Aer Lingus vs Virgin Atlantic Airways —…

Policy comparison

Structured operational tokens — verify current fare rules on each airline before booking.

Policy	Aer Lingus	Virgin Atlantic Airways
Cabin baggage	Included	Included
Checked baggage	1×23 kg long-haul economy; 2×32 kg business	1×23 kg standard Economy; none on Light
In-flight Wi-Fi	Paid	Paid
Economy seat pitch	30–32"	31"
Loyalty programme	AerClub (Avios)	Flying Club
Lounge access	Aer Lingus lounge DUB; oneworld Emerald/Sapphire	Clubhouse for Upper Class and Gold
Changes & refunds	Flex fares allow changes; Saver restricted	Flex free changes; Lite/Classic charge fee

Individual profiles

Editorial profiles

Ireland · EI/EIN · #1 in this comparison

Aer Lingus

Smart flies Aer Lingus

#25 Global 4-Star

8.0 / 10

Quick Answer

Aer Lingus scores 8.0/10 on FlightLogic (safety 9.2/10), ranking #25 globally. in-flight Wi-Fi is paid or partial on most long-haul routes. Special meals require pre-order on long-haul.

Is Aer Lingus a good airline?

Aer Lingus scores 8.0/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #25 globally with a safety score of 9.2/10. Aer Lingus is Ireland's flag carrier, an IAG group airline outside the global alliances, operating transatlantic routes from Dublin with US Pre-Clearance and AerClub Avios shared with BA and Iberia. See full profile →

Overall 8.0 Excellent

Safety 9.2 Excellent Safety

Service 8.2 Cabin crew & ground

Value 8.4 Fare vs product

Star rating 4★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

8.2

Seat Comfort

7.8

Food & Beverage

8.0

In-Flight Entertainment

7.5

On-Time Performance

8.1

Value for Money

8.4

Key facts

Hub: Dublin (DUB)
Alliance: Independent
Founded: 1936
Fleet: 60 aircraft
Region: europe
IATA / ICAO: EI / EIN

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage	1×23 kg long-haul economy; 2×32 kg business
In-flight Wi-Fi	Paid Wi-Fi or messaging packages
Economy seat pitch	30–32"
Lounge access	Aer Lingus lounge DUB; oneworld Emerald/Sapphire
Changes & refunds	Flex fares allow changes; Saver restricted
Loyalty programme	AerClub (Avios)

Strengths

US Pre-Clearance at Dublin — arrive in US as domestic
AerClub shares Avios with BA and Iberia
Competitive transatlantic business vs direct LHR fares

Weaknesses

Dublin positioning adds time from UK regions
A321XLR narrowbody on some transatlantic routes

Awards & recognition

US Pre-Clearance at Dublin

United Kingdom · VS/VIR · #2 in this comparison

Virgin Atlantic Airways

The airline that reinvented long-haul travel with style

#12 Global 4-Star

8.0 / 10

Quick Answer

Virgin Atlantic Airways scores 8.0/10 on FlightLogic (safety 8.7/10), ranking #12 globally. verified in-flight Wi-Fi averages 6 Mbps on measured routes. Catering: Special meals via manage-my-booking — vegan and halal reliable on long-haul with 24h notice

Is Virgin Atlantic Airways a good airline?

Virgin Atlantic Airways scores 8.0/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic, ranking #12 globally with a safety score of 8.7/10. Virgin Atlantic is a British long-haul carrier founded in 1984 by Richard Branson, flying a compact, modern fleet from its London Heathrow base to North America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Renowned for pioneering Premium Economy and its stylish, service-forward Upper Class product with onboard social spaces and the iconic Clubhouse lounges, it consistently ranks among the most-loved transatlantic airlines and joined the SkyTeam alliance in March 2023. See full profile →

Overall 8.0 Excellent

Safety 8.7 Excellent Safety

Service 8.6 Cabin crew & ground

Value 7.6 Fare vs product

Star rating 4★ FlightLogic tier

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Customer Service

8.6

Seat Comfort

8.3

Food & Beverage

7.8

In-Flight Entertainment

8.0

On-Time Performance

7.4

Value for Money

7.6

Key facts

Hub: London Heathrow (LHR)
Alliance: skyteam
Founded: 1984
Fleet: 43 aircraft
Region: europe
IATA / ICAO: VS / VIR

Passenger policies

Cabin baggage	Included — standard carry-on allowance applies
Checked baggage	1×23 kg standard Economy; none on Light
In-flight Wi-Fi	Paid Wi-Fi or messaging packages
Economy seat pitch	31"
Lounge access	Clubhouse for Upper Class and Gold
Changes & refunds	Flex free changes; Lite/Classic charge fee
Loyalty programme	Flying Club

Strengths

Widely credited with pioneering the modern Premium Economy cabin, a product now copied industry-wide
Distinctive Upper Class experience with onboard bar/social space (The Loft on A350s), chauffeur transfers, and the renowned Clubhouse lounges
Young, modern long-haul fleet of Airbus A350-1000s, A330-900neos and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

Weaknesses

Small, long-haul-only fleet (43 aircraft, no short-haul or regional network) means limited route breadth versus alliance-backed rivals
Smallest SkyTeam long-haul network — relies heavily on its Delta and Air France-KLM joint venture for connectivity

Awards & recognition

Skytrax World's Best Premium Economy Class Airline 2025
Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards — regularly ranked among top transatlantic carriers for cabin design
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class named among World's Best Business Class contenders in Skytrax rankings

FAQ

Which is better — Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic Airways?

Aer Lingus scores higher on FlightLogic at 8.0/10 vs 8.0/10 for Virgin Atlantic Airways. Policy comparison below covers cabin baggage, checked bags, Wi-Fi, and seat pitch.

Does Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic Airways include a carry-on bag?

Aer Lingus: Included. Virgin Atlantic Airways: Included.

Which has free Wi-Fi — Aer Lingus or Virgin Atlantic Airways?

Aer Lingus: Paid. Virgin Atlantic Airways: Paid.

Does Aer Lingus include checked baggage?

Aer Lingus checked baggage: 1×23 kg long-haul economy; 2×32 kg business.

Does Virgin Atlantic Airways include checked baggage?

Virgin Atlantic Airways checked baggage: 1×23 kg standard Economy; none on Light.