Aer Arann’s marketing manager Sinead Murphy and Isle of Man Airport director Anne Reynolds  
with Aer Lingus Regional cabin crew member Kitty Dillon. 
The transatlantic flight experience just got a lot more interesting aboard Aer Lingus in recent days.

Flying back from Dublin to New York yesterday there were several new and important additions to the route.

First and foremost is the addition of Wifi on all transatlantic  flights -- a huge boost on a six to seven hour journey which will place Aer Lingus far ahead of the majority of its competitors.

Because the system was still in trial mode I was unable to test run it on a recent trip but an announcement on board stated that it would be fully functional by April 8th.

For an internet junkie like me online access becomes very important when considering who to fly.

Domestically, I try and use Delta because they have the facility, though not across the Atlantic, and no, I’m not one of those people who complains about it being available even on airplanes.

Inflight movies have never done it for me and a good book only takes me so far. Online access and up to date info is the future.

It is the same reason I’ll also fly JetBlue domestically because they have live TV. In this day and age there is no earthly reason to be disconnected from events when in the air for hours.

The other development is that Aer Lingus now flies in to the JetBlue terminal at JFK, probably the best terminal in America.

It has a range of stores, restaurants and pubs that make you seriously think about lingering and when was the last time you thought that after getting off a plane?

The gates are also much closer after you access security on an outbound flight and there is lots to do while waiting for your flight to be called which was certainly not the case in the old international terminal.

The taxi rank is also right outside the new terminal but be warned that it is a goodish walk to the air train and to the parking garage areas from the new terminal.

Finally, perhaps because of the new JetBlue connection, you now clear customs in Dublin on the late flight from there, which was not the case up to now.

Again, you arrive into a domestic terminal with no further formalities which makes arrival even easier.

All in all a major upgrade for Transatlantic passengers out of New York on Ireland’s national airline.