Airport Tips&Tricks (incl baggage-drop;connecting-flight & terminal-info)

dohouch · 21-04-2016 4:54pm

igorbiscan wrote: »

Ever tried King of Shaves oil? Tiny bottle,think its only 15-20ml. Great product,you only need a few drops!. Always bring this when travelling.

"Total Shave" same as above but spicier,might be Irish. Get mine in Tesco.

jofeck · 25-04-2016 5:38pm

Hi any promo codes doing the rounds for Fast Track - its brilliant I love it but hate paying full price. Used to get a free coffee which made it only €3 cos coffee is about €3 anyway... still nicer to get it less from the get-go. Free Irish times now, but I wouldn't be getting paper anyway so no discount if you ask me.
Any promo codes please and thank you?

WEBSUMMIT used to work but of course now that they are gone.. it doesn't!

dudara · 25-04-2016 5:42pm

whomitconcerns wrote: »

If flying in to Amsterdam save yourself queuing for the train ticket machines. Dutch websites and most machines only take Dutch issued cards. But you can book your trains on the Belgian railways site with your Irish card before you leave Ireland, saving you loads of time in schipol.

I lived in Amsterdam for a year, and I'm travelling there weekly at the moment, ticket machines take Irish cards no problems. If you're coming to Amsterdam regularly, it's worth getting an OV card, which is the equivalent of the Leap card

whomitconcerns · 25-04-2016 5:45pm

dudara wrote: »

I lived in Amsterdam for a year, and I'm travelling there weekly at the moment, ticket machines take Irish cards no problems. If you're coming to Amsterdam regularly, it's worth getting an OV card, which is the equivalent of the Leap card

Yes..but try booking tickets on their site before you go and it will only take Dutch cards. The machines in airport do take foreign cards. But queues are big.

happyoutscan · 26-04-2016 12:34am

jofeck wrote: »

Hi any promo codes doing the rounds for Fast Track - its brilliant I love it but hate paying full price. Used to get a free coffee which made it only €3 cos coffee is about €3 anyway... still nicer to get it less from the get-go. Free Irish times now, but I wouldn't be getting paper anyway so no discount if you ask me.
Any promo codes please and thank you?

WEBSUMMIT used to work but of course now that they are gone.. it doesn't!

It's €5.95, surely that's not too much to pay if you think it's brilliant and love it.

Strumms · 01-05-2016 7:14pm

Another one is for people travelling with backpacks as hand luggage. Please stow it under the seat in front FFS. Took a flight with Aer Lingus the other week and there were a group of what I presume were students from Asia who had taken up a large proportion of the overhead bins area around my seat and further with very very small backpacks. I asked them to move them but got blank looks. The FA who was 3 feet away quite curtly asked me to stow my bag and sit down when I pointed out the issue. If she had have been on point and using her initiative especially as it was a full flight there wouldn't have been a problem... She did mention it to them but on receipt of same black looks gave up mid sentence... In fairness to her she did appear to have the look of someone coming to the end of a long day and indeed career....

VG31 · 01-05-2016 7:47pm

Strumms wrote: »

Another one is for people travelling with backpacks as hand luggage. Please stow it under the seat in front FFS. Took a flight with Aer Lingus the other week and there were a group of what I presume were students from Asia who had taken up a large proportion of the overhead bins area around my seat and further with very very small backpacks. I asked them to move them but got blank looks. The FA who was 3 feet away quite curtly asked me to stow my bag and sit down when I pointed out the issue. If she had have been on point and using her initiative especially as it was a full flight there wouldn't have been a problem... She did mention it to them but on receipt of same black looks gave up mid sentence... In fairness to her she did appear to have the look of someone coming to the end of a long day and indeed career....

I agree with you about small backpacks but there's a different side to this issue as well.

Sometimes I have just travelled with a medium-sized backpack as hand luggage and checked my cabin-size case in. I do always put my bag under the seat in front but I feel that since I have bothered to pay to check my main bag in, I should be able to store my backpack overhead.
Whereas If I had travelled hand luggage only, with only my case and no backpack, I'd have to store the case overhead meaning that I'd have more legroom.

It seems that having less legroom if the price you pay for wanting to travel light by checking in your baggage.

Strumms · 01-05-2016 10:29pm

VG31 wrote: »

I agree with you about small backpacks but there's a different side to this issue as well.

Sometimes I have just travelled with a medium-sized backpack as hand luggage and checked my cabin-size case in. I do always put my bag under the seat in front but I feel that since I have bothered to pay to check my main bag in, I should be able to store my backpack overhead.
Whereas If I had travelled hand luggage only, with only my case and no backpack, I'd have to store the case overhead meaning that I'd have more legroom.

It seems that having less legroom if the price you pay for wanting to travel light by checking in your baggage.

I hear what you are saying... Well if the backpack fits properly under the seat in front it should not be an issue at all re: legroom. These were very small flat backpacks and they all seemed to have the same types all be it in a different color. If it was a case of not fitting and sticking out and cramping your space then no issue with it being stowed overhead. A lot of people are also quite sensible and wait until cabin bags are in the overhead and then get up at the last minute after boarding and stow them in the gaps between or on top of those cases...

ollaetta · 03-05-2016 2:09pm

Diemos wrote: »

Don't rent a car with Goldcar, EVER.

Oh, how I wish I'd seen this a few weeks ago. Complete and utter shower of chancers. Just had a very bad experience with them at Girona Airport. Avoid like the plague.

