Flying from Edinburgh to Dublin on EI3257 schedule departure was at 16.45 arriving at 18.00 on Tuesday the 5th of May. The boarding process started but unfortunately, after we had scanned our boarding cards and had lined up to board the plane, ground staff informed us that there were technical difficulties and the flight was delayed. There was approximately 50 customers and we all sat patiently for an update. Aer Lingus operates another flight at 19.50 and we were informed that there were 28 places available and the ground staff would release a list of passengers being accommodated on it. They were just waiting on instructions from management. So far, so good. Obviously any people travelling with young children, older passengers or anyone needing special assistance should be accommodated first. (Wrong assumption- a family with a young child and an older lady were not). The next six hours were like being in an episode of Fawlty Towers. The ground staff made an announcement for people with checked baggage to approach the gate. As the plane being used is a small propeller plane that is almost everyone. After about 40 minutes with the at least 10 people still in the line they informed that the later plane was now full. All business travels like myself were excluded. I asked a member of ground staff where was the list to which he replied there was none and they allocated seats to people who had luggage in the hold. I informed him, that, it was customary practice for airlines to prioritize seats based on class of ticket purchased (Aerspace, Advantage- type ticket which is the closest you can get to business benefits on regular Aer Lingus European flights) and loyalty in that airline tier program. He replied "I do not care if you are the Managing Director of Aer Lingus everybody gets treated the same here". He added that this was an unusual situation. (Really a plane being delayed in an airport) He was totally overwhelmed. Anytime after this when a passenger enquired what was happening he replied" I know nothing", just like Manuel from Fawlty Towers. We were issued with a 5 pound food voucher at around 4.30, little did we know that this would have to last us till around mid-night. Anyway all shops in Edinburgh Airport close at 8pm as the last departing flight was 20.15. We were first informed that there was a replacement plane being sent over. Next we were told that the original plane would be ready at 10pm and if it was later hotel accommodation would be considered. Anytime anybody went for an update the ground staff would sit and walk to the far end of the airport. Totally comical. To add to the misery people were getting hungry and the automated announcement every 15 minutes of offering burgers, pizzas and coffee and that EDI had your back was infuriating. More like getting your back-up. At last, in came our knight in shinning armour, the manager of the ground staff, or as it turned out the star of the show "Basil". He informed us that the flight was now scheduled to take-off between 11.30pm and 12.30 am but this could change. We asked about hotel accommodation as some of us had been here for 8 hours and there was nowhere to get hot food or drink. He said that was not an option. We asked for more information on the flight status and for clarification on how the seats on the earlier flight were allocated. At this stage he got angry and stated that they had got 28 people off and that his shift was ended and his supervisor had told him to do three hours overtime. One of the ladies asked to speak to his supervisor which he stated was not going to happen. He was not a happy bunny and we got the blunt of his displeasure. At least he was getting paid to be in the airport unlike the rest of us. He sat behind the desk and scowled at anyone who approached him. I wonder if EDI use episodes of Fawlty Towers as training programs for customer care. At last we boarded our plane around 11.30 and were informed that a technician had to be flown in from Dublin on the earlier flight to handle the situation. One customer who had the equivalent of a business class ticket asked for a tea and was told that it was to be paid for. I recently flew from Frankfurt to Singapore where my six year old daughter fainted 2 hours into a 14 hour flight. She subsequently had to go to the hospital twice while in Singapore. To say, that was a better experience then flying through Edinburgh airport is not an understatement. There is absolutely no advantage flying with Aer Lingus, which by the way, has no longer got lounge access in Edinburgh if this is the sought of treatment you get when you spend €283 euro return compared to Ryanair €33.