aeroclub travel

OFFICE HOURS

Flying Hours Everyday: Daylight hours only

Office Hours Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Sat – Sun: Closed

(661) 275-AERO

366fsmarketing.com

Edwards AFB Aero Club 

OUR MISSION

Realize your dream, learn to fly. flight training slots currently available at the aero club for private, instrument, commercial, cfi, cfii and atp., register today, call 661-275-2376.”, edwards afb aero club.

The sky is the limit at the Edwards Air Force Base Aero Club. Experience the thrill of piloting an aircraft. Your local Aero Club provides many stages of flight training, from your first introductory flight through to solo, then on to private, instrument, commercial and instructor ratings. The choice is yours. Whether your aim is recreational or a career path, the Aero Club instructors will train you to the highest standard with safety always foremost.

services & prices

Aircraft rental rates.

• Cessna 172S: Garmin GTN 650, Autopilot, HSI (N104ED, N105ED, N106ED): $175/hr
• Cessna 172S: Garmin 1000 (N108ED, N909ED): $185/hr
• Cessna R182: (N1668R, N757HS): $195/hr
• Red Bird MCX Simulator: $70/hr

FLIGHT INSTRUCTION

Primary flight/ground instruction towards a private pilot certificate: $60/hr Advanced flight/ground instruction towards an instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, flight instructor certificate, airline transport pilot rating and multi-engine flight/ground instruction: $65/hr

GROUND SCHOOL

The Aero Club offers a Ground School that will fit YOUR schedule. Our ground school is based on the Jeppesen courses. All kits can be purchased from Jeppesen or any online source. All our instructors are required to follow the Jeppesen syllabus.

• Private Pilot
• Instrument Pilot
• Commercial Pilot
• Flight Instructor

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A LICENSED PILOT?

Becoming a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensed pilot requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight training; 20 with an Instructor Pilot, and 20 hours of solo flight through our FAA approved part 61 course. It is important to remember those are the minimum times…the national average is 75 hours; however Edwards Aero Club students average 65 hours before getting their FAA Private Pilot License. This does not include the ground school required to pass the FAA written test. The Jeppesen Course lets you see what is expected of you on each flight lesson, by seeing the flight as they happen.

CAN ANYBODY LEARN TO FLY?

You can learn to fly at any age but solo flight is not allowed until the age of 16. All you need to begin is a student pilot license and FAA Third Class Medical.

IS IT SAFE?

General aviation is statistically safer than most forms of travel. USAF Aero Clubs have a significantly higher safety record than their civilian counterparts. The safety programs in place provide a safe and enjoyable experience for learning and flying.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Operational material.

R-2515 Airspace Handbook R-2508 Briefing AFI 34-101 AFMAN 34-152 Standard Operating Procedures Flight Instructor Standardization Guide

Flight Manuals

Cessna 172 Pilot Operating Handbook G1000 VHF NAV-COM Guide Cessna C-182RG

Test Material

Annual Instrument Exam Annual Standardization Exam Local General Knowledge Test Test 172SP Test 182RG Test 1584C Answer Sheet Aero Club Patterns Arrival & Departure Local Area Procedures

How are we doing?

Share your feedback about this facility through the Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) Website.

REDBIRD - MCX FLIGHT SIMULATOR

The Redbird MCX is a superior-quality, full motion, feature-rich Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD). With standard features such as wrap-around visuals, a fully enclosed cockpit, quick-change configurations, scenario-based training compatibility and of course an electric motion platform, the MCX serves up a level of realism that is simply unavailable in other training devices on the market.

PILOT RESOURCES

Note: Emergency Procedures, Pre-Solo Written, and Solo Navigation Exam, are in the Airman Information Packet linked above in Pilot Resources Links.

NOTE: Emergency Procedures, Pre-Solo Written, and Solo Navigation Exam, are in the Airman Information Packet linked above in Flight Resources Links section.

HOURS OF OPERATION

7 Days a Week 8am-9pm

Bldg. 1722 Hanscom AFB 01731

Marc Vaillancourt Aero Club Manager 781-225-5849

[email protected]

Take off with the Hanscom Aero Club!

Learn to fly, have fun, and soar into your future as a private, instrument, or commercial pilot!

The Aero Club is one of the best in the Air Force, featuring on-line weather information, Flight Schedule Pro online scheduling for aircraft, modern classrooms, video/DVD equipment, comprehensive aviation library, full motion flight simulator, and a well-stocked Pilot Shop. We teach ground school and airplane classes for Private and Commercial Pilot licenses and Instrument Rating. Our well-maintained fleet consists of Piper Warriors PA28-161 for instrument training, and Piper Arrows PA28R-201 for commercial training. Aircraft are available for rental with the proper licensing and certifications.

Open to Active Duty, Reserve and retired military members and their dependents, DoD personnel, civil service employees, Hanscom Air Force Base contractor personnel, recipients of VA benefits and Civil Air Patrol members.

Monthly safety meetings are held in the Aero Club classroom the third Wednesday of the month starting at 5:30pm.

Fly High with Falcon

Experience the thrill of aviation with Falcon Aeroclub. Explore the skies and embark on exciting aerial adventures.

At Falcon Aeroclub, we offer a compelling combination of safety-first practices, aviation expertise from certified instructors, a passionate and supportive community, accessibility for all levels of enthusiasts, and a top-tier, diverse fleet of meticulously maintained aircraft. Join us to experience the thrill of flight, connect with fellow aviation lovers, and embark on an aviation journey where safety, excellence, and accessibility are our hallmarks.

Why Falcon?

At Falcon Aeroclub, we are passionate about aviation. Join us and embark on an exciting aviation journey today.

