So Aer Lingus now providing zero service on board. How long have they been getting away with this?

Parsebandit wrote:

So Aer Lingus now providing zero service on board. How long have they been getting away with this?

Been going on since March last year. Sometimes in AerSpace the crew use their initiative and you get a bottle of water but that is not something that happens all the time. They can get away with it because there is no alternative.

OA260 wrote:

Parsebandit wrote:

So Aer Lingus now providing zero service on board. How long have they been getting away with this?

Been going on since March last year. Sometimes in AerSpace the crew use their initiative and you get a bottle of water but that is not something that happens all the time. They can get away with it because there is no alternative.

Got the bottle of water - wondered where it came from! I was on EI in December and there was a reduced service but to see 4 crew scratching themselves for 3 hours when they could have sold at least non perishables is a bit ridiculous.

It's near impossible for the airline to plan for a buy on board product at the moment, let alone make it profitable.

The current short haul schedule is a handful of flights a day, the average load factor is dismal and the percentage of those on board likely to buy anything is even lower. In order for Aer Lingus to continue a buy on board service throughout the pandemic, no matter how bare bones, they would have been required to negotiate a new contract with their supplier (I believe it's still Retail InMotion) for a massively reduced offering, for a limited schedule, and on a rolling basis due to the difficulty in long range demand forecasting. The costs and wastage would have been astronomical. The whole reason buy on board works is the economies of scale it provides, lots of cheap grub bought in bulk which is then flogged at inflated prices to a captive audience. The current situation has taken all that away so it no longer works.

Aer Lingus had planned a limited return for their buy on board product in December in anticipation of a ramp up in flying heading into the new year but the second wave put a stop to that and six months later here we are, still at least 6 weeks away from any meaningful flying schedule.

I have no doubt the buy on board menu will return like it has with other airlines, eventually in full, once they can forecast consistent demand is there for it. No airline is in the business of turning away easy cash!

shamrock350 wrote:

It's near impossible for the airline to plan for a buy on board product at the moment, let alone make it profitable.

The current short haul schedule is a handful of flights a day, the average load factor is dismal and the percentage of those on board likely to buy anything is even lower. In order for Aer Lingus to continue a buy on board service throughout the pandemic, no matter how bare bones, they would have been required to negotiate a new contract with their supplier (I believe it's still Retail InMotion) for a massively reduced offering, for a limited schedule, and on a rolling basis due to the difficulty in long range demand forecasting. The costs and wastage would have been astronomical. The whole reason buy on board works is the economies of scale it provides, lots of cheap grub bought in bulk which is then flogged at inflated prices to a captive audience. The current situation has taken all that away so it no longer works.

Aer Lingus had planned a limited return for their buy on board product in December in anticipation of a ramp up in flying heading into the new year but the second wave put a stop to that and six months later here we are, still at least 6 weeks away from any meaningful flying schedule.

I have no doubt the buy on board menu will return like it has with other airlines, eventually in full, once they can forecast consistent demand is there for it. No airline is in the business of turning away easy cash!

All fair points but it would have be helpful if they let their passengers know this in advance

shamrock350 wrote:

It's near impossible for the airline to plan for a buy on board product at the moment, let alone make it profitable.

The current short haul schedule is a handful of flights a day, the average load factor is dismal and the percentage of those on board likely to buy anything is even lower. In order for Aer Lingus to continue a buy on board service throughout the pandemic, no matter how bare bones, they would have been required to negotiate a new contract with their supplier (I believe it's still Retail InMotion) for a massively reduced offering, for a limited schedule, and on a rolling basis due to the difficulty in long range demand forecasting. The costs and wastage would have been astronomical. The whole reason buy on board works is the economies of scale it provides, lots of cheap grub bought in bulk which is then flogged at inflated prices to a captive audience. The current situation has taken all that away so it no longer works.

Aer Lingus had planned a limited return for their buy on board product in December in anticipation of a ramp up in flying heading into the new year but the second wave put a stop to that and six months later here we are, still at least 6 weeks away from any meaningful flying schedule.

I have no doubt the buy on board menu will return like it has with other airlines, eventually in full, once they can forecast consistent demand is there for it. No airline is in the business of turning away easy cash!

