Dublin to New York via Heathrow

henke · 07-01-2023 05:05PM #1

Hi,

I am looking at advice on booking flights from Dublin to New York, with Aer Lingus and a connection with BA at Heathrow and never done this so appreciate help.

I have 1 hour 30 mins to get from T2 to T5 in Heathrow. Is that plenty of time and does Brexit complicate anything as an Irish citizen or can I literally make my way from T2 to T5 for Connections.

I think the flight includes a checked bag but only going 4/5 days and thinking I might get away with a cabin bag. Will these airlines let you take one without issue? I am just worried with a connection the risk of lost baggage goes up.

Also, would Aer Lingus have a decent record for not having delays? ?If they are delayed obviously I would miss the next leg. I am also considering a separate flight to London the day before to avoid this. Any advice from frequent travellers appreciated? Thanks.

Charles Babbage · 07-01-2023 05:10PM

If you book a single ticket connecting then if you miss the connection BA will have to put you on the next flight. Two bookings would remove this protection. Hand lugguge rules vary by airline nowadays, you'll just have to book a fare that allows hand luggage.

ted1 · 07-01-2023 05:14PM

why would you not just go direct ?

you can use pre clearance, which is very handy

henke · 07-01-2023 05:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078807#Comment_120078807

Thinking about this but it's over twice the price.

The J Stands for Jay · 07-01-2023 05:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078822#Comment_120078822

Depending on the price, it might be worth paying to avoid LHR and get preclearance in Dublin.

hynesie08 · 07-01-2023 05:33PM

I am also considering a separate flight to London the day before to avoid this

If you book dub-lon-jfk on a single ticket, and book a separate flight to London the night before, you invalidate your whole ticket when you don't get on the dub-lon flight.

90 mins is fine, once you're able to follow signs. I've done it the other way and it's never been an issue.

phonypony · 07-01-2023 05:35PM

Even on a single ticket, think twice before booking such a short connection at Heathrow, those flight combinations cost less for a reason. Any inbound delay (very common) and you'll miss your connecting flight. I wouldn't even consider a change of terminal on a 1.5hr connection.

henke · 07-01-2023 05:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078867#Comment_120078867

Ah yeah if I was going to go that way it would be a London to NY ticket. It might just be easier to go direct despite the price.

henke · 07-01-2023 05:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078872#Comment_120078872

Thanks. That was my concern too and wouldn't relax until you got to the gate on flight 2. Don't think that plan is worth the hassle.

phonypony · 07-01-2023 05:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078879#Comment_120078879

Definitely worth the direct flight to avoid the potential for misery. Even for the pre-clearance - the last thing you want after a day of traveling and sitting on a flight for 8 hours is standing in a queue with 1,000 other people to go through immigration at JFK.

You might be able to shop around for the direct flight (e.g. sometimes you could book the Delta flight via KLM or Air France and get it cheaper). Set up a Google flights alert for price changes.

henke · 07-01-2023 05:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078902#Comment_120078902

Thank you. Yeah I'll look at this. United airlines seem cheaper than Aer Lingus assume they would be grand. Direct flight would be a lot handier. Is there there any general trend on best time to book typically or how far out from flight?

ButtersSuki · 07-01-2023 05:56PM

I know you said twice the price but what are we talking here - €600 to €300 OR €2,000 to €1,000? Time is money after all……

For me unless you’re in the latter price difference the time saving of pre-clearance in Dublin (and when you land in the US) and not having to make the connection (and associated stress etc.) always make the direct DUB-JFK route better than a connection through Heathrow (or anywhere else for that matter).

I went through London once and spent nearly 2 hours in JFK getting through customs - the extra flight and waiting times added about 6 hours in total to the journey each way and really wasn’t worth whatever saving I made on the more direct route. I think we take pre-clearance for granted here but it’s such a huge benefit - esp. if you’re only going for a few days.

WishUWereHere · 07-01-2023 05:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078822#Comment_120078822

Sorry, You telling me Dublin - NY direct is over twice the price of flying through London?

RunningFlyer · 07-01-2023 05:58PM

Which website are you booking through? If you book through BA.com and choose BA flights only (ie. for the DUB-LHR and LHR-JFK) not only is it usually cheaper than one leg with Aer Lingus, but you will also be in the same terminal (5) to connect easier.

I would take 90mins if it was the same terminal (albeit that's about lowest Id accept) but switching terminal its a bit tight. I connected in LHR from Terminal 2 to Terminal 5 last year and it took 20mins - and I was sitting at the front of the Aer Lingus flight so was first off, caught a bus just as the doors closed to transfer to T5 so about as quickly I suspect as anyone will do it in. I believe if you don't make it to the connections gate with an hour to go it will flash red and they will have rebook you on a different flight (as you have to clear security again in LHR with everyone else). Of course if you've booked a through-ticket it's their responsibility to rebook on next available flight but if all the flights are full you can be delayed overnight etc so for the sake of a bit of extra preperation its not worth the risk IMO.

