Belfast City Airport to Birmingham with Aer Lingus and the Airbus A320.

Hello everyone and welcome to leg 7 of 7 - the final leg of my long weekend 'trip-fest'!
After a well-earned rest on the superb Stena Estrid over to Belfast, it was a quick (and I mean quick) 90 mph taxi ride across the other side of the Lough to George Best Belfast City Airport for the flight back over to Birmingham International airport with Aer Lingus.
I hadn't been to this airport before so I was intrigued as to what it had to offer compared with Belfast International which handles most of the budget and holiday airline traffic out of Northern Ireland. It was very quiet inside though there were a number of flights coming and going which was good to see. There were one or two shops open airside, including the duty free and a Starbucks. The larger food outlets remained closed, similar to many other airports in recent times.
My experience with Aer Lingus itself was a bit of a 'mixed bag' as I did a very odd experience on the aircraft which I'll tell you about in the video. I'll also consider and compare the service and similar routes with British Airways and Easyjet.
So let's see how Aer Lingus stacks up against the competition and I'd also be interested to hear your thoughts on which airline you would choose along with your past experiences of the Irish flag carrier.
As always guys, thanks for watching and many thanks for your support. If you're not already subscribed to my channel, I would really appreciate it if you could give me a sub and please feel free to like and comment. I really look forward to your contributions and try to reply to every one.
Cheers for now!
Mark
If you'd like to buy me a coffee I have a Ko-fi page and shop here: ko-fi.com/lets...
I post regular photos of my trips on Instagram: / markswaintransport
I also comment post too much for my own good on Twitter: / lets_makeatrip
And here's my Facebook Page Link: / letsmakeatripwithms
#letsmakeatrip

[@MahmoudKheloug]

Hi mate thank you for sharing this nice video with us as I'm traveling first time from Belfast airport to UK cheers

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

No probs, thanks for watching 😊👍

[@MattsPlanet]

Congrats Mark on the 1k!!! Never in doubt...

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks Matt! I’m in Latvia atm making some more content. Estonia tomorrow, so I shall celebrate with a beer or two 😊

[@thehonestflyer]

Great video Mark. I remember flying with Aer Lingus a few years back after missing my flights with Ryanair and Flybe from DUB-GLA-BHX (I only woke up 6 hours late 😂) Ended up booking Aer Lingus DUB-MAN on the 320, 45 mins before departure. Staff at the airport helped me make the flight on time, so very helpful, but on the flight they didn't seem very happy. They also questioned me as I had my DSLR on the seat along with my GoPro, I said wouldn't film inside the cabin but what they can't see won't hurt them. Pre-covid the inflight service was the typical trolley service, obviously all buy on board. Pilots seemed very nice but the cabin crew didn't want to be there by the looks of it. Of course maybe they were tired or had a long sector after the DUB-MAN-DUB route, who knows? Flying with them again on Monday DUB-LHR on the 330 so hopefully its a little better, I'll definitely be recording my journey!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hey Connor, cheers mate. When I was on the A330 a couple of weeks back, they played some kind of recorded message something along the lines of ‘filming and taking photographs inside the aircraft is not permitted’ which is the first time I’d heard that kind of thing. I did it anyway and the cabin crew either didn’t notice or didn’t mind and they were apologetic about the meagre offering of a tea/coffee or a twix. After I contacted them twice about their lack of service and lounge facility they basically said their Aerspace product isn’t business class. In that case then, what are you paying all that extra cash for. Because I don’t know about you but that flight cost me approx €145 for around 50 minutes in a nice seat!