Yet many airlines are offering something in all classes. There will always be excuses why something cant be done but the cant do attitude is something that plagues many things here ! Whats the shelf life of a bottle of water , packet of Taytos or a Dairy Milk bar ?

It can be done other airlines with equally dire loads have been doing it. They are still advertising AerSpace including these perks .

On the flip side if they are really that badly off why are they not offering their loyal AerClub members top tiers a status extension given that they have had no benefits or the ability to earn AVIOS and status points . Again other airlines including their own IAG sister companies BA / IB have offered that.

OA260 wrote:

[
Haha that is indeed very true ! Joe soap booking on Aer Lingus website would have thought so too despite the operated by small print. Aer Lingus does indeed have a responsibility for its “Guests” .

I guess why that’s BA Cityflyer are involved in operating some routes. I believe the BHD routes were Cityflyer wetleases to EI/Stobart as a Brexit fudge.

Aer Lingus likely to get penalty fee in wake of Stobart failure
Airline owner Esken responsible for ‘certain obligations under the franchise agreement’

www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-a ... 5?mode=amp


It will be interesting to learn what the penalty payment is and sure it will come out at some stage.

—

Ryanair resumes eight services at Shannon Airport

Flights to Barcelona-Reus, Stansted, Gatwick, Kaunas, Krakow, Wroclaw, Warsaw-Modlin have been taking off and arriving at Shannon today, with a Manchester service due to start on Friday.

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1228269/

Some welcome news for SNN with Ryanair resuming routes which will give the airport a bit of a boost .

OA260 wrote:

shamrock350 wrote:

It's near impossible for the airline to plan for a buy on board product at the moment, let alone make it profitable.

The current short haul schedule is a handful of flights a day, the average load factor is dismal and the percentage of those on board likely to buy anything is even lower. In order for Aer Lingus to continue a buy on board service throughout the pandemic, no matter how bare bones, they would have been required to negotiate a new contract with their supplier (I believe it's still Retail InMotion) for a massively reduced offering, for a limited schedule, and on a rolling basis due to the difficulty in long range demand forecasting. The costs and wastage would have been astronomical. The whole reason buy on board works is the economies of scale it provides, lots of cheap grub bought in bulk which is then flogged at inflated prices to a captive audience. The current situation has taken all that away so it no longer works.

Aer Lingus had planned a limited return for their buy on board product in December in anticipation of a ramp up in flying heading into the new year but the second wave put a stop to that and six months later here we are, still at least 6 weeks away from any meaningful flying schedule.

I have no doubt the buy on board menu will return like it has with other airlines, eventually in full, once they can forecast consistent demand is there for it. No airline is in the business of turning away easy cash!

Yet many airlines are offering something in all classes. There will always be excuses why something cant be done but the cant do attitude is something that plagues many things here ! Whats the shelf life of a bottle of water , packet of Taytos or a Dairy Milk bar ?

It can be done other airlines with equally dire loads have been doing it. They are still advertising AerSpace including these perks .

On the flip side if they are really that badly off why are they not offering their loyal AerClub members top tiers a status extension given that they have had no benefits or the ability to earn AVIOS and status points . Again other airlines including their own IAG sister companies BA / IB have offered that.

Indeed flew with sister airline Vueling twice in the last week, full service.... beer, wine, drinks, sandwiches, hot meals. Crew constantly walking up and down in case anyone needed anything else. Quite impressed, with cheap WiFi also! EI could learn a thing or 2

First Ryanair 737 Max, EI-HEN, on the way, due in at c. 1823.

EI-HEN?! Well, in this day and age, it's difficult to make HENs meet? Maybe FR are in a bit of a flap? (After a 2 year delay, almost certainly!).

Another one due later this week, none next week, then the next batch the following week.

I am assuming that all will probably be based in STN initially; I wonder how long they will stay here before they go to STN?

All of the Irish registered aircraft will come here first, obviously, but what about the Maltese and Polish ones? Will they go directly to Warsaw/Modlin and Malta, respectively?

Looks like the full extent of the Aer Lingus route cancelations are starting to show up in the schedules.

Routes have either fully been axed or heavily reduced. Majority until end of October.

DUB - ZRH/BLQ/PSA/MXP/CTA/AHO/SPU/PUY/PGF/MRS/NTE/GVA.

