Help me get home for Xmas! Aer Lingus Advantage tickets !!??

Locker10a

Please help,
I would appreciate any advice on this or even better personal experience!
Due to work constraints I can not travel back to Ireland until very close to Xmas, right now ill have to travel Xmas eve ! The tickets as you can imagine are really pricy! As in I'm talking 350+ one way!
I was looking around and noticed Aer Lingus offer a more expensive "all inclusive" fare called advantage, it advertises that you can change your date and time of travel for free!!
I am trying to change work arrangements to possibly come home earlier, hopefully the 23rd or even 22nd.
My understanding from reading about this advantage fare is that i could change my plans entirely for free!
I would love to hear if anyone has experienced this? Im particularly anxious about being stung and especially so close to Xmas when tickets are expensive and won't be able to afford to book a last minute ticket. Also, it being Xmas week i know flights will probably be full, or close to, are there constraints on changing flights with this "advantage" ticket when flight are full, are you placed on standby? Id love to hear experiences,
Thanks guys

munchkin_utd

not sure where youre flying from, but if its "only" 350Euro one way that sounds like the UK or continent as a busy flight from further afield would be dearer.
If in the UK, could you not just get the bus or sail-rail on the boat and save yourself €300 . If further afield it gets more trickier, but I've seen flights on Christmas eve from Salzburg to Dublin for €25 so maybe get on sky scanner and see if theres a feasible plan B ?
As to proactively looking to fly standby, its not something I''d be looking to do on Christmas eve!

Riskymove

Locker10a wrote: »

I was looking around and noticed Aer Lingus offer a more expensive "all inclusive" fare called advantage, it advertises that you can change your date and time of travel for free!!

I think this fare just means you don't have to pay a change fee

i think you would still pay the difference in the fare itself

ScouseMouse

Tell us where you are and maybe we can find something to help. Dont forget available dates and return projected dated !

CINCLANTFLT

Riskymove wrote: »

I think this fare just means you don't have to pay a change fee

i think you would still pay the difference in the fare itself

I'm afraid it is the above... no charge to change your flight, but you have to pay the difference in fares...

Locker10a

ScouseMouse wrote: »

Tell us where you are and maybe we can find something to help. Dont forget available dates and return projected dated !

I will need to get from the South coast of England to Co. Mayo or Co. Cork (depending which family member hosts Christmas this year) the problem being I may not finish work until lunch time Christmas eve, but this is not yet clear, hence my interest in booking a flexible ticket before prices skyrocket further.
Thanks for the advice guys, I have booked a flexi ticket for a day Id like to get home, however depending how my work schedule comes out i may have to change this just hope seat availability and prices are in my favour

Locker10a

Mr.S wrote: »

Locker10a wrote: »

I will need to get from the South coast of England to Co. Mayo or Co. Cork (depending which family member hosts Christmas this year) the problem being I may not finish work until lunch time Christmas eve, but this is not yet clear, hence my interest in booking a flexible ticket before prices skyrocket further.
Thanks for the advice guys, I have booked a flexi ticket for a day Id like to get home, however depending how my work schedule comes out i may have to change this just hope seat availability and prices are in my favour

The last flight out of Heathrow with Aerlingus at 20:45 on the 24th is "only" 135, Aircoach to cork city runs till 11pm I believe on the 24th? (could be wrong though so double check that...)

If you've no checked baggage and you finish at lunch time, you should be able to grab a train & tube (or heathrow express) in time?

Messy journey but..doable!

Thanks for your help, it is indeed messy ! Yeah i hope to get home as early as i can, hence my booking of the advantage fare.

2 years ago I took the last flight to Ireland on Christmas eve which was the 2200 Heathrow to Cork on Xmas eve! It was jam packed and the baggage handlers in Heathrow were dressed as Santa loading the bags on the plane! It was an amazing Xmas atmosphere! But hopefully this year ill get home a bit sooner!
And just to clarify I contacted Aer Lingus, and their Advantage fare, includes FREE change of DATE, and TIME of flight! As well as lounge access and fast track security, free check in luggage and seat selection etc. Which is fantastic!

Marcusm

Locker10a wrote: »

Thanks for your help, it is indeed messy ! Yeah i hope to get home as early as i can, hence my booking of the advantage fare.

2 years ago I took the last flight to Ireland on Christmas eve which was the 2200 Heathrow to Cork on Xmas eve! It was jam packed and the baggage handlers in Heathrow were dressed as Santa loading the bags on the plane! It was an amazing Xmas atmosphere! But hopefully this year ill get home a bit sooner!
And just to clarify I contacted Aer Lingus, and their Advantage fare, includes FREE change of DATE, and TIME of flight! As well as lounge access and fast track security, free check in luggage and seat selection etc. Which is fantastic!

Subject to their being an available seat!!!