Aer Lingus Review: Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

Key Takeaways

• Aer Lingus serves more than 100 destinations in its network across Ireland, Europe, and North America, offering multiple fare types for short and long-haul flights, including lie-flat business class.
• AerClub uses Avios rewards, which can be redeemed with Aer Lingus and other Avios-based programs, including British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Vueling.
• Aer Lingus is rated a 4-star airline (out of 5) by Skytrax.

Aer Lingus is Ireland’s national airline, based in Dublin (DUB) and recognizable by its shamrock tailfin. It connects travelers to more than 100 destinations in Ireland, the U.K., Europe, and North America. Although Aer Lingus isn’t part of a major alliance, it has partnered with major carriers including Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines, and uses the popular Avios rewards currency.

Its transatlantic business class cabins feature lie-flat seats, upgraded dining, and lounge access, while short-haul European flights offer value and comfort. With its flexible AerClub loyalty program, Aer Lingus is a good option for traveling to Ireland from the U.S., exploring Europe, or taking a competitively priced transatlantic flight.

This guide explains Aer Lingus’ frequent flyer program, fare classes, fees, lounges, inflight experience, and customer service ratings to help you consider whether Aer Lingus is a good airline for your next trip.

Basic Information

Airline: Aer Lingus
Alliance: None (partners with Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airways, United Airlines, and other major carriers)
Category: International airline
Frequent flyer program: AerClub
Tagline: “You’re very welcome,” a modern take on “céad míle fáilte” (a hundred thousand welcomes)
Number of passengers annually: 11 million
Fleet: 61
Main hub: Dublin Airport (DUB)
Destinations: More than 100 destinations across Europe and North America

Frequent Flyer Program

The Aer Lingus loyalty program is AerClub, which uses Avios as its points currency. Aer Lingus Avios are the same points used by The British Airways Club, Club Iberia Plus, Vueling Club, Finnair Plus, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and more.

AerClub members can earn and redeem Avios on Aer Lingus and select partners, including moving Avios between AerClub and other Avios-based programs. That adds flexibility to AerClub, even if you mostly redeem your Avios with partners.

You can earn Aer Lingus Avios by flying Aer Lingus, with partner airlines, hotels, rental cars, and more. The Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card earns 3 Avios per $1 spent with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL, 2 Avios per $1 on hotel accommodations directly from the hotel.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

75,000 Avios

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$938

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.74%–28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x Avios on Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia purchases
• 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
• Priority boarding

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Doesn’t offer many bonus categories

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL.
• Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
• Every calendar year you make purchases of $30,000 on your Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, you’ll receive a Commercial Companion Ticket good for 12 months
• You and any authorized users on your account are eligible for Priority Boarding on Aer Lingus flights departing from and returning to the US from Ireland, subject to availability.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
• Simply tap to pay with your contactless Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It’s fast, easy and secure!
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74%–28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

AerClub is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

AerClub Avios redemption options include flights, upgrades, lounge access, hotels, rental cars, and experiences. Flight redemptions are based on distance zones and peak or off-peak dates, with Zone 1 (0 to 650 miles) economy class in off-peak starting at 4,000 Avios and Zone 6 (4,001 to 5,500 miles) business class at 75,000 Avios.

Avios expire after 36 months of inactivity, but you can reset the clock by earning or redeeming Avios, including taking a flight, transferring points, or spending on the Aer Lingus card.

There are 4 membership tiers with AerClub: Green, Silver, Platinum, and Concierge. Benefits include bonus Avios, priority services, lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage, a companion ticket, and upgrades that grow as you move up the tiers.

Hot Tip:

Avios move freely between Aer Lingus and many popular airlines at a 1:1 rate, so you can redeem Avios with the program that gives you the best award pricing or availability for your trip. See the best ways to fly to Ireland with points and miles.

Ticketing

Aer Lingus offers 4 fare classes for flights within Europe (Saver, Plus, Advantage, AerSpace) and 5 for transatlantic flights (Saver, Smart, Flex, Business, Business Flex) that determine what’s included with your ticket.

