Review of Aer Lingus flight Dublin → London in Economy

17 July 2009
Aer Lingus
EI 174
Dublin (DUB) - London Heathrow (LHR)
A320
EI-DES
Economy Class

After 2 days in freezing Dublin, the D-day has come. It was time to return home and a long journey it would going to be, via London and Bangkok. We checked in online the day before departure but still had to go to the manual counters to retrieve our boarding passes and drop our bags as we were not holding EU/UK passports. Obtained our boarding passes after a short wait in the queue.

Aer Lingus check-in desks


After check-in, proceeded through security into the departure hall. Dublin airport is getting real old and crowded and there is really not much room for the humanity and shops. Luckily a new terminal is currently in the process of construction.

Cramped Dublin terminal


Did some plane spotting as usual.

Aer Lingus A330-300 just arrived.


Aer Lingus vs Ryanair. The 2 main airlines of Dublin.


Proceeded to the gate for boarding about 15min before STD. Boarding was just underway.

Our plane for the short hop to UK, EI-DES


Boarding the A320. Was greeted by the purser at the door.


The cabin of the plane was reasonably well kept and clean, even though it has started to show its age. Cabin crew well also along the aisle welcoming passengers. The crew would be doing DUB-LHR-DUB-LHR today followed by a night's stay in London and operating the next day's morning flight back to Dublin. Aer Lingus's A320a are only fitted with economy class seats.

Seats. Similar to BA's economy class seats.


Boarding in progress.


At the gate with an A330 beside us.


All the stuff in the seat pocket.


Seat pitch. Seats were rather cramped.


Across the aisle.


Soon boarding was completed and the safety demonstration was done manually by the crew. No audio/video entertainment on this aircraft. What impressed me most was that the purser could actually describe the safety demo along with the rest of the crew performing it without referral to any manuals! Flight time was announced to be a short 1hr. We had a short taxi to the runway and took off.

Departing Dublin


Making a u-turn shortly after departure.


Over Dublin airport. City of Dublin in the distance ahead.


Aer Lingus only offers buy-on-board service on its European routes. Gone were the days when free drinks/snacks were offered.

BOB food menu


Drinks menu


We decided not to buy anything as nothing looks appealing on the menu.

Cabin crew performing BOB service.


After the BOB service, duty free sales was offered. Crew were friendly and polite but nothing more. Feels just like any budget airline service.

Cabin view.


Aft galley


Inflight. Very cloudy below.


After a short cruise, we started our descend into London.


London was very cloudy during approach and not many landmarks could be seen.

Somewhere over London.


Final approach into London Heathrow.


Landing.


We taxied to Terminal 1 and parked at one of the dedicated Ireland flight gates.

At the gate.