Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus stands out as a full-service airline with a clear Irish identity and a strong position on routes through Dublin. By our assessment, that makes it more comfortable and more straightforward than the no-frills carriers people often compare it with, especially for travellers who want checked bags, connections and a more conventional cabin experience. The downside is the usual one for this category: fares and extras can climb once the trip stops being simple, and flight punctuality is always part of the conversation with airlines. In practice it feels like an airline built for ordinary travel, not for squeezing every last cost out of the ticket. Aer Lingus is not trying to be the cheapest possible option; it tries to be the easier one when a trip needs more than a seat and a boarding pass.