[email protected]

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Aero Club Directory

JB Elmendorf- Richardson Aero Club 10286 Taxi Way # P ,Hanger 7 Comm: 907-753-4167 www.jberaeroclub.com

Beale AFB Aero Club Arnold Ave, Bldg.1232 Comm: 530-749-7695 Email: Jaclyn.fleming2.us.af.mil https://www.bealefss.com/aero-club/

Edwards AFB Aero Club Jones Road., Bldg.320 Comm: 661-275-2376 https://edwardsfss.com/recreation/aero-club www.facebook.com/edwardsaerclub

March AFB Aero Club 2355 Graeber St. #11, Comm: 951-655-3875 https://marchfss.com/fun-recreation/aeroclub/

Travis AFB Aero Club 3000 Baumann Road Comm: 707-374-0081 Email: [email protected] https://travisaeroclub.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TravisAero

Peterson AFB Aero Club 325 Hamilton Ave Hangar 133, Comm: 719-556-4319 or 719-556-4310 https://www.21fss.com/about/aero-club

United States Air Force Academy Aero Club Airfield Drive, Bldg. 9222 Comm: 719-333-4542 https://www.usafasupport.com/aero-club.html

Dover AFB Aero Club 1360 Las Vegas Street Comm: 302-677-6365 https://www.doverfss.com/aero-club

Eglin AFB Aero Club 200 Escambia Road, Bldg. 898 Comm: 850-882-5148 Email: [email protected] https://www.eglinlife.com/aeroclub/index.html and http://www.eglinaeroclub.com/

Robins AFB Aero Club Perimeter Road, Bldg. 1896   Comm: 478-926-4867 https://robinsfss.com/aero-club/ https://facebook.com/RobinsAeroClub/

Hanscom AFB Aero Club 27 Robbins Road, Bldg. 1722 Comm: 781-225-5849 Email: [email protected] https://www.hanscomfss.com/aero-club

Offutt AFB Aero Club Bldg.306 Comm: 402-294-3385 https://www.Offutt55FSS.com/aero-club

Cannon AFB Aero Club Hanger 19 Comm: 575-904-4588 Email: [email protected] https://www.cannonforce.com/aero-club https://www.facebook.com/CannonAFBAeroClub/

Holloman AFB Aero Club 420 Delaware Ave, Bldg. 283 Comm: 575-572-3752 Email: [email protected] https://www.hollomanfss.com/aero

Kirkland AFB Aero Club 3400 Clark Ave., Hanger 333 Comm: 505-846-1072 Email: [email protected] https://kirtlandforcesupport.com/aero-club/ https://kirtlandflightcenter.org/

Kadena AFB Aero Club Schilling Community Center , Bldg. 455 Comm: +81 80-6493-6299 Email: [email protected] https://kadenafss.com/aeroclub/ https://www.facebook.com/KadenaAeroClub/

Yokota AFB Aero Club Tower Bldg. 4304 Comm: 011813117558988 Email: [email protected]

If you find a link or information that needs to be updated, please send us an email at Update the Aero Club Directory  

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Accessibility

Readable experience, visually pleasing experience, easy orientation, accessibility statement.

• myairforcelife.com
• April 16, 2024

Compliance status

We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email

Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all of the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside of it.

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Disability profiles supported in our website

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• Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
• Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
• Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

Browser and assistive technology compatibility

We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers), both for Windows and for MAC users.

Notes, comments, and feedback

Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs, there may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to

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Aero Clubs Offer Adventure, Fun in the Friendly Skies

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Air Force Gen. Curtis LeMay, the first commander of Strategic Air Command and later the fifth chief of staff of the Air Force, was known for ‘management by wandering’ at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, said Eric Treland, the Air Force Aero Club program manager.

One night on a walk, Treland said, LeMay saw a light on in a hangar, where he found young airmen restoring a light airplane.

LeMay “was a man who always liked anything mechanical,” Treland said. “He looked at what they were doing, and he knew the importance of flight. He said, ‘If we’re going to do this, let’s do this right.’ In 1950, he sanctioned the first official Aero Club at Offutt AFB, which is now called the LeMay Aero Club.”

Almost 70 years later, Air Force aero clubs, under the direction of the Air Force Services Activity, are operating at 16 installations worldwide.

‘Great Opportunity’

“It’s a great opportunity to learn and fly general aviation aircraft in a military environment, where the safety record exceeds the general aviation world,” said Air Force Maj. Derrick Hodges, the AFSVA’s aero operations and safety club director. “We have great facilities, great instructors, great people and most importantly, it’s a family environment. We truly do take care of each other in aero clubs to make sure everyone has a great time flying and learning about aviation.”

Aero clubs are open to active duty, reserve, Guard and retired military members and their families, as well as Defense Department civilians and Civil Air Patrol members. Members must be at least 16 years old and have a medical certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly solo.

Members with no flight experience may earn a private pilot’s certificate in as few as six to seven months. Aero club costs vary by installation and could range between $5,000 and $12,000, based on time commitment, the type of aircraft and fuel costs, Treland said. Members will pilot light general aviation aircraft.

Training is divided into ground and flight school. Members can complete the ground school in the classroom or online. The private pilot flight school consists of a minimum of 35 hours of flight training 20 hours with an instructor and 15 hours solo.

“Members of the aero club are those who want to fly,” Treland said. “They’re passionate about aviation. It helps them understand the Air Force mission of Fly, Fight and Win in Air, Space and Cyberspace, and it helps many of them relate directly to their mission.”

