A few days ago I shared how the Pittsburgh Steelers touched down in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday morning ahead of their matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers mentioned to the media that he wished the team had arrived earlier so he could explore the city and I don’t blame him.
TRENDING: The #Steelers have gone viral for not flying their players first class for their international game in Ireland.
Most #NFL teams that play international games charter larger planes so that most of their players can sit in business and first class.pic.twitter.com/onffLYArQV
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 26, 2025
It wasn’t until players from both squads posted videos of their flights that I realized the Steelers and Vikings had two very different travel experiences across the Atlantic.
The Steelers’ Flight: Aer Lingus A330
The Steelers traveled to Dublin on a specially chartered Aer Lingus Airbus A330. This older aircraft transported the team, coaching staff and support personnel for the historic game at Croke Park.
The Vikings’ Flight: Delta A350
By comparison, the Minnesota Vikings made the journey on a new Delta Air Lines Airbus A350, a wide-body plane designed for comfort and efficiency. Its modern cabin and features gave the Vikings a more upscale experience than the Steelers’ chartered flight.
Having flown internationally on both Aer Lingus and Delta on these same aircraft, I can say I definitely prefer the Delta A350. It is one of my favorite planes. I am not as fond of the older and less comfortable A330. From social media videos it appeared that the Steelers still had room to stretch. The A330 was configured 2 by 4 by 2, giving each player an empty seat next to them, and the middle seats allowed players to lie down and rest during the seven-hour flight.
Fan Reactions and Online Buzz
The difference in travel arrangements sparked plenty of discussion among fans and aviation enthusiasts online. Some debated why the teams chose different flights while others focused on the excitement of the NFL’s first regular-season game in Ireland. One fan joked that having three seats to yourself is basically first class.
In the end, Aer Lingus came out on top in style because the Steelers won the game 24-21. Still, the Vikings get to remain in Europe and face the Cleveland Browns in London this weekend, so even though they lost the matchup they get to enjoy the European tour experience.
H/T ViewFromTheWing
