Madam, - In relation to the new seat-selection charge, who do the Aer Lingus marketing gurus think they are fooling? Aer Lingus abolished its business class in the first place because we were told that nobody wanted hot breakfasts, newspapers or preferential seat selection!
We have come the full circle. This new charge has the spirit of Mr O'Leary written all over it. For Aer Lingus to assert that its newly introduced seat-selection charge is any different to the myriad of other existing charges with which the customer is saddled is quite simply dishonest, disingenuous and sadly counter-intuitive.
The good news is that today there are a number of highly respectable airlines operating to Dublin which still offer an excellent product and have chosen not to charge hidden extras. I wish to single out the following airlines: British Airways, CSA (Czech Airlines), Malev (Hungarian) and the excellent Finnair. All of these offer a complimentary in-flight meal including alcohol. You may sit wherever you want in economy class at no extra charge. Furthermore, CSA, Malev and Finnair recycle all glass from the complimentary drink served on board their flights operating to Ireland at no extra charge.
It is patently obvious that Aer Lingus and Ryanair have managed to dupe the travelling public into absorbing their direct overheads with the introduction of whatever marketing gimmick possible. Pray tell, what "extra" will Aer Lingus or Ryanair think of introducing next? The mind boggles.
The grim reality is that today there is little to distinguish Aer Lingus from Ryanair. Both of these airlines have become ruthless in their cash collection methods, which they choose to couch in a cloud of obfuscation. Airline travellers are left bemused and have no option but to pay them.
So when it comes to choice of airlines and what a passenger is being asked to pay it is a case of "Caveat emptor". - Yours, etc,
DECLAN MEAGHER, Blackrock, Co Dublin.