SNN - LHR many axed until 12/9 and the daily EI 380 until 30/10.

NOC - LGW majority axed until 30/10.

OA260 wrote:

Looks like the full extent of the Aer Lingus route cancelations are starting to show up in the schedules.

SNN - LHR many axed until 12/9 and the daily EI 380 until 30/10.

The revised SNN-LHR schedule suggests a W-pattern for the afternoon and evening flights with DUB/ORK-based aircraft and crews (as expected) but when the morning EI380/EI381 returns in November, it looks to be operated with a SNN-based aircraft. Further changes to follow probably...or else they might use one of the SNN-based A321LRs if JFK/BOS are back up and running.

MAN - JFK / MCO / BGI suspended also .

USA routes til 30/9 and BGI until 20/10.

[code][/code]

OA260 wrote:

MAN - JFK / MCO / BGI suspended also .

USA routes til 30/9 and BGI until 20/10.

Heard this was happening yesterday but taught it would be a bad idea to post before it cane out. The suspension period was slightly longer.

OA260 wrote:

shamrock350 wrote:

It's near impossible for the airline to plan for a buy on board product at the moment, let alone make it profitable.

The current short haul schedule is a handful of flights a day, the average load factor is dismal and the percentage of those on board likely to buy anything is even lower. In order for Aer Lingus to continue a buy on board service throughout the pandemic, no matter how bare bones, they would have been required to negotiate a new contract with their supplier (I believe it's still Retail InMotion) for a massively reduced offering, for a limited schedule, and on a rolling basis due to the difficulty in long range demand forecasting. The costs and wastage would have been astronomical. The whole reason buy on board works is the economies of scale it provides, lots of cheap grub bought in bulk which is then flogged at inflated prices to a captive audience. The current situation has taken all that away so it no longer works.

Aer Lingus had planned a limited return for their buy on board product in December in anticipation of a ramp up in flying heading into the new year but the second wave put a stop to that and six months later here we are, still at least 6 weeks away from any meaningful flying schedule.

I have no doubt the buy on board menu will return like it has with other airlines, eventually in full, once they can forecast consistent demand is there for it. No airline is in the business of turning away easy cash!

Yet many airlines are offering something in all classes. There will always be excuses why something cant be done but the cant do attitude is something that plagues many things here ! Whats the shelf life of a bottle of water , packet of Taytos or a Dairy Milk bar ?

It can be done other airlines with equally dire loads have been doing it. They are still advertising AerSpace including these perks .

On the flip side if they are really that badly off why are they not offering their loyal AerClub members top tiers a status extension given that they have had no benefits or the ability to earn AVIOS and status points . Again other airlines including their own IAG sister companies BA / IB have offered that.

Those airlines don’t have the vast majority of their operations based in Ireland where travel remains off limits for most. European based carriers have been seeing travel open up gradually for months now and can respond with schedules and the reinstatement of service aspects on board.

The “but other airlines can do it” argument doesn’t work when at the time of writing there are a total of 2 Aer Lingus aircraft in the air. By comparison there are almost 200 Ryanair flights, 30+ Vueling, 20+ Austrian etc. The economies of scale that make buy on board work just do not exist for Aer Lingus at the moment, luckily for other airlines the reopening of their markets means it has returned for them.

Okay, the bottle of water and bag of crisps argument makes sense on paper but where are they getting them, a quick run around Spar before every flight? The reality is finding a supplier or negotiating with the current one to offer up such a measly offering that’ll be worthwhile for both parties, neither would be particularly enticed by those prospects.

You call it excuses, others may see it as the reality of operating an airline in near impossible circumstances.

shamrock350 wrote:

Okay, the bottle of water and bag of crisps argument makes sense on paper but where are they getting them, a quick run around Spar before every flight? The reality is finding a supplier or negotiating with the current one to offer up such a measly offering that’ll be worthwhile for both parties, neither would be particularly enticed by those prospects.

You call it excuses, others may see it as the reality of operating an airline in near impossible circumstances.

