I had to use the aircoach a few times over the Christmas period and it's a miserable experience. I remember the days of the 5:15 EI flight that got to Dublin for the first bank of European departures. Now it's the 1:00 bus with people coming from pubs, stopping in the chipper, then nattering and cackling all the way to Dublin, for over three hours. The seats are incredibly cramped.
With the Russian Roulette that is going through Heathrow in the winter, there is no option but the Aircoach.