[@thehonestflyer]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Sounds very poor for the service, yes it's a short flight but thats not the point, and I've never heard an announcement like that how strange?! I think I paid around £70 for a basic economy ticket, quite pricey but I just wanted to get away and fly and experience the A330 on a very short route. Hopefully they aren't bothered about me filming, although I won't be filming crew I'm not that type of person!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Good luck mate. It was nice up front, I had 3k - one of the throne seats so that kind of made up for some of it. And yes, as so many of my transatlantic flights have been cancelled/postponed, it was nice to get back on a big jet again 👍

[@oliverpicklejar]

One of the first times watching one of your videos , I know its old now but Aer Lingus has a policy not to film their crew members also I really enjoyed it!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Oliver, glad you enjoyed it and yep, I think it’s definitely an Aer Lingus thing. 😊👍

[@NonstopEurotrip]

I've never been to Belfast or flown Aer Lingus. Is 'aircraft watching' a new term for 'plane spotting'? 😉 I like the music in the video too and it's very well edited as always! Shame there isn't a train really 🤒

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Aircraft watching haha, I’ve been rumbled! I’m not a planespotter really, well I used to be a bit but, like trains, I’ve forgotten most of it 🤣

[@raymcerlean55]

Hi,This must be quite an old video as Aer Lingus now use ATR 72 600 for these routes.

[@joeturner1920]

Another great video. How did you find Belfast, I’ve never been?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Joe, cheers mate. Belfast, well, I didn’t actually go into the city this time around but I’ve been before and I like it. To stay over, you have familiar places like Premierinn which is good if, like me, you’re normally on a budget and you know what to expect. Also, the city I think is quite compact and easy to walk round and I particularly liked the riverside area. I’m going to go back and explore a bit further afield. Not with Aer Lingus though - I’ve had enough of them for a bit 😊

[@philip0987]

I choose Aerlingus every time over Ryanair. My days using Ryanair are gone thank God. Lingus are the best of limited options on routes ex IE. Occasionally you can get the odd pleasant and helpful cabin crew. Mostly they are crabby owel witches from nth county Dublin who want to be paid for showing up to work, not actually work though..and they all hate their husbands 😁.. and think they are princess.. lol it's the truth 😇

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Philip, love this comment, thanks 😊 I must admit I’m not that familiar with Nth County Dublin, though I’m not sure I want to be judging by your description of some of its residents 🤣!! But yes, Aer Lingus well, unless you want to fly Ryanair or are going to London with BA, what else is there to the UK from DUB. No complaints with the price to BHX or MAN for example but flying from Belfast I think there’s much more choice with EasyJet and now BA doing more regional routes. And Ryanair have given up in Nth Ireland.

[@philip0987]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I am all in gest Mark 😊 well a little bit anyway.. EI where doing very well pre covid. I do think they are lost right now and need to re-establish their identy .. there is still a semi-state mentally with lot of the staff and it needs a major shake up again. It was clearing out prior covid but what remains now is old school attitudes to how unimportant the customer is.. it's a pitty.. cabin crew still witches though...

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@philip0987 yes, totally agree. I don’t see that many great reviews of them atm which is a shame as I’d like to try them long haul but am unlikely to choose them over BA tbh. Only major advantage is pre-clearance for the US but who knows when that place will be open again!

[@mikegapper8485]

Hi Mark .you probably been asked this before .In all you travels in the covid times ,did you ever come down with the dreaded Convids??? answer in the comments below ....

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Nope and it was lovely and quiet too!

[@JaspreetSingh_94]

Hii do we have to go immigration counter in landing in Birmingham airport and Belfast also ?? If I fly from Belfast to Birmingham airport same like you ?? When you arrived in Birmingham airport did you exit straight way or you have to clear have to clear immigration for domestic flights?? Please reply me thank you in advance

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Jaspreet! No, these are domestic flights. You just need some id with you (i always take my passport anyway for this purpose). Cheers.

[@matthewpepper1548]

Only really fly Aer Lingus regional on their little turbo prop planes from Belfast. And their cabin crew are excellent. Free tea and biscuits which is nice

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Matthew, yes the ATR’s are great aren’t they - check out my Flybe Vs Emerald Airlines video if you haven’t already 😊👍

[@matthewpepper1548]

@@LetsMakeaTrip haven’t yet. But I guarantee Emerald Airlines are better service than Flybe

[@TripReportaviation]

A not-so-good service I'd say, it's like what you'd get on a low-cost carrier.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, not a lot of difference these days!

[@MattsPlanet]

Good stuff Mark - subs are flying in - congrats. You'll get to 1,000 in no time! Flew Air Lingus in economy to the US (Washington to be specific) a few years back - mainly for the pre-clearance on arrival. It wasn't that great - very tight legroom and mediocre service. And that was one of their flagship routes...

