Book Flights on Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is the national carrier of Ireland and has been flying passengers to and from the Emerald Isle since 1936. From its headquarters city of Dublin, as well as Shannon, Belfast, Cork, and London Gatwick, Aer Lingus offers more than 70 direct flights to destinations across Europe and the US. Although it is most popular for its low-cost services, Aer Lingus also offers Business Class seats on its transatlantic flights to North America.

The airline is not part of any alliance but has codeshare and partnership agreements with several airlines including Aer Aran, JetBlue, KLM, and United. Members of Aer Lingus Gold Circle frequent flyer program can earn miles by flying with partner airlines as well.

Aer Lingus aircraft carry the luck of the Irish with them with the traditional shamrock painted on the tail of all the airline’s planes.

Aer Lingus Ticketing and Check-in Information

Aer Lingus offers three easy options for check-in:

Airport Counter Check-in: If you’re travelling with children, have a lot of luggage and need to pay excess baggage fees, or need help with getting a wheelchair on board, checking-in at an airport counter is the safest way to go.

The recommended check-in time for flights to and from North America is three and a half hours prior to departure, and the check-in counter closes an hour before the scheduled departure time. For trips within Europe, the airline recommends that passengers arrive at the airport no later than two and half hours before the flight’s scheduled departure and the check-in counter for these flights closes 45 minutes before departure.

Mobile Check-in: Currently, this service is offered on a limited number of routes to and from Dublin and the Aer Lingus App used for mobile check-ins is only compatible with the following: iPhones, Androids, BlackBerrys, Windows 7, and Nokia Nseries phones. Using your name, booking reference, and departure airport name, you can access a link to your boarding pass which can then be displayed at the security check and boarding gates at the airport.

Online Check-in: Timings vary depending on the route you are flying, but for most flights, you can check in between 30 hours to four and a half hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. Passengers on flights to or from the US can use the online check-in service from 24 hours to 45 minutes prior to the flight’s departure.

Aer Lingus also offers an Advance Web Check-in service on selected routes which allows passengers to check in from 30 days to 30 hours before their flight is scheduled to depart. Passengers with connecting flights can also check luggage through to their final destination.

Aer Lingus’ Flexifare passengers can change their date and time of travel at no additional cost, get refunds on cancelled tickets, check up two free bags, and get access to the airline’s airport lounges. For more information on Aer Lingus’ ticketing and check-in options, or information on special assistance requirements or travelling with children, visit the airline’s website.

Aer Lingus Baggage Information & Restrictions

Checked Luggage Restrictions for Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus does not offer any free baggage allowance on short-haul flights within Europe, and there is a 20 kg cap on each passenger’s luggage. If you pay for your bags online more than two hours before you fly, the fee for each bag is between €15 - €20, while if you pay at the airport, the fee doubles to €30 - €40.

For long-haul flights to and from the US, there is a free allowance of one 23 kg bag for Economy Class passengers and two bags for Flexifare passengers. Business Class passengers can carry three bags free of charge weighing a total of 69 kg and infants are allowed one bag of up to 10 kg in addition to a stroller or bassinet. On all long-haul flights, the first bag should measure less than 158 cm (L + W + H) while the second and subsequent bags should measure no more than 140 cm.

Excess baggage is charged at €9 per kilo on short-haul flights and €50 per extra bag on long-haul services. On both, no single bag should weigh more than 32 kg. For more information on the checked baggage restrictions and excess fees, visit the Aer Lingus website.

Carry-On Baggage Restrictions for Aer Lingus

For all Aer Lingus flights, carry-on luggage is restricted to one bag per passenger measuring a maximum of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm and weighing less than 10 kg. If your bag does not fit in the overhead luggage bin or under the aircraft seat, you will be asked to check it in. In addition to this, you can also carry a small personal item like an overcoat or laptop bag on board.

Passengers travelling on Aer Lingus’ partner airline, Aer Aran, will have to adhere to even stricter luggage specifications. Carry-on bags should measure less than 48 cm x 36 cm x 21 cm and weigh less than 7 kg. Small personal items are also allowed on these flights.

