Critics say that the shamrock on the tail might one day be the only thing to distinguish Aer Lingus from Ryanair as the national carrier continues its rush to be a low-cost airline. Thankfully, there are still a few things which prevent Aer Lingus morphing into a sort of Ryanair lite. But they're few and far between.
First, the growing similarities. Like Ryanair, Aer Lingus has abolished business class on most of its European routes. There's no longer any free food, free champagne or free newspapers. The boiled sweets disappeared years ago and the hot towels are history too. The staff are busier and the hostess is less inclined to stop for a chat.
Making a reservation is no longer just a matter of lifting the phone and chatting to a friendly clerk. If you want economy fares you have to do your own online booking.
Checking in is also getting impersonal: you are now encouraged to use an ATM-style service (although it beats ever-lengthening queues in a crowded terminal). Travelling on a cheap ticket, you must haul your own bags and check in all over again if you are making an onward connection.
Cheap return tickets are an anachronism. To the despair of businessmen, Aer LIngus has also ditched doing cargo on most European routes.
In fact, frills are vanishing so fast that it's rumoured the oneworld alliance will soon boot Aer Lingus out.
However, there are some more positive distinguishing touches. Seat reservation still applies, so you avoid that juvenile rush for the window.
Boarding is more civilised (although Ryanair has now made the process a bit more disciplined). There's also a more generous baggage allowance (20 kilograms compared to just 15 kilograms on Ryanair). And, to most minds, the best frill of all is that you fly to an airport which is vaguely near a capital city, and from which you have a wider choice of onward connections to other airports also near capital cities.