Flying to Vegas from Dublin

Greenmachine

Looking for advise from Boards members that are a little more experienced in travelling to the Vegas or indeed the U.S. Considering two basic options really, and wondering which one is the best to go for regarding ease of travel speed, making connections etc.

A. Dublin to Vegas Via London using.

B. Dublin to Vegas with connecting flight in North america (Skyscanner routes with connections in various US city and at least 1 Canadian.

Aside from where I am potentially making my connection, there is the difference with immigration clearance, and total travel time.
Any personal experience of connection time in given cities is appreciated.

(i) Toronto
(ii) Philadelphia
(iii) O hare chicago
(iv) JFK NY
(v) Charlotte Douglas
(vi) London Heathrow e.g.(no preclearance)
(vii) London Gatwick

aaronm13

Connecting via London for me is the best and the shortest flight time, if the price is right. The east coast connections are two long flights usually with a good few hours hanging around in the airport. A west coast connection through LAX or SFO would be a better option with pre clearance.

Immigration in Las Vegas is pretty handy as they have a load of self service kiosks. Think we were probably through in around 30 minutes last year.

Assassin saphir

Hi Greenmachine
I would say Dublin via Charlotte Douglas. I've used this route twice to get connections onto other US destinations (however not into Vegas).
Obviously you can do pre clearance in Dublin which I find so much easier when you get to your destination you can just grab your bags and go. Also Charlotte airport is laid out into 5 terminals that are all interconnected A to E and they are so easy to navigate. You could walk from A to say E in max 10 minutes. There is a centre concorse and all the terminals are like branches off of it. Not the most interesting airport but you don't need to worry about having enough time to reach your next connection.

steve-o

Assassin saphir wrote: »

I would say Dublin via Charlotte Douglas.

Except that American are by far the worst airline across the Atlantic. Aer Lingus and Delta are miles better.

Assassin saphir

steve-o wrote:

Except that American are by far the worst airline across the Atlantic. Aer Lingus and Delta are miles better.

True they have gotten worse. I flew back with them on Tuesday out of JFK and they weren't great. But they build up my BA avios and tier points.

FR85

I've been three times and have gone through London with Aer Lingus/Virgin twice and then Dublin to Atlanta once with Delta and this was the better way to go if it's still available.

Virgin was fine and I couldn't fault the crew but Gatwick is a shambles to be stuck in for the connection and then the flight was 12 hours of British stags and hens. Immigration in McCarran was slow too both times.

Going through Atlanta broke up the trip nicely, immigration was done in Dublin and was quick. Atlantic was covered by a widebody so lots of walkabout room (American Airlines or United I think use a narrowbody on some Atlantic flights and these are miseries!!) and a superb crew. Atlanta airport was good, found a grand bar with a smoking area, good food and then the second sector sailed by.

My preference would be to take the Atlanta route again

rossie1977

Heathrow can be a pain the ass to transfer through and then you will have to go through immigration once you land in the states which can be ridiculously long if they haven't the self-service kiosks open

howiya

Flew through Chicago last year with Aer Lingus. United Airlines on to Vegas then. Couple of hours layover in Chicago. Looked up prices yesterday on Aer Lingus and they're not that bad. Sale on this weekend. A lot cheaper than what I paid last year

January

Flew through Heathrow and would do it again, transitting heathrow is easy (well sign posted) and British Airways are a brilliant airline to fly with. Immigration was about 20 mins (sitting as far forward in economy as possible (second last row of the smaller economy cabin)

boredatwork82

I have been twice. Once connecting in Toronto (air Canada), and the other connecting in Atlanta (delta). Both were grand. I can see how a long flight from London would be nice. Get all the connecting and stuff out of the way.

I actually just booked flights yesterday for the end of October with united airlines. €500 return. Connecting in Newark on the way out, and Dallas on the way back. I don't mind the US connections. They generally have good airport bars and food ( if you like American food ) and it breaks up the journey.

One bit if advice about Vegas, book your accommodation as much in advance as possible. It can get expensive if you leave it too late.

aaronm13

boredatwork82 wrote: »

I have been twice. Once connecting in Toronto (air Canada), and the other connecting in Atlanta (delta). Both were grand. I can see how a long flight from London would be nice. Get all the connecting and stuff out of the way.

I actually just booked flights yesterday for the end of October with united airlines. €500 return. Connecting in Newark on the way out, and Dallas on the way back. I don't mind the US connections. They generally have good airport bars and food ( if you like American food ) and it breaks up the journey.

One bit if advice about Vegas, book your accommodation as much in advance as possible. It can get expensive if you leave it too late.

If you're connecting through Dallas on the way home you must have three flights to do, no direct flights to Dublin from there.

