Airline/Airport/Travel questions and queries

Ruu · 18-02-2016 2:16am

Does DL8559 always leave from Terminal 1? Thanks.

LXFlyer · 18-02-2016 8:16am

Ruu wrote: »

Does DL8559 always leave from Terminal 1? Thanks.

Yes.

It's an Air France flight to Paris (operated by Cityjet) which has a Delta codeshare flight number.

Fabio · 18-02-2016 3:43pm

Hi all,

I've been looking at flights to New York recently and noticed that there are many options to fly into LCY and then fly out to your ultimate destination from LHR. The thing is, there is no direct connection via bus or train between LCY and LHR.

There is a way to connect using the tube and various connections but I wonder if it is really feasible. A direct flight from Dublin clocks in at €800 whereas one that goes through LCY and LHR comes in at almost half of that.

Has anyone done it before?

Noxegon · 18-02-2016 4:05pm

Fabio wrote: »

There is a way to connect using the tube and various connections but I wonder if it is really feasible. A direct flight from Dublin clocks in at €800 whereas one that goes through LCY and LHR comes in at almost half of that.

Not an answer to your question, but I'm stunned that there's that much of a saving given what UK APD costs.

Have you looked at all the operators going into New York (or Newark) from Dublin rather than just Aer Lingus?

LXFlyer · 18-02-2016 5:58pm

Noxegon wrote: »

Not an answer to your question, but I'm stunned that there's that much of a saving given what UK APD costs.

Have you looked at all the operators going into New York (or Newark) from Dublin rather than just Aer Lingus?

BA price flights ex-Dublin very competitively to try and get the business.

OP - surely there are direct connections via BA flying from Dublin to Heathrow that are priced similarly?

Chris_5339762 · 18-02-2016 7:08pm

That cross London journey is so unpredictable as to be quite risky when it comes to connecting flights... guess thats why its so cheap.

Logical bet is to DLR from LCY to Bank, District line from Bank to South Kensington and then Piccadilly Line to LHR T5. Nightmare of a trip.

Edit: If you do this on the way BACK, you could just book an AL/BA flight on its own from LHR to DUB and just not show up for the LCY to DUB connection (provided you can get your luggage etc). Don't do this unless its your last sector though, or they'll offload you!!

Fabio · 18-02-2016 8:58pm

Hey all, thanks for the advice. I checked all of the operators out of both Shannon and Dublin for direct stuff (and Cork as well for connections) but Aer Lingus, United, Delta, AA....they're all filling planes easily and the prices were steep for my dates.

Instead I just hung tight and Virgin came up with a good price of €500 return from SNN-LHR-JFK and back from IAD-LHR-SNN. It was significantly lower than going direct and I'd normally rather go direct.

Still, I saved a few bob and am excited about flying on the A340-600 on the way over! Never been on one!

smurfjed · 18-02-2016 9:33pm

I tried the DUB-LCY-LHR connection during my last trip, the DLR trip was easy, but the tube was a bloody nightmare, the stations that i used didn't have escalators or elevators, so i had to drag my two extremely heavy bags up and down stairs, it really isn't something that i would recommend nor attempt again unless I intended to get a taxi directly between the two airports.

January · 18-02-2016 10:46pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

That cross London journey is so unpredictable as to be quite risky when it comes to connecting flights... guess thats why its so cheap.

Logical bet is to DLR from LCY to Bank, District line from Bank to South Kensington and then Piccadilly Line to LHR T5. Nightmare of a trip.

Edit: If you do this on the way BACK, you could just book an AL/BA flight on its own from LHR to DUB and just not show up for the LCY to DUB connection (provided you can get your luggage etc). Don't do this unless its your last sector though, or they'll offload you!!

The only good thing about booking it all through BA is that they have to accommodate you on the next flight from LHR if you miss the connection.

Also, they can penalise you if you don't take the full schedule on the way back.

Chris_5339762 · 18-02-2016 10:56pm

Can they? How do they penalise you?

conor_ie · 18-02-2016 11:06pm

Yep.. if you miss any part of your journey, airlines have to right to cancel the remaining portions of the journey

Shannon757 · 18-02-2016 11:40pm

conor_ie wrote: »

Yep.. if you miss any part of your journey, airlines have to right to cancel the remaining portions of the journey

That's why he said make sure it's your last sector.