Check the Aer Lingus website for additional information on carry-on luggage restriction.

Aer Lingus Special Luggage Requirements

Special luggage items like wheelchairs and small musical instruments can be carried on board at no extra charge. However, for larger items, you may have to either purchase an extra seat, or pay excess checked baggage fees. The airline allows items like guns and ammunition to be transported on its flights but this is subject to stringent safety conditions and a fee of €30 or more, depending on the route you’re flying.

The airline’s website lists all the details regarding the transport of special luggage, including everything from wedding cakes and artist’s easels to sports equipment and power tools.

Aer Lingus Seating Options

Depending on whether you’re flying a long-haul ot short-haul route, Economy Class seats on Aer Lingus have a seat pitch of 30-31 inches and passengers can select their seat preferences at no extra charge. Planes used for flights within Europe are configured with three seats on either side of the central aisle. Long-haul aircraft are laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration with two aisles flanked by pairs of seats next to the windows and rows of four seats in the centre of the plane between the two aisles.

Business Class passengers on Aer Lingus enjoy the comfort of Lie Flat Sleeper Seats with a pitch of 58-inches, configured with two seats on either side of the two aisles. Passengers with Business Class tickets can check-in at a special counter, get free access to Aer Lingus-affiliated airport lounges, and be on the move quickly as their bags are the first to be offloaded at the destination airport.

Travelling with Pets on Aer Lingus

Don’t forget about Rusty!

Aer Lingus does not transport pets on any of its short-haul flights within Europe. Small animals and pets can be transported as cargo only on specific long-distance flights between Ireland and New York, Chicago, Boston, and Orlando. The airline should be informed at the time of booking if you wish to travel with your pet, and all documentation and licenses should be in order before you fly. Keep in mind that certain dog breeds like Pit Bulls and Mastiffs are not allowed on Aer Lingus flights.

You can find more information on travelling with your pet on the airline’s website.

Aer Lingus In-flight Service, Beverages, and Meals

Aer Lingus does not provide complimentary meals or in-flight entertainment on flights within Europe, but the airline does offer hot and cold meals as well as alcoholic beverages which you can purchase from its Sky Cafe. If you forgot to carry a book or music player, buy a newspaper onboard and catch up on the latest in Irish news or flip through Cara, the airline’s complimentary in-flight magazine.

Economy Class passengers on long-haul flights to and from the US are provided with a shared screen on A330-300 planes, and a personal one on A330-200 aircraft. The personal screens will give you access to a range of movies, music, TV shows, and interactive games. Complimentary meals, snacks, and alcoholic beverages are also available on these flights.

In Business Class, entertainment options include a 26.6 cm personal video screen with on-demand movies, television shows, interactive games, and editable music playlists. If you’d like to plug in your own music or laptop, there are power outlets provided at every seat. Once you’re up in the air, gourmet meals are served on Wedgwood China and Waterford Crystal, matched with fine wines that complement your meal choice. In addition to the pre-departure champagne service, there are also a wide range of alcoholic beverages available, all of which are served with hot canapes.

Aer Lingus Fleet

The airline’s fleet consists of 27 Airbus A320-214s and six A321-211s, all of which have Economy Class seats only and are used on short-haul flights. The A320s seat up to 174 passengers while the A321s have 212 seats on each plane.

Aer Lingus also flies four A330-302s which can seat up to 322 passengers and three A330-202s which can seat between 267 and 272 passengers. These aircraft are used on long-haul flights and are equipped with Business and Economy Class seats.

Air Lingus Lounge

Air Lingus passengers can access lounge facilities at most airports served by the airline. The majority of these lounges are operated by the airline’s airport partners and can be accessed at no extra cost by Business Class and Flexifare passengers, Bank of Ireland Gold Visa Business Card holders, and Gold Circle Club members. Passengers can also pay a fee of €25 online or at the lounge reception desk for access to the airline’s lounges in Dublin, London, and Boston.

More details on Aer Lingus’ lounge facilities can be found on the airline’s website.