Are you seriously telling me that a 4* as per Skytrax are unable to source a supply of boxes of Tayto / Dairy Milk and Tipperary water at least to hand out to their premium members paying an average of EUR200 one way with lounges closed and no other benefits even though advertised? If so then we really have hit rock bottom. Say you are correct and they cant do this simple operation that everyone else in various industries seem capable of why not tell AerSpace passengers at check in or via email and offer them a EUR10 voucher to use at the few shops still open at DUB? Is that totally beyond them also . Sorry thats just for the birds !

And what about the AerClub status extension ? Is there no one to make a decision on this in AerClub or are there near impossible circumstances that prevent them from making these decisions.

OA260 wrote:

Looks like the full extent of the Aer Lingus route cancelations are starting to show up in the schedules.

Routes have either fully been axed or heavily reduced. Majority until end of October.

DUB - ZRH/BLQ/PSA/MXP/CTA/AHO/SPU/PUY/PGF/MRS/NTE/GVA.

SNN - LHR many axed until 12/9 and the daily EI 380 until 30/10.

NOC - LGW majority axed until 30/10.

I’m a little surprised EI are being so “proactive” at cancelling flights 3 months out. Even our slow adoption of the EU green cert is due to take effect from mid July. UK routes are perhaps understandable given the latest restrictions but cancelling European flights for Sept seems odd

OA260 wrote:

shamrock350 wrote:

Okay, the bottle of water and bag of crisps argument makes sense on paper but where are they getting them, a quick run around Spar before every flight? The reality is finding a supplier or negotiating with the current one to offer up such a measly offering that’ll be worthwhile for both parties, neither would be particularly enticed by those prospects.

You call it excuses, others may see it as the reality of operating an airline in near impossible circumstances.

Are you seriously telling me that a 4* as per Skytrax are unable to source a supply of boxes of Tayto / Dairy Milk and Tipperary water at least to hand out to their premium members paying an average of EUR200 one way with lounges closed and no other benefits even though advertised? If so then we really have hit rock bottom. Say you are correct and they cant do this simple operation that everyone else in various industries seem capable of why not tell AerSpace passengers at check in or via email and offer them a EUR10 voucher to use at the few shops still open at DUB? Is that totally beyond them also . Sorry thats just for the birds !

And what about the AerClub status extension ? Is there no one to make a decision on this in AerClub or are there near impossible circumstances that prevent them from making these decisions.

I think it’s very clear we see this situation from two very different perspectives, you see it from a loyalty and service point of view which is very fair, I see it from a (and I admit this freely) pen pushers economic point of view.

Today, there are five short haul Aer Lingus mainline departures from Dublin, five. If we ignore the rest of cabin and focus on Aer Space and the all important card holders, that’s a maximum of 40 seats all day. The chances of all those seats being full in the current environment is slim to none but at least we know the absolute maximum we have to cater for. So at the very least we’re planning for a bottle of water and a bag of crisps or chocolate bar. Who is our supplier? Are they willing to provide such a limited catering package? Are we, the airline, expected to take the losses of signing this bespoke catering deal for what is a maximum of 40 seats mid week at a time when we’re already losing €1million a day? How long do we allow it to continue? Is it a rolling contract?

Even if they did all this and took the additional losses involved, would it seriously make much of a difference to the passenger and/or Aer Lingus right now? With so few flying, not because there isn’t a bag of crisps available but because of the ongoing restrictions in Ireland, I genuinely doubt it would.

You also say that everyone else is various industries are capable of it but that’s just not true as we’re not comparing like for like. Operationally Aer Lingus is still in the same position it was a year ago, when the pandemic hit and demand collapsed almost every single airline suspended on board service in a similar fashion. British Airways, the so called premium carrier of IAG, resorted to handing out cardboard snack boxes to passengers in Club World, people who had paid thousands! Rail companies pulled the shutters down on the buffet cars, fast food restaurants released limited menus and airlines either reduced on board service or stopped it altogether, all to stem losses.

As demand has returned in certain markets, so has the services that were previously cut as the costs involved are soon outweighed by the increased numbers of people making use of them. This has sadly not happened in Ireland so Aer Lingus has yet to experience that benefit. It’s schedule is essentially the same as it was a year ago, while other airlines have moved on, Aer Lingus is still stuck waiting for sustainable demand to return and all the advantages that come with it.

