Time for a snapshot – today featuring on the short-haul experience with Aer Lingus flying EI263 between Birmingham to Dublin.
Boarding
Boarding was done by fare class, frequent flyer membership and finally “everyone else”. (Yours truly was in the “everyone else” queue). Gate 57 is an odd gate at Birmingham Airport – mainly as it’s a tarmac gate (one has to head down the stairs to the tarmac, and then head up airstairs to board the plane). 
Front boarding
Aft Boarding
The plane
The good news: it’s an Airbus A320.The bad news: It was a plane previously used by Virgin Atlantic’s Little Red unit. As such, the seating was different from normal to the usual Aer Lingus experience.
Aer Lingus A320 approaching the gate
The seat
It’s in Virgin Atlantic Brown as opposed to Aer Lingus blue. However, they were a little tatty around the edges. As seats go it was comfortable enough – if a little more than a little tight.
The Cabin
A pretty standard A320 cabin. This is one of the more classic cabins, with the old style overhead panels.
The Flight
With a 40 minute flight time, interaction from the crew had to be kept to a minimum – rather sales were the priority – with on-board purchasing of drinks and snacks going at a pace. Duty free was handled in a one sentence affair with the crew trying to still finish the drinks and food service.
Aer Lingus crews are normally pretty bubbly and engaging. This crew kept interaction to a minimum, which is a shame to see.
In Flight Entertainment
The window. No In Flight Entertainment system on short-haul runs.
Birmingham from the air
Blue skies.
Coming into Ireland.
Dublin in the distance.
Landing
Landing and approach landing was a quick affair. Taxi to the gate was a lazy affair – mainly as there was a traffic jam on the ground.
Disembarkation was via both front and rear doors.
The full review coming soon.
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