Aer Lingus Airbus A330 200 Config. 2 seat review by Plane Nuts #32350

This was my first time on EI-DAA, and while it was okay, it wasn't brilliant. When I boarded the plane, I headed for my seat - 40K.

I was one of the first down the back as I knew the amount of available overhead storage would be abysmal. How abysmal became apparent as there were bins full of cardboard bassinets for people traveling with kids, to locked bins with items for the crew and little space for the paying customers. I managed to get an overhead bin 2 seats up from me that was compartmentalized with 2 spaces - a space sized for one bag and the 2nd space had room for 3 other bags. I managed to get the smaller compartment but others were less successful finding space when they managed to board.

With regards to my seat, I had no-one beside me at takeoff.....but that changed not long into the flight. A lady sitting in another seat experienced a failure with her headphone jack and decided to test other headphone jacks at empty seats and as the jack at the seat beside me worked, I inherited a seatmate who ended up encroaching on my space.

The seat space was tight, given the fuselage does narrow given the proximity to the tail but I had reasonably good leg room and it was a comfy Recaro seats. Once airborne it wasn't too bad but the controller for the AVOD was battered to hell but still functioned.

The location and state of the restrooms left a lot to be desired. From trying to get to any of them when the crew are working, to one restroom running out of paper towels and other passengers flushing items that should have been binned, they were kinda gross by the end of the flight.

Food was okay with the chance to buy snacks but soft drinks were free (I think - I was drinking water) and of course booze was available for purchase.

On the whole, the plane felt old and unloved and the rear galley was sad and in a sorry state. While the crew were okay, it wasn't the best flight I ever had. R.I.P to the Aer Lingus I once knew.

Pros:
Good AVOD choices, reasonably comfortable seating, 2 windows (for those people who like to look out and take snaps)

Cons:
Tight seating (shoulder to shoulder), if the person in front of you reclines their seat you are screwed, poor restroom sizes and locations, poor available space in the overhead bins and sad interior decoration.