‘Totally Awesome’

Hodges saw the benefits of aero clubs firsthand when he was stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. “It gave our young airmen, who already were flyers in C-130s, but didn’t hold pilot positions, an opportunity to enjoy their love of aviation by flying in one of our Cessnas,” he said. “[The base has] really good airplanes and it is a really safe environment for enlisted crew members to learn to fly and gain a pilot’s perspective.”

“They also offered night flights over Tokyo for $99, and on a moonlit night, you could see Mount Fuji. I thought that was totally awesome,” he added.

Hodges also saw how the Yokota Aero Club strengthened the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness: physical, mental, social and spiritual.

“The mental and spiritual portion really sticks out for me,” Hodges said. “It’s a chance for them to just release and get to do something that’s a stress reliever. We work extremely hard during the week, and just to go out and do something stress-free like fly an airplane reinforces the benefits of Comprehensive Airman Fitness. It’s a wonderful thing to get airborne and soar like a bird.”

Since aero clubs are nonappropriated funded activities, they generate revenue to support themselves, he said.

“Our patrons pay for it, and as long as the installations provide support for their aero clubs, they will take care of themselves,” Hodges said. “Every base should have an aero club because of what it brings to our airmen and their families -- the opportunity to fly in a safe environment for a good price.”

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Aero Club 

• Hours of Operation Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm Sunday & Holidays: Closed The Aero Club is open 7 days a week by appointment only.
• Contact Bldg. 1360 - Las Vegas Street (302) 677-6365

Flight and Ground Training 

The Aero Club has served military communities since 1987. The U.S. Air Force sponsors this dynamic organization that provides its members with the least expensive flying and training possible. While maintaining  the highest standards of safety the Aero Club operates a fleet of 7 aircrafts  that are available for rent  or flight training.  The Aero Club staff can administer all FAA flight and mechanic knowledge tests. Appointments are required for all tests.  VA Benefits and Tuition Assistance Is available.

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The Complete Guide to Aer Lingus AerClub

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Table of Contents

About Aer Lingus

Aer lingus fare classes, aer lingus business class aircraft, how to earn aer lingus avios, what are aer lingus avios worth, how to redeem aer lingus avios for maximum value, aer lingus aerclub, the elite status program, aer lingus aerclub recapped.

Aer Lingus is the flag carrier of Ireland. The airline goes back to 1936 when the carrier was called Aer Lingus Teoranta.

When you participate in the AerClub, the loyalty program of Aer Lingus, you earn Avios that are redeemable for award flights on Aer Lingus, as well as its partners British Airways and Iberia. You can even transfer Avios between these programs for free.

Here’s your guide to Aer Lingus and its frequent-flyer program.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Aer Lingus flies to nearly 100 destinations in 23 countries, including the United States.

Combined with its partners, you’ll be able to fly to about 150 destinations. The airline operates under three brands: Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus UK and Aer Lingus Regional.

Aer Lingus operates direct flights from Dublin and Shannon airports, as well as from Manchester, England, to the following U.S. cities.

From Dublin

Hartford, Connecticut.

Los Angeles.

Newark, New Jersey.

Orlando, Florida.

Philadelphia.

San Francisco.

Washington.

From Shannon

From Manchester

When booking transatlantic Aer Lingus flights, you’ll have a choice of several fare classes: Saver, Smart, Flex, Business and Business Flex. The higher the fare you purchase, the more extras will be included.

Each fare type includes the following items:

Carry-on bag (22 pounds/10 kilograms).

Small personal carry-on item.

Complimentary meal.

No change fees.

Checked bag (one 50 pounds/23 kilograms bag in economy or three 50 pounds/23 kilograms bags in business class).

Advance seat selection.

Eligible for a credit voucher.

Eligible for a cash refund (minus the fees).

Dedicated check-in line.

Airport lounge access.

Lie-flat seats.

Complimentary Wi-Fi (on Airbus A330 and Airbus A321neo Aer Lingus aircraft).

Luxury dining.

Standby for earlier flight.

Fast Track through security at Dublin Airport.

Refundable fare (minus 15% and fees).

Business Flex

Fully refundable fare.

Aer Lingus operates three types of planes on its transatlantic routes: Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A321neo LR.

» Learn more: Aer Lingus business class flight review: Dublin to Boston

Aer Lingus A321neo business class

Just 16 lie-flat beds are available in business class on the Aer Lingus Airbus A321neo plane. The seats are arranged in 2-2 and 1-1 configurations in a single-aisle cabin.

Aer Lingus A330-200 business class

Aer Lingus doesn’t operate a ton of routes with an Airbus A330-200, but it’s still possible you might fly this aircraft between Ireland and the United States, especially on routes from Dublin to either Los Angeles or San Francisco.

This business-class cabin features 23 seats arranged in a 1-2-2 or 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are 22 inches wide and provide 58 inches of pitch.

Aer Lingus A330-300 business class

The largest aircraft in the fleet, Airbus A330-300 more commonly operates Aer Lingus flights to and from the United States. The seats are the same size as its A330-200 counterpart, but because it’s larger, you’ll find 30 lie-flat seats arranged in a 1-2-1 or 1-2-2 configuration.

Aer Lingus AerClub members earn Avios, the same currency shared by British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Vueling Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.

Earn by flying

You can earn AerClub Avios by flying Aer Lingus and its partners, such as British Airways and United Airlines.

On Aer Lingus flights, the number of Avios you’ll earn is based on how much you spend on the ticket and the currency you used to pay for the flight:

3 Avios per 1 euro.

4 Avios per 1 British pound.

3 Avios per U.S. dollar.

2 Avios per Canadian dollar.

If you fly British Airways or United, you’ll earn Avios based on the purchased fare class and the percentage of the distance flown.

