Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.
Review: Aer Lingus A330 Business Class (Dublin to Chicago)
I recently flew Aer Lingus Business Class from Dublin to Chicago O’Hare aboard an Airbus A330-200. Aer Lingus may not have the international profile of some of Europe’s largest flag carriers, but the Irish airline offers a pleasant way to cross the Atlantic. The Business Class product is not the most sophisticated in the sky, with a cabin and seat design that are showing their age, but thoughtful details such as complimentary Wi-Fi, Irish-inspired dining and warm hospitality help compensate. And departing from Dublin brings another significant advantage: U.S. preclearance, allowing passengers to complete American immigration and customs formalities before boarding and arrive in USA as precleared travelers.
Have you ever flown Business Class with Aer Lingus? What was your experience? Leave a comment.
Flight details:
- Trip: Dublin (DUB) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Airline: Aer Lingus
- Aircraft type: Airbus A330-200
- Aircraft registration number: EI-DAA (built in 2001)
- On time departure: Yes (11:30 am)
- On time arrival: Yes (1:45 pm)
- Distance: 5,900 km (3,665 miles)
- Flight time: 8 hours and 15 minutes
- Seat: 3K
- Class: Business Class
In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):
- About Aer Lingus
- Clearing U.S. Immigration before departure
- Lounge
- Business Class cabin
- Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
- Amenities & bedding
- Meals
- Entertainment
- Onboard internet
- Final thoughts & my verdict (score)
1. About Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus is Ireland’s national flag carrier and has a history stretching back almost nine decades. The airline was founded in 1936, initially operating with a de Havilland DH.84 Dragon named Iolar, meaning “eagle” in Irish. Aer Lingus subsequently developed into Ireland’s principal international airline, with transatlantic flying becoming one of the defining elements of its identity. The airline began regular transatlantic services in 1958 and introduced jet aircraft to its fleet shortly afterwards.
Today, Aer Lingus is part of International Airlines Group (IAG), alongside British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet, including the A320 family for European services and the A330 and A321LR/XLR for long-haul operations. The A330 remains the airline’s main wide-body aircraft for its busiest transatlantic routes. Aer Lingus has a hybrid business model of low-cost and traditional carriers, operating a mixed fare service on its European routes and full service, two-class flights on transatlantic routes.
2. Clearing U.S. Immigration Before Departure
One of the greatest advantages of flying Aer Lingus from Dublin is U.S. preclearance, allowing passengers to complete American immigration, customs and agricultural inspections before departure. Dublin is one of just 15 airports worldwide where U.S. Customs and Border Protection operates preclearance facilities, alongside Shannon in Ireland; Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg in Canada; Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; Nassau in the Bahamas; Bermuda; and Oranjestad in Aruba.
For a busy airport such as Chicago O’Hare, this can make a significant difference. It is one of those advantages that is easy to underestimate until you experience it yourself. After a transatlantic flight, the last thing many travelers want is to spend another hour standing in an immigration queue. With Dublin preclearance, much of that process has already been taken care of. For me, U.S. preclearance is one of Aer Lingus’ strongest selling points.
3. Lounge
During my visit, Aer Lingus Business Class Lounge (called the 51st & Green Lounge), located after U.S. preclearance, was undergoing refurbishment. Aer Lingus had therefore arranged a temporary reserved seating area for eligible passengers, with lounge-style chairs but none of the usual facilities. Passengers were also given vouchers for drinks and snacks, which could be redeemed at selected cafés in the terminal. While this was certainly more basic than a proper airport lounge, it was a practical solution while the refurbishment was underway.
The good news is that the 51st & Green Lounge has since reopened, following an extensive refurbishment. The redesigned lounge now features a central bar, workstations, charging facilities, upgraded restrooms and showers, and an expanded selection of hot and cold food. Located after U.S. preclearance and close to the U.S. departure gates, it is complimentary for eligible Aer Lingus Business Class passengers.
4. Business Class Cabin
The Aer Lingus A330-200 Business Class cabin features 23 fully flat seats spread across five rows, while the carrier’s A330-300 features 30 Business Class seats spread across seven rows. In both A330 aircraft variants, the Thompson Aero Vantage seats are arranged in an alternating 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 layout, commonly known as a staggered configuration. This cabin layout offers several different seating options.:
- On the left side of the cabin, every row features a single seat. These alternate between true window seats, with the console positioned on the aisle side for greater privacy, and seats where the console sits against the window. The latter leave you more exposed to the aisle and are therefore less desirable.
