Aer Lingus and United Airlines letting me board earlier flight?

dani049

Hi just looking for some advice
i want to book a flight with aer lingus that involves a stopover, a stopover of 5 hours is €300 cheaper than a stopover of 2/3 hours, so i will probably book that
i am just wondering, on the day if earlier flights aren't full, would united airlines (all booked on one ticket from aerlinugs) let me have a seat on an earlier flight?
not sure how it would work if my luggage is checked all the way through etc.

galwayjohn89

Depends really. I've tried many times and have around a 50% success rate.

whomitconcerns

short answer is. Nope, not a hope. United have always refused. Too complex to do all the paperwork if coming fom abroad and a connection

dani049

Split answers lol. either way I will probably book the one with the long layover, just hate the thoughts of sitting around and feeling icky for another 5 hours after a 10+ hours flight already

Squatman

iv seen it happen alright if the flight is near empty. they will allow the change

galwayjohn89

Whats the routing?

It all depends on the agent you get. Once I was originally booked Orlando - Charlotte - Charlottesville - Washington with US Airways ticketed with United. Asked for the direct flight at check in and no problem. United tend to be quite flexible. I booked Dublin - Washington - Orlando with United all the way through and got put on the earlier flight in Washington. Also booked on the United Dublin - Washington - Orlando leg and at Dublin chanced it to see if they would put me on the Aer Lingus Direct as I was protected on it. No problem. So the theme is United can be flexible, but don't rely on it.

dani049

thanks I think it will be quite busy since its summer and the flight is to vegas but all i can do is try i suppose.

dani049

Vuzuggu wrote: »

Whats the routing?

It all depends on the agent you get. Once I was originally booked Orlando - Charlotte - Charlottesville - Washington with US Airways ticketed with United. Asked for the direct flight at check in and no problem. United tend to be quite flexible. I booked Dublin - Washington - Orlando with United all the way through and got put on the earlier flight in Washington. Also booked on the United Dublin - Washington - Orlando leg and at Dublin chanced it to see if they would put me on the Aer Lingus Direct as I was protected on it. No problem. So the theme is United can be flexible, but don't rely on it.

its dub-sfo-las
what would happen my luggage if i did get allowed on an earlier flight? would it make it or would i be left hanging around vegas until the later one i was originally booked on?
thanks for the help, fingers crossed i will have the same luck. if not at least i have €300 extra in my pocket for waiting around for a few hours!

galwayjohn89

dani049 wrote: »

thanks I think it will be quite busy since its summer and the flight is to vegas but all i can do is try i suppose.

I've no experience with SFO in the last few years so can't really comment. Pretty much 99% of the time the bags will go with you. Only time I haven't had the bags on the same flight as me is during IRROPS.

dani049

Vuzuggu wrote: »

I've no experience with SFO in the last few years so can't really comment. Pretty much 99% of the time the bags will go with you. Only time I haven't had the bags on the same flight as me is during IRROPS.

thanks for that! Wasnt sure how it would work because when I check in at dublin i wont see them again until i get to vegas, so i would hate to get put on an earlier flight then hang around vegas airport for the bags to arrive on the next one lol :-)

galwayjohn89

Pretty sure there is meant to be some rule that bags should always travel with the passenger. Although I have voluntarily rerouted before and the bags went on the original routing. Also had bags go on the flight before me before.

dani049

Vuzuggu wrote: »

Pretty sure there is meant to be some rule that bags should always travel with the passenger. Although I have voluntarily rerouted before and the bags went on the original routing. Also had bags go on the flight before me before.

guess its not predictable then! Fingers crossed it will all go smoothly anyways :-) thanks for all the replies!

keithclancy

Vuzuggu wrote: »

Pretty sure there is meant to be some rule that bags should always travel with the passenger. Although I have voluntarily rerouted before and the bags went on the original routing. Also had bags go on the flight before me before.

I think the rule is that it should be planned unless extenuating circumstances don't allow it.

E.G.
Bags miss the flight, they go on the next one

endofrainbow

I think that because you booked with Aer Lingus but your domestic flights are with United, it won't be possible to get an earlier flight.

Something similar happened to me - I had booked with United but the last flight was Aer Lingus and they were unable to change it as it was a code-share.

galwayjohn89

I've had flights booked through EI connecting to a United flight (EI number) and changed it without issue.