Long haul travel - advice needed

Birroc

I haven't done long haul for over 20 years but I have to go to Singapore with work in 2 weeks time. I am planning to fly Dublin-Heathrow-Singapore.

Questions
1) Should I check-in the baggage all the way from Dublin or should I collect them at Heathrow and go all the way out to Check-Ins again? I have time to do so.
2) Related to Q1, will I be allowed to check-in the baggage for the whole trip at Dublin or do I need to request that somehow when booking tickets online?
3) If I am able to check-in the baggage all the way to Singapore, there is no need to for me to check-in at Heathrow - I simply following the 'International Transfers' signs - correct?
4) I will be bringing a laptop - does that mean I cannot have a small carry-on shoulder bag?

Any other tips?

Savman

If its all booked on the one itinerary then you should be ok to check in at Dublin for the whole trip, this would be recommended.

Who did you book with and who are the flights with to Heathrow and onward to Singapore?

Birroc

Savman wrote: »

If its all booked on the one itinerary then you should be ok to check in at Dublin for the whole trip, this would be recommended.

Who did you book with and who are the flights with to Heathrow and onward to Singapore?

Aer Lingus to LHR and I think it will be Singapore Airlines from there.

How exactly will I know if its "one itinerary"? I have suffered lost baggage before so I tend to pick them up where I can before reconnecting.

Savman

if it was booked as one ticket, i.e. using Expedia or a similar travel agent, then usually you can check bags to final destination. Picking up in Heathrow is just adding hassle if there's a simpler way.

Not sure if Aer Lingus interline baggage onto Singapore Airlines but their website should confirm.

edit: you're in luck...

Aer Lingus will through-check baggage as a courtesy onto any carrier that have a baggage agreement in place, upon presentation of documentation of the itinerary showing Aer Lingus and partner carrier flights on the same ticket.
This includes the following airlines: American Airlines, Air France, Air India, Alaska Airlines, Finnair, British Airways, Air China, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Malev, Malaysian, Martin Air, Northwest, Austrian Airlines, Pakistan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, South African Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines, United Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue Airways.

Birroc

Thanks.
So assuming I ignore my distrust of baggage handlers and check the bag all the way to Singapore, should I follow the Interational Transfer signs and check-in for the 2nd flight at the transfer desk?

Todd Gack

Birroc wrote: »

Thanks.
So assuming I ignore my distrust of baggage handlers and check the bag all the way to Singapore, should I follow the Interational Transfer signs and check-in for the 2nd flight at the transfer desk?

No, you'll get the boarding pass for both flights in Dublin so you just need to follow the transfer signs to the correct terminal.

dingding

Regarding the laptop bag, you would need to check with your airlines website.

BA for example allow you to bring a carry on and a laptop bag.

You could also carry the laptop in your normal carry on bag, however you may need a laptop bag when you arrive.

I carry my laptop in a rucksack type bag which is great and keeps my hands free. This has a second compartment and I can carry some clothes in it and it is great for a reekend.

Generally a great selection in TK Maxx for about 30 - 40 euro.

Hanners

If you are looking for particular seats on the LHR-SIN leg (Window, asile) ask for them when checking in at Dublin Airport, as you have a head start on the check in process as your probarbly leaving dublin about 2pm or 3pm check in in London wont be open so you might get lucky and nab the seat you want

roundymac

If you have only one booking reference eg; 2XYZ3W you should be ok and will be able to check your bags at Dub direct to Singapore. On your return journey you may have a check-in agent try and tell you that you will have to collect your bags a LHR and recheck as LHR will be your first point of entry to the UK:eek:. Trying to explain that Dublin is not in the UK can be difficult at times, if your traveling to Cork like I do it can be near impossible sometimes .In Mauritius we had to check our bags as far a LHR and reclaim and recheck them again. Otherwise we would not have been on the flight. A member of the cabin crew who was standing nearby refused to help, saying " he did'nt know".

Birroc

If I have checked in baggage from Dublin to Singapore, will I be expected to stay in the transfer/gate area at LHR or can I leave the airport for a while?

Todd Gack

Birroc wrote: »

If I have checked in baggage from Dublin to Singapore, will I be expected to stay in the transfer/gate area at LHR or can I leave the airport for a while?

No, you can leave the airport if you want but you will have to go through security and immigration again.

robinph

You'll have to go through security again regardless from a flight into the UK from Ireland as they land in a separate part of the terminal.