St Patrick's Day battle video: Aer Lingus business class versus economy
What better way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a classic TPG UK two-cabin comparison YouTube video on board Ireland’s flag carrier?
The London to Dublin route is incredibly popular, with as many as 40 daily flights between the two cities. However, the experiences on these different flights vary greatly.
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From the ultra-low-cost Ryanair, to the Avios collector’s favorite, British Airways, you’ll find a huge variety in pricing and service.
What you might not expect, however, is the variety of aircraft types that ply this route. Enter Aer Lingus. Alongside the usual short-haul products, Aer Lingus regularly flies an Airbus A321neo with an incredibly comfortable lie-flat seat that can be seen on routes to the U.S. They also fly a wide-body Airbus A330-300. With a flight time of as little as 45 minutes, it’s rare to find such a large aircraft on such a short route, and so we put this A330 experience to the test.
Related: Flight review: Aer Lingus business class on the A321neo, Dublin to Philadelphia
I drew the short straw, with a ticket for the economy cabin, while Liam Spencer bought an “AerSpace” ticket, allowing him to turn left and enjoy a business class experience.
You can watch the whole experience right here on YouTube:
Nicky Kelvin – Economy Class
Seat: 38K
We paid: $68 (£52)
Judging this product in the context of it being a flight of less than an hour, there was a lot to love. The seat was comfortable and spacious, and the 2-4-2 configuration, paired with a light load, meant that most passengers had a spare seat next to them allowing them to spread out even more. Having an inflight entertainment screen with a comprehensive selection of TV shows and movies was also a treat on such a short flight.
On the downside -- while the service was efficient and friendly -- there was nothing available for free which was a shame. I went with a tea and a slice of fruit cake. The pricing was reasonable, but the credit card machine was not working when I tried to pay. I promised I would go to the galley later in the flight to try again, and when I did, the cabin crew were almost shocked at my honesty and as a thank you, I was not charged for my drink and snack.
Liam Spencer – Business Class
Seat: 3K
We paid: $245 (£186)
My 'throne' seat was spacious, extremely comfortable and came with a lot of privacy. It even had a massage feature (that I enjoyed so much I kept it turned on for the entirety of the 50-minute flight). I really enjoyed the rare chance to fly a wide-body aircraft on a short-haul route, which made the flight feel unique and exciting.
The Aer Lingus lounge at Dublin Airport (DUB) was a peaceful place to relax before my flight. There was ample space to chill out in, along with extensive food and drink options. Obviously, I treat myself to the suitably Irish combo of a Guinness and a Thai chicken wrap.
However, it wasn’t all great. Even though this was a short flight, the lack of a quick meal service was noticeable, and would have been appreciated if it was available. Instead, I was offered a narrow range of snacks and my Twix and Diet Coke certainly didn't match the quality of the hard product (or the aforementioned Guinness and chicken wrap chaser). Aer Lingus also didn't provide an amenity kit or headphones for the IFE system, despite being in business class. Other than the seat itself, the usual extras you would expect for a business-class ticket were sadly lacking.
More:
- Aer Lingus award tickets are now bookable on British Airways’ website — with a catch
- TPG UK fly Gulf Air 2 different ways: Business class versus economy
- Three versions of Avios: When to use Aer Lingus, Iberia and British Airways
- Watch us fly Icelandair 2 different ways: Business class versus economy
- Watch TPG UK fly KLM 2 different ways: Business class versus economy
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.