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Matt, cheers for the comment (and encouragement) - hopefully by the end of the month I’ll be sorted 🤞Yes, Aer Lingus - what are they trying to be? Their Aerspace product isn’t business class apparently unless you’re flying transatlantic. So despite charging business class prices on their short haul routes, you don’t get much atm (although I hear the lounge at Dublin is set to re-open, finally). I just wouldn’t touch them again until they sort this and would fly BA to London or EasyJet to regional airports from Ireland. All the best, Mark

[@roberthillman5057]

You have to prewarn you have a camera

[@048AT]

Hello what was that music you played when you were plane spotting loved it !

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Adam, it’s ‘Night Run Away’ and ‘Sunspots’ just off the KZbin audio library so if you look in the description for most of my videos it does an automatic link to the musician. Cheers.

[@Adam-fj9px]

Hi Mark, I'll be flying to Belfast in the near future from Manchester and I can either fly to Belfast International with easyjet or Belfast City with Aer Lingus. Which would you reccomended? At first I would lean to Aer Lingus being that they are a flag carrier and you would expect a more premium product for a more expensive price, even if it is only a 30 minute flight, but after this video, the flight looks exactly the same as easyjet, only more expensive.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Adam, if you’re staying in Belfast city you’ve got to factor in the distance as international is a lot further out than city airport and costs twice as much on the bus. I must try it one day for comparison but yes I prefer EasyJet flight-wise but city airport is more convenient I must say.

[@damianwalls1262]

Mate, DEFINITELY the most famous footballer ever to come out of N Ireland. If not UK!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

He’s definitely up there yes. Just before my time tbh so I never really got the chance to watch him regularly.

[@damianwalls1262]

Mate!

[@jonjohnson2844]

Isn't it strange how WHSmith has gone from being a really good stationary and book shop to a network of airport meal deal shops.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I still prefer Boots for the meal deals tbh!

[@translinkmetro]

Good god vid video.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks 😊

[@andrewjames7021]

Do you have previous presenting or production experience. Only just seen your stuff and already addicted. Quality reviews and superbly put together. Easily better than anything on the television travel wise at the moment. Keep up the excellent work. Could easily make a 30 min tv episode for the bbc . I know I would tune in as would millions of others

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Andrew, many thanks for the kind words. I don’t have any experience of this, I just started out with an iphone6 then bought a dji osmo action. That’s it really. I’m flattered by your comments though I reckon if I can do it, anyone can!! Maybe someone who works for tv will see this message and give me a job 😂 All the best, Mark.

[@andrewjames7021]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Hope so keep up the good work 👍

[@richardnei]

Great video. I haven’t flown on Aer Lingus in a good while. I hope you enjoyed your short visit to Belfast. BA Cityflyer have taken over operating to BHD-BHX route from the start of November. ✈️

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes I’ve been planning on booking the BA route for a few weeks now as it’s really convenient for me and great to see ‘BA’ back at BHX again. Prices are good too! Good to hear from you AFUK btw, hope all is good with you 😊

[@NathSchultzUK]

No immigration?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

No - Belfast, Northern Ireland is part of the UK 😊

[@davidcorbett62]

Aer Lingus where renowned for their warm friendly cabin crew but since the IAG take over standards seem to have dropped, wether that’s down to recruitment or staff morale is hard to say, but as a wholly owned carrier by the people of S Ireland ( It’s a republic) the standards and pride did seem to be higher. Great vid by the way and I was once asked by a BA crew member of my camcorder was s transmitting device lol

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi David, thanks for the comment. Yes I wondered whether standards had dropped as others have said the same kind of things - morale seemed to be a factor but not sure personally. Maybe it’s just how things are atm, I mean everyone’s morale has been a bit down I would say over the last couple of years, it’s just Aer Lingus seem to have stood out for me more than any other carrier. I took the A330 DUB - LHR with them a few weeks later and that was absolutely fine so I don’t know, maybe a one off?

