Vueling Dublin-Barcelona. Pros and cons

Boulevardier

I recently did a return trip Dublin-BCN on family business and chose Vueling, who I had not used before.

On the plus side, their departure times were by far the best on offer. Vueling fly out mid-afternoon and back in the late morning. The other airlines on the route make you choose between leaving at the crack of dawn or arriving late at night. Fares were also very reasonable.

On the other hand, their check-ins are a nightmare. Dub-BCN passengers are not able to print their own boarding passes. The check-in queue took an hour (I timed it) because all passengers had to queue, and because a lot of passengers were checking in for onward connecting flights to Spanish destinations.

The return leg should have been a doddle but wasn't. The Vueling check-in area at BCN had an array of 16 desks, of which 3 (three) were staffed. Again, check-in took about an hour.

On balance, I will have to forego flying Vueling again until they sort out their check-ins. If they can do that fine, but until then, its back to dawn flights for me.

Boulevardier

Bump

coylemj

Your post is still on the first screen and you're not seeking information, what's with the bump after barely 24 hours?

Mr rebel

I flew with them two months ago on the same route and found them to be great, especially as they seem to be consistently cheaper than both Ryanair and Aer Lingus, and fly at more agreeable times as you say.
I agree that being forced to check in at the desk in Dublin is a bit of a pain but I was able to literally walk straight up to the desk as there was no queue at all, so perhaps I was lucky.
I was slightly annoyed that they didn't enforce priority boarding and let everyone board at the same time, and also when flying home from Barcelona, you have to get a bus from the terminal out to the plane on the runway.
These were just minor inconveniences though and I will fly with them again.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

VG31

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I usually do airport check-in (unless there's a huge queue) just to get the proper boarding card. If there are self-service kiosks I use them.

Boulevardier

I agree that traditional check-in is often best, and in the above instance I had hold baggage to check in anyway.

However, what I do not want is the 1-hour queue for check-in which I had to endure in both directions, including homewards when only 3 of 16 desks were staffed and the check-in queue snaked around 4 lanes.

Mr rebel

Boulevardier wrote: »

I agree that traditional check-in is often best, and in the above instance I had hold baggage to check in anyway.

However, what I do not want is the 1-hour queue for check-in which I had to endure in both directions, including homewards when only 3 of 16 desks were staffed and the check-in queue snaked around 4 lanes.

Can you remember if the airline uses the rear steps for boarding and disembarking?
I'm thinking of purchasing a cheap seat at the back for my next flight with them but only if I know that the rear steps will be used upon landing.

Boulevardier

At Dublin all boarding was by airbridge, which means front only. The same was true disembarking at Barcelona.

On the return journey we were bussed out to the plane and I think both doors were usable, but on arrival at Dublin it was via the airbridge again.

Mr rebel

Oh great, so I'm due to fly with them on Thursday from Dublin but there is going to be a Vueling pilot strike scheduled for that day.
I haven't heard anything from the airline and the Dublin flight isn't on the list of cancelled ones, so I hope that won't change..

Boulevardier

Best of luck. Mind you, I don't blame anyone in Vueling for going on strike. That company needs sorting out.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Mr rebel

Just to update, thankfully I didn't encounter any issues, except for a rather minor one hour delay on the return flight (which was out of their control and due to some air traffic control strike in France). The actual boarding on the return flight from Barcelona was done through the airbridge this time.
Overall I was satisfied with Vueling and defintely recommend them as the better and cheaper alternative to Aer Lingus/Ryanair on the Barcelona route at least.

Also, again had no problems with check in at Dublin and there was no queue at all.