Aircoach to Cork

n97 mini

I went to book the 9am bus tomorrow from Dub city centre to Cork only to be told I can't book after 17.00 on the day before. That's a bit rubbish as I've been looking at the site for the last few days without being made aware there was a booking deadline.

Anyway, if I turn up at 9am tomorrow on Westmoreland St is there a possibility I won't get a seat?

Banjoxed

Take the train. At least there will be no horse manure about not being able to get on board. Just watch out for any pedants sitting in your prebooked seat if you have one.

n97 mini

As much as I wish it was the train isn't an option.

5rtytry56

Hmmm.

I took the train to Cork 2 weeks ago, the 10.00am
The toilets nearest my carriage 'needed attention'. The smell from here also went into the carriage. Irish Rail need to "do better " here.
Return journey on 19.20pm all good though.

n97 mini

Train's great, but not an option.

Aircoach: does anyone know if I turn up at 9am tomorrow on Westmoreland St is there a possibility I won't get a seat?

devnull

That is not really a peak service so you should be okay, but if I was going to get it, I'd get there 10 minutes before departure and you should be fine.

The reason for the time cut off is so all the drivers have the manifest for the next day, bearing in mind that services run 24 hours. and on Routes like Cork it can be a good few hours between leaving and getting back to the depot.

bk

devnull wrote: »

The reason for the time cut off is so all the drivers have the manifest for the next day, bearing in mind that services run 24 hours. and on Routes like Cork it can be a good few hours between leaving and getting back to the depot.

No much of an excuse really, given that Citylink, GoBus, GoBE, etc. all on similar routes allow booking up to 60 to 15 minutes in advance.

All they have to do is supply their drivers with smartphones or tablets linked to their booking database.

Failing that, I can't see why the driver can't be handed a manifest by the ticket sales person at the airport or depot in Cork. That would allow bookings up to 1 hour in advance.

This is the one thing that Aircoach still do badly.

Obviously too late for the OP, but in case others read this, GoBE to Cork allows you to book up to 1 hour in advance.

horseburger

n97 mini wrote: »

I went to book the 9am bus tomorrow from Dub city centre to Cork only to be told I can't book after 17.00 on the day before. That's a bit rubbish as I've been looking at the site for the last few days without being made aware there was a booking deadline.

Anyway, if I turn up at 9am tomorrow on Westmoreland St is there a possibility I won't get a seat?

The good thing about Aircoach's fares, on its website, is that by booking in advance on the website, it works out cheaper by booking a few days, or weeks in advance, than the day before.

For example, at the moment, on the website, a single ticket on the 9am bus from Westmoreland St to Patrick's Quay tomorrow morning, 16th February, is 12 euros.

but, if today, I book a single ticket for 9am from Westmoreland St to Patrick's Quay Cork on 22nd February, it is 11 euros and the same single ticket for the 9am from Westmoreland St to Cork on 28th February is 10 euros.

At the moment, a single ticket for the 9am service from Westmoreland St to Patrick's Quay Cork on Tuesday 17th February is 10 euros.

ProudDUB

I used the GoBe bus to Cork 2 Saturdays ago. It was 22 euros return if booked online, 27 if you bought it on the day at the station. Was very impressed with it over all, except that the wifi wasn't working on the way down to Cork. Neither bus was even half full.

dublindiehard

Didn't realise that GoBe were that expensive now as well as being far less frequent.

Aircoach is only €20 booked online or €24 walk up.

ProudDUB

Don't think that 22 euros versus 20 counts as "that" expensive.
The bus leaving from Busaras is a big plus for me, as I could easily walk to it from Connolly Station. Not having to schlep up to Westmoreland St with a suitcase was great, but I know everyone is different.

devnull

Long as you don't want a service before 8am or after 6pm, don't mind the fact there is only one bus every 2 hours and you don't mind paying the extra there is nothing wrong with GoBE.

Like ProudDub I wouldn't consider it a huge difference.