aer lingus prices double other airlines

belcampprisoner

looking at off peak prices to america

all other airlines about 600 euros
airlingus 1240 euros


and i could find 500 euros at other search sites for other airlines

snubbleste

So

Huggles

I imagine the Aer Lingus fare is direct flight Dublin-JFK for example and the other sites have one or two connections?

belcampprisoner wrote: »

looking at off peak prices to america

all other airlines about 600 euros
airlingus 1240 euros

and i could find 500 euros at other search sites for other airlines

Gurgle

I'm not going to spend the day comparing (since I'm not actually going) but you can fly Dublin to JFK on 5th April and return on 12th for €529 total including taxes.

Maybe there's something going on for the particular dates you were looking at OP?

juan.kerr

Use the other airlines. Simples.

ncmc

I have to agree with the OP, I find Aer Lingus to be very uncompetitive when it comes to trans-Atlantic flights. I always price around and find Aer Lingus are normally €200-300 per person more expensive on longer haul trans-Atlantic flights.

For example, my husband and I are looking to fly Dublin – Denver end of August, Aer Lingus are quoting €811 per person, a quick look on Skyscanner is showing €603 per person, flying with British Airways. I could get cheaper again, but that is the cheapest with one stop and not a ridiculous layover time.

I would like to fly Aer Lingus, but that’s just too much of a difference for me, it makes me wonder who is flying to America with them? I could excuse it if this was a one off, but it is the same every time I fly to America. Very occasionally, you will hit on a great price in their sale, but those prices are getting rarer and rarer.

Edit: Checked BA directly, and it's even cheaper, €588 per person, so a full €223 per person cheaper than AL.

Gurgle

ncmc wrote: »

I would like to fly Aer Lingus, but that’s just too much of a difference for me, it makes me wonder who is flying to America with them? I could excuse it if this was a one off, but it is the same every time I fly to America. Very occasionally, you will hit on a great price in their sale, but those prices are getting rarer and rarer.

I don't know what bizarre algorithm is used to price the flights, but 3 to 6 months in advance is the best time to get reasonable prices.

Any earlier and they're all 'full' price, any later and its a lottery.

pavb2

I had prices from Aer Lingus direct to Washington and back direct from Boston in June for €560.

This was before Xmas and they haven't come down in sale yet.

I think they're not bad prices but as the above poster says will I be better waiting for the 3 - 6 month window?

ncmc

I think it’s a bit of a lottery with Aer Lingus, I have heard the 3-6 month thing before, but the only time I got a good price from AL was when I was flying to Boston in Sept 2011, I hit on a great sale price in Feb (7 months out) and the price kept rising after that. I have heard of people holding out a bit and getting a better price, but in my experience, I’ve nabbed the best prices by booking early. I left it later than usual to book flights to Italy last year, and ended up paying about €50 per person more than the best early price I’d seen.

I think you just have to keep checking every couple of days, sign up to their emails and when you see a good price, jump on it! When you see a price you’re happy with, book it and try to resist checking back on prices!

celticcrash

Huggles wrote: »

I imagine the Aer Lingus fare is direct flight Dublin-JFK for example and the other sites have one or two connections?

And where are these connections? DublinAtlantic Ocean JFK.
Is there a new airport in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean:D

pavb2

I had prices from Aer Lingus direct to Washington and back direct from Boston in June for €560.

Not having booked to USA before is the above a good price then?

juan.kerr

celticcrash wrote: »

And where are these connections? DublinAtlantic Ocean JFK.
Is there a new airport in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean:D

Well the person who books my work trips has offered connections through Heathrow and France when going to that area...

ncmc

pavb2 wrote: »

I had prices from Aer Lingus direct to Washington and back direct from Boston in June for €560.

Not having booked to USA before is the above a good price then?

It sounds like an ok price, but plug your dates into www.skyscanner.net and that will show you all the major airlines prices. I would think you could do better, but it may require a connection rather than a direct flight.

dearg lady

celticcrash wrote: »

And where are these connections? DublinAtlantic Ocean JFK.
Is there a new airport in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean:D

Plenty of airports in Europe and Canada could offer connections

pavb2

ncmc wrote: »

It sounds like an ok price, but plug your dates into www.skyscanner.net and that will show you all the major airlines prices. I would think you could do better, but it may require a connection rather than a direct flight.

Thanks but when I tried Skyscanner they don't do multi city ie in to Washington out from Boston

ncmc

pavb2 wrote: »

Thanks but when I tried Skyscanner they don't do multi city ie in to Washington out from Boston

Never noticed that about Skyscanner before! That’s a bit of a drawback alright! Try Opodo, I put in random dates in June and they were coming in at a similar price to AL but with a stop.

If it were me, I’d probably book AL at that price, but then I’m not much of a gambler! You might find the prices go down a bit when the USA sale extends to cover your dates, but sometimes the popular routes don’t go down in price. If it were me, I’d book, but that’s just me!

finbarrk

Use opodo.co.uk for multi city.

pavb2

Thanks NCMC I think you 're right but as Finbarr says will give opod a go

Jamie2k9

What is the point of this threat. Aer Lingus are expensive the current sale has great fares up until June. In case people didn't know Aer Lingus had load factors of over 90% last summer so prices are bound to be expensive. Plenty of other carriers to fly with form Dublin.

The summer sale after June will follow.