As above, if price is no issue I'd definitely book direct to save all the hassle and do pre-clearence, but know Aer Lingus can sometimes be 2x/3x price of connecting at LHR with BA.

henke · 07-01-2023 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078940#Comment_120078940

Yeah it would be closer to the first price difference and based on the feedback here I'm probably going to go direct. Never been to US before so bit nervous flying solo and figuring it out. If pre clearance is in Dublin I presume you get something that enables you to bypass customs in US?

phonypony · 07-01-2023 06:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078923#Comment_120078923

I don't think there's any real trend other than supply/demand. But I think generally the fluctuations mainly happen in the 1yr - 2 months out, after that the trend is generally just upward.

Chris_5339762 · 07-01-2023 06:02PM

You do all the immigration and customs in Dublin, and when you land in the US, you land at the domestic terminal. So it's just a walk-out-the-door job.

henke · 07-01-2023 06:04PM

Thanks all. Based on feedback here I think I'll just go direct.

sunbabe08 · 07-01-2023 06:11PM

Can I just suggest looking at flying into Newark airport. It’s actually cheaper than jfk and United do direct flights from Dublin at 9 o clock in the morning. Seriously I don’t even do cork to New York via London anymore because the thought of standing in line for 2 hours after an 8 hour flight fills be with dread. I remember I got off my flight at Newark at half 3 in the afternoon and was at my hotel for 5 o clock. It was heaven!

ButtersSuki · 07-01-2023 06:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078949#Comment_120078949

For “just” (I know that’s a relative statement) €300 I’d absolutely go direct even if more expensive.

When you land in JFK you land as if you’ve landed on a domestic flight and you can just walk out of the terminal as if you’re an American citizen. It really is an amazing service.

henke · 07-01-2023 06:20PM

Yeah I think for the extra I will just go ahead and go direct. Will look at Newark too. Thanks again all.

endofrainbow · 07-01-2023 06:59PM

Aer Lingus also fly to EWR..really depends on where your final destination in N.Y. is.

The fare difference for pre clearance is priceless.

lawred2 · 07-01-2023 07:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078923#Comment_120078923

Aer Lingus is very very average anyway so don't be holding them up as something that other carriers would fall short of

cuttingtimber22 · 07-01-2023 07:32PM

Delta has good value also. Worth pricing it. Agree with others - avoid a transfer if you can.

BabysCoffee · 07-01-2023 07:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078949#Comment_120078949

As a first time traveller, going direct from Dublin makes a lot of sense and enables you to very conveniently do preclearance in Dublin (give yourself plenty of time to do this!)

OP, you will also need an ESTA visa waiver for the USA. As soon as you book your flight you can sort this out. Make sure you use the officical website - it costs about `14 dollars or so. There are some unofficial websites who act as a third party. They charge more than the official website and add a layer to the process.

Do you know about the ESTA application process?

endofrainbow · 07-01-2023 08:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079340#Comment_120079340

Incorrect. Price was increased to $21 May 2022. Personally I'd get ESTA before booking flights in case of any issues (you don't need ESTA to book flights).

henke · 07-01-2023 08:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079340#Comment_120079340

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120079520#Comment_120079520

Yeah only became recently aware of this too was told it was around $20 so will sort that first. Thanks to all who posted it was well worth asking on here as I had no idea of the big benefit on pre clearance.

brettmirl · 09-01-2023 07:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078967#Comment_120078967

Check the price from Shannon to JFK too

swimming in a sea · 10-01-2023 10:19AM

Just to add in I know a guy who did the same to save money and then was refused entry as the US emigration guys said he was trying to sneak in via London, now he was 18 at the time so might have made a difference.

endofrainbow · 10-01-2023 09:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120088956#Comment_120088956

Not sure I believe this tbh. CBP rarely give a reason for refusal of entry.

swimming in a sea · 11-01-2023 12:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120091978#Comment_120091978

Believe it if you like, for anybody else it was late 90's so maybe things are different now, but true story.

redhill · 15-01-2023 06:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120078990#Comment_120078990

I would second that, just back from New York with United Airlines, flew into Newark and very smooth from Dublin, was Economy on way out and Economy Plus on return, both very good, easily as good as Aer Lingus I’ve been on. Very good onward connections to Manhattan from Newark airport as well and overall worked out a good bit cheaper than Aer Lingus

beachhead · 07-02-2023 07:59PM

US immigration are strange.I travel on a green card.Once with other members of my family(not immediate)travelling with me for a holiday I was asked if I was trying to get them into the US illegally!!! I mean for fs.It wasn't meant as a joke.Joke cords are removed for the job.

Dublin to New York via Heathrow

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