Airline/Airport/Travel questions and queries

George White · 24-04-2023 9:09am

Is the fast track worth it at Dublin airport at a flight departing 6.55 at the morning? What would the difference be? What time would one get there at the airport without fast-track? 3.00?

HeidiHeidi · 24-04-2023 9:14am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120513911#Comment_120513911

That's the busiest time of the day for getting through security, so if you think you might be tight for time it could be worth it.

But if you can show up for 3am (which is far too early!) then probably not.

For a non-USA flight I'd say 5am is plenty, or 5.30 if you can handle a sprint to the gates if needs be - that's when I'd be aiming for.

There have been no reports of horrendous delays for a good while now, but that's not to say something wouldn't happen on the very day you show up. Download the DAA app, and keep an eye on security times around 5am on similar days to when you intend travelling (ie weekday, Saturday, Sunday)

- bo - · 24-04-2023 12:49pm

With the ongoing strike action by Vueling staff at Paris Orly I'm just wondering, is there a particular notice period that needs to be given with regard to individual flights being cancelled? The weekend gone, Vueling cancelled their Dublin-Orly route on Friday/Saturday/Sunday and strike action is also planned for the next two weekends.

In a little bit of a pickle at the minute trying to decide what to do. I'm booked to fly to Orly on Saturday morning to be in Paris for an event that evening, returning from Paris CDG on Sunday.

As it stands, their website/app is displaying that the flight is still planned to go ahead as scheduled. I've got a feeling it's going to be cancelled, and for €90 I can get a flight in to Paris CDG later in the afternoon. It's not ideal and I'll be more pushed for time but will have to be done if I'm to make it. Obviously I then risk the original flight going ahead and losing out on my fare.

It's a pain in the backside not knowing - at least if I knew now, I could apply for my refund and make alternative plans. My fear is that they'll wait until very late in the week, something like the day before, to give notice, and the alternative flight will have risen to multiples of the €90 it is now.

What would you do - say feck it and book the backup flight or hold out? 😐️

Hotblack Desiato · 25-04-2023 2:54pm

Well if you need to be there that day then 90 quid for a backup plan, even if more awkward, seems worth it.

- bo - · 25-04-2023 8:19pm

It turns out SkyScanner wasn't up to date... that €90 was in fact €250-ish.

I said feck it last night and booked a €57 flight out of Belfast as a backup.

stargazer 68 · 24-05-2023 11:23pm

Hi all. Currently in Chicago and flying home on Sat. Have secured an EI upgrade. Is there a lounge in OHare to use - can't seem to find anything online. Can I bring a guest? TIA

AndyBoBandy · 25-05-2023 8:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120637458#Comment_120637458

In Chicago Aer Lingus use the Swissport lounge.

Not sure about bringing a guest if not a member of AerClub

goingnowhere · 01-06-2023 9:59am

Business class entitles you only for access.

Need Platinum or greater to guest

awec · 01-06-2023 12:46pm

Has anyone flown to Geneva before?

How feasible is it to get to a train at the airport that departs within 50 minutes of scheduled landing?

x567 · 01-06-2023 11:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120665840#Comment_120665840

Will depend on which flight you’re on (later ones are more susceptible to compound delays); and whether you have checked baggage or not. I haven’t tried the GVA train connection for a couple of years but from memory it’s comparable with Zurich, where I have made train connections quite often. On a usually-reliable flight with cabin baggage only I’d expect 50 mins to work more often than not. With checked baggage it would be more marginal but not impossible if you’re ticketed and don’t hang about…

hairyslug · 02-06-2023 7:44am

Stupid question but I’m flying to Holland in a few days and I’ve been checking the prices on ryanair to see how much they fluctuate (I have a lot of spare time). Up until yesterday morning, there were 99 empty seats on our flight (again remember, I have a lot of time on my hands) by 3pm, the flight was “sold out”. Would these have been sold on to a 3rd party or will our flight be half empty.

pc7 · 02-06-2023 8:47am

Could they just be unallocated seats you seen hairyslug? When does RA automatically give you a seat?

hairyslug · 02-06-2023 10:57am

That makes sense, thanks

niallo32 · 11-06-2023 9:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120665840#Comment_120665840

I've taken trains tons of times from Geneva in a shorter time frame (assuming no checked luggage) - you turn left when you clear customs and the train station is a few hundred metres away down an escalator

boccy23 · 14-06-2023 2:02pm

Hi

We are flying from DUB-SYD with Singapore. First flight is Aer Lingus to LHR at 6PM on Sunday.

