Seat Map Aer Lingus Airbus A330 200 Config. 2

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.

If I am correct in my thinking, this is the configuration for the two planes they purchased from Qatar Airways last year. Only had two issues.

First, the on-ground air wasn't working, like Chicago didn't have it set up for them at the gate they were at? Once in the air it got cool, but we were frying on the tarmac.

Second, the IFE was horrible. They had the old school two prong headphone jack, and it was poking out of the side of the armrest, so not only did I have to jiggle it just right to get one side of my earbuds to work, all it would take was for me to move a millimeter and it would cut out. The screen was hard to see from dead on, which at least meant most people won't be able to see what you are watching. And they aren't touch screens, they are controlled by the remote in your armrest. Which, when you get it out to change stuff, also makes the headphones cut out. Get tired of that and use the provided headphones? They sound so horrible, you will run back to what you had in the first place, as it's better.

Otherwise, seat was good. I did briefly get to sleep, but my daughter woke me up asking my son if he wanted some candy. Food was good, for airline food catered at O'Hare. Actually maybe better than my flight last year with another airline's Dreamliner.

I'm flying back in a couple days. Here's hoping I don't get stuck on one of these two again.

Extremely helpful, kind, caring, efficient staff (especially Keiran) as I had a bad pain experience during the flight. They helped but weren’t overbearing, but kept an eye on me personally despite all their responsibilities.