Is Aer Lingus Business Class Worth the Cost?

It's my second night in Dublin and I think I covered most of the city on foot.

I'll tell you a bit more about that, but first I want to answer a message I received.

Business Class isn't cheap, but when I can I do splurge on it for overnight flights to Ireland.

I enjoy the Aer Lingus offering for a couple of big reasons.

With Aer Lingus you book your trip by the leg – so you aren't booking a round trip ticket. Since the flight to Ireland is overnight it makes sense to me to book business so I can arrive rested.
The Aer Lingus Arrivals Louge is terrific. Because business class is first off the plane the wait at Immigration can be shorter. It's lovely to walk into the peaceful lounge, take a quick shower, change clothes, and have a cuppa before grabbing checked luggage and leaving the airport.

Obviously the food in Business Class is a level above what you receive in coach. The options are seasonal (lamb and salmon were both offered on my flight).

And then there is the roomy comfort. It's so nice to have space.

Aer Lingus Business Class seat — Aer Lingus Business Class

Of course that space comes at a price. And often I can't justify the price. But I have a couple tips you can use if you plan to fly Aer Lingus.

Be sure you are monitoring flights. In podcast episode 131 I shared my tips for booking your flights to Ireland. By monitoring flights I was able to spot an affordable Chicago to Dublin flight that was thousands less than the dates around it. It meant arriving in Dublin a day earlier than I had planned, but it was definitely worth it!
Aer Lingus allows you to bid on Business Class when you book a coach flight. You place your bid and, if seats are available and your bid is accepted you get upgraded. I've had great luck with this, especially in the shoulder and off-seasons.

Dublin Day 2

Kilronan House does a lovely breakfast – which I needed as I walked nearly 14 miles today!

My first stop was Trinity College. The Old Library is being thoroughly cleaned and every book is being cleaned and removed for storage. Since I have visited multiple times when the shelves were full I had to stop and see how that room looks when it is empty.

Empty shelves in the Old Library at Trinity College

The answer is…. bigger. It's a vast space.

My understanding is that the Book of Kells exhibit will be moving to another location at Trinity and the library will be closing in October for up to 3 years.

From there I needed to deliver OPW cards for a few tour guests who are exploring Dublin prior to the tour beginning. Just across the street from their hotel is the Garden of Remembrance, dedicated to the people who gave their lives for Irish freedom.

Children of Lir statue at Garden of Remembrance in Dublin

It's a quiet and moving spot in Dublin and the Children of Lir statue is stunning.

Then I was off to Kilmainham Gaol for a tour. The guide was a truly talented storyteller- even keeping the young kids entertained – sharing some of Ireland's more tragic stories from the 1916 Easter Rising, the famine, and the Irish Civil War.

If you want to visit Kilmainham I highly recommend prebooking your tickets. Booking opens 28 days in advance of the date you want to visit. Kilmainham Gaol is an OPW Heritage site, so if you plan to purchase a pass you can prebook at no cost.

I finished my day with Murphy's Ice Cream as I strolled through St. Stephen's Green on my way back to the hotel.

Don't forget! I would love to answer tour questions on the podcast! Email your questions to jody@irelandfamilyvacations.com – write Podcast Question in the subject line. And be sure to let me know if I can use your first name and the first initial of your last name when I share the question.

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Jody Halsted

Jody Halsted is the charismatic host behind the popular Traveling in Ireland Podcast and the Ireland Family Vacations website. With a deep passion for Ireland and an infectious enthusiasm for sharing its wonders, Jody has become a trusted voice in the realm of Irish travel.

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