Finding the easter egg in economy class on Aer Lingus' A321XLRRunway Girl

Flying in Aer Lingus economy class from Washington Dulles to Dublin Airport aboard one of the carrier’s first Airbus A321XLRs, I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort provided by a very specific feature on the seat: its six-way adjustable headrest.

During the 6hr 30min flight, the headrest’s vertical adjustability was certainly a blessing for this long-necked 5ft 10in human. But its foldable side cushions provided a rather unexpected level of integrated neck support, just where I needed it most.

With an advertised seat pitch of 30-31 inches, the 168 economy class seats on Aer Lingus’ A321XLR twinjets are configured on the snugger side of the industry’s standard of 31 inches for transatlantic flying. Nonetheless, I was able to get comfortable and even sleep in the seat — a customized Recaro R3 — due in large part to the headrest.

You’ve probably heard about the A321XLR. A longer-range version of the popular A321neo, the single-aisle aircraft is famous for its ability to easily fly long haul — up to 4,700 nautical miles. In addition to Aer Lingus, A321XLR customers include the Irish flag carrier’s Spanish sister Iberia, which was the first to launch revenue service with the type; Qantas, IndiGo and others. The narrowbody is seen as the perfect size for airlines that want to open or test new long-haul markets.

Up front, Aer Lingus passengers enjoy a private jet-like experience on the A321XLR. Sixteen lie-flat business class seats, based on Thompson Aero Seating’s Vantage platform and customized for Aer Lingus by Factorydesign, are configured in alternating pairs and single thrones, with vast real estate afforded to the latter.

Here, the seats are wider: 22” in business versus 18” in economy. The IFE screens are bigger: 18” in business versus just 12” in economy. And of course, the dining is superior.

Even the forward lavatory in business class is swankier than the aft lavs. It boasts the etched design and pinkish-purple LED lighting scheme that is a signature of the Airbus Airspace cabin.

Another signature feature of Airspace are the massive overhead bins down the length of the aircraft; they easily gobbled up my rollaboard.

I was, however, flying down back….

Yet it turned out that a crystal clear 4K ultra-high-definition Panasonic Avionics touchscreen, a decent Wi-Fi connection and that special Recaro R3 headrest were the killer combo for me in economy class on this Dulles-Dublin flight.

Seated in a window seat near the back of the aircraft, I didn’t feel hemmed in. That’s because the R3, even at a tighter pitch, creates room for knees and shins.

Though it’s not discussed enough, perhaps, Aer Lingus is offering ample in-seat power on the A321XLR.

With two AC power outlets offered for every seat triple in economy class, I was able to charge my laptop. And with both USB-A and USB-C ports integrated into each seatback IFE screen, my iPhone battery icon stayed in the green.

A key inflight distraction, the Wi-Fi, wasn’t cheap, mind. I paid for a full flight browsing package and it set me back EUR 20.49.

For that kind of money, the connection should be strong, and I’m happy to report that I was able to use my device in-flight in much the same way as I do on the ground. I listened to Spotify, communicated on Snapchat and watched TikTok videos, remaining connected for the duration of the flight, while double-screening with the IFE display.

Aer Lingus’ library of content isn’t necessarily what you’d call extensive, but it is well curated, offering a mix of classic and new-run films, plus Panasonic’s new Arc moving map.

Disney+ quite rightfully enjoys its own channel on the system. This is the kind of line-up that would have thrilled me as a child.

One of my favorite movies, Les Misérables, was highlighted as part of an “Awards Season” channel on the IFE system. I chose to watch it again, followed by another favorite, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Aer Lingus’ decision to offer the entirety of the Harry Potter movie series was also impressive, as I am a big Potter-head.

My only complaint with the inflight entertainment would be with the cheap wired earphones provided by crew. I had difficulty hearing clear audio, and reproached myself for not bringing my AirPods, as the IFE system does offer the ability to connect Bluetooth devices.

Overall, however, Aer Lingus’ economy class product on the A321XLR is solid. And at a price point of $946 for a Dulles-Dublin roundtrip in April, it felt like good value.

While I never thought I’d sing the praises of an adjustable headrest, it really did turn out to be a bit of an easter egg discovery for me. Little wonder, then, why the Recaro R3 is enjoying huge popularity, and counts a raft of top tier carriers as customers.

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