Disgraceful 20% fare hike on Airlink 747 service

Doltanian

The Dublin Bus 747 airlink has risen in price from €6 single to €7 and from €10 return to €12. Disgraceful gouging tourists and passengers like this on what is a heavily used and totally mediocre service.

Got stung yesterday myself for €7 and hopped off at the Point Depot and used to Luas out as far as Heuston instead as I knew the 747 probably wouldn't make Heuston on time leaving me with a 2 hrs wait to catch the next train. The disgraceful attitude shown by the woman Bus Driver towards some elderly tourists was the salt in the wound for me after the fare increase. She then drove off before all passengers were seated upstairs and it reminded me of a ferry. I had just travelled in from the Middle East and the contrast in customer service couldn't be more stark.

So ripoff the general public to fund huge increases for the workers and slush funds for the mafia Trade Unions. Next time I'll take the Aircoach into O'Connell Street for €6.00 safe in the peace of mind that I won't be subsiding these lifers in Dublin bus ripping off the state, and that my money will go to Private Enterprise where you earn your crust fairly.

Del2005

The driver of the private bus might disagree with you. Barely above minimum wage for a tough stressful job. Yet a bloated public transport company paying inflated wages is only €1 more expensive than a private company.

bk

Del2005 wrote: »

The driver of the private bus might disagree with you. Barely above minimum wage for a tough stressful job. Yet a bloated public transport company paying inflated wages is only €1 more expensive than a private company.

Worth noting that the public company gets to enjoy many shared services that are financed by public subsidy.

Such as use depots paid for by the state. Use the same website, backoffice admin people, same mechanics, same PR folk, same offices, etc. which have been subsidised and shared with PSO services.

Makes it much easier for them to price themselves close to the private companies.

devnull

To be fair to Dublin Bus on this, it is the first time that the Airlink fare has been increased for many years, maybe even as long as ten years so I don't think you can really complain about the increase since it hasn't been increased for maybe as long as seven or eight years and the operating hours of the service have been increased.

You can avoid the single price rise by booking Airlink online for €6 although the system is not the most user friendly since you need to print the tickets out and cannot show them on a device and cannot purchase a return fare.

Aircoach 702/703 from Dublin Airport is €6 single and €10 return to the 3 Arena and operates twice an hour but Aircoach 700 from Dublin Airport to O'Connell Street is €7 single or €12 if paid on bus operating four times an hour.

If you book Aircoach online the 702/703 price to the 3 Arena is the same but if you book to O'Connell Street you get a €1 discount to €6 single or €11 return and can show your ticket on your device a well as printing it.

Doltanian

Del2005 wrote: »

The driver of the private bus might disagree with you. Barely above minimum wage for a tough stressful job. Yet a bloated public transport company paying inflated wages is only €1 more expensive than a private company.

Driving is a tough and stressful job I do agree but it is an unskilled job which deserve's minimum wage, nothing to stop the CIE workers improving themselves and changing careers or immigrating if they are unhappy with their salary. If anything it is a paycut which should be delivered to lower fares for the rest of society.

Del2005

Doltanian wrote: »

Driving is a tough and stressful job I do agree but it is an unskilled job which deserve's minimum wage, nothing to stop the CIE workers improving themselves and changing careers or immigrating if they are unhappy with their salary. If anything it is a paycut which should be delivered to lower fares for the rest of society.

You've obviously never driven a large vehicle.

Markcheese

Doltanian wrote:

Driving is a tough and stressful job I do agree but it is an unskilled job which deserve's minimum wage, nothing to stop the CIE workers improving themselves and changing careers or immigrating if they are unhappy with their salary. If anything it is a paycut which should be delivered to lower fares for the rest of society.

Minimum wage? For Feic sake I mightn't be mad about cie companies but you're just stirring the pot..

devnull

Del2005 wrote: »

Barely above minimum wage for a tough stressful job. Yet a bloated public transport company paying inflated wages is only €1 more expensive than a private company.

The average wage in Aircoach is nowhere near minimum wage:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/aircoach-operators-profits-soar-to-8m-35500923.html

The business had 194 staff, with a wage bill last year of €7.6m including pensions and social welfare costs, an average cost of €39,000 a worker.

Doltanian

Plenty immigrants would drive the buses for say €10 an hour, driving in generally considered a low skilled profession worldwide. In the US for e.g. you cannot sponsor a driver for a truck company or get a visa to work as a driver, as it is a pretty ubiquitous skill with minimum skill levels and is easy to learn it.

Spanish Eyes

Does Aircoach 702/3 use the port tunnel. Not clear from the website. But I think so!

Doltanian

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Does Aircoach 702/3 use the port tunnel. Not clear from the website. But I think so!