As for Aer Club, the previous extension was in July last year so if nothing is announced by that same date this year, sure there’s a problem but until then…

If you can manage to get a $60million dollar piece of metal in the air, with flight and cabin crew, file a route plan, baggage handlers, an ops center, etc, etc, then surely a snack box with some water and non perishable piece of food is not beyond them. I don't get the issue with suppliers. I am sure there are tons of small business in the vicinity of Dublin airport that would be happy to provide 100+ snack boxes a day for a couple of euro. EI can flog them, or give them away to AerSpace customers.

Eirules wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Looks like the full extent of the Aer Lingus route cancelations are starting to show up in the schedules.

Routes have either fully been axed or heavily reduced. Majority until end of October.

DUB - ZRH/BLQ/PSA/MXP/CTA/AHO/SPU/PUY/PGF/MRS/NTE/GVA.

SNN - LHR many axed until 12/9 and the daily EI 380 until 30/10.

NOC - LGW majority axed until 30/10.

I’m a little surprised EI are being so “proactive” at cancelling flights 3 months out. Even our slow adoption of the EU green cert is due to take effect from mid July. UK routes are perhaps understandable given the latest restrictions but cancelling European flights for Sept seems odd

They don't have the aircraft.

al2637 wrote:

If you can manage to get a $60million dollar piece of metal in the air, with flight and cabin crew, file a route plan, baggage handlers, an ops center, etc, etc, then surely a snack box with some water and non perishable piece of food is not beyond them. I don't get the issue with suppliers. I am sure there are tons of small business in the vicinity of Dublin airport that would be happy to provide 100+ snack boxes a day for a couple of euro. EI can flog them, or give them away to AerSpace customers.

There are no issues that prevent them offering basic non perishable snacks to Premium passengers. Its purely a commercial decision. Thanks to the guy who PM'd me and clarified that.
If they can source bottles of water currently even if it is inconsistent that proves they can do it.

Indeed these are different times but lets not forget Aer Lingus even in full throttle have got form for catering mess ups and leaving passengers on the floor at airports with no water or food either even when options were available to them from local suppliers.

They do really need to pick themselves up and not rely on excuses. Yes they have a small operation right now some might argue that it makes it easier to cater a small route network on a reduced basis.
Before the excuses were due to popular demand and numerous rotations they were out of everything .

In other news TUI are removing from sale flights from DUB to BOJ / REU / PMI / KGS / IBZ until the end of July due to weak demand.

On the flipside, British Airways have just sent a press release out about a bunch of new routes out of Belfast City.

Belfast City (BHD)/ Exeter (EXT) From 16 June 2021, BA7319, Mon 12:55, Fri 16:35, Sat 10:15, Sun 11:40

Belfast City (BHD)/ Leeds Bradford (LBA) From 16 June 2021, BA7313, Every day at 08:40 except Friday, which is 10:55 and Saturday with no service.

Belfast City (BHD)/ Cornwall Newquay (NQY) From 3 July 2021, BA7331, Wed at 16:35 and Sun at 06:35

Belfast City (BHD)/ Glasgow (GLA) From 2 August 2021, BA7327, Daily (except Saturday) at 19:00

All operated by CityFlyer E190s.

The press release also has a line, "Aer Lingus is operating services between Belfast and Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham. Please check www.aerlingus.com for the latest schedules."

Some real questions today over the NPHET response to antigen testing for the reopening of travel.

The Oireachtas Transport Committee descended into near farcical scenes when Professor Mary Keogan held an antigen test to the camera and showed how it can be faked using…tonic water.

Dr Tony Holohan blamed the aviation industry for the lack of pilot schemes into antigen testing and workable schemes despite the airlines repeatedly calling for such.

Finally, Dr Ronan Glynn admitted that NPHET hadn’t even discussed the Ferguson Report which recommended antigen testing.

NPHET finally claimed that the only reason the rest of Europe uses antigen testing is because they don’t have the capacity for PCR laboratory testing that Ireland has. Truly laughable.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0616/12284 ... live-blog/

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/hea ... 46410.html

We can open up aviation all we want on July 19th but Ireland’s insistence on the PCR test makes it unattainable for the majority due to its excessive cost and difficulty. We are firmly an outlier in Europe and will remain closed to our neighbours for the foreseeable unless we begin to move away from taking NPHET advice as gospel without proper scrutiny from government.