Earn by spending on credit cards

Chase issues the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card . It earns 3 Avios per dollar spent on Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and LEVEL; 2 Avios per dollar spent on hotel accommodations purchased directly from hotels; and 1 Avios per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The current sign-up bonus is: Limited time offer! Earn 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. 5x Avios on up to $10k in gas, grocery stores, and dining purchases for first 12 months!

» Learn more: Is the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Card worth its annual fee?

Earn by transferring points

AerClub is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Points transfer at a ratio of 1:1 in both cases.

If you have Marriott Bonvoy points, you can transfer them to AerClub at a ratio of 3:1, with a bonus of 5,000 Avios for every 60,000 Marriott points converted at once.

Transfer Avios from partners

You can transfer Avios between all four loyalty programs that earn Avios as their currency: Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Executive Club , Iberia Plus and Qatar Privilege Club . Avios transfer at a ratio of 1:1 from all four programs.

Use avios.com to transfer Avios from either British Airlines or Iberia to Aer Lingus. If you need to transfer Avios from Qatar, use British Airways as an intermediary first and then follow the next step to transfer them to Aer Lingus.

NerdWallet values British Airways Avios to be worth 1 cent each. Because Avios can be transferred from British Airways to Aer Lingus, we’ll say that they’re worth the same. Keep this in mind and use it as a target value when redeeming AerClub Avios for flights.

You can redeem Aer Lingus Avios for awards on Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia only, so you don’t have many options to maximize the value. However, you still can get a decent deal redeeming Avios for award flights.

To redeem AerClub Avios, you have to log in on avios.com with your Aer Lingus credentials. The redemption rates depend on the distance you fly, the season and the class of service.

Aer Lingus publishes a calendar of peak and off-peak travel dates , so you always know which dates require fewer Avios.

U.S. East Coast to Ireland on off-peak dates

One of the best Avios redemptions through Aer Lingus is for award flights between the East Coast of the United States and Ireland during off-peak season. The one-way mileage rate is just 13,000 Avios in economy class and 50,000 Avios in business class. You’ll pay $116 to $138 in taxes, but it’s still a great deal.

Ireland routes in the East Coast travel zone include:

Minneapolis.

U.S. East Coast to Europe on off-peak dates

If Ireland isn’t your destination, you can connect to other European cities that Aer Lingus flies to for an additional 4,000 Avios. So, you’ll redeem 17,000 Avios for an Aer Lingus economy flight anywhere in Europe on off-peak dates.

U.S. West Coast to Ireland on off-peak dates

West Coast residents can take advantage of some great redemption rates on routes to and from Ireland. A one-way economy flight is going to cost you 16,250 Avios, and a business class flight will cost 62,500 Avios.

Ireland routes in the West Coast travel zone include:

Status levels and benefits

Launched in 2016, AerClub is quite a newcomer to the airline loyalty program scene. It has four membership levels: Green, Silver, Platinum and Concierge. If you sign up for the AerClub program, you automatically become a Green member, so technically there are three elite tiers.

Depending on your elite level, benefits include priority check-in and boarding, lounge access, complimentary bags, complimentary upgrades, free Wi-Fi and waived change fees.

You can find the full list of perks broken down by status tier on the Air Lingus Tiers and Benefits page .

How to earn Aer Lingus elite status

Achieving elite status in the AerClub program requires earning Tier Credits, which are awarded based on your route and fare type. The more Tier Credits you earn within a qualification period, the more you progress in the elite levels. Keep in mind that only Aer Lingus ticketed and operated flights earn Tier Credits.

The qualification period is based on when you join AerClub, so make sure to remember the date you signed up as a member. The Tier Credits reset to zero annually on your anniversary date.

European flights earn a different number of Tier Credits than transatlantic flights ticketed and operated by Aer Lingus.

Here’s how many Tier Credits you’ll earn on flights within Europe:

And here’s how many Tier Credits you’ll earn on transatlantic flights:

Keep in mind that the earning rates will change for travel after Oct. 1, 2023.

As a relatively new airline loyalty program, AerClub still has a long way to go. Members can redeem Aer Lingus Avios for award flights on Aer Lingus or its partners. The option to transfer Avios to British Airways, Iberia and Qatar also greatly expands their use.

(Top photo courtesy of Aer Lingus)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Pilot Proficiency

Welcome to the Flying Club

If you’re looking for a way to shave your flying costs and socialize more with other pilots, joining a flying club can be a great option..

There are lots of ­reasons you might consider joining a flying club. The most often cited centers on the economics: A flying club with lots of members can offer many of the benefits of aircraft ownership without the hassles or expense of being totally responsible for the upkeep of one. At the same time, the rates a club charges for the use of its aircraft are almost always less than what you can find at the local FBO or flight school.

Maybe you fall into the category of a pilot who has earned his Private certificate and now you’re wondering what to do with your newfound freedom as a licensed pilot. Perhaps renting your school’s airplanes isn’t ideal because students are clogging the schedule. And although you’ve combed the pages of Trade-A-Plane , you can’t quite justify the cost of buying an airplane yet.

Of course, that’s not the only type of pilot who should consider joining a flying club. Maybe you used to own an airplane but decided to sell it. Or, even if you still own an airplane, you could think of membership in a flying club as cheap insurance for those times when your airplane is down for maintenance but you still want to fly. Most clubs charge a fee to join and nominal monthly dues, which gives you access to the club’s fleet of airplanes.

Even a brand-new student pilot can benefit from the flying club experience, since many clubs allow zero-time pilots to join and learn in club airplanes with club-approved instructors. The benefits of choosing this path are that learning to fly in a club airplane will normally be less costly than training with a local flight school, and the instructors in most clubs are members as well. That means there’s a better chance that your early mentors will still be around long after you’ve earned your ticket — and will probably even become your friends.

