Aer Lingus: The National Airline of Ireland

One question I receive all the time about Ireland is how to travel affordably. Many Americans research only American-owned airlines, but extending your search to include one more airline might be beneficial. The National Airline of Ireland is called Aer Lingus, and while they do offer some incredibly affordable fares to destinations throughout Europe, they are still a full-service airline. By this I mean don’t expect a RyanAir experience (nickle and dimed for everything, poor service) when you climb aboard an Aer Lingus plane.

As fewer flights are scheduled, travelers need to widen their horizons in regards to options for traveling abroad. If you plan on visiting Ireland from US cities including Boston or New York, you should check the schedule for Aer Lingus. This airline has great sales, and you might be surprised at just how affordably you can fly to Dublin from Boston. As a bonus, your vacation will begin the moment you board as all of your flight attendants will be Irish and Irish newspapers are on offer.

If you’re already in Europe and are trying to reach Dublin, Aer Lingus is a great alternative to RyanAir. In order to compete with the low-fares airline, Aer Lingus has been forced to drop fares on some routes that the two airlines share. Visitors to Dublin might be surprised just how easy it is to squeeze in a short trip elsewhere in Europe. Sales are always listed on the front page of this airline’s website, so be flexible, and see where you can fly affordably!

Just as with most European airlines these days, you will pay for checked bags. The difference between Aer Lingus and Ryanair is that Aer Lingus has greater weight allowances both for checked baggage and hand luggage. This is one way that the price of a Ryanair ticket skyrockets – when you haven’t weighed your bag before a trip (or do some shopping that needs to be brought home). While RyanAir is an Irish company as well, many people prefer the reliability and quality service offered by Aer Lingus.

One last tip for using this airline is to sign up for their e-newsletter. Let the deals and discounts come right to your inbox!

Photo Credit: SXC