Aer Lingus priority boarding

Credit Checker Moose

Is it worth paying the 7 euro extra?

Dial Hard

What's the point? You have an assigned seat.

Credit Checker Moose

Is it possible to check in your hand luggage for free? Can you check it in at the check in area or wait for the gate?

Jellybaby1

I never pay extra for priority. However its a nasty feeling waiting with the other plebs while the priority bookers enter first, most of whom are business people whose companies pay for it.

The Bishop Basher

I always pay for it as if only have carry on and don’t want to be waiting at the other end.

It guarantees you an overhead bin space which is worth €7 imo.

coylemj

Credit Checker Moose wrote: »

Is it possible to check in your hand luggage for free?

The general answer is no. And it's no longer 'hand luggage' if you check it in.

Credit Checker Moose wrote: »

Can you check it in at the check in area or wait for the gate?

If you pay, you can check it in at the check-in area. Which is now self-service, you deal with a machine which prints out the tag and you load the the bag onto a conveyor.

It can happen at the gate but it's not a voluntary exercise, you don't just walk up and ask them to take your bag. On short, busy routes like Heathrow where most people carry their bag onboard, the staff at the gate will quietly count the number of bags being carried on which cannot be stowed under the seat. When the capacity of the overhead bins is reached, they will start to confiscate bags and tag them for the hold, i.e. from a certain point on, people will not be allowed to carry wheelie bags and large items on to the plane.

For some people, this is a free check-in bag and they're happy. For most people, they have lugged their bag all the way to the gate and now they will have the hassle of waiting at the baggage carousel at the destination to collect the bag. Which means the people travelling with them will be held up and they may all miss their bus so they're not happy.

Locker10a

coylemj wrote: »

The general answer is no. And it's no longer 'hand luggage' if you check it in.



If you pay, you can check it in at the check-in area. Which is now self-service, you deal with a machine which prints out the tag and you load the the bag onto a conveyor.

It can happen at the gate but it's not a voluntary exercise, you don't just walk up and ask them to take your bag. On short, busy routes like Heathrow where most people carry their bag onboard, the staff at the gate will quietly count the number of bags being carried on which cannot be stowed under the seat. When the capacity of the overhead bins is reached, they will start to confiscate bags and tag them for the hold, i.e. from a certain point on, people will not be allowed to carry wheelie bags and large items on to the plane.

For some people, this is a free check-in bag and they're happy. For most people, they have lugged their bag all the way to the gate and now they will have the hassle of waiting at the baggage carousel at the destination to collect the bag. Which means the people travelling with them will be held up and they may all miss their bus so they're not happy.

Aer Lingus frequently accepts “hand luggage” to be voluntarily checked in for free, they even have a dedicated desk for this in terminal 2.
They advertise this by sending out a text message if the flight you’re traveling on is anticipated to have and excess of hand luggage being brought on board. If you approach the gate staff and offer to check in your hand luggage they will also accept it here free of charge 9 times out of 10. This is my personal experience traveling with Aer Lingus.

Caranica

Locker10a wrote: »

Aer Lingus frequently accepts “hand luggage” to be voluntarily checked in for free, they even have a dedicated desk for this in terminal 2.
They advertise this by sending out a text message if the flight you’re traveling on is anticipated to have and excess of hand luggage being brought on board. If you approach the gate staff and offer to check in your hand luggage they will also accept it here free of charge 9 times out of 10. This is my personal experience traveling with Aer Lingus.

In my experience you only get that text one way. So you throw everything into the bag, don't worry about 100ml limits on liquids and then have to pay on the way back or lose your liquids.

coylemj

Locker10a wrote: »

Aer Lingus frequently accepts “hand luggage” to be voluntarily checked in for free, they even have a dedicated desk for this in terminal 2.
They advertise this by sending out a text message if the flight you’re traveling on is anticipated to have and excess of hand luggage being brought on board.

Wasn't aware of that - I've flown to Heathrow and the Canaries in the past 12 months on EI flights I booked myself and didn't receive that message. And the LHR flight definitely matches that profile - lots of carry-on bags.

But as you can't rely on that facility being offered on your flight, you still have to assume that you will have the bag when going through security so you can't pack any large bottles of shampoo, suncream etc.

Locker10a

coylemj wrote: »

Wasn't aware of that - I've flown to Heathrow and the Canaries in the past 12 months on EI flights I booked myself and didn't receive that message. And the LHR flight definitely matches that profile - lots of carry-on bags.

But as you can't rely on that facility being offered on your flight, you still have to assume that you will have the bag when going through security so you can't pack any large bottles of shampoo, suncream etc.

Yeah that’s true, there’s no guarantee! Although just today my mother took that very risk, she had liquids packed in her case she was bringing as gifts (chutney..don’t ask) and went to check in at the desk specifically for this reason, they didn’t actually need/want to take the bag but she asked if they would and the girl at the desk kindly checked it in for her no issues.

beggars_bush

Locker10a wrote: »

Aer Lingus frequently accepts “hand luggage” to be voluntarily checked in for free, they even have a dedicated desk for this in terminal 2.
They advertise this by sending out a text message if the flight you’re traveling on is anticipated to have and excess of hand luggage being brought on board. If you approach the gate staff and offer to check in your hand luggage they will also accept it here free of charge 9 times out of 10. This is my personal experience traveling with Aer Lingus.

charged €5 a bag recently for this service to mainland europe

it was free on the way back!

average_runner

Always go priority and fast track through security.

newirishman

just found out when checking in today that the priority board *only* means you can board as part of a first group.
For whatever reason, I was expecting this to include fast track - which it doesn't.
Waste of money in my opinion.

Hoboo

newirishman wrote: »

just found out when checking in today that the priority board *only* means you can board as part of a first group.
For whatever reason, I was expecting this to include fast track - which it doesn't.
Waste of money in my opinion.

It does include a free breakfast though.

Locker10a

newirishman wrote: »

just found out when checking in today that the priority board *only* means you can board as part of a first group.
For whatever reason, I was expecting this to include fast track - which it doesn't.
Waste of money in my opinion.

Were you thinking of Plus Fare?
Priority boarding does what it says on the tin.
Most people book it to ensure overhead locker space.

goingnowhere

Priority boarding is exactly what it says priority boarding and it means third group boarding in Dublin, not first. First is kids under 2, second frequent flyers then priority boarding.

Plus fare includes seat selection, 20kg checked luggage and priority boarding as well as standby for earlier flight

Only the Flex fare includes fast track at Dublin and select other locations as well as lounge access as well as all of the above.

newirishman

Locker10a wrote: »

Were you thinking of Plus Fare?
Priority boarding does what it says on the tin.
Most people book it to ensure overhead locker space.

Not sure what I was thinking to be honest 😀
Booked the flight as part of a Expedia booking, and afterwards added parking spot and priority boarding via aerlingus.com
For whatever reason I mistook priority boarding with fast track I think.
Don't think I ever saw priority on an aerlingus booking before hence the mistake.