I was a supporter of the reasonable measures put it place on NPHET advice for most of last year and again when we were hit by the awful second wave earlier this year but we are in a vastly different situation now and to see this ignored and discredited is concerning.

OA260 wrote:

Its purely a commercial decision. Thanks to the guy who PM'd me and clarified that.

Exactly what I’ve been saying.

ClassicLover wrote:

On the flipside, British Airways have just sent a press release out about a bunch of new routes out of Belfast City.

Belfast City (BHD)/ Exeter (EXT) From 16 June 2021, BA7319, Mon 12:55, Fri 16:35, Sat 10:15, Sun 11:40

Belfast City (BHD)/ Leeds Bradford (LBA) From 16 June 2021, BA7313, Every day at 08:40 except Friday, which is 10:55 and Saturday with no service.

Belfast City (BHD)/ Cornwall Newquay (NQY) From 3 July 2021, BA7331, Wed at 16:35 and Sun at 06:35

Belfast City (BHD)/ Glasgow (GLA) From 2 August 2021, BA7327, Daily (except Saturday) at 19:00

All operated by CityFlyer E190s.

The press release also has a line, "Aer Lingus is operating services between Belfast and Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham. Please check http://www.aerlingus.com for the latest schedules."

Great news and would be good to see that operation last long term but still we will enjoy it while it lasts. Might try the LBA route myself .

shamrock350 wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Its purely a commercial decision. Thanks to the guy who PM'd me and clarified that.

Exactly what I’ve been saying.

Indeed no issues at all sourcing goods just a lack of will to offer a product they still advertise when you buy a high revenue ticket .

OA260 wrote:

Great news and would be good to see that operation last long term but still we will enjoy it while it lasts. Might try the LBA route myself .

I've never been to Newquay or Exeter, so I'm seriously tempted. Gives me another excuse to take the train to Belfast, which I always enjoy.

OA260 wrote:

Indeed no issues at all sourcing goods just a lack of will to offer a product they still advertise when you buy a high revenue ticket .

I'm with you on this, there's no reason not to be serving something. I'll eat anything put in front of me on a plane and actively look forward to it I'm sure others don't notice it at all, but I know I would.

EI-HEN -Ryanair’s first Boeing 737 8-200 - landing on runway 28L a few minutes ago. The aircraft was being delivered from Boeing Field in Seattle





https://twitter.com/dublinairport/statu ... 46280?s=21

OA260 wrote:

ClassicLover wrote:

On the flipside, British Airways have just sent a press release out about a bunch of new routes out of Belfast City.

Belfast City (BHD)/ Exeter (EXT) From 16 June 2021, BA7319, Mon 12:55, Fri 16:35, Sat 10:15, Sun 11:40

Belfast City (BHD)/ Leeds Bradford (LBA) From 16 June 2021, BA7313, Every day at 08:40 except Friday, which is 10:55 and Saturday with no service.

Belfast City (BHD)/ Cornwall Newquay (NQY) From 3 July 2021, BA7331, Wed at 16:35 and Sun at 06:35

Belfast City (BHD)/ Glasgow (GLA) From 2 August 2021, BA7327, Daily (except Saturday) at 19:00

All operated by CityFlyer E190s.

The press release also has a line, "Aer Lingus is operating services between Belfast and Edinburgh, Manchester, and Birmingham. Please check http://www.aerlingus.com for the latest schedules."

Great news and would be good to see that operation last long term but still we will enjoy it while it lasts. Might try the LBA route myself .

All operated by LCY and GLA based aircraft, with one nightstopping at BHD over the weekend for a few flights, including the planned Saturday PM service to Palma.

ClassicLover wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Great news and would be good to see that operation last long term but still we will enjoy it while it lasts. Might try the LBA route myself .

I've never been to Newquay or Exeter, so I'm seriously tempted. Gives me another excuse to take the train to Belfast, which I always enjoy.

OA260 wrote:

Indeed no issues at all sourcing goods just a lack of will to offer a product they still advertise when you buy a high revenue ticket .

I'm with you on this, there's no reason not to be serving something. I'll eat anything put in front of me on a plane and actively look forward to it I'm sure others don't notice it at all, but I know I would.

