Update 12/16/15: Avios devalued its Business Class award chart. The formerly 25,000-Avios awards now cost 37,500 Avios.

Aer Lingus will upgrade its Business Class seats to fully flat beds in 2015. Aer Lingus flights can be booked with United or British Airways miles.

Boston to Dublin in a fully flat bed will cost only 25,000 British Airways Avios each way!

The refurbishment of Aer Lingus’ A330s will be a big improvement of the angled lie flat seats that the airline currently features in Business Class.

The new beds will be in a staggered pattern that will offer aisle access to all Business Class passengers except those with a window seat in the first row.

In addition, Aer Lingus claims to be improving the food and service onboard.

Business Class will enjoy on-demand dining instead of a designated time, and passengers departing New York and Boston can even pre-dine at the airport lounge to maximize sleep on those very short flights.

Business Class passengers will get free on-board wifi, which is very rare. Most airlines make Business Class passengers pay for wifi.

• How big is the seat?
• Which US airline has the same Business Class seat?
• How can you book Aer Lingus Business Class?
• What is the award availability in Aer Lingus Business Class on the new beds?

The Bed

Starting in 2015, Aer Lingus will be refurbishing the Business Class on its A330s for longhaul flights, like those from Boston, New York-JFK, Chicago, and San Francisco to Dublin.

Unfortunately I can’t find an exact date for the new cabins. Nor can I find confirmation that Aer Lingus will be updating all three of its A330 cabin layouts. Lucky says the updates will begin in March 2015, and hopefully as that month approaches we’ll have a better indication of which flights will feature fully flat beds from the United States to Ireland.

These beds are the same type as JetBlue has put in its Mint Class, which I called the best business class in the United States, when I wrote about how to fly it cheaply with points here.

The bed will measure two meters (6’6″), and turndown service will be available.

Award Space

I searched award space on Aer Lingus’ routes from Chicago, Boston, and New York to Dublin for one passenger next April through July.

I searched on united.com. Any space seen here is bookable with United or British Airways miles.

Chicago to Dublin

Chicago to Dublin has excellent award space in Business Class next Spring and Summer, the green and blue days.

The 7hr25min flight takes off at 8 PM and lands at 9:25 AM the next day.

New York to Dublin

There are only eight days without award space in Business Class from New York to Dublin next Spring and Summer.

The 5hr45min route has two daily redeye flights.

Boston to Dublin

Boston to Dublin has Business Class award space on Aer Lingus almost every day next Spring and Summer.

There are two daily departures on the flight that is just over five hours.

How to Book Aer Lingus Award Space

Aer Lingus is not a member of any alliance, but it has one-off partnerships with United and British Airways.

United.com displays Aer Lingus award space. Any Aer Lingus space shown on united.com is bookable with United or British Airways miles.

United charges a flat 30k/70k miles each way in economy/business between the United States and Europe on Aer Lingus flights. You can pay these prices at united.com. These prices are the same whether you connect to the international gateway city on a United flight or connect from Dublin to somewhere else in Europe.

British Airways’ prices are based on the distance and cabin:

• Boston to Ireland: 12,500/25,000 Avios each way in economy/business
• Chicago to Ireland: 20,000/40,000 Avios each way in economy/business
• New York to Ireland: 20,000/40,000 miles each way in economy/business
• San Francisco to Ireland: 25,000/50,000 miles each way in economy/business

Flights beyond Ireland or to those international gateways add to the price because every flight on an Avios award adds to the total cost. British Airways doesn’t collect fuel surcharges on Aer Lingus awards.

To book Aer Lingus flights with British Airways Avios, find the award space on united.com and call 800-AIRWAYS to book it. Ask for the phone booking fee to be waived since Aer Lingus is not bookable on ba.com.

There are reports that British Airways’ access and United’s access to Aer Lingus award space differ. If a British Airways rep doesn’t see the award space you want, hang up and call back once. If the next agent sees the same space, there’s nothing to be done.

Get More Sleep on the Short Flights

When you fly with Aer Lingus from Dublin or Shannon to the United States, you’ll pre-clear United States border formalities in Ireland. That means when you arrive in the United States, you can get head straight to the curb.

When you fly out of Boston or New York, you can dine in the lounge before the flight and sleep the entire five hours on the plane.

Recap

Aer Lingus is revamping its Business Class product. Starting next year, you can get a flat bed on transatlantic flights.

While Aer Lingus is not a member of any alliance, it is a British Airways and United partner. British Airways charges only 25,000 miles each way in Business Class on Aer Lingus from the Boston to Ireland.

Hopefully as March 2015 approaches, the month when the new Business Class will begin to be installed, we’ll learn more about which flights will have flat beds.

Right now space is excellent in Aer Lingus Business Class for Spring and Summer 2015.