January · 19-02-2016 11:29am

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Can they? How do they penalise you?

I read the ba forum on flyertalk quite a bit and there's a travel agent who was hit by a huge fine booking flights like this and people missing out the last sector (the lon to dub sector). It's also happened to normal fliers too. They charge your card the full amount for what the flight would be missing out the dub sector.

Marcusm · 19-02-2016 5:56pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

That cross London journey is so unpredictable as to be quite risky when it comes to connecting flights... guess thats why its so cheap.

Logical bet is to DLR from LCY to Bank, District line from Bank to South Kensington and then Piccadilly Line to LHR T5. Nightmare of a trip.

Edit: If you do this on the way BACK, you could just book an AL/BA flight on its own from LHR to DUB and just not show up for the LCY to DUB connection (provided you can get your luggage etc). Don't do this unless its your last sector though, or they'll offload you!!

THat would be a horrible way to do it; DLR to CAnning Town then Jubilee to Green Park followed by Piccadilly to Heathrow would be a more advisable route - I live at Green Park and do either end (but not both) of this journey on a regular basis. UK APD will not apply to this flight because it originates and terminates outside the UK.

OP - are there no BA to LHR options showing for connecting flights? These would generally be a much much simpler connection although may be correspondingly more expensive. BA flights from Ireland arrive into T5A ie the main part. It is often easier to go straight out of the airport then head upstairs to departures rather than use flight connections although if your connection is tight, flight connections is more sensible as you will male conformance even if you don't make your aircraft.

Remember that you will have to clear immigration in the US not DUB.

Inquitus · 20-02-2016 2:26am

January wrote: »

Nah, I flew on a BA 747 last year, now they're ancient.

I'd rather fly on a BA747 across the Atlantic than a AA/EI 757-200, I'll give you that one, the 747's are definitely older than than the 757's!

Inquitus · 20-02-2016 2:29am

January wrote: »

They charge your card the full amount for what the flight would be missing out the dub sector.

Can you provide some backup for that? I wouldn't imagine that's legal, you pay for a service, if you decide at any point not to take up further flights they are within their rights to cancel further legs in the booking but certainly not within their rights to charge you an additional fee for missing the dub, or any other, sector.

Pat Dunne · 20-02-2016 11:20am

January wrote: »

Nah, I flew on a BA 747 last year, now they're ancient.

They maybe ancient, but they're still "The Queen of the Skies", to my mind.

Pat Dunne · 20-02-2016 11:28am

Inquitus wrote: »

Can you provide some backup for that? I wouldn't imagine that's legal, you pay for a service, if you decide at any point not to take up further flights they are within their rights to cancel further legs in the booking but certainly not within their rights to charge you an additional fee for missing the dub, or any other, sector.

This would all depend on the type of ticket you purshased. Flexible fares are usually more expensive, but with T&C's that have a reasonable amount of wriggle room. Then there is the low cost/no frills/budget" type offerings, which usually contain very ridgid T&C's, with no wriggle room and penalties if not fully complied with.

Which ever you have decided to purchased it up to you to comply. It might sound tedious, but always read the "fine print" and know what you're getting into.

January · 20-02-2016 11:40am

Inquitus wrote: »

Can you provide some backup for that? I wouldn't imagine that's legal, you pay for a service, if you decide at any point not to take up further flights they are within their rights to cancel further legs in the booking but certainly not within their rights to charge you an additional fee for missing the dub, or any other, sector.

Sorry, I should have clarified that I assumed that's what happened, not that that was what actually happened. The proof of the TA being fined for it though is on a big thread on the BAEC forum on flyertalk.

A Dub in Glasgo · 21-02-2016 1:26pm

I done LCY to Paddington a couple of times before DLR to Canning Town -Jubilee line to Baker Street and then Bakerloo line to Paddington. Once there I would get the Heathrow Express to Heathrow

Mebuntu · 21-02-2016 2:34pm

I flew BA LHR-DUB through T5 for the first time last week. Photo taken at Security entry but at no point was I asked to produce ID, in fact, at the Gate we were specifically told that no ID was required and just to concentrate on putting our feet on the yellow markers and look at the camera. (You have to do a 180, well a 160, to look at the camera

)

Is this normal procedure? On hundreds of flights UK-IRL EX LHR T1, LGW, STN, LTN, BHX, MAN etc I can't ever remember ID not being requested.