Yes I wondering the same thing myself, the Three Arena/Point Depot stop is the first stop after the Airport so I imagine it does. The 747 Airlink goes via the Tunnel anyway.

devnull

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Does Aircoach 702/3 use the port tunnel. Not clear from the website. But I think so!

Yes - although it takes a pretty congested route through Ballsbridge to/from Greystones/Dalkey which always causes delays at peak times, especially to the airport.

jimmynokia

Del2005 wrote: »

You've obviously never driven a large vehicle.

He probably never even sat in a bus by the sounds of that arrogant comment. Would love to put him in one behind the wheel and see how he gets on.

dublinstevie

get the 41 or 16 then €2,05 on leap

bk

dublinstevie wrote: »

get the 41 or 16 then €2,05 on leap

Isn't is €2.60 from the airport to town? Note I'm not sure, just assumed it was given the distance.

Kyleboy

Doltanian wrote: »

Driving is a tough and stressful job I do agree but it is an unskilled job which deserve's minimum wage, nothing to stop the CIE workers improving themselves and changing careers or immigrating if they are unhappy with their salary. If anything it is a paycut which should be delivered to lower fares for the rest of society.

Good man Shane, enjoy your trip to north Korea.

magicbastarder

well, how's about that for undermining your own point?

ED E

As long as they dont touch the 16

Great service and great value even with a small price increase.

Collie D

Doltanian wrote: »

Driving is a tough and stressful job I do agree but it is an unskilled job which deserve's minimum wage, nothing to stop the CIE workers improving themselves and changing careers or immigrating if they are unhappy with their salary. If anything it is a paycut which should be delivered to lower fares for the rest of society.

You could make that argument about workers providing any service you think costs too much.

mikemac2

go to leapcard.ie and the old 10 euro return fare can be purchased. Just load it onto your card and validate on the 747.

I've done it a few times and I checked the price just now, still 10 euro

john boye

Didn't this increase come 2/3 months ago? It's not like it just cropped up this week.

Jamie2k9

It must be almost coming up to a year now.

I'm sure part of the hike is for the poorly performing 757 route.

killbillvol2

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

It must be almost coming up to a year now.

I'm sure part of the hike is for the poorly performing 757 route.

It must be a major hardship to the OP to pay an extra euro for a service he never uses.

Jamie2k9

killbillvol2 wrote: »

It must be a major hardship to the OP to pay an extra euro for a service he never uses.

TBH I was a little annoyed by the increase and think I even posted on here. 10 euro return should of stayed.

killbillvol2

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

TBH I was a little annoyed by the increase and think I even posted on here. 10 euro return should of stayed.

Fair enough but that was ages ago. It makes a difference to someone who actually uses the route regularly.

Doltanian

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Fair enough but that was ages ago. It makes a difference to someone who actually uses the route regularly.

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

Jamie2k9

Doltanian wrote: »

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

Bristol is 7 single and 11 return.

I think DB should introduce student and Family Tickets on the route.

killbillvol2

Doltanian wrote: »

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

Have you ever been to any other countries ffs? €7 is peanuts. Where did you fly in from? Mars?

Doltanian

Doltanian wrote: »

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

It’s decent value compared to a great many European cities. Go on now with your disgraceful outrage about nothing.

devnull

Doltanian wrote: »

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

If you don't like it you can take Aircoach, not like you don't have an option.

Operators charging a premium for an express airport bus route is not exactly uncommon.

Spanish Eyes

There is a visitor LEAP card that includes back and forward from the Airport and 1, 3 or 7 days unlimited travel on all modes. I think that's a good deal myself.

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

Del2005

devnull wrote: »

The average wage in Aircoach is nowhere near minimum wage:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/aircoach-operators-profits-soar-to-8m-35500923.html

And I'm sure that the bosses are earning that amount also. Average pay is a lazy statistic that proves nothing. I could employ 100 people and pay myself €1M and the rest €20k but the average salary for my company would sound good.

Doltanian

devnull wrote: »

If you don't like it you can take Aircoach, not like you don't have an option.

Operators charging a premium for an express airport bus route is not exactly uncommon.

Its not an express service and it stops at several pickup points and hotels along the way. I myself knew it wouldn't make Heuston on time so I disembarked at the Point Depot and caught the Luas through the City Centre to Heuston instead. A Heuston to City Centre to Airport Coach service via the Tunnel would be a good service however and an express at that. Priced at €10 return it would be very good value and much more acceptable. Add in polite staff also.

Geuze

JayZeus wrote: »

It’s decent value compared to a great many European cities. Go on now with your disgraceful outrage about nothing.

Berlin SXF to city centre by train is under 4.00

Amsterdam from Schiphol to CS by train is 4.20.

punisher5112

Doltanian wrote: »

Its not an express service and it stops at several pickup points and hotels along the way. I myself knew it wouldn't make Heuston on time so I disembarked at the Point Depot and caught the Luas through the City Centre to Heuston instead. A Heuston to City Centre to Airport Coach service via the Tunnel would be a good service however and an express at that. Priced at €10 return it would be very good value and much more acceptable. Add in polite staff also.