[@davidcorbett62]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I think with all that’s going on with the airline industry at the moment staff are feeling somewhat as a disposable item once things go wrong. Plus with limited service on board it leave them with little customer interface. Hopefully your next flight with them will be better

[@Timstravels01]

Wonderful stuff as always. I’m flying Aer Lingus for the first time shortly. This doesn’t inspire confidence, they sound a bit drab.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Tim, cheers mate. Yes drab is a good word. I can’t think of anything that would make me choose Aer Lingus over anyone else. I’d much rather fly EasyJet for example who have been consistently good over the last 18 months. As have BA who have re-opened their lounges and I can tell you I’ve just come back from Malta in Club Europe and there was as much wine as you could drink AND a great meal AND great service from all staff who looked like they wanted to be there. Aer Lingus - take note.

[@markevans506]

I have flown several times across the Atlantic from Chicago to my hometown, Dublin. Only once were the cabin crew nice. Sadly the female cabin crew always act arrogant and unfriendly in my experience, which is a shame as the airline is safe and other than its poor cabin crew is pretty good. BA on the other hand, my only flight transatlantic with them was amazing! American Airlines- don’t waste your money!!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Mark, yeh I mean they were ok, just maybe one or two a bit tetchy for no real reason. Completely agree with you about BA as I have taken many flights with them and never had any issues. Plus the service is more sufficient. I haven’t flown with AA but I’ll bear your comment in mind! Ultimately, faced with the choice I’d take BA every time and my next transatlantic flight will be with them in the 777 club suite which I’m really looking forward to. in the meantime, I’m flying back to BHD in a few weeks actually with BA Cityflyer from BHX so we’ll see how that goes! Cheers for the comment 😊👍

[@robintyson591]

It used to be the private runway for Shorts aircraft. I used to watch the Shorts Belfast and Shorts Skyvan (now Shorts 360) being tested there.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Would love a flight on one of those!

[@JTsJourneys]

Great video! I had pretty much the exact same experience on the same route in July. I was really disappointed in Aer Lingus, I can’t really work out their current position in the market, they don’t have anything better than anyone else (if anything they’re worse) yet are more expensive than low cost. Not a great experience. Of course they might have changed since July…

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Jamie, I can tell you they haven’t changed since July (as my latest experience on their A330 in Aerspace will testify)! Thing is, I’ve contacted them since about their Aerspace product and they simply don’t seem to realise that passengers paying a premium price expect a premium product I.e. access to a lounge at the airport and something more than a coffee and a twix as an ‘inflight service’. They need to up their game imho, there’s just better out there.

[@DVWNatSecResearcher]

You didn't seem very impressed with Aer Lingus. I have not flown with them in over a decade, so mine would not be a valuable opinion. In any case, this was an informative video.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I wasn’t impressed Debra. I’ve flown with them 3 times in the last year or so and they haven’t been that great on any of them. I’ll fly EasyJet or BA next time I go to Ireland.

[@richardturnbull6333]

Good video review as always 👍mark. I'm afraid that airline has not had a good reputation in Newcastle either. I'm sorry to see you go through what you did and I'm glad people like you are reviewing. I would definitely choose easy jet like you. I'm looking forward to seeing your next offering for us my friend.... Beer and crisps waiting for your next show my friend 😀🙏👍

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Richard, cheers mate. Yes I would have said jury’s out for me with Aer Lingus but since this trip I’ve flown with them again in ‘Aerspace’ and that was just as bad - actually probably worse. A separate video will be made on that 😬 . Thanks, as always, for the support 👍😊

[@smarthome9707]

Watching it now. A couple fun facts: when you got on the ferry in the last video, you could've got a taxi from the ferry to Belfast York Road station which is a 10 minute ride, then get the train from York Road to Sydenham station which is we within walking distance of Belfast George Best airport.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi SH, yes I only found out about Sydenham Station when I was researching the history of the airport. Even better would be a bus timetabled to meet the ferry then I could probably combine the two which would be a bit cheaper. As it turned out, the next bus from the Stena terminal was about 2 hours after we got in! Cheers mate 😊

[@RishyRoller]