O'Hare is the worst airport to connect through especially if you arrive on Aer Lingus. You have to change terminal and rewind enter security which is always a disaster there. Allow a good few hours between flights if you choose this route.

boredatwork82

aaronm13 wrote:

If you're connecting through Dallas on the way home you must have three flights to do, no direct flights to Dublin from there.

Sorry, just checked again. It's Washington. only have an hour, so there is a good chance I might miss it!

Greenmachine

January wrote: »

Flew through Heathrow and would do it again, transitting heathrow is easy (well sign posted) and British Airways are a brilliant airline to fly with. Immigration was about 20 mins (sitting as far forward in economy as possible (second last row of the smaller economy cabin)

Was that BA to vegas leg?

Greenmachine

boredatwork82 wrote: »

I have been twice. Once connecting in Toronto (air Canada), and the other connecting in Atlanta (delta). Both were grand. I can see how a long flight from London would be nice. Get all the connecting and stuff out of the way.

I actually just booked flights yesterday for the end of October with united airlines. €500 return. Connecting in Newark on the way out, and Dallas on the way back. I don't mind the US connections. They generally have good airport bars and food ( if you like American food ) and it breaks up the journey.

One bit if advice about Vegas, book your accommodation as much in advance as possible. It can get expensive if you leave it too late.

Trip is planned for May/June next year just working out the flight stuff now. But will book both at the same time. I have subscribed to newsletters from hotels I would like to stay in, to get notified of sales etc.
I saw ticket as low as €399 return on my desired dates return with air Canada, over the last few weeks which of course is crazy cheap. I am pretty price conscious but with connections etc, and inexperience of different airlines I didn't want to make a bad choice, or miss a connection etc, have a bad flight.

January

Greenmachine wrote: »

Was that BA to vegas leg?

Yes ba to vegas leg. Sit as far forward as possible (keeping in mind the first row in economy, in both cabins are bassinet seats so people with infants will be sat there), you can pick seats at online check in or pay for them in advance and be ready to get off the plane when it lands and you won't be far back in the immigration queue.

Zaph

Flew the other way a couple of years ago, Vegas - Chicago - Dublin, which made my mind up about two things. 1) - I will do everything in my power to avoid transiting through O'Hare ever again, it's a truly horrible airport with bugger all facilities considering the size of it; and 2) - I will never fly American Airlines transatlantic again. They were a nightmare to fly with for numerous reasons. It was probably the worst flight I've ever been on and I'd advise anybody to avoid both the airport and the airline if at all possible.

Steve

Delta via Atlanta. Trust me.

Also, sign up for airmiles with delta.

skywanderer

I did SNN to JFK to LAS a few years ago with Delta both legs were on a 757 which isn't great for the longer Transatlantic flights and I'd prefer a widebody.

More recently I flew LAS-LAX-LHR-ORK and it equally wasn't great with British Airways as their 747 service was cramped and the seats were not great.

Bear in mind that both of these trips were 5 or 6 years ago but if I was to do it again I'd be looking at getting a Widebody like the A380 or 747 probably to LAX. Although you could fly Aer Lingus to LAX and connect there with Jetblue or buy a cheap ticket on SouthWest; similary Ethiopian Airlines fly from Dublin to LAX.

Dodge

I've done Delta to Vegas via Atlanta, and Virgin to Vegas via Gatwick on the way out, and Manchester on the way home (with Aer Lingus)

The immigration queue from the Virgin flight was huge when you arrive in Vegas but for me I'd go with whatever the best price/times were.

NapoleonInRags

steve-o wrote: »

Except that American are by far the worst airline across the Atlantic. Aer Lingus and Delta are miles better.

Myself and herself flew Dublin to Charlotte with American in May and it was one of the best transatlantic flights I've had. Brand new plane with lots of room, great entertainment and lots of food and drink provided. Plus Charlotte is a doddle for connecting flights etc.

Steve

NapoleonInRags wrote: »

Myself and herself flew Dublin to Charlotte with American in May and it was one of the best transatlantic flights I've had. Brand new plane with lots of room, great entertainment and lots of food and drink provided. Plus Charlotte is a doddle for connecting flights etc.

Have you flown with others? Who are you comparing with.

Did you do pre-clearance in Dublin?

Greenmachine

Thanks for all the feedback and advice so far everybody. Last time I flew transatlantic was in 2000 and after a 36 hr I can barely remember the flight. Strictly speaking it was the outward leg and yes it was 36hr maybe not to the minute. So anything but air transat.

NapoleonInRags

Steve wrote: »

Have you flown with others? Who are you comparing with.

Did you do pre-clearance in Dublin?

Yes, pre-cleared in Dublin and I've flown trans-atlantic with BA, Aer Lingus, United Airways.