A while back when I was weighing my options about where and what to fly — and how I could get the best return for my money — I looked at everything within my budget. A few of the local flight schools I contacted flat-out told me they didn’t want to rent their airplanes because their schedules were chockablock with students. Great for them, bad for me.

I talked with a friend about going in on a share in a Bonanza , but I hesitated pulling the trigger, mainly because I’d just bought a house and most of my savings was gone. Besides, I had another option in mind that I wanted to take a closer look at first.

I’d been interested in the idea of joining a flying club for a long time. A few years ago I joined a boating club on the lake near my home and loved it. This club had four boats that members could schedule in advance. I paid one upfront fee at the beginning of the season, and after that the only extra cost was for the gas I used. The owner of the marina who formed the club told me he based some of the economics for the concept on what he’d heard and read about NetJets , the business jet fractional ownership firm founded in the 1980s by financial whiz Richard Santulli.

Club Economics I contacted a few of the clubs in my area and quickly learned the ones I liked the best had waiting lists. I put my name on the list of the one I preferred, the 150th Aero Flying Club at Morristown Airport in New Jersey, and waited. Lucky for me, the club was in the process of buying a fourth airplane, and that meant it was expanding the membership from fewer than 60 pilots to about 70. I was in.

Each flying club has its own way of making the dollars and cents work, but here’s how my club does it: New members pay a one-time, nonrefundable fee of $250, plus a deposit, refundable upon resignation from the club, of $1,500. Each month, members pay $70 for the dues. The club has four IFR-capable Cessnas, with hourly rates that are wet (meaning the fuel is included) and based on tach time, not Hobbs — which can save a pilot a lot of money over the long run. Hourly rates for the airplanes are quite reasonable too: It costs $80 an hour to fly the lowliest of the bunch, a Cessna 172N; $92 for a slightly nicer 172N; $105 for a more modern 172SP (by far the most popular airplane in the fleet); and $130 for a 182RG.

Members are allowed to reserve an airplane for up to two weeks at a time. A maximum of four simultaneous reservations are allowed, which helps keep available aircraft slots from filling up. All scheduling is done online through a password-protected area at aircraftclubs.com .

The schedule can get pretty full in the summer, but because of the reservation limits, reserving an airplane for a long weekend or even a couple of weeks is no problem as long as the member can plan in advance. As is the case with many flying clubs, members of the 150th Aero Club are named on the aircraft registrations. That makes me and everybody else in the club a 1/70th owner of four airplanes.

Besides having access to multiple aircraft, there is also a social aspect to belonging to a club that I really enjoy. The 150th Aero Club was founded in the 1960s by a group of light airplane enthusiasts who were members of the 150th Air National Guard, giving the club its name. I’m told that in the past the club was a much closer-knit group — but these days members still manage to get together for dinners, and also hold a club picnic each June and fly with each other often.

Many of the club’s social and flying events are arranged by the vice president, Stephen Taylor, who caught the aviation bug a few years ago and tries to get up in the air with other members as much as he can.

“I love flying, and I love interacting with everybody in the club,” he said. “It’s so much fun to be around a group of people who love aviation as much as I do and want to fly together.”

The Mega Club There are about 300 nonprofit flying clubs operating in the United States, according to flying-club.org. The largest is Plus One Flyers in San Diego, which has nearly 1,000 members and 61 airplanes based at Montgomery Field (KMYF), McClellan-­Palomar Airport (KCRQ), Gillespie Field (KSEE) and Ramona Airport (KRNM). That’s a big club. So big, in fact, that Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller made a personal visit to Plus One last year to learn about what makes the group so successful. He came away so impressed that he encouraged other clubs to follow Plus One’s lead — and that’s exactly what’s happening, said club Vice President Dave Eby.

“Our model is much different from most other clubs’,” Eby said. “We’re a nonprofit 502(c) organization, but we operate more like a business.”

Founded 26 years ago, the club’s philosophy centers on making dues affordable, offering a large variety of aircraft and keeping insurance costs low. Here’s how it works: Club members pay a one-time, upfront fee of $99 and monthly dues of $33.50. After attending a safety briefing, a new member gets checked out with one of the club’s instructors in the type of airplane he or she will fly. Hourly rates are wet and based on Hobbs time. Eby estimated its rental prices are about 25 percent less than what nearby flight schools charge.

The diversity of the Plus One fleet is truly something to behold. Members have the choice of flying Cessna, Piper, Beech and Cirrus singles, Beech and Piper twins, LSAs and even a nice Decathlon or Citabria. Rates start at $78 an hour for a Cessna 150 and top out at $295 an hour for a Piper Malibu .

Online scheduling is done through schedulemaster.com, where members are allowed five reservations at a time (plus one more if it’s made the same day). There is no restriction on how long an airplane can be reserved. Eby said there is also no cap on membership, meaning no waiting list to get in. The one catch is that you’ll be billed for a minimum of one hour of flying for each day that you have the airplane scheduled. Another caveat is that the fuel a member buys while away from home base is capped at $6 per gallon. That prevents the club from getting stuck with a large fuel bill because a member decided to pay $8 a gallon for fuel, say, at Las Vegas McCarran International instead of going someplace with cheaper gas — all to avoid paying ramp fees.

The club prides itself on imposing as few rules and restrictions as possible. It requires a check ride with a club instructor once per year, but that’s about it. There is one ironclad restriction, however: no flying to Mexico. “With everything that’s going on down there right now, we don’t want our airplanes going there,” Eby said. “One of our sister clubs had a Cessna 182 stolen right off the ramp at a Mexican airport.”