Think I stirred up an issue that is glaring. My point was not the obvious cost cutting (as a victim of a no alcohol and plastic bag First class 14 hour BA service last year) but the lack of communication about it. indeed I was in aerspace but regardless everyone should receive an email in advance that there is zilch available on board. And as a suggestion perhaps they could ask the company who supplies the staff food and coffee, milk etc to throw in a few cans of Heineken!

I do wonder why one would book AerSpace at the moment? All Y tickets offer free changes and the planes are mostly empty, so ample space throughout the cabin. The lounges are closed, as are the fast-track lanes. Priority boarding is pretty meaningless when there are just a handful of people onboard, and there are no free drinks / snacks. All seems quite pointless.

shamrock350 wrote:

.......
.........
.........
I was a supporter of the reasonable measures put it place on NPHET advice for most of last year and again when we were hit by the awful second wave earlier this year but we are in a vastly different situation now and to see this ignored and discredited is concerning.

Have to agree. Looking at other countries allow travel to resume is immensely frustrating.

I was a supporter of the idea of MHQ, but appalled at the haphazard way the Irish version was implemented.
I was a supporter of discouraging “non-essential travel” when we had a raging epidemic overloading our health system.
I was a supporter of countrywide restrictions when we had no vaccines available to us.
I am still angry at our not fit for purpose track and trace system.



Regarding the Aer Lingus debate:
The crew would actually welcome a return of inflight service.
Part of the reason may be that a lot of the previous stuff was sourced in the North, obviously Brexit has impacted supply chain.
But it shouldn’t be hard to have tea/coffee, water, chocolate bars and crisps on the aircraft. These are items with long shelf life, and can be sourced in Dublin under a 6-8 month contract.
To my mind it is yet another example of the non-nimble/inflexible culture amongst EI mgmt.

EI320 wrote:

I do wonder why one would book AerSpace at the moment? All Y tickets offer free changes and the planes are mostly empty, so ample space throughout the cabin. The lounges are closed, as are the fast-track lanes. Priority boarding is pretty meaningless when there are just a handful of people onboard, and there are no free drinks / snacks. All seems quite pointless.

Depends what route you are on not all flights guarantee you can have middle seat free especially BHD-LHR-BHD. Also you have AerClub members who have drastically reduced their travel so may want to keep their status where AerSpace gives 50 TPs each way . Just a few examples . What may seem pointless to one person is not to another.

I’d very surprised if EI does not extend status. It would be an utter own goal.

Parsebandit wrote:

Think I stirred up an issue that is glaring. My point was not the obvious cost cutting (as a victim of a no alcohol and plastic bag First class 14 hour BA service last year) but the lack of communication about it. indeed I was in aerspace but regardless everyone should receive an email in advance that there is zilch available on board. And as a suggestion perhaps they could ask the company who supplies the staff food and coffee, milk etc to throw in a few cans of Heineken!

Even without an e-mail, it should be clearly communicated on the Aer Lingus website. On the Within Europe Dining page for Economy class here - https://www.aerlingus.com/experience-aer-lingus/, it says "Please note that inflight services are temporarily suspended on Aer Lingus Regional flights." Clearly that is out of date, but then underneath is the Bia Menu PDF link. It would lead me to believe there is service on board. You'd think someone would be about to keep the website updated, but it's often out of date at Aer Lingus in certain areas.

Eagleboy wrote:

Regarding the Aer Lingus debate:
The crew would actually welcome a return of inflight service.
Part of the reason may be that a lot of the previous stuff was sourced in the North, obviously Brexit has impacted supply chain.
But it shouldn’t be hard to have tea/coffee, water, chocolate bars and crisps on the aircraft. These are items with long shelf life, and can be sourced in Dublin under a 6-8 month contract.
To my mind it is yet another example of the non-nimble/inflexible culture amongst EI mgmt.

I don't doubt the crew would welcome a return of inflight service, it must be boring sitting doing nothing every flight.

I'm hopeful that once travel is allowed again they will have on board service. They had it back from 1 December 2020, but I imagine that didn't last long what with the lockdown after that. Perhaps it will be from 1 August, if travel opens up again on 19 July like they say.