I’ve almost always had good experiences with Aer Lingus, I travel for work and where possible will use them over others, I’m sight impaired and can get a bit nervous flying but I also travel with a guide dog and honestly I can’t fault them, though I think the dog actually gets a better service than me sometimes 😁 My brothers very first flight was with Aer Lingus too, he’s on the lower end of the autistic spectrum and he was really excited until it came to actually getting on the flight, he was absolutely terrified, there was a member of the cabin crew off duty on the flight She sat with us during take off and talked to him about all of the noises and the different bell noises that go off in flight, she came back just for decent and did the same. The crew were great with him during the flight too Try stopping him taking a flight now 😂 All companies I guess have their negatives and I’ve had hiccups with them but nothing that hasn’t been resolved in good time With the crews I imagine it very much depends who you get

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Oobiedoo, thanks for the detailed reply and I really value your input on this. It's good to see the positive experiences here and it's only right that they are shared. On the day, it's very much what you get that dictates the lasting impression of an airline, toc, coach company - you name it. And I think the crew have a big part to play in that - just like any customer-facing job. In the interests of balance, where I've had a negative experience in the past (National Express for example) I will endeavour to take a similar trip again to see whether it was a 'one off' or not, taking into account other peoples comments and experiences they post-up on the channel. I have actually taken another Aer Lingus trip since this video and, I have to say, it wasn't much better tbh! Oh well, I'm sure I'll travel with them again at some point but given the choice, I would still look at alternatives which would be Easyjet or BA mainly. Many thanks for your comment, I look forward to hearing more. All the best, Marc

[@RishyRoller]

@@LetsMakeaTrip taking our first longer trip with them in December MAN-JFK so looking forward to seeing how that goes, a couple of family members did that trip earlier in the year but via Dublin and their experience was pretty average, nothing special. I had friends a few years ago travelling with easyJet and they didn’t even make it beyond checkin as the airline decided that there would be nobody to assist in an emergency so that really put me off I love flying once I’m in the air Take off and landing I don’t know just unnerves me

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Ah yes, I’m assuming that’s one of their A330’s - a bit nicer than the smaller planes and you should get proper meal service on that. Maybe with the US opening Aer Lingus will sort themselves out as it’s obvs a competitive market and I know with their Dublin flights you can do pre-clearance. Not sure about the other routes tbh. That’s not great from EasyJet btw, I wonder why they decided that? Not enough crew? Anyway, enjoy the flight. I’m booked for the US too in late November. Can’t wait!

[@RishyRoller]

@@LetsMakeaTrip a321neo Lr I believe

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Ah yes of course, forgot they were operating those as well. Should be a nice new(ish) aircraft then.

[@AlsTrainspottingHD]

Thank you for another review video I am enjoying these review videos and experiences that you encounter on different airline travels. I do like the Aer Lingus livery.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Al, glad you’re enjoying them and thanks for commenting on them too, it really helps me out. 😊👍

[@johnferguson1412]

Mark, as previously mentioned, we need breakfast/bacon sandwich shots - especially for non-UK residents like me!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi John, sorry mate. Whenever this comes up now in a trip, I will think of you and try my best! In the meantime, let me try paint a picture with words: “The sight of the purest bacon reached out to my taste buds from the confines of it’s Italian-inspired bread-blanket. The yellow glow of the finest eggs oozed towards me as I raised the heavenly foodstuff toward my eager mouth. As I took my first bite, the succulent juices tantalised my senses as I consumed the elegant food source with glee. I washed it down with the most divine Colombian liquid known to man (or Starbucks) and before I knew it, I had finished, the most pleasurable experience I had enjoyed”. There you go, basically I had a bacon egg sandwich and a coffee. Cheers 😊

[@derisleybrittain]

Superb footage 👍👍👍💖💖💖😇😇😇😍😍😍👊👊👊☀️☀️☀️😀😀😀🥳🥳🥳

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thank you Derisley, appreciate your support 😊

[@simonwhitlock9189]

Thanks Mark, really enjoyed your weekend travels and look forward to seeing more, take care and stay safe.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Simon, thanks for the support mate, much appreciated. And there’s plenty more to come. I’m off to Latvia this week which should be interesting. Expect more videos on trams, trains, ferries AND one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever seen! All the best, Mark.