Eby said Plus One Flyers has a good relationship with its insurance provider, Chartis Aerospace, and as a result, members are provided with $1 million of liability coverage and $100,000 per passenger and no subrogation (meaning the insurance company has agreed not to come after individual members in case of a mishap). The club maintains a special insurance fund, Eby said, that is designed to cover 80 percent of a member’s $500 deductible. “That means if you go out and wreck a Cirrus on the runway, the most you’ll be out of pocket is a hundred bucks,” he said. “Our members appreciate having that peace of mind.”

By this point you’re probably wondering how in the world Plus One Flyers manages to offer members access to a fleet of more than 60 airplanes. Unlike traditional flying clubs, which usually own the airplanes in the fleet, Plus One leases airplanes from owners, who then become club members. Aircraft owners pay a management fee of $5 per flight hour and in turn lease their aircraft to Plus One, which cuts them a check for the hours flown. Most owners, said Eby, place their aircraft under an LLC, which provides certain tax benefits.

The check owners receive at the end of each month can help significantly offset costs. Eby said one Cirrus owner who joined the club and flies about 100 hours a year estimated that his hourly cost of ownership went from $400 down to less than $200 thanks to the revenue he receives from the club. The one downside of the arrangement is that once an aircraft owner joins the club, he or she is on an equal playing field with all other members. In other words, if an owner’s airplane has been booked for a two-week trip to Reno during the same time he wants to take the family to Catalina Island, he’ll have to find a different airplane to fly — the good news is he has 60 from which to choose.

Flying Club Roots Flying clubs are almost as old as aviation itself. The concept really took off after Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 solo Atlantic crossing, when it seems everybody wanted to learn. In doing some research, I was able to find information about scores of flying clubs that existed in the 1930s through the 1950s. They all operated much the way clubs do today. For example, in the August 1954 issue of Flying, I read about a flying club in Ohio that charged members a $50 fee upfront, which gave them access to a fleet of several well-maintained J-3 Cubs and Aeronca Champs. There was a $15 a month service fee, and the rental rate was $3.50 an hour for the Cub.

Besides private flying clubs, many aviation companies, including Garmin and Cessna, have clubs for employees. The largest employee club is the Boeing Employees Flying Association in the Puget Sound area in Washington. This nonprofit club has 21 airplanes including Cessna and Piper singles, a ­ Cirrus SR20 and even a Cessna 210 on floats. The club is intended for Boeing employees, but anybody can join. Share prices start at $550 with rental rates in a Cessna 172SP averaging $125 an hour. For comparison, one flight school in the Seattle area that we checked with charges $160 an hour for a similar 172 .

Military flying clubs also abound, but to join you normally have to have some affiliation with the armed forces. Sometimes, membership in the Civil Air Patrol can suffice. The Jacksonville Navy Flying Club in Florida, as an example, offers the usual Cessna and Piper singles you’d expect to find at civilian clubs, but also has a Beech T-34B Mentor in its fleet.

An obvious benefit to joining a flying club versus buying your own airplane or even co-owning with a small group is that all maintenance is overseen by the club officers who are appointed to those positions. In some clubs, officers are paid for their time, while in others they receive compensation in the form of free flying. Either way, it frees the rank-and-file members from worrying that a repair will far exceed the money he or she has budgeted, as well as the hassle of having to call the shop and schedule repairs. Likewise, database updates, routine maintenance, annual inspections and all record keeping are overseen by club members who take on those responsibilities. And if you enjoy changing oil or fixing flat tires or keeping books, by all means, sign up to become a club officer.

Of course, there are some downsides to belonging to a flying club. One is that another member might have already booked an airplane you want to fly — or worse, none are available. You’re also bound to have personality clashes in a large club, and possibly even political infighting among members or factions. That’s all about learning how to get along with people, and not everybody will. You might also run into members who are serial troublemakers — guys who will constantly forget to lock the aircraft doors or leave trash strewn in the cockpit or who won’t call for fuel after they’ve flown. Sometimes, the best course of action in such cases is to politely ask — or even force — the offending member to resign.

If a member of Plus One Flyers does something dumb, he or she will normally be required to write about the experience in the club newsletter. “We follow Flying’s I Learned About Flying From That concept,” Eby said. The offending member, he said, must use his or her real name. If a member refuses, he or she is out of the club.

Novel Approaches A brand-new concept that falls under the flying club umbrella is the recently formed Lakeland Aero Club in central Florida. Started by a group of pilots and other aviation supporters headed by Gulf Coast Avionics’ Rick Garcia, the club’s goal is to help young people earn their pilot certificates. The concept goes beyond traditional training by immersing the young adults in the club, not only the flying aspects but also in running a business by serving as club board members. If the students, mostly from the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, can’t afford to fly, there is a scholarship fund to help them out.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to join a flying club, it’s an experience many pilots can benefit from — and not merely in terms of the money you’ll save. Being around other pilots is a great way to learn and grow. Depending on your style, you can choose to lay low and do your flying alone, or you can recruit groups of pilots to come with you, and even get involved by joining a committee and running for a position on the club board.

Pilots are good people, and the ones I’ve met through my flying club certainly fit the description. There’s just something about hanging out with others who share your life’s passion that can make you feel more connected to this world. And once you join a club, you’ll probably never again ask yourself the question, What am I going to do with my license now? Once you’re in, the possibilities are endless.

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Your Guide To The Aer Lingus AerClub

Posted by The Flight Detective | Dec 4, 2016 | Airlines | 18

February 2018: Things to note when booking an award flight using AerClub Avios.

