Aer Lingus gets US approval to join the BA / AA / Iberia / Finnair transatlantic joint venture

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• Billy says:

  23 Dec23 December 05:06

  There is going to be a massive devaluation once business returns.

  • Dubious says:

    23 Dec23 December 07:11

    I am finding there is already a devaluation of sorts – many of the services, not just status benefits, have been cut back at various chains but there’s not that much in the way of pricing discounts aside from the usual promotions, e.g. Black Friday.

• Baji Nahid says:

  23 Dec23 December 05:30

  I seen in the inventory that VS has retracted from MAN and hoping to start its US flights in March21. Lets see how this battle plays out.

  Could VS have an upper hand in pulling in connecting traffic. Could Flybe reappear? Looks like 2021 is going to be interesting.

  • Rob says:

    23 Dec23 December 07:53

    The small Aer Lingus aircraft won’t leach much traffic off Virgin, and the brand is very weak. Most customers will assume they need to change in Ireland and book elsewhere. The Avios / tier point link will drive some corporate traffic though.

    • tony says:

      23 Dec23 December 09:02

      Will the EI flights work on a codeshare basis? Assuming they carry BA and AA codes too, then when the average traveller goes to expedia to book a flight, it’s going to look like a choice between BA and VS. (Or AA and DL). The colour of the plane is immaterial.

      However does the JV require EI to up their game in terms of reinstating free drinks (soft & alcoholic) down the back?

      • Rob says:

        23 Dec23 December 11:17

        There is no requirement for service levels to match (or indeed seats!). You would imagine the flights will codeshare, yes.

        • tony says:

          23 Dec23 December 11:27

          I thought that membership of the JV did have some common seating requirement? Wasn’t it lie-flats in business? Quick google not showing anything, though…

      • C says:

        23 Dec23 December 15:56

        I have read elsewhere that certain routes (eg, LHR – JFK, ORD, BOS, DFW) must be flat bed in J. I don’t believe this applies to secondary routes; iirc, AA metal US to MAN, DUB, etc was for a long time sloping seats (757, 767 or, for a while, older configuration 777 / A330). I don’t see much room for any minimum in Y (well, seat belt and life vest excepted).

• Dubious says:

  23 Dec23 December 07:09

  I must have made an assumption but I already had it in my head Accor were going to rollover.

  I was thinking that the previously awarded 15 nights credit (awarded earlier this year to all members) would have come in handy next year, but I see these were added in April 2020 so before the cut-off date they have now announced.

  What they have done makes some business sense from a global perspective – a bit annoying for those of us trapped in places with few low-budget alternatives for the 15-nights though.

• Alan says:

  23 Dec23 December 07:21

  Accor may be doing something about status but no sign of commonsense when it comes to points. Lots of reports of folks whose points expired on 15/12. Their support website mentions an extension until April but that only seems to be for those paying for Accor Plus.

  • Fraser says:

    23 Dec23 December 08:39

    My points stash was due to expire in April (extended by 6 months, since my last Accor stay was in October 2919). I just logged in to check and the expiry date is now showing as December 2021 so it seems they have extended validity again, but haven’t written to members about this yet.

    Since I’ve already passed the “one stay every 12 months” deadline by 2 months, this looks fairly reassuring, but I might want to do a 1 night Ibis mattress run before April to be on the safe side.

    It’s worth pointing out the Platinum “suite upgrade” vouchers are each for ONE night only. I have two which are about to expire, and frankly wouldn’t even use them on a Fairmont stay, given the hassle of changing rooms after 1 night. Absolutely pointless benefit.

• Paul says:

  23 Dec23 December 07:36

  What is legroom like in economy in these Aer Lingus single aisle planes? Do they have a PE cabin too does anyone know as could be a good way of avoiding the usual MAN-LHR hop for me now as I am in NW.

  • Rhys says:

    23 Dec23 December 08:52

    No PE

  • Jack says:

    23 Dec23 December 21:14

    Aer Lingus has become nastier than BA, there is a reason that BA have “given” the North to EI. Years ago they were perfectly pleasant. Any airline that gives me a “spork” will not get more business from me.

• John says:

  23 Dec23 December 07:40

  “ You need to assume that the Aer Lingus partnership with United is now on the way out.”

  I also assume this will be an end to me being able to book Aer Lingus flights with my United miles? It’s been a handheld way to use miles I’ve earned from work – generally to get over to Ireland to see family. I like how redemptions also include luggage.

  Shame if so!

  • Rob says:

    23 Dec23 December 07:48

    Unfortunately I think this will be the case.

• Wally1976 says:

  23 Dec23 December 08:22

  Planning on bagging BA Reward seats for LON-MCO for 4 of us for August 2022. MAN is more convenient for us – anyone know if Aer Longus will be offering any guaranteed number of reward seats on their MAN services?

  • Anna says:

    23 Dec23 December 08:32

    I’m crossing my fingers that all these routes will be a long term thing and also wondering what cash prices will be like (usually eye watering from MAN compared with London departures for long haul). It might be worth tracking Aer Lingus redemptions for a couple of months and getting an idea of the number of seats they release.
    If it wasn’t for the 2 4 1 we would have very likely used Aer Lingus – we live nearer to Dublin than London after all!

    • Wally1976 says:

      23 Dec23 December 08:41

      Thanks Anna, I was forgetting we’re going to be using a 2 for 1 so will stick with BA! We’re Midlands based and willing to do LHR or LGW if necessary but MAN is a bit easier. (BHX is easiest of course but very few direct redemption opportunities there)

  • ankomonkey says:

    23 Dec23 December 09:37

    I prefer Aer Longus to Aer Lingus 🙂

    • Wally1976 says:

      23 Dec23 December 10:56

      Yes, top quality airline 🙂

    • Mikeact says:

      24 Dec24 December 17:42

      Wasn’t it Air Fungus ?

• Richard says:

  23 Dec23 December 09:30

  Although the Accor ALL scheme is far from generous, as you say, I have often (as a Silver member) been proferred some nice upgrades and lounge access at various properties in the UK and Europe. And they are sometimes quite good at providing a genuine welcome at reception, which always helps if you are in the hospitality business!

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