Normally for any EI flights, an hour and a half before hand is fine for check-in. Based on the fact that it is a Long-Haul ticket, do we have to check-in earlier?

We will have bags obviously.

AndyBoBandy · 14-06-2023 2:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120714182#Comment_120714182

No, your flight out of Dublin is still a short haul flight to LHR, so I’d just treat it as a normal flight that would terminate in LHR

goingnowhere · 19-06-2023 10:07am

Its connecting flight, so I'd show up the full 2 hours ahead. Check in might need to be done manually by a human as the IT isn't great at handling this.

Glittering_Fault_720 · 03-07-2023 5:54pm

Can I bring a brand new laptop on board in it's box? Travelling from Dub.

Podge_irl · 06-07-2023 8:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120800497#Comment_120800497

only if you go through one of the new scanners. Otherwise you'll need to take it out of the box.

tobesure · 14-07-2023 1:32pm

Is the 737 MAX 8 the same model that had the safety issues?

Also is there more leg space? I had my first flight in years and felt like more leg room.

Locker10a · 14-07-2023 2:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120850520#Comment_120850520

Yes

and no,

it’s actually slightly tighter than older models

VG31 · 14-07-2023 4:24pm

I find the new Ryanair seats to be very uncomfortable. They are by far the worst seats of any airline I've been on. The top of the seat is hard plastic and I can't put my head back at all without it being seriously uncomfortable. I'm about 6 foot. I guess if you're small or tall you won't have the same problem. The legroom is fine at least.

I much prefer the old seats. They also have hard plastic at the top but the headrest is much more padded so it doesn't matter.

Stephen_Maturin · 10-08-2023 1:57pm

Anyone been through T1 early in the morning of late?

Flight to Bristol 07:40 tomorrow, no bags - thinking of arriving for 06:00

Should be grand right?

VG31 · 10-08-2023 7:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120960555#Comment_120960555

Yes, you could probably get away with even later.

TheW1zard · 12-08-2023 9:50pm

Is there any service that allows you to book flights to thailand (HKT) from Dublin with a deposit and pay at a later date?

Cheers

Suvarnabhumi · 14-08-2023 10:49am

Am I going to miss my connecting flight?

So I booked DUB - FRA - JNB and CPT - FRA - DUB with Lufthansa. Connection on the outward journey is fine.

Connection on the return from Cape Town arrives in Frankfurt at 5.30am and the departure for Dublin leaves at 7.20am. This was all booked through the Lufthansa website and these were the flights they offered.

Since then the airspace of Niger has been closed and there's an extra 90 minutes or so added to the return flight. The last few days the arrival time of the flight from Cape Town to Frankfurt has been,

8.21, 6.46, 6.43, 7.25, 6.24, 6.39, 6.53. This is the landing time on FR24, I presume taxi time has to be added onto that, so realistically there's no way I'm going to make the Dublin flight.

Do I bring this up with Lufthansa and ask them to move my 2nd leg flight (at no cost to me), or do I just wait it out and see what happens on the day? The flight is in September, but I don't think civil aviation will be flying over Niger anytime soon.

Jacovs · 14-08-2023 11:06am

We had family visit us in September last year, who also flew DUB-FRA-CPT in and out.

They were advised their return flight would be delayed, and ended up missing their connection in FRA for their DUB flight.

I would assume you would miss yours too if theres an extra 90 minutes flight time and your connection time was already only 110 minutes.

They were looked after by Lufthansa, they have a few flights to DUB each day, and if they cant accommodate you on the same day then they will put you up and get you on a flight the next day.

If you need to be back on that day, contact them now and ask to be moved to a later flight, while they might still have that option. Otherwise just let it play out if you are flexible.