BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 2242 posts, RR: 5 Posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 4954 times:
#We’re all going on a summer holiday…#
After many months of planning it was finally time to begin our holiday. We would spend 2 weeks in the US, flying into BOS and out of IAD. We paid just over 600EUR each at our local consolidator, 100 EUR less than on aerlingus’ own website.
Because of our semi-early departure from DUB we decided to stay over night at DUB airport. Bewley’s Hotel at DUB allow guests to park in the hotel at a reduced rate for the period of their holiday and also have a complementary shuttle bus to/from the Arrivals Level at DUB. After a very good nights’ sleep at Bewley’s we were taken to the airport, the journey took about 15 minutes. DUB was its usual heaving self, even on Sunday morning, mainly people travelling on sun charters.
As usual I had checked-in on-line the night before and collected the boarding cards from the “fast pass” SSK. Two bags needed to be tagged, and this was done quickly with a smile, boarding would be at the B gates. Security queues were relatively short and moved pretty quickly, even with the large numbers of kids, grand parents and other infrequent fliers. In fairness to the DAA instructions were clearly given to all passengers well before they reached the screening area, via video screens and from personnel.
About an hour before STD we headed down to the “B” gates. Because Ireland is one of the few countries where passengers can pre-clear US Immigration, we could complete US immigration before we even boarded the aircraft and avoid the immense queues on arrival, immigration was completed in a matter of minutes, but there is little room on the lower level B gates and no retail either. Interestingly there were quite a few connecting EI passengers from the short-haul routes, particularly the UK, Brussels and Italy.
T2 - Under Construction.
On Board we were greeted at the door and directed to our seats, which were in the forward mini cabin, between J and the Galley/Doors 2. Once the doors had been closed, we were on our way very quickly, pushing back only a few moments late. Flight time was to be 6h30. Loads in Y were about 85%, but much lower in J. 4 seats out of the 24 were filled, unsurprising really, BD offer a similar product as Y+, at a much lower fare.
After take-off a bar service was offered, with a charge for alcohol and Pringles, pretzels were offered free of charge. The IFE was started, which on this aircraft was just the mainscreen with a selection of TV programming and a movie, along with 8 audio channels. The headsets EI now provide are dreadful, much better to bring your own, as audio will only be heard in very poor quality through one ear.
Dinner was a choice of chicken or beef (how imaginative!) and a round of tea/coffee. Alhough the presentation was poor, the meal tasted well, especially for economy.
About an hour later skyshopping was offered. About an hour out of BOS a snack was offered, a scone with jam and butter.
Throughtout the flight drinks were available in the Galley at doors 2, and also in the vestibule area at doors 4.
Arrival at BOS was delayed by about 20 minutes due to ATC holds, but the landing at Logan field was as smooth as glass. After a brief taxi to the gate we were among the first to de-plane from Doors2, as the rest of the great unwashed were held back so J class PAX would be first off the aircraft. The benefits of this are somewhat dubious on a pre-cleared flight because our baggage took 20 minutes to arrive.
Overall I would rate this flights as “good”. The EI crews are great, but they don’t have much to work with, in comparison to, say, KL, with multiple bar services, free alcohol and a bar service with the main meal.
Some shots of IAD, a very, very nice and stress free airport. Highly recommended.
This flight was pretty similar, but EI-DAA is fitted with non-AVOD PTV's, the meals were also different, and only a small plastic beaker of orange juice was served about 30 minutes prior to arrival.
Overall these flights were good, and both BOS and IAD have world class facilities.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK(WW) ORKLBA(RE) LBA-LHR-ORK(BD/EI) DUB-BOS(EI) IADDUB
Shamrock350 From Ireland, joined Mar 2005, 4721 posts, RR: 9 Reply 2, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 4899 times:
Nice report Brian!
Nice to hear you had good flights with Aer Lingus across the pond. It's a shame you didn't get either of the new aircraft but hopefully once the aircraft are updated this winter it will be easier for EI to look at the smaller details within the product that could do with improving.
EI320 From Ireland, joined Dec 2007, 391 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 4855 times:
Great TR Brian,
Glad you had "good" flights with EI.
Great pics of the meals, I agree the presentation isn't the best, but they look tasty all the same! I feel though with the price of EI tickets to the US, the least they could do is provide a free bar service with the meal, but no of course not.
How were the loads on the IAD-DUB flight?, I'm afraid if there not good in the middle of summer they'll never be good.
Oh and one other thing, wouldn't it have been easier to fly from SNN?
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 2242 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 4708 times:
Quoting EI320 (Reply 5): How were the loads on the IAD-DUB flight?, I'm afraid if there not good in the middle of summer they'll never be good.
They were quite good, There were about 4 free rows down the back and a few random single seats too, probably about 80-85% full.
Quoting EI320 (Reply 5): Oh and one other thing, wouldn't it have been easier to fly from SNN?
Yes and no. IAD would involve a change of a/c in DUB and you would still end up in SNN, not ORK. Also our agent was not able to book the DUB-SNN tag-on as part of the consolidators fare, so it would have been several hundred euro more. Turned out that staying in Bewleys the night before and parking there was cheaper than flying with RE from ORK.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK(WW) ORKLBA(RE) LBA-LHR-ORK(BD/EI) DUB-BOS(EI) IADDUB
EIRules From Ireland, joined Aug 2007, 269 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3561 times:
Hey Brian
Nice trip report, good to see one for EI long haul, pity they cant upgrade their product to some of the other airlines we see on here. But we can live in hope. Glad you had a nice trip though
Renfnl From United States, joined Mar 2007, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3216 times:
Nice TR. I flew JFK-SNN return on EI in June. Pretty similar experience for me as your report above. Although it was vastly different from my experience just 2 years before.
Shamrock321 From Ireland, joined May 2008, 235 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2445 times:
Ive never flown long haul with EI plenty of short haul however. Im an expert when it comes to reading airlines.net trip reports and from them I have come to the conclusin that EI long haul product is pathetic! There is a great LGW-JFK with Z4 trip report on here and the product on that flight seemed far superior!
BA319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 5038 posts, RR: 30 Reply 11, posted (1 month 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1243 times:
Nice report Brian.
I have happy memories of flying EI 737-200's into LHR, service back then was second to none! - not sure I'd like the current long haul product, I don't like paying for booze!
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