Fares Within Europe

Saver, Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace are economy fare types within Europe and the UK:

• Saver fares are the most limited, with a small personal carry-on item and a 7- to 10-kilogram (15- to 22-pound) bag on flights within Europe. You can check a 10-kilogram (22-pound) bag free or pay €35/£35 ($40) to carry it on board.
• Plus mid-tier economy fares add a 20-kilogram (44-pound) checked bag, advance seat selection, and standby for an earlier flight.
• Advantage is a higher economy fare and includes no change fee, eligibility for a refund voucher or cash refund minus fees, lounge access where available, and fast-track security at DUB.
• AerSpace‘s main advantage is seating, adding a front row seat with the middle seat free and dedicated storage.

Fares on Transatlantic Flights

There are more fare classes available on transatlantic flights, with Saver, Smart, Flex, Business, and Business Flex:

• Saver fares offer a 10-kilogram (22-pound) carry-on bag, a small personal item, and a complimentary meal.
• Smart allows you to check a bag (1 23-kilogram/50-pound bag for economy or 3 23-kilogram/50-pound bags in business), select your seat, and get eligibility for a refund voucher.
• Flex fares are eligible for a cash refund minus fees and no change fee.
• Business fares have a dedicated check-in and lounge, priority boarding, lie-flat seats, complimentary Wi-Fi on select aircraft, luxury dining, standby for an earlier flight, and fast-track security at DUB.
• Business Flex fares are fully refundable.

Hot Tip:

See our guide to direct routes from the U.S. on Aer Lingus.

Baggage Fees

Although some fares include 20-kilogram (44-pound) checked bags, you can add heavier or additional baggage for a fee. Fees start at €5/£5 ($6) and depend on the weight, flight distance, and when you purchase the bag fee.

A carry-on bag is included for AerClub Silver, Platinum, and Concierge AerClub members on all AerClub reward flights, accompanying adults traveling with an infant, passengers connecting to or from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight or a connecting flight with an interline partner, and Aer Lingus cardholders.

Golf bags, bicycles, electric and mobility scooters, firearms, diving equipment, fishing equipment, surfboards, windsurfing equipment, skis, and snowboards are subject to additional baggage fees, typically €40/£40 ($50) per item. Most can be booked online.

Other Fees and Add-Ons

Aer Lingus charges optional fees depending on your fare type, route, and when you make changes to your booking:

• Change and cancellation fees: Flights within the U.K. are the most affordable to change or cancel, starting at €29/£25 ($35) if you change your flight more than 60 days prior to departure. The most costly are Saver fares paid at guest services or at an airport, which are €140/£120 ($210).
• Seat fees: Advanced seat selection is available in Plus, Advantage, or AerSpace fares within Europe and in business class or Smart and Flex fares (standard seats). Seat selection pricing depends on the route and seat type, ranging from €4.99/£4.99 ($6) for standard seats within Europe to extra legroom (behind business class) for €109.99/£109.99 ($124.99) on transatlantic flights.
• Wi-Fi: All A330 aircraft offer Wi-Fi, texting, and data, and A321neoLR and XLR offer Wi-Fi. The fees are €3.49/£2.99 ($3.99) for an hour of messaging or €5.99/£4.99 ($6.99) for messaging on the entire flight. Basic Wi-Fi is €13.49/£11.99 ($16.49), or a premium connection is €20.49/£17.99 ($24.99).
• Onboard food and drinks: Aer Lingus offers à la carte and for-purchase items on some flights, including drinks, snacks, and sandwiches. Costs vary by item, starting at €2.50/£2.50 ($3) for canned drinks.
• Pet transportation: Trained service dogs may fly with you in the cabin for no additional fee. Pets must be booked with IAG Cargo for an additional fee and meet requirements, including minimum age and restrictions on breed and weight limits. Pets can’t be carried on A321neo LR aircraft.
• Unaccompanied minor: Passengers aged 12 to 15 can fly unaccompanied for no additional fee, but must have an indemnity form, a method of payment for expenses, and meet other requirements.