Tiers and Tier Credits

There are four tiers in the new programme, which are Green, Silver, Platinum and Concierge. Tier credits are earned when flying Aer Lingus and not when flying with partner airlines. Members will require 301 tier credits to move from Green to Silver. Platinum requires 601 tier credits and Concierge requires 1,050 tier credits.

European flights are offered in three fare types called Saver, Plus and Advantage. These earn 15, 25 and 50 tier credits per flight respectively. Deeply discounted fares in A, Z, W and T class earn 7.5 tier credits per flight.

Transatlantic flights offer four fare types called Low, Flex, Business and Business Flex. These earn 50, 75, 125 and 175 tier credits per flight respectively. A single return flight in Business Class is enough to get a Green level flyer to Silver in one trip.

Interestingly there is no accounting for distance. A short 6 hour hop across to Boston will earn the same level of tier credits as a 12 hour flight to San Francisco. Anyone chasing status would be advised to fly the shortest and cheapest flight possible.

Membership Tier Benefits

Benefits are awarded as you progress to a higher tier. In a hangover from the previous Gold Circle Club, lounge access is available once you reach Silver level, though access for a person travelling with you is not available until you reach Platinum.

Collecting Avios Points on Aer Lingus

Avios can be earned on all flights with Aer Lingus and points are earned based on your spend. There are different levels of earning depending on the currency your flight was paid in. Customers at the higher Aer Lingus tiers will earn a 25%, 50% and 75% bonus depending on which level you are at.

What is not clear is whether the Avios are earned just on the air fare or if it is based on the total cost of the ticket. On certain fares, you pay extra for baggage and seating so I would expect these to count towards earning.

Collecting Avios Points on the Ground

A number of partners are available for earning outside of flying. Agoda, Rocketmiles and Kaligo are partners for earning on hotel stays. The latter two can offer outstanding amounts of Avios for hotel stays and I use them regularly.

Members can also earn with Aer Lingus Holidays, Appleby Jewellers and Kildare Village shopping. It is expected that more partnerships will be announced in due course with the large Irish supermarket chain SuperValu as one of these.

The Avios eStore is available for online earning. Retailers such as Eason, Argos, Apple, Debenhams, PC World and more are featured here. Keep these in mind when shopping as the Avios earning for AerClub is pretty decent.

Collecting Avios Points on Partner Airlines

This is the most important part to take into account, especially if you are a member of the British Airways Executive Club. There are some instances where earning with AerClub will net you more Avios than earning with the Executive Club and vice versa. AerClub members can earn with British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and United Airlines and the charts are below.

Collecting Avios Points on British Airways

Flying British Airways will earn you exactly the same number of Avios in each programme. This means that if you are British Airways Blue or AerClub Green you will earn the same amount of Avios regardless of which programme you choose.

People in the Executive Club who are Bronze, Silver or Gold will earn bonus Avios in their programme at 25%, 50% and 100% respectively. This means flights for these people should be credited to the Executive Club.

Collecting Avios Points with Cathay Pacific

With Cathay Pacific the tables are also virtually identical with a number of key differences. Premium Economy fares in W class earn 110% Avios in the Executive Club versus 100% with AerClub. H class full fare Economy Class tickets earn 100% Avios in the Executive Club but just 50% in AerClub.

L,K,M,V fares earn 50% Avios in AerClub and yet are only worth 25% of flown miles in the Executive Club. N,Q,S don’t earn any Avios in AerClub but do earn 25% in the Executive Club. Seasoned collectors of Avios should pay attention to their booking class when deciding where to credit flights.

Collecting Avios Points with Qantas

Similar to Cathay Pacific, collecting with Qantas is similar in both programmes with a number of differences. Premium Economy tickets in all fare classes earn 110% of miles flown with AerClub and 100% in the Executive Club.

K,L,M,V,S fares in Economy Class will earn 50% in AerClub and just 25% in the Executive Club. N,O,Q,G earn the same 25% in both programmes. Once again, attention should be paid to the fare class when deciding where to credit your points. A small note to Aer Lingus – the Qantas logo you’re using on the AerClub site is two iterations in the past – might want to update that!

Collecting Avios Points with United

British Airways does not have any relationship with United Airlines so any flights on that carrier should be credited to AerClub.

Spending Avios Points

Once you have a nice pile of Avios you will want to spend them. It is possible to book reward flights on Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia using a portal on the Avios web site. The spending zones and amount of Avios required for peak and off peak flights are identical to that offered at British Airways.

The one major difference is the caveat regarding flights from Dublin and Shannon to Boston. These flights are under 3,000 miles in distance meaning they are in Zone 4 and you can book reward flights at this level in the Executive Club. AerClub have moved Boston further away and stipulated Zone 5, so you are best redeeming for these flights directly by calling British Airways if you are a member of the Executive Club.

Interestingly, the AerClub has no other options to use Avios except on reward flights. The glaring omission is the fact you can’t use your Avios to upgrade on Aer Lingus flights.

Simplicity… In Some Ways

Online, the portal is quite a simple layout. Your tier points and Avios balance is provided for you along with your card a membership number. My Trips lists all your previous flights. Interestingly my account contains all my flights with Aer Lingus over the previous year even though I booked them all through British Airways and credited the flights there too. Information sharing at its best.

For a programme with over 100,000 members, it is inexplicable to me as to why membership numbers comprise of 16 digits. There is no way anyone is ever going to remember their number and I think this is going to be a pain point for customers in the future. I remember numbers very easily but sixteen digits is a stretch.