Get a taxi then but polite would be a stretch....

cbreeze

As well as the 16 the 41 gets to Lr Abbey Street (the 16 takes a bit of detour near Whitehall on the way). You can get the Luas from the Abbey Street stop a few minutes walk away. The 102 from the Airport will connect you with the Malahide and Sutton DART stations.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

devnull

Del2005 wrote: »

And I'm sure that the bosses are earning that amount also. Average pay is a lazy statistic that proves nothing. I could employ 100 people and pay myself €1M and the rest €20k but the average salary for my company would sound good.

Indeed, why use proven figures from audited company accounts when we can use ones which are made up in our head instead

In the last accounts I have access to (2015) without paying the numbers were broke down as 4 management, 5 administration and 182 operatives.

HonalD

Doltanian wrote: »

A Heuston to City Centre to Airport Coach service via the Tunnel would be a good service however and an express at that. Priced at €10 return it would be very good value and much more acceptable. Add in polite staff also.

Super, as soon as you have the company and route set up, let us know and we'll evaluate it for you.

Alun

Del2005 wrote: »

And I'm sure that the bosses are earning that amount also. Average pay is a lazy statistic that proves nothing. I could employ 100 people and pay myself €1M and the rest €20k but the average salary for my company would sound good.

Yes, quoting a simple average, or mean, for wages which don't normally exhibit a standard symmetrical bell curve is pretty meaningless when trying to make a point about what the majority of employees earn. Mode or median would be a far more useful number.

Stephen Strange

Geuze wrote: »

Berlin SXF to city centre by train is under 4.00

Amsterdam from Schiphol to CS by train is 4.20.

Just to be pedantic, Schiphol is 5.40.

Hilly Bill

Doltanian wrote: »

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

It's hardly a rip off for a direct service and has plenty of space for luggage.

Geuze

Stephen Strange wrote: »

Just to be pedantic, Schiphol is 5.40.

I checked on www.ns.nl again, and I am seeing 4.20 again.

€ 4,20 Enkele reis, 2e klas

I click on all tariffs and I see:

NS
van Schiphol Airport naar Amsterdam Centraal
2e klas vol tarief € 4,20
2e klas 20% korting € 3,40
2e klas 40% korting € 2,50
2e klas Railrunner € 2,50
1e klas vol tarief € 7,10
1e klas 20% korting € 5,70
1e klas 40% korting € 4,30
1e klas Railrunner € 2,50

Stephen Strange

Geuze wrote: »

I checked on www.ns.nl again, and I am seeing 4.20 again.

€ 4,20 Enkele reis, 2e klas

I click on all tariffs and I see:

NS
van Schiphol Airport naar Amsterdam Centraal
2e klas vol tarief € 4,20
2e klas 20% korting € 3,40
2e klas 40% korting € 2,50
2e klas Railrunner € 2,50
1e klas vol tarief € 7,10
1e klas 20% korting € 5,70
1e klas 40% korting € 4,30
1e klas Railrunner € 2,50

4.20 plus a 1.20 ticket fee (took the train to Schiphol on Tuesday).

NufcNavan

7 quid from the Airport to town isn't bad value tbh.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

mel.b

Doltanian wrote: »

Its a ripoff for tourists and people visiting the country, €7 for a Double Decker bus into the city, if it was a proper coach service with luggage capacity underneath you might say something. If I was a visitor to Ireland it would let a sour taste in my mouth from the very beginning. Its a total disgrace that there is no train service to Dublin airport anyway.

killbillvol2 wrote: »

Have you ever been to any other countries ffs? €7 is peanuts. Where did you fly in from? Mars?

JayZeus wrote: »

It’s decent value compared to a great many European cities. Go on now with your disgraceful outrage about nothing.

Just be thankful you don't have to get the bus from Melbourne airport to the city centre...$35 return if booked online....€23 euro. Private operator...no public buses AFAIK go to the airport.

Or Sydney where at least there's a train...at $18 (12euro) one way from the airport to city centre

Yes, some European cities are cheaper, but Dublin in the scheme of it isn't too bad.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

monument

Stephen Strange wrote: »

Just to be pedantic, Schiphol is 5.40.

I just checked: Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal on NS is €4.20 on OV-chipcard.

The single use chipcard is fare is €5.20, not €5.40.

monument

monument wrote: »

I just checked: Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal on NS is €4.20 on OV-chipcard.

The single use chipcard is fare is €5.20, not €5.40.

Just to note:

Dublin Airport to central Dublin is around 10km to 14km, while Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal is over 20km (20km is by road, by the rail lines go around a bit). So, by distance, Dublin is worse again.

Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal prices includes intercity direct which takes only 15mins.