Hot Tip:

You can avoid many fees by booking Plus, Advantage, Smart Plus, Flex, or Business fares, as these typically include seats and checked bags. AerClub Silver or higher status benefits include extra baggage, fast track security in DUB, seat selection, and lounge access.

Aer Lingus Lounges

Aer Lingus has a small lounge network that’s mainly centered on Dublin Airport, but additional lounges are at Heathrow Airport (LHR) and New York (JFK). Lounge access depends on your fare class and AerClub tier. Eligible passengers can visit partner or contract lounges in airports without Aer Lingus-operated lounges.

Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, and Seat Specs

Economy Within Europe

Amenities include:

• Standard seats with 28- to 32-inch pitch and 17- to 18-inch width
• Buy-on-board drinks, snacks, and light meals
• 9-inch seatback entertainment and USB outlets on Airbus A321neoLR

AerSpace Within Europe

Amenities include:

• Front-row seat without middle seat in use
• Priority boarding
• Fast-track security at Dublin
• Lounge access at select airports
• Carry-on bag with dedicated storage

Transatlantic Economy

Amenities include:

• Standard seats with 30- to 32-inch pitch and 17- to 18-inch width
• Complimentary meal
• Buy-on-board drinks, snacks, and light meals
• Overhead storage (subject to fare type)
• 9-inch seatback entertainment and USB outlets

Transatlantic Business

Amenities include:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Lounge access (Aer Lingus or partner lounges)
• Lie-flat seats with direct aisle access in most configurations
• Adjustable lighting
• Massage seat controls
• Retractable table
• Storage at seat
• Wi-Fi access

Aer Lingus Customer Satisfaction

Most Common Complaints

The most common complaints on TrustPilot.com, where Aer Lingus has a 1.5/5 (bad) score from more than 2,000 reviews, include difficulties with the booking process and getting hold of support to resolve issues. Overbooked flights, damaged baggage, and excessive schedule changes are some specific issues experienced by Aer Lingus customers.

Consumer Rankings and Ratings

• Skytrax ranking: 4-star airline (out of 5)
• Tripadvisor airline review rating: 3/5 (average from 14,470 reviews)
• Kayak customer rating: 7.2/10 (average from 1,380 verified reviews)
• AirHelp.com overall rating: 6.61/10 (quality of amenities, on-time arrivals, and how well an airline resolves flight delay compensation claims)

Safety and Performance

Aer Lingus has an exceptionally strong modern safety record. The airline experienced fatal accidents in 1952 and 1968 and a hijacking in 1981, but has not had any major incidents since. Recent minor incidents include mechanical issues, technical malfunctions, occasional bird strikes, and sensor events.

With modern maintenance standards, regulatory requirements, and the current Aer Lingus fleet, the airline maintains a safety profile comparable to that of most established European carriers.

Recent Awards

Aer Lingus is Ireland’s only 4-star airline under the Skytrax rating system, awarded for its consistent quality across service, onboard product, and operational standards. It’s rated the 54th best airline in the world (out of 100) in the Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Final Thoughts

Aer Lingus doesn’t try to compete with ultra-luxury carriers offering showers in the sky or multicourse tasting menus; instead, it focuses on clean aircraft, solid onboard amenities, lie-flat business-class seats, and reasonably priced fares.

Its biggest strengths are value and consistency, along with the flexibility of its Avios-based loyalty program. Being able to transfer Avios between Aer Lingus and multiple other airlines provides more redemption options than most standalone airline programs. Aer Lingus has a strong safety record, but customer reviews cite issues with getting service, damaged baggage, and overbooked flights. Complaints about the inflight experience are rare.

Aer Lingus continues to be a wise choice for value-focused travelers to Europe, particularly Ireland.