Complain to Aer Lingus
Irish airline operating UK routes
AirlineContact emails
customerrelations@aerlingus.com
Customer Service
complaints@aerlingus.com
Complaints
Common Aer Lingus complaints
Know your exact situation?
Step-by-step guides for the most common Aer Lingus disputes - the law that applies, deadlines, and a template letter for each.
Aer Lingus ombudsman & regulator routes
Which ombudsman handles Aer Lingus complaints?
an approved aviation ADR scheme (AviationADR or CEDR). Once Aer Lingus’s own complaints process is exhausted (after 8 weeks or a deadlock letter), you can take your complaint there for free. Go to the ombudsman. Read our an approved aviation ADR scheme (AviationADR or CEDR) guide.
Can you complain to the CAA about Aer Lingus?
Not for individual disputes: the CAA sets the rules for the sector but does not resolve personal complaints or award compensation. Complain to Aer Lingus directly first and keep written records, then escalate to an approved aviation ADR scheme (AviationADR or CEDR) if it stays unresolved after 8 weeks or you receive a deadlock or final-response letter. You can still report Aer Lingus to the CAA to flag systemic problems, but that will not get your own money back.
Laws that protect you
UK261 Flight Compensation Regulation
Compensation of £220 to £520, set by flight distance and how late you land, for delays, cancellations and denied boarding. Covers any flight leaving the UK, and flights into the UK only when a UK or EU airline operates them.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Services must be performed with reasonable care and skill.
Tips for Aer Lingus complaints
- Check UK261 covers your flight first: leaving the UK always counts, but arriving into the UK only counts if a UK or EU airline operated it
- Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation
- Document the delay with photos of departure boards
- Airlines must provide food, drink, and accommodation for long delays
- You can claim for flights up to 6 years old
- Extraordinary circumstances don’t include crew shortages or technical issues
- No UK261 claim doesn’t mean no claim: the Montreal Convention still covers provable losses, and a card payment may be reversible through your bank
If Aer Lingus doesn't respond
- 1
Customer Service
Allow 14 daysContact the airline’s customer service team via email or online form
- 2
Formal Complaint
Submit a formal complaint referencing UK261 and your booking reference
- 3
CEDR / AviationADR
8 weeksEscalate to the airline’s ADR scheme after 8 weeks or deadlock
Visit website - 4
Contact emails
customerrelations@aerlingus.com
Customer Service
complaints@aerlingus.com
Complaints
Expected response time
14 days
Airlines typically respond within 14 days, but have up to 8 weeks before you can escalate to ADR
Ready to fight back?
Create a professional, legally-backed complaint in minutes.
Start my Aer Lingus complaintFree to start • No credit card required
Frequently asked questions
Tools & guides for your Aer Lingus complaint
Free calculators and explainers that strengthen the case you make to Aer Lingus.
- Flight compensation calculatorFlight late? Here’s what they owe you.
- Gate baggage fee refundCharged for your cabin bag at the gate? Fight back.
- Consumer rights checkerFind the laws that back you up.
- Ombudsman finderBeing ignored? Here’s who to escalate to.
- Response deadline trackerTrack if a company exceeded their response time.
- Small claims calculatorCourt’s cheaper than you think.
- EU261 reform: what changed, and what UK261 didn'tThe EU reformed flight compensation in July 2026, but the 3-hour threshold and the €250 to €600 amounts survived. What changed, and which regime covers you.
- 6 ways to get your money back when a company refuses a refundA refusal isn’t the end. Six free routes to your money - Consumer Rights Act letters, chargeback, Section 75, ombudsmen, small claims - and when to use each.
- 7 ways to get a refund from an airline that workCancelled, delayed, or downgraded? Seven routes to an airline refund or compensation, ranked fastest to last resort, with the trade-offs of each.
- Evri Lost Your Parcel (Again): Your Complete Delivery RightsYour contract is with the retailer, not the courier. If your parcel is lost, damaged, or left in a hedge, the retailer owes you the refund. Here’s exactly what to do.
Not sure what the law actually entitles you to? Start with our UK consumer rights guide - refunds, faulty goods, and how to enforce your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Other Airline companies
Ready to get results?
Read your Aer Lingus letter first, with the law that applies to it. No account until you want to keep the draft and track what they do next.
Free to draft • The letter is yours either way
Work at Aer Lingus? Reply to complaints here.
Don't let Aer Lingus ignore you
A letter that cites the law, sets a deadline, and says what happens when it passes.
Create my Aer Lingus complaintDisclaimer: NoReply is an independent consumer advocacy platform. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Aer Lingus or any of the companies listed on this site. Contact information is sourced from publicly available company websites. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Last reviewed: by NoReply Editorial