Overall Thoughts

AerClub is an excellent enhancement over the previous Gold Circle Club. My major beef with that programme was the inability to earn anything on cheap fares. The year I flew Aer Lingus 24 times and received nothing for my loyalty prompted my switch to the British Airways Executive Club. I will now once again consider them a viable option when planning travel.

Downsides of the new programme are the fact that green members are not issued with a membership card. Virtually all loyalty programmes in retail, food and drink and even many airlines provide you with a tangible card at the base level. Considering the excruciatingly long membership number, I think Aer Lingus have really missed a trick here.

Being prevented from upgrading Aer Lingus flights with Avios is another miss for me, but only a minor one. The ability to move your Avios between Aer Lingus, Iberia and British Airways far outweighs this missing benefit. Overall, I’m quite pleased with the new programme and hats off to all the people at Aer Lingus for the blood, sweat and tears involved getting this off the ground.

Thank you for reading and I hope you found this guide useful. If you have any comments, questions or corrections, please leave them in the comments below.

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Aviation writer serving arresting takes on flying, loyalty, travel and airline history. There is a general focus on British Airways, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qantas, Iberia, American Airlines and the other oneworld alliance airlines, plus selected other carriers. The repertoire also includes flight reviews, avgeek articles and interesting videos from around the web.

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It took one year for Aerlingus to sort my loyalty card out!!! Terrible support for AerClub – calling never got me anywhere. Lack of Premium Economy on their flights is a huge miss. I have been flying non-stop for two years now and never get upgraded!!!! There is no real rewards for being an AerClub member – BA do a much better job so I’ll be switching to them. I’ve tried so hard to stick with Aerlingus as I love the direct flights to SF but it’s just not enough – their economy seats are just too small….I had a …  Read more »

Yes, a lot of people have found delays and issues with their accounts – I don’t think the switch over went as smoothly as Aer Lingus hoped. Some accounts, including mine, went totally fine. Others did not. I think it’s all sorted now! On your “never get upgraded” – that’s a European thing, European airlines just don’t upgrade you for free as a rule. I’ve been at least Silver with BA for years and I’ve been upgraded a sum total of once. So I wouldn’t expect anything different from BA. You will have that Economy Class issue on any airline, …  Read more »

Question about tier levels. My anniversary date is end November. I will pass the 300 point level in October, moving to the next tier (silver). Will my tier points re-set to zero at end-November? In other words, if I earn a lot of points in Oct and Nov (after reaching next tier level), will they re-set to zero at end-Nov, effectively making them useless? Or does my anniversary date change to the date that I move to the next tier level and I start again at zero from then?

You are correct in your thinking here. When you reach Silver, tier points will continue to be added to your total after that, and then you’ll go to zero on your November anniversary date. Your Silver status will carry on through the next year. This is how most frequent flyer programmes work, because it’s conceivable you’d earn silver and then the added tier points would collect to hopefully to get you to Platinum and beyond. In your case, the extras will be useless as I assume you won’t earn enough to get to Platinum. It is how it is though!

I have not been able to get around Boston to Shannon/Dublin being changed to zone 5 by booking through BA executive club. I have tried twice and both times they quoted me 160,000 points, as opposed to the 100,000 points it would be if they were classified in zone 4. I asked both times what rewards zones the tickets were being based on and both reps said that it was based on the Aer Lingus program. Has anyone been able to get a quote or book anything based on the zone 4 pricing?

That’s interesting, it’s entirely possible it’s changed with the start of AerClub. I booked return flights from Dublin to Boston in Business using Avios before the change and it was 25,000 Avios each way which was a bargain. After the change in points required, it would have been 37,500 each way for 75,000 Avios in Zone 4. That’s what I know it as being. If you are being quoted more, something must have changed. You’re the first person who has reported any difference here from the Executive Club, so I may need to contact them myself and see what the …  Read more »

No problem. Happy to share and will be interested to hear what you learn.

I see that united class k credits at 50%. is that better or worse than crediting to singapore airlines at 100%?

I would expect it would be better to credit to Singapore Airlines. First, Singapore are in Star Alliance and second, 100% is better than 50% in anyone’s book. I hope that helps! Thanks for the comment!

yeah i know that but singapore points expire after 3 years of earning and avios don’t expire as long as you add points to it which is easy with transferring from ultimate rewards through british airways. if i don’t plan on traveling with singapore airlines or don’t think i will be able to use all the points earned is it still better?

Well if you are not planning to fly Singapore, then you’ll be best crediting to BA if you have Avios there already. You’ll likely get more miles in the United programme if you join that. I have one airline loyalty card that I use, which is BA. I credit everything there and only fly carriers where I can earn miles. I’m a member of the AerClub and I’ll credit flights there now also to maximise the Avios. It all depends on your loyalty and plans for the miles really.

How do you credit avois points from united to aerclub. I will be doing a few US internal flights every year but not enough to accumulate free flights. Do I give Aerclub the reference number of the flights.

When you make a booking with United, you would put your Aer Lingus AerClub number into the part where it asks for your frequent flyer details. There is a drop down menu to select it. However, I have heard that none of the United flights have been crediting, but Aer Lingus promise that they do have all the records and they will credit in due course… but it’s been a very long time now. Worth giving it a try though! Let me know if you do and you get your Avios.

I will let you know if it works out.

Most US carriers do not issue membership cards for the base level.

Thank you for letting me know! I have had several airlines issue me with cards at the base level, such as Qantas and British Airways. It definitely varies by carrier. Appreciate the comment!

The Aerlingus AerClub roll-out has not been going very well here is a recent poll https://twitter.com/dsmooney/status/806490919692341249

Well that’s very true! I think it has settled down since then, though some issues remain. Thanks for the comment!

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