Information on Aer Lingus Flights

Aer Lingus is the official flag carrier airline of Ireland. Even its name is a nod to the Irish language – Aer Lingus is an anglicization of the Irish “aerloingeas,” which translates to “air fleet." The airline is based out of Dublin and connects Ireland with the world via its hub at Dublin Airport (DUB).

Studying abroad in Northern Ireland, I have flown in and out of Dublin a lot – often using low-cost carriers to explore Europe. Aer Lingus is unique in that it operates as a low-cost carrier in Europe while also offering full-service transatlantic routes to destinations in North America. Here is all the insider information you should know about flying with Aer Lingus.

Routes to and from the US on Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus may be known for its flights connecting Ireland with Britain and the European continent, but the growing airline also flies to several destinations in the US, including some you might not expect. Aer Lingus offers flights in and out of many major US cities, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington DC.

In addition, it flies in and out of smaller US cities, like Raleigh, Albuquerque, Tucson and even Lincoln, Nebraska. This is one of my favorite things about Aer Lingus – it connects Ireland with the world via routes you might not expect.

Most flights in and out of the US are through Dublin Airport, but there are also several flights to the US out of Shannon Airport in County Clare, which is on the western coast of Ireland. These flights out of Shannon, which include routes to New York’s JFK, Boston, Tampa, Raleigh and Atlanta, make it easy to explore popular sites on the west coast of Ireland, from the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands to Galway and the Dingle Peninsula.

US immigration on Aer Lingus flights

One of the coolest perks Aer Lingus offers US fliers is the ability to pre-clear US immigration in Dublin. What that means is that on your trip back to the States you can clear US immigration, customs and agriculture controls prior to boarding your flight home. The Dublin Airport clearing facility in Terminal 2 is operated by US personnel who will run you through customs long before you set foot on US soil.

The ability to clear immigration before your flight home is a true time-saving perk. Since you can get pre-cleared in Dublin you won’t have to wait in line at immigration when you land in the US. You can simply grab your baggage from the carousel and get on your way.

It's worth noting that because of this extra step on departure, the check-in desk for Aer Lingus transatlantic flights closes 75 minutes before the scheduled departure time if you’re flying economy and 60 minutes if you’re in business class. For this reason, when you're flying to the US from Dublin on Aer Lingus, you'll want to give yourself extra time at the airport.

Aer Lingus transatlantic fare classes

Aer Lingus operates as a hybrid airline with low-cost services on its European and Britain flights and more robust services on its transatlantic flights.

For the latter, there are 3 economy fare types and 2 business class fare types. If you’re a budget traveler, you might want to consider the Saver fare class, which offers just a few no-frills benefits, including one 22-pound carry-on bag, a small personal carry-on item and a complimentary meal.

If you know you’ll need to check a bag, want to pick your seat in advance or want to be able to change or cancel your flight, you’ll want to book the Smart or Flex fares. The higher-level Flex fare is even eligible for a cash refund – a benefit the Smart and Saver fares don't include.

If you’re interested in flying business class, you have 2 options on Aer Lingus: Business or Business Flex. Both fares include lie-flat seats, complimentary Wi-Fi and upgraded dining, along with priority boarding and access to a dedicated check-in desk and airport lounge. It is worth noting that only the Business Flex fare is fully refundable.

Wi-Fi and entertainment on Aer Lingus

On Aer Lingus transatlantic flights you’ll have your own personal seat-back screen to enjoy a curated gallery of movies and TV shows. The seatback in-flight entertainment is currently available on all Airbus A321 Long Range aircrafts and most of the Airbus A330 airplanes in the Aer Lingus fleet.

In addition, if you download the Aer Lingus Play app, you can pair your personal device to the seat-back screen in front of your seat. By doing this, you can discover what’s playing on your flight before you get on board, create a playlist, and continue your movie or TV show from where you left off on a previous Aer Lingus flight.

You can also launch and control content from your device to the seat-back screen by using the Aer Lingus Play app. It’s available for Apple and Android devices and can be used on all Airbus A321 Long Range aircraft. The service is expected to expand to other aircraft types in the Aer Lingus family in the future.

All Aer Lingus Airbus A321 Long Range planes have Wi-Fi for purchase, as do most of the Airbus A330 aircrafts. Only the A330s also offer text and data plans at the moment. Access to Aer Lingus Wi-Fi, text and data is included in business class fares but costs extra for economy tier passengers.

Aer Lingus change and cancelation policies

If you think you might need to change or cancel your flight, it’s always best to book your flights directly on the airline website. There you will receive a fairly flexible change policy that allows for changes to all fare class types up to 2 hours before the scheduled departure. Note that if you book the cheapest Saver fare you will have to pay a change fee.

It’s also worth noting that Aer Lingus doesn’t give out refunds or travel credits if your new flight is of lower value than your original flight. In addition, your new travel itinerary must be completed within one year of the original date of purchase or it can lose its value.

Canceling an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight is a bit more complicated. The 2 lower transatlantic economy fare types – Saver and Smart – are nonrefundable, but Smart fare travelers are eligible for a voucher refund. Similarly, economy Flex travelers can request a full voucher refund.

Both business class fare types are eligible for a full voucher refund and Business Flex travelers can even request a full cash refund. Standard Business travelers can request a cash refund of 85% of the fare.

Onboard dining on Aer Lingus transatlantic flights

All passengers who board an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight are given a complimentary hot meal along with tea and coffee service. Snacks, soft drinks and water are also free onboard an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight.

On direct flights to Ireland and Manchester from the US you’ll be served a hot dinner with tea and coffee service, followed by an orange juice prior to landing (and on some flights an additional hot breakfast sandwich). On your return flight from Ireland or Manchester back to the US, you’ll be served a hot lunch with tea and coffee followed by an evening snack.

All transatlantic flights on Aer Lingus include a full bar service. Aer Lingus also allows for special meal requests, including vegetarian meals. On shorter flights to Britain and Europe on Aer Lingus, you can purchase food, drinks and snacks from the Bia in-flight menu.

It is also worth noting that while Aer Lingus does not serve peanuts as part of their meals or snacks, there are often trace elements of peanuts (like peanut oil) in the food served onboard. For this reason, people with peanut or tree nut allergies should not eat in-flight meals with Aer Lingus.