- On the right side, the configuration alternates between paired seats and individual “throne” seats. The latter are the most sought-after options for solo travellers, offering extra personal space, greater privacy and direct aisle access. The paired seats are better suited to couples, although they lack a side console and therefore have less additional storage; they do feature a privacy divider that can be raised when desired.
- The center section always has two seats per row, but there are no traditional “honeymoon” pairs. One seat always has a side console and additional storage, while the other does not. A sliding privacy divider separates the paired seats, allowing you to create more privacy when traveling next to a stranger.
The overall design of Aer Lingus’ A330 Business Class cabin is simple and functional, with a neutral colour palette complemented by Aer Lingus’ signature green seat covers, reflecting the airline’s Irish identity.
5. Business Class Seat (+ Best & Worst Seats)
For this flight, I selected seat 3A, one of Aer Lingus’ coveted throne seats. Located on the right side of the cabin, this solo seat offers considerably more personal space than the paired seats, with a side console on the aisle side and a a large side table on the window side, creating a more private, cocoon-like environment. The seat is 53 cm (21 inches) wide, with 147 cm (58 inches) of pitch, and converts into a fully flat bed measuring 196 cm (77 inches), giving enough room for most passengers to stretch out properly.
A large side console contains a fully enclosed storage compartment, providing plenty of room for personal belongings. On the outside of the console is a panel with the main seat controls, charging port, headphone jack and water-bottle holder, while a reading light and individual air vent are also conveniently positioned nearby. A large tray table folds out from the console and provides a stable surface for dining. However, it is a single-piece design, so once deployed, it cannot be moved aside, making it difficult to leave the seat during meal service.
The aisle-side armrest features another control panel with more basic seat functions, as well as the handset for the inflight entertainment system, which is hidden beneath a small flap. On the opposite side, the armrest incorporates a generous side table that can double as a useful working surface. Built into the base of this armrest is a small storage compartment, which is particularly handy for storing shoes.
In front of the seat is a 16-inch entertainment screen, while underneath it is the footwell, which becomes part of the bed when the seat is fully reclined. This is probably the main drawback of the throne seats. Because the footwell is built into the relatively narrow space between the two seats in front, it is noticeably smaller than those found at other seats in the cabin. When sleeping, your feet can hit the sides of the footwell as you move around. It is not a major problem, but it does make the throne seats somewhat less comfortable in bed mode than their otherwise excellent design would suggest.
What are the best Business Class seats on Aer Lingus’ A330s?
- For solo travelers, I would recommend the throne seats whenever available, as they offer the greatest amount of personal space and privacy. The window-side solo seats, with their console positioned on the aisle side, are also excellent choices for passengers who value both privacy and a proper window view; on the A330-200, these include 3A and 5A, while on the A330-300 they include 2A, 4A and 6A.
- For couples, I would favor the paired seats in the center section. Both passengers have direct aisle access, while one of the two seats in each row also benefits from a side console with additional storage.
What are the worst Business Class seats on Aer Lingus’ A330s?
- As a solo traveler, I would also avoid the individual seats positioned closer to the aisle. They offer less separation from passing passengers and cabin crew, making them more exposed and potentially more prone to disturbance.
- The paired seats on the right-hand side are less attractive for couples: only one passenger has direct aisle access, meaning the other has to climb over their companion to reach the aisle, and neither seat has a side console for additional storage.
- Finally, seats immediately adjacent to the galley or lavatories, particularly in the last row, are best avoided if you value a quieter environment, as these areas tend to experience more foot traffic and activity throughout the flight.
Click here for a seat map of Aer Lingus’ A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft.
6. Amenities & Bedding
On long-haul Business Class flights, Aer Lingus provides passengers with the following amenities designed to make the journey more comfortable.
- Aer Lingus’ updated Business Class amenity kit, introduced in 2025, is created in partnership with Jo Browne Ireland, giving it a distinctly Irish touch. The kit contains Jo Browne’s Signature Blend Lip Balm and Hydrating Moisturiser, both packaged in 100% sugarcane tubes, together with a pen and toothbrush incorporating wheat straw, plant-based and biodegradable pouches for the dental kit and earplugs, a 3D-moulded eye mask and a pair of socks.
- A soft pillow and duvet are provided for added sleeping comfort.