I remember when LH were hit by a catering strike (LSG) about two years ago. Despite the catering supply chain being effectively shut down, LH still managed to deliver tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits to all short-haul flights. This is fairly basic stuff. As a poster above said, it should only require a phone call to a local supplier in Dublin. A glossy Bia menu isn’t required.

Ryanair seasonal ski route to Turin will become year round as part of a base announced in Turin from October 31st. Scheduled to operate x 2 weekly.

ClassicLover wrote:

Even without an e-mail, it should be clearly communicated on the Aer Lingus website. On the Within Europe Dining page for Economy class here - https://www.aerlingus.com/experience-aer-lingus/, it says "Please note that inflight services are temporarily suspended on Aer Lingus Regional flights." Clearly that is out of date, but then underneath is the Bia Menu PDF link. It would lead me to believe there is service on board. You'd think someone would be about to keep the website updated, but it's often out of date at Aer Lingus in certain areas.

Hardly surprising guests are confused when these are still dotted along the boarding gates !

OA260 wrote:

Hardly surprising guests are confused when these are still dotted along the boarding gates !

You'd think someone would have used some initiative, taken them down and stored them... mind boggling! Some people must still have a public sector mindset at EI then? "It's wrong, but it's not my job to do it and nobody has asked me to do it, so..."

Crazy!

American have axed DUB-CLT/DFW for 2021, on sale for May 2022

easyJet have announced they will return to BHD with a double daily service to LGW starting on the of 9th July 2021

https://www.belfastcityairport.com/news ... ty-airport

Pilots warn 5,000 more aviation jobs face possible axe
Ialpa urges Government to change position on rapid Covid testing

www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-a ... -1.4594949

---

Row erupts between Department of Transport and health officials over rapid Covid testing
A major dispute erupted last night after Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and his staff hit back at claims by health officials they had not asked for an experiment on the use of rapid antigen testing among airline passengers despite the beleaguered state of the aviation industry.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ ... 48753.html


The war of words continues over the testing and who said what and when.

Aer Lingus charging 5.99 to carry on bags (or check in for free). If not paid in advance 35 quid at the gate. Applies to Saver fares.

Not flown with them in a while but this is new as the app indicates when booking?

One stage they removed the free check in option and replaced with 5.00 fee. Glad this is free as I used to check it in to avoid liquid limits.

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Aer Lingus charging 5.99 to carry on bags (or check in for free). If not paid in advance 35 quid at the gate. Applies to Saver fares.

Not flown with them in a while but this is new as the app indicates when booking?

One stage they removed the free check in option and replaced with 5.00 fee. Glad this is free as I used to check it in to avoid liquid limits.

Race to the bottom

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Aer Lingus charging 5.99 to carry on bags (or check in for free). If not paid in advance 35 quid at the gate. Applies to Saver fares.

Not flown with them in a while but this is new as the app indicates when booking?

One stage they removed the free check in option and replaced with 5.00 fee. Glad this is free as I used to check it in to avoid liquid limits.

I'm not sure if this is an improvement or a slide in standards, on one hand getting a checked in bag for free is handy, especially around liquids and reducing boarding delays at the gate, on the other hand it probably means having to show up to the airport 10-20 mins earlier in order to check the bag in and not being able to make a quick escape at the far end by having to wait for your bag.

Good thing though that Aer Club members are still entitled to bring on board their cases, may just mean there's now more likely space for them on board if the saver fare passengers have to check them in to avoid extra charges.

State urged to support regional airports that ‘don’t see an end in sight’

Routes which may not be profitable for three years vital to recovery, says FF Senator

www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-n ... 1?mode=amp

Given the circumstances I would support a three year support system for the regional airports or until they return to a situation where they can sustain themselves.

Aer Lingus to keep DUB-EDI, start GLA (19 July) and keep BHD-EDI, MAN and BHX until end of August.

Sorry if discussed before, but why isn't EI just replacing the ex Stobart routes with subcharters from Hibernian Airlines or Cityjet until Emerald Airlines will take over?!

debonair wrote:

Sorry if discussed before, but why isn't EI just replacing the ex Stobart routes with subcharters from Hibernian Airlines or Cityjet until Emerald Airlines will take over?!

There's some interesting developments in the Stobart thread saying Emerald were denied their Irish operating licence.