A Dub in Glasgo · 21-02-2016 2:53pm

It is normal procedure for BA. I assume your hundreds of flights previously were on other airlines?

Mebuntu · 21-02-2016 3:38pm

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

It is normal procedure for BA. I assume your hundreds of flights previously were on other airlines?

Thanks for replying but I assume you meant to say "It is normal procedure for BA since LHR-DUB moved to T5" because I flew countless times LHR-DUB with BA up to the day they left T1 and always, without exception, had to produce ID at the Gate.

LXFlyer · 21-02-2016 3:50pm

Mebuntu wrote: »

I flew BA LHR-DUB through T5 for the first time last week. Photo taken at Security entry but at no point was I asked to produce ID, in fact, at the Gate we were specifically told that no ID was required and just to concentrate on putting our feet on the yellow markers and look at the camera. (You have to do a 180, well a 160, to look at the camera )

Is this normal procedure? On hundreds of flights UK-IRL EX LHR T1, LGW, STN, LTN, BHX, MAN etc I can't ever remember ID not being requested.

Did you check in online or at a desk at the airport?

BA/bmi certainly did not always do passport checks at T1.

The photo check at security/gate is nothing to do with the airline but rather it's a check by the UK Immigration authorities on all domestic/CTA passengers making sure that international transit passengers are not circumventing immigration.

Mebuntu · 21-02-2016 6:16pm

lxflyer wrote: »

Did you check in online or at a desk at the airport?

All previous occasions BA (and previously BMI) it was a mixture of online and check-in machine at T1. This time it was at a check-in machine at T5. Can't even remember when I was last at a check-in desk it's so long ago.

BA/bmi certainly did not always do passport checks at T1.

In my experience they always did at the gate on boarding. On one occasion my passport was away for renewal but they accepted my Driving Licence instead (As did DUB Immigration + Boarding Card).

Not making a big fuss about this but was just curious because this was the first time ever (since security became such a big thing) that no ID was requested.

LXFlyer · 21-02-2016 7:33pm

Mebuntu wrote: »

All previous occasions BA (and previously BMI) it was a mixture of online and check-in machine at T1. This time it was at a check-in machine at T5. Can't even remember when I was last at a check-in desk it's so long ago.

In my experience they always did at the gate on boarding. On one occasion my passport was away for renewal but they accepted my Driving Licence instead (As did DUB Immigration + Boarding Card).

Not making a big fuss about this but was just curious because this was the first time ever (since security became such a big thing) that no ID was requested.

No they certainly did not always check ID at the gate in T1 - plenty of times I boarded with no ID check at the gate on bmi flights.

It's less of an issue I guess given that it's either a CTA or UK domestic flight (same procedures apply to both), and you have the double photo check. If you make it to the gate and your photo matches with the first one, then you have either made it through UK immigration or come from landside UK.

If you are an Irish or UK citizen you don't need a passport, so a driver's licence is sufficient ID.

boccy23 · 25-02-2016 1:01pm

Trying to see how busy T2 will be on Sunday at 4PM when I fly but I cannot get a definitive listing of all flights leaving at this time. Does such a listing exist?

Tenger · 25-02-2016 2:35pm

boccy23 wrote: »

Trying to see how busy T2 will be on Sunday at 4PM when I fly but I cannot get a definitive listing of all flights leaving at this time. Does such a listing exist?

Look at DAA website and just filter for all departures on Sunday.
T2 is a lot quieter in the afternoon. Majority of long haul flights are pre-12pm.

Ruu · 26-02-2016 12:45am

I am thinking of flying from Atlanta to Berlin (Tegel) and the stop is in Amsterdam, most of the flights have a layover of between 1hr-1h 30 mins in Amsterdam. Is this too short to clear? I'll only have cabin baggage I expect. I have never flown or connected into AMS. Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

JCX BXC · 26-02-2016 12:50am

Ruu wrote: »

I am thinking of flying from Atlanta to Berlin (Tegel) and the stop is in Amsterdam, most of the flights have a layover of between 1hr-1h 30 mins in Amsterdam. Is this too short to clear? I'll only have cabin baggage I expect. I have never flown or connected into AMS. Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated.