- Noise-cancelling headphones are provided, although they are not industry-leading.
7. Meals
Aer Lingus offers a full dining service on its transatlantic flights, with the meal sequence adapted to the time of day. On this daytime flight from Dublin to Chicago, lunch was served after takeoff, followed by a lighter afternoon tea before landing. For lunch, I chose the following selection from the menu:
- Starter: Smoked salmon and horseradish mousse, served with trout caviar, compressed cucumber and dill.
- Main course: 18-hour braised beef brisket in a red wine braising jus, accompanied by smoked mashed potato, green beans, star anise carrots and a herby panko breadcrumb.
- Cheese: A selection of Irish cheeses, including Hegarty’s Smoked Cheddar and Mossfield Organic Farm gouda-style cheese, served with Burren Balsamics Spiced Apple Chutney and Peter’s Yard Sourdough Crackers.
The smoked salmon starter was very nice, with the horseradish mousse adding some extra flavor without overpowering the fish. The beef brisket was tender enough and perfectly decent, although it did not stand out. I have yet to enjoy a really impressive steak or beef dish on an aircraft, and this was no exception. The accompanying sides were pleasant, while the selection of Irish cheeses was a nice addition to the meal and added a local touch.
Prior to landing, Aer Lingus served afternoon tea, consisting of bite-sized sandwiches with chicken and stuffing, cheddar and Ballymaloe Relish, and egg salad, served with a scone with clotted cream and G’s Gourmet jam. The sandwiches were somewhat basic, but perfectly adequate for a light service towards the end of the flight.
8. Entertainment
Each Business Class seat has its own personal 16-inch entertainment screen with an audio and video on-demand system. The technology is beginning to look somewhat dated compared with the newest generation of long-haul aircraft, particularly when some competitors are now installing much larger displays. Nevertheless, the system does what it needs to do. There is a broad selection of movies, television programs, music, games and flight information. A moving map is available as well, which is particularly enjoyable when crossing the Atlantic.
9. Onboard Internet
One of the particularly attractive perks of Aer Lingus’ Business Class is complimentary Wi-Fi for the entire flight. This is a great benefit on a transatlantic journey, allowing Business Class passengers to remain connected without having to purchase a separate package. I was able to use the connection for messaging, browsing and keeping up with what was happening online.
Economy Class passengers can purchase one of four Wi-Fi packages, depending on their needs and the length of time they want to remain connected: Chat for an Hour from €3.49, Keep Chatting from €5.99, Stay Connected from €13.49 and Don’t Miss a Thing from €20.49. The packages range from messaging-only access to full-flight connectivity for email, web browsing and social media. For Business Class passengers, however, having Wi-Fi included is a significant advantage and adds real value to the overall product.
10. Final Thoughts & My Verdict
Aer Lingus’ Business Class doesn’t offer a cutting-edge Business Class product, but it remains a solid choice to cross the Atlantic, with fully flat beds, complimentary Wi-Fi, decent amenities, Irish-inspired dining and a friendly crew. The main drawbacks are the ageing seat design, lack of privacy and relatively narrow footwell on the throne seats, making seat selection particularly important. Ultimately, however, one of Aer Lingus’ greatest advantages lies on the ground: Dublin’s U.S. preclearance makes arriving in the USA considerably easier. And while the 51st & Green Lounge was undergoing refurbishment during my visit, it has since reopened with a significantly upgraded offering.
This is my verdict of Aer Lingus Business Class on the Airbus A330:
- Seat comfort (upright): 8/10
- Seat comfort (bed position): 6/10
- Food (quality): 8/10
- Food (quantity): 8/10
- Inflight entertainment : 8/10
- WiFi: 9/10
- Service: 9/10
- Cabin design: 8/10
- Overall experience: good – 8/10
*** Follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter or Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***
We always used Aer Lingus to fly from Manchester to Barbados unfortunately they stopped the flights. Over all found their business class better than both BA (who we use now via Heathrow) and Virgin Upper ridiculously expensive on the Barbados route. Particularly in terms of the service received from and attention given by Aer Lingus Cabin Crew.
Yes 3 times and each time the service got worse! Last trip Daniel Brown cabin manager told me thry didnt do reorder meals then 10 mins later gave everyone a reorder form for breakfast! I was asleep and he crammed the trolley into my seat, smiled and said sorry and kept on walking. And who picks Austrian and German red wine for business class!