Alternative Bus to Dublin Airport

Stinicker

A friend of my fathers has recently got his OAP and his free travel card also. He is supposed to fly out of Dublin next week and he asked me to research ways of getting to the airport for free. He intends to take the train to Heuston and it was his plan to take the Airlink 747 bus to the Airport until he discovered he would have to pay to use it as his free travel card is not valid for use on the Airport service.

I have researched alternatives and it appears the No. 41 Bus from Lower Abbey Street towards Swords Manor seems to be the best bet as the bus originates there and stops at Dublin Airport en route to Swords Manor. He could take the Luas free from Heuston to Abbey Street and the bus stop is nearby.

He'd have a suitcase and his wife with him too as she got her Free Travel back in January so they are taking a quick trip to Europe with some nice €7.99 flights from Ryanair and the bus for the two of the would cost €20 or €24 if they buy four single tickets each time.

Any ideas or other suggestions

dublindiehard

Aircoach services take free travel pass as well.

PanicStations

The 16 also goes to the airport, but I think the Aircoach would be the more comfortable, and quickest. It leaves from a few city centre locations including O'Connell Street (which is easily reached on the Luas).

Theie website is here: http://www.aircoach.ie/fares/route-704-x-cork-dublin-city-dublin-airport

munchkin_utd

would they not be as handy (depending where they are starting) to just get one of the services direct to Dublin airport that Bus Eireann run from all over the country ?
if they have a proper large suitcase it would save them lugging it across the city on the luas etc

vektarman

On the subject of suitcases, are suitcases allowed on Dublin Bus? I'm asking because when I got a Dublin Bus from the airport in March the driver wouldn't allow suitcases on the bus as he said there was no room for them, granted there were about a dozen people with suitcases waiting to board so I could understand it from a safety point of view, I was okay as I only had a small backpack, does anyone know what the Dublin Bus policy is?

Bob24

vektarman wrote: »

On the subject of suitcases, are suitcases allowed on Dublin Bus? I'm asking because when I got a Dublin Bus from the airport in March the driver wouldn't allow suitcases on the bus as he said there was no room for them, granted there were about a dozen people with suitcases waiting to board so I could understand it from a safety point of view, I was okay as I only had a small backpack, does anyone know what the Dublin Bus policy is?

I guess this could be used to justify the refusal, especially on a busy route: http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/About-Us/Dublin-Bus-Bye-Laws/Bringing-on-items/

35. No person shall take or cause to be taken on to any vehicle if requested not to do so by an authorised person any bird, animal, article or thing which by reason of its nature is in the opinion of the authorised person likely to cause annoyance or damage to any passenger or damage to any property.

Stinicker

The aircoach seems to be the best solution for them, I never knew they accepted the Free Travel Pass, what is the procedure? do they just scan it or just write down the details to charge the Social Welfare?

LXFlyer

As per the Aircoach website:

On the production of a valid Department of Social Protection Travel Pass a free travel pass ticket will be issued on the following routes:
•Route 700: Dublin Airport - Dublin City Centre - Leopardstown
•Route 702: Dublin Airport - Ballsbridge - Bray – Greystones
•Route 703: Dublin Airport - Dalkey - Killiney.

Unfortunately Free Travel Passes are not accepted on the following routes:
•Route 704X: Cork – Dublin City – Dublin Airport
•Route 705X: Belfast – Dublin Airport – Dublin City.

LXFlyer

vektarman wrote: »

On the subject of suitcases, are suitcases allowed on Dublin Bus? I'm asking because when I got a Dublin Bus from the airport in March the driver wouldn't allow suitcases on the bus as he said there was no room for them, granted there were about a dozen people with suitcases waiting to board so I could understand it from a safety point of view, I was okay as I only had a small backpack, does anyone know what the Dublin Bus policy is?

Yes they are, but perhaps the bus in question did not have sufficient luggage racks to take any more bags.

Most buses on the 16 route have additional luggage racks to cope with demand, but perhaps that particular bus did not.