Same ticket?
I've had family members transit AMS with a connection time of 1hr 10mins before and they made it fine with only a little stress. If possible though select the longest stopover to cater for possible delays. Is it the same terminal?

Ruu · 26-02-2016 1:14am

Yep same ticket with Delta. Can do a longer layover. I think the arrival gate is close to the connection to Berlin. Thanks.

JCX BXC · 26-02-2016 1:39am

Ruu wrote: »

Yep same ticket with Delta. Can do a longer layover. I think the arrival gate is close to the connection to Berlin. Thanks.

If its the same terminal and the same ticket you should be fine. Should your flight be delayed you'll just be put onto the next Berlin flight anyway so if its 1hr 30mins I'd say go for it.

Locker10a · 26-02-2016 4:06pm

Hi folks, I've done a quick search here but not found the answers I'm looking for.
I'd like to know what are your experiences of travelling with Aer Lingus regional and their policies regarding hand luggage ?
The trouble is I'm not asking for myself (I travel very lightly, if I can't I check a bag) but in this case my mum will be flying with them, she usually brings a standard trolly bag, as well as her handbag with her.
However on the Aer Lingus website it says strictly one pice of hand luggage is allowed on Regional flights !
I know the weight limit is less on regional flights, but what about the additional handbag/laptop that's allowed on mainline ?
Is that allowed too? Do they measure/weigh bags at the gate?
What are your experiences ?
Thanks in advance

Growler!!! · 26-02-2016 5:06pm

https://www.aerlingus.com/travel-information/baggage-information/cabin-baggage/

Hi there, the above info will give you the dimensions and weights for allowed cabin bags.

From the horses mouth so to speak, on a full ATR all pax cabin bags will not fit in overhead lockers. The procedure on a full flight or one where there is a concern on the size of a cabin bag is for some bags to be removed from pax, tagged and placed in the hold for collection from the baggage hall on arrival.

There will be no problem with a handbag or small backpack which can be placed under a seat, carried as well as the cabin bag.

questionmark? · 26-02-2016 9:37pm

I find the regional service to be pretty relaxed about hand luggage. Then again it depends on the flight. If it's full it will be stricter but I've seen people attempt to get on with over sized bags, they tag and put in the hold at no extra cost in my experience. Then again I don't see a lot of full flights with them. The new ATR 72 600s are nice to fly on although a bit noisy on take off.

ScouseMouse · 26-02-2016 9:41pm

Its only a small plane and the luggage bins are quite small. I was flying back from Blackpool and there was no room left and they wanted to put my small bag in the hold. When I explained it was a medical device, the girl said fine, but asked me to get it under the seat.

If the bag is a bit big, it may HAVE to go in the hold.

Enjoyed the flight though, but the wife didn't, she felt claustraphobic as the plane is very small.

Locker10a · 27-02-2016 12:19pm

Growler!!! wrote: »

https://www.aerlingus.com/travel-information/baggage-information/cabin-baggage/

Hi there, the above info will give you the dimensions and weights for allowed cabin bags.

From the horses mouth so to speak, on a full ATR all pax cabin bags will not fit in overhead lockers. The procedure on a full flight or one where there is a concern on the size of a cabin bag is for some bags to be removed from pax, tagged and placed in the hold for collection from the baggage hall on arrival.

There will be no problem with a handbag or small backpack which can be placed under a seat, carried as well as the cabin bag.

Thanks for the reply, that's everything I needed to know!
I had already seen the info in the link you posted, that's actually what cast the doubt in my mind, as it looks like there are two very seperate allowances between mainline and regional !

Out of interest, on the ATRs does weight and balance become an issue on very full flights when a lot of tagged luggage has to go to the hold etc.?

Growler!!! · 27-02-2016 12:24pm

Locker10a wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, that's everything I needed to know!
I had already seen the info in the link you posted, that's actually what cast the doubt in my mind, as it looks like there are two very seperate allowances between mainline and regional !

Out of interest, on the ATRs does weight and balance become an issue on very full flights when a lot of tagged luggage has to go to the hold etc.?

