Aer Lingus Cabin Crew
Ireland's flag carrier: transatlantic flying from Dublin with a famously warm crew culture — and seasonal-contract realities.
Entry · per month
$2,200–2,700
Rank 22 of 59 for entry pay
Senior · per month
$3,200–4,600
+59% to senior
Tax-free
— No
Not provided
Crew rating
6.6 / 10
Crew score rank 37 of 59
Overview
Aer Lingus, Ireland's flag carrier and an IAG group airline, bases most of its cabin crew in Dublin, with smaller operations at Cork, Shannon and a UK transatlantic base in Manchester. The network pairs a dense European short-haul operation with a substantial A330/A321LR transatlantic business — Boston, New York, Chicago, Orlando and more — meaning crew get real US layovers without joining a megacarrier. The brand's service identity leans hard on Irish warmth, and crew culture is genuinely sociable by legacy-carrier standards.
The employment picture needs honest framing. Aer Lingus recruits heavily on seasonal fixed-term contracts for the summer schedule, with permanent positions earned over successive seasons — a pattern that suits students of the lifestyle but frustrates those wanting immediate stability. Basic pay for new crew sits around EUR 26,000-30,000 gross a year with variable flight pay averaging several thousand euro on top, which nets roughly EUR 2,000-2,400 a month in a Dublin housing market that has become one of Europe's most punishing. Cabin Crew Ireland (Fórsa union) representation has pushed pay deals forward since 2023.
Progression runs from crew to Senior Cabin Crew Member and on to Cabin Service Manager on the transatlantic fleet, and IAG membership opens internal mobility and staff travel across British Airways, Iberia and partners. The 2026 seasonal campaign closed early in the year; the airline typically reopens applications each autumn for the following summer, and competition is intense for a workforce that rarely leaves once permanent.
Salary
New-crew basic around EUR 26,000-30,000/year gross plus variable flight pay averaging ~EUR 6,500/year; junior net roughly EUR 2,000-2,400/month, with Senior Cabin Crew and Cabin Service Managers earning materially more on transatlantic patterns.
Estimates in USD compiled from public sources and crew reports; actual offers vary. Compare all airlines →
Requirements
Minimum age
18
Height / reach
157 cm min · 210 cm reach
Education
Leaving Certificate or equivalent secondary education.
Languages
Fluent English; European languages an advantage.
Tattoo policy
No tattoos, piercings or body art visible in uniform; small tattoos must be coverable by the uniform in every variant, and visible hand, neck or face tattoos are disqualifying.
Also required
EU/EEA right to work in Ireland (or UK for Manchester base), ability to swim 25m, valid passport with unrestricted US travel eligibility, and a 5-year checkable background.
Do you meet the requirements at Aer Lingus?
Check your age, reach, tattoos, languages and documents against Aer Lingus and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
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Base & accommodation
Dublin · Not provided
No housing support, and Dublin's rental crisis is the single biggest complaint of junior crew; many live in commuter towns north of the airport or share houses several to a lease.
Roster & layovers
Roster style
Monthly rosters mixing early-report European sectors and transatlantic rotations, with around 9-11 days off; seasonal crew fly intense summer patterns, and seniority governs access to the best US trips and permanent contracts.
Layovers
Transatlantic layovers of 24-48 hours in Boston, New York, Chicago, Orlando and other US cities; European flying is predominantly day returns from Dublin.
Benefits beyond the paycheck
- ★Real transatlantic layovers at a mid-sized, personable airline
- ★Staff travel on Aer Lingus plus IAG partners (British Airways, Iberia) and interline
- ★Paid six-week training academy at Dublin Airport
- ★Fórsa union representation with recent negotiated pay improvements
- ★Path from seasonal to permanent contracts with pension access
- ★Free or discounted parking and crew transport at Dublin Airport
How to apply, step by step
- 01
Apply online during the annual campaign with CV and eligibility screening.
- 02
Complete online assessments and a recorded video interview.
- 03
Attend an assessment day in Dublin with group exercises, reach test and competency interview.
- 04
Receive a conditional offer, then clear 5-year background referencing, Garda vetting and a medical.
- 05
Complete the six-week paid training course at the Aer Lingus academy before line flying, typically on a seasonal contract.
Career progression
Crew rating
Why crew love it
- +Transatlantic flying and US layovers from a friendly mid-sized airline
- +Warm, tight-knit Irish crew culture with a strong brand identity
- +IAG staff travel network across BA, Iberia and partners
- +Clear seasonal-to-permanent pathway for those who stick with it
Watch out for
- −Seasonal fixed-term contracts mean winter insecurity for new joiners
- −Dublin housing costs are brutal relative to junior pay
- −Small fleet slows promotion to senior ranks
Frequently asked questions
How much do Aer Lingus cabin crew earn?
New crew earn a basic of roughly EUR 26,000-30,000 a year plus variable flight pay averaging around EUR 6,500, netting about EUR 2,000-2,400 per month (roughly $2,200-2,700). Senior Cabin Crew and Cabin Service Managers on transatlantic flying earn considerably more.
Are Aer Lingus cabin crew jobs permanent or seasonal?
Most new joiners start on fixed-term seasonal contracts for the summer schedule, with permanent positions offered over subsequent seasons based on performance and vacancies. It is a well-trodden path, but plan financially for the possibility of a winter gap early on.
What is the Aer Lingus cabin crew tattoo policy?
Strict by modern standards: no tattoos may be visible in any uniform variant, tattoos must be small and fully coverable, and visible hand, neck or face tattoos are disqualifying. It has not followed BA and Virgin Atlantic in relaxing visibility rules.
Hiring status
Recruits annually for summer-season contracts, usually opening applications each autumn/winter; the 2026 seasonal campaign has closed, with the next window expected for summer 2027 crews.
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