The food and drink selection is solid, with a barista coffee service, and there are showers available. Check current status before your visit, as the lounge may be closed for refurbishment.
One of my favorite perks of flying business class into Dublin is the Revival Lounge. It’s in the arrivals hall beside baggage collection belt number 6, so you can head straight there after landing to shower and freshen up before a meeting. They even offer a steam pressing service for your clothes, which is a game-changer (you can have your shirt or suit pressed while you shower).
As a partner airline, Aer Lingus business passengers and elite frequent flyers can also access oneworld partner lounges, like American Airlines Flagship Lounges when travelling in business class on qualifying flights, and Admirals Club lounges in the US according to American’s access policies.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