Nope, tagged baggage is included in pax standard weights. Effects trim setting but nothing significant.

LiamoSail · 01-03-2016 6:00pm

Apologies for what seems a bit of a daft question.

If I have a flight at 10:00, what is supposed to happen at 10:00? Is this supposed to be the time we board, we start taxing, or we take off?

I fly around 30 times per year, and while I know the boarding time stated on the pass is often very inaccurate, it also seems rare that the plane is away from the gate by the stated time. So what is it supposed to refer to?

JCX BXC · 01-03-2016 6:09pm

LiamoSail wrote: »

Apologies for what seems a bit of a daft question.

If I have a flight at 10:00, what is supposed to happen at 10:00? Is this supposed to be the time we board, we start taxing, or we take off?

I fly around 30 times per year, and while I know the boarding time stated on the pass is often very inaccurate, it also seems rare that the plane is away from the gate by the stated time. So what is it supposed to refer to?

Taxing I think.

I love the Ryanair boarding passes, "gate closes 20 minutes before departure" yet their aircraft can often have 25min turnarounds! Several times I have arrived at the gate with just 20 minutes to spare and the aircraft is either not there at all or not even boarding.

LXFlyer · 01-03-2016 6:51pm

LiamoSail wrote: »

Apologies for what seems a bit of a daft question.

If I have a flight at 10:00, what is supposed to happen at 10:00? Is this supposed to be the time we board, we start taxing, or we take off?

I fly around 30 times per year, and while I know the boarding time stated on the pass is often very inaccurate, it also seems rare that the plane is away from the gate by the stated time. So what is it supposed to refer to?

The times quoted in airline timetables, on the airline booking websites and on the booking confirmation are all as follows:

Departure time - Time the aircraft is due to start push back from the stand

Arrival time - Time the aircraft is due on stand at the arrival airport

A Dub in Glasgo · 01-03-2016 6:56pm

It should be noted that you can push back after the stated departure time and still arrive by the stated arrival time

JCX BXC · 01-03-2016 7:04pm

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

It should be noted that you can push back after the stated departure time and still arrive by the stated arrival time

Often dependant on the wind and the traffic at the airport.

LXFlyer · 01-03-2016 7:09pm

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

It should be noted that you can push back after the stated departure time and still arrive by the stated arrival time

Absolutely - airlines build resilience into the schedule to allow for delays caused by busy traffic, headwinds etc.

Tenger · 01-03-2016 9:49pm

LiamoSail wrote: »

....and while I know the boarding time stated on the pass is often very inaccurate, it also seems rare that the plane is away from the gate by the stated time. ...?

Boarding time indicated on the boarding card (Gate closes) will be approx 20-45 mins before scheduled departure time. This is indicated so that all the pax are ready at the gate so they can get them on quickly. Most airlines plan to have aircraft doors closed 5-10 mins before scheduled departure time in order to make the time.
Obvious if a flight is delayed it will impact on later flights, but an airline may switch aircraft if the delay will badly impact the next. So no point thinking "the plane will be late today because it always is"

smurfjed · 01-03-2016 10:26pm

How do you survive a 14 hour flight..... whats the secret to arriving your destination alive....

Tenger · 02-03-2016 12:29am

smurfjed wrote: »

How do you survive a 14 hour flight..... whats the secret to arriving your destination alive....

First or Business class would help I expect?

smurfjed · 02-03-2016 2:12am

First or Business class would help I expect?

OK, thats a given, now how do i survive?

I have to admit that I'm a spoilt traveller

The Young Wan · 02-03-2016 2:20am

Flying back to Ireland from Cardiff with Flybe at the end of the month. Does anyone know if a provisional licence is acceptable ID or does it have to be full licence?

Pat Dunne · 02-03-2016 2:25am

The Young Wan wrote: »

Flying back to Ireland from Cardiff with Flybe at the end of the month. Does anyone know if a provisional licence is acceptable ID or does it have to be full licence?

From the flybe website.

http://www.flybe.com/checkin/id-requirements.htm
Republic of Ireland travel
British and Irish citizens must have a form of photographic ID which proves their nationality/citizenship for immigration purposes e.g. a valid passport or full driving licence.

Airline/Airport/Travel questions and queries

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