In early January, I ditched the winter blues for a sun-soaked week in Palm Springs.
Just a couple of hours east of LA, this desert oasis is a magnet for snowbirds craving warmth, Hollywood A-listers escaping the city, and free-spirited creatives drawn to the mystical landscapes.
Add in a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, and you’ve got one of the most vibrant, diverse communities in the U.S.
Palm Springs is just one part of the Greater Palm Springs area – nine distinct “cities” scattered across the Coachella Valley. Whether it’s the polished country club vibes of Indian Wells and La Quinta, the indie boutiques of Cathedral City and Coachella, or the luxe enclaves of Rancho Mirage and Indio, each has its own flavour.
Palm Desert, meanwhile, is a shopping mecca. And at the heart of it all, Palm Springs itself serves up a mix of everything – top-tier restaurants, chic stays and a retro-cool charm that’s impossible to resist.
Getting there: the smooth route via Dublin
Palm Springs has its own airport with regular flights to LA and beyond, but I flew direct to LAX with Aer Lingus (€300 each way in economy). Flying business class meant access to both the Aer Lingus Lounge in Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 and the 51st & Green Lounge past U.S. preclearance.
Speaking of which, one of the biggest perks of flying from Dublin? U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) on Irish soil. It means you land in the U.S. as a domestic passenger—no long immigration lines, just grab your bags and go.
Business Class Perks: The VIP Treatment
From the moment you arrive at the airport, business class is all about convenience: dedicated check-in, fast-track security, priority boarding and standby for an earlier flight.
Luggage? Plenty. You can check in three bags (up to 69kg total) and bring a carry-on (10kg plus a small personal item). For me, that meant bringing my golf clubs – because this trip was mostly about the golf (more on that later).
On Board: Space, Comfort & Tech
Aer Lingus’ Airbus A330-200 is decked out with 23 business class seats in a mix of 1-2-2 and 1-2-1 layouts. The best seat? The ‘throne seat’ by the window, offering max privacy. But honestly, every seat feels like a little cocoon.
What you get:
✅ 22” wide seat with built-in storage for shoes and a laptop
✅ Universal plug socket & USB-A ports
✅ Reading light & water bottle holder
✅ Reclining seat with massage function
✅ Lie-flat bed (6’5” long!)
✅ Retractable dining/work table
Tech & Entertainment: stay connected, stay entertained
Business class comes with complimentary Wi-Fi, which was surprisingly strong even mid-Atlantic (though I did sleep through most of it). Wi-Fi kicks in about 30 minutes after takeoff—something about not interfering with the plane’s systems.
Each seat has a 16-inch HD touchscreen and noise-reducing headphones, with:
🎬 120+ hours of movies & TV series (new releases included)
🎵 Music, podcasts & world audio library
🎮 Interactive games
📚 LinkedIn Learning courses for in-flight upskilling
You can control the screen via the built-in handset, touchscreen, or Aer Lingus’ Play app (download before flying). Bonus: the app saves your progress, so you can pick up your movie exactly where you left off on your next flight.
Dining: elevated comfort food
Forget fussy Michelin-star meals – Aer Lingus business class is all about hearty, Irish-inspired comfort food that is as tasty and filling as a childhood Sunday dinner (albeit way fancier). Passengers get two meals: a three-course dinner and a pre-landing meal or breakfast.
Dinner Highlights:
🍽️ Start with canapés – think saffron-poached prawns with pickled red onions
🥩 Mains might include herb-infused roast pork tenderloin with polenta or braised beef with red wine jus
🧀 Finish with dessert or Irish cheeses
🛏️ On night flights, there’s an Express Tray option – a streamlined meal served all at once, so you can eat quickly and settle in for sleep.
☕ Before landing, a light menu offers brioche sliders, sweet treats, and tea or coffee. If you’re lucky, they’ll have fresh scones with jam and cream – a perfect pre-arrival pick-me-up.
🛎️ Special meals (vegetarian, vegan, kosher, halal, gluten-free, etc.) can be pre-ordered (kosher meals require 48 hours’ notice).
Drinks: cheers to that
Passengers get a complimentary selection of champagne, wines & spirits.
🥂 Champagne: Jean Pernet Tradition Brut NV (for example)
🍷 Red Wines: 2022 Barbera Passito Appassimento (Piemonte, Italy) / 2021 Château Bonnet Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon (Bordeaux, France)
🍇 White Wines: 2024 Chameleon Chenin Blanc (Stellenbosch, South Africa) / 2023 Grüner Veltliner von den Terrassen (Kremstal DAC, Austria)
🍸 Other drinks: Whiskey, gin, vodka, brandy, rum, port, beer, cider, a signature cocktail, and soft drinks.
Arriving in LA & The Drive to Palm Springs
Aer Lingus lands at LAX Terminal B – a bit of a walk to baggage claim, but after grabbing your bags, you’re straight outside. If you’ve rented a car, hop on the free shuttle to the Rent-a-Car Facility (a 20-minute ride).
🚗 Palm Springs is about a two-hour drive. Take the I-10 to Hwy 111, and soon you’ll be cruising through the desert into town.
Fun fact: Palm Springs is exactly 98 miles from LA – a crucial detail back in Hollywood’s Golden Age. Actors under studio contracts couldn’t be more than 100 miles from the set in case they were needed, making Palm Springs the ultimate getaway spot.
Golf Heaven: Where to Tee Off
Let’s be real—the main reason I was in Palm Springs? Golf. And with over 100 courses, it’s a golfer’s paradise.
🏆 Top Picks:
- PGA West (La Quinta) – Home of the Amex Championship, with public tee times from $200
- Desert Willow – As good as any private club, but only $90 a round
With so many courses (and so many golfers), rates stay competitive—great news for anyone looking to play world-class tracks without the eye-watering price tag.
Final Thoughts
Palm Springs delivered exactly what I needed: sunshine, great golf, and a luxe flying experience that made the journey as good as the destination. Whether you’re escaping winter, chasing Hollywood history, or just craving a stylish desert retreat, this place is pure magic.
For all information on Palm Springs, go to Visit Greater Palm Springs.
