Over the next week or so I am reviewing an Aer Lingus business class trip from London to Boston via Dublin.
Due to the low taxes and excellent Aer Lingus business class seating, this is a great way to spend your Avios. If you want to know where Aer Lingus flies long haul, and how to book using your points, look at the first part of this series which was published yesterday.
My journey began with a short connecting flight to Dublin. Aer Lingus flies from many regional airports in the UK to Dublin. Living in London this meant my trip started at London Heathrow Terminal 2 and by visiting the Aer Lingus Lounge.
Here is my review:
Location
Terminal 2 is the newest of the four Heathrow terminals (Terminal 1 is now closed) and, whilst not as expensively finished as Terminal 5, is bright and airy.
The main shopping area is down one level. The Aer Lingus lounge is located within the main departures area on the same level as security, so don’t head for the escalators! Instead, head to the right.
As the Aer Lingus flight from Heathrow to Dublin doesn’t operate a Business Class I had to show my ticket for the connecting Business Class flight from Dublin to get in. Alternatively I could have flashed my BA Silver card.
(British Airways Gold and Silver cardholders can access the Aer Lingus lounge at Heathrow when flying Aer Lingus, whether or not their ticket shows a British Airways codeshare flight number. There is no Aer Lingus lounge at Gatwick so this does not work if you are flying from there You cannot bring a guest. You are also allowed to access Aer Lingus lounges in Ireland but only when flying to London. .)
The first thing you notice when walking in is a large amount green and blue chairs around small coffee tables in the center of the spacious lounge. There were several screens showing the flight timetable as no announcements were made in the lounge.
Even though my picture doesn’t show this very well, the lounge was well lit thanks to floor to ceiling windows.
Just after the reception and in front of the sitting area were the toilets and one shower facility. I’m not sure if the lack of more showers can become an issue at times.
I was in the lounge just before lunch as my flight was at 12:15 which meant that the breakfast buffet was still out.
There was a selection of cereals, pastries, yoghurts, cheese and crackers as well as filter coffee, two coffee machines and juices. No hot food was provided.
I wasn’t in the mood for an alcoholic beverage, but Guinness, red wine and white wine were available.
What I noticed was that even though the lounge was rather busy when I visited it, there were enough seats to accomodate everyone. Besides the large sitting area in the centre of the lounge there was a further sitting area next to the food area with a separate TV area at the far back.
Towards the far right of the lounge was a chillout area with a large TV showing the news to the far right. This area also had a row of sun loungers facing the floor to ceiling window overlooking the tarnac – unfortunately all were occupied which meant I didn’t get to lay in one. I thought it would be inappropriate to take a picture!
Next to the TV area was a separate work area with printer.
Conclusion
The Aer Lingus lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 is a spacious and well lit space with a large amount of seats. The interior is contemporary, mirroring the Aer Lingus colours. I wasn’t too impressed by the food and drink selection but overall the Aer Lingus lounge is a good place to spend some time before a flight.
The next part of this series will briefly look at the short flight to Dublin as well as the US immigration pre-clearance process and the new pre-clearance departure lounge.
(Want to earn more Avios? Click here to visit our home page for the latest articles on earning and spending your Avios points and click here to see how to earn more Avios from current offers and promotions.)
About Head for Points
Thanks 🙂 I didn’t know about the no guest rule at this lounge! It’ll save me a trip when I fly with my wife next month on a LHR-DUB flight on EI (an Avios flight- booked EI as there is no BA late evening flight on the night we are flying- and the only late evening flight is with Ryanair from Gatwick – I would probably have sided with Ryanair if flying alone but I’m flying with my wife who is a US Citizen – Ryanair can be cumbersome when flying with a non-EU national as you have to go get a stamp at a check-in desk… which adds to the advance time we have to get to the airport, plus I have a (perhaps incorrect) that the bag drop line at LHR for the final EI flight of the day might be a bit quicker than the bag drop lines for RyanAir at Gatwick.
A bit strange to have a business class lounge with no actual business class on the flight….
Like all the regional BA lounges you mean?
I thought business class had been introduced on regional flights these days – or is that just Edinburgh/ Glasgow —> London?
Club Europe is on all Domestic flights.
BA domestics are full of status members.
As you’re starting in LHR and connecting in DUB I assume that means you lose the tax benefits?
You could create your own connection (with added risk of course).
I would assume he is going on a seperate flight from DUB next day. And just overnighting there. But my worry would be what happens if that last flight doesn’t go? As happened to me one night the last BA flight didn’t leave,,and we had to be put up in local hotels. Didn’t matter as it was a family visit. Would always try to leave a couple of flights after my booking, just in case of fog etc.
It’s always surprised me that Aer Lingus (whilst independent anyway) and others don’t sell split tickets to avoid the tax. Or at least offer a £10 (say) insurance policy that guarantees a seat on the next available flight when there is at least 2 hours between flights on same metals via same airport.
LHR-DUB-IAD on separate tickets. The IAD flight is at 1230pm ish the next day so there is enough time to organise alternative flights if the last flight of the day is cancelled. This includes going to a whole different airport somewhere else in the South (e.g. Southampton, Bristol) or using other modes of transport (the ferry from Wales). I have done separate overnight ticket connects in DUB about 9 or so times in the past 4 years so hopefully this will go without problems. We shall see 🙂
“a large TV showing the news to the far right.” – Presume you mean Fox News.
🙂
So completely rubbish compared to any of the Star Alliance lounges then, but I guess it’s a different market
Rob, one of the USA bloggers was reporting that EI won’t join one world after all. Do you have any news? As one of the readers based in the regions I was looking forward to this to avoid the constant trips to LHR.
Announced yesterday at aviation conference in Dublin City Uni…it’s strange but they don’t want their lounges flooded with BA silver card holders! Already quite full every time l am there. Their GC lounge is as bad food wise…
In my experience, EI’s food offering – especially soup, cheese and bakery items – is consistently better at DUB lounge than LHR-T2 lounge; but (much more importantly!) both admitted this BA GCH plus1 guest even when/despite flying point-to-point in Economy.
Was never part of the plan, I think, at least short term. It means AA members can’t redeem for Lingus reward seats 🙂