Mr rebel · 06-05-2016 12:07am

Are you actually allowed them to store your cabin-sized bag underneath the seat in front of you? I never see people doing this but I think I will chance it myself the next time I'm flying as it would be more convenient. I'm pretty small anyway so sacrificing a bit of leg room on a short haul flight isn't a big deal

JCX BXC · 06-05-2016 12:52am

Travelling from Dublin at 7:50 in July. T1. The airport experince will likely be horrible, but is there any tips for sanity when the airport is that busy?

Fred Swanson · 06-05-2016 1:00am

This post has been deleted.

degsie · 06-05-2016 8:28am

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

You mean Fast Track, or is that something different?

Speedwell · 06-05-2016 9:28am

Mr rebel wrote: »

Are you actually allowed them to store your cabin-sized bag underneath the seat in front of you? I never see people doing this but I think I will chance it myself the next time I'm flying as it would be more convenient. I'm pretty small anyway so sacrificing a bit of leg room on a short haul flight isn't a big deal

You are allowed to store any bag under the seat that will fit. I had to do this on a short flight from Heathrow to Aberdeen; they had had to hold the flight for a few minutes because my flight to Heathrow was late, and there wasn't room for my bag in the overhead bin. They insisted the bag was too big to fit under the seat, but they were only guessing based on how it looked, and it did indeed fit without having to cram it (I know my own luggage, Jesus Christ tapdancing on a cracker).

I didn't want to check the bag because it had my work laptop in it as well as an external backup drive containing my essential presentation materials for the three-week-long training trip. They can throw someone else's bag in the hold. Sorry.

Dodge · 06-05-2016 10:58am

Carnacalla wrote: »

Travelling from Dublin at 7:50 in July. T1. The airport experince will likely be horrible, but is there any tips for sanity when the airport is that busy?

My tip is try not to go in thinking "this is going to be horrible".

it really isn't that bad. One queue (for security) is all you'll face. After that you can do whatever you like

LXFlyer · 06-05-2016 11:00am

Dodge wrote: »

My tip is try not to go in thinking "this is going to be horrible".

it really isn't that bad. One queue (for security) is all you'll face. After that you can do whatever you like

Given that 07:50 is at the end of the first wave of flights it should not be too bad at all.

secondrowgal · 06-05-2016 11:24am

Carnacalla wrote: »

Travelling from Dublin at 7:50 in July. T1. The airport experince will likely be horrible, but is there any tips for sanity when the airport is that busy?

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

degsie wrote: »

You mean Fast Track, or is that something different?

I did this for a flight last Saturday. I travel a lot but when I went through the boarding card gates I couldn't see where the Fast Track lane was - nor could I see any signs for it, so this was a waste for me. Any kind soul update me on where this is in T1?

Deagol · 06-05-2016 11:53am

secondrowgal wrote: »

I did this for a flight last Saturday. I travel a lot but when I went through the boarding card gates I couldn't see where the Fast Track lane was - nor could I see any signs for it, so this was a waste for me. Any kind soul update me on where this is in T1?

http://www.mobilemaplets.com/thumbnails/11719_thumbnail-1024.jpg

notfromhere · 06-05-2016 12:06pm

Hi silly question, am flying out with ryaniar ,i have one bag checked on the outbound flight does this mean i have to pay for it to come back.

afatbollix · 06-05-2016 12:08pm

Yes you need to pay for it each way.

notfromhere · 06-05-2016 12:09pm

Ah thank u.

secondrowgal · 06-05-2016 12:49pm

Deagol wrote: »

http://www.mobilemaplets.com/thumbnails/11719_thumbnail-1024.jpg

Thank you, I see my mistake now!

So, the tip and trick for this one is when using Fast Track in Dublin T1, don't go through the general Departures area. The Fast Track is to the right of the general area

Mr rebel · 06-05-2016 2:59pm

Speedwell wrote: »

You are allowed to store any bag under the seat that will fit. I had to do this on a short flight from Heathrow to Aberdeen; they had had to hold the flight for a few minutes because my flight to Heathrow was late, and there wasn't room for my bag in the overhead bin. They insisted the bag was too big to fit under the seat, but they were only guessing based on how it looked, and it did indeed fit without having to cram it (I know my own luggage, Jesus Christ tapdancing on a cracker).

I didn't want to check the bag because it had my work laptop in it as well as an external backup drive containing my essential presentation materials for the three-week-long training trip. They can throw someone else's bag in the hold. Sorry.

Thanks for the reply.
My cabin bag is a flexible backpack thing so I think it should also fit under the seat in front of me. Without priority boarding, it can be a stressful getting on a plane and seeing all the overhead bins around your seat are already full so this should take some of the stress out of my journey tomorrow:)

BraveDonut · 06-05-2016 3:28pm

Bag within a bag

I generally put everything that I will need during the flight into a separate small bag inside my hand luggage:
tablet, phone, kindle, portable charger + lead, headphones, pen, crosswords, boarding pass, etc.

Walking onto the plane I pull this out. Then I place my hand luggage in the overhead bin and I sit.

I spend the rest of the time wondering what the F other people are doing that takes them so long to just stow their stuff and sit down.

Mr rebel · 06-05-2016 3:39pm

BraveDonut wrote: »

Bag within a bag

I generally put everything that I will need during the flight into a separate small bag inside my hand luggage:
tablet, phone, kindle, portable charger + lead, headphones, pen, crosswords, boarding pass, etc.

Walking onto the plane I pull this out. Then I place my hand luggage in the overhead bin and I sit.

I spend the rest of the time wondering what the F other people are doing that takes them so long to just stow their stuff and sit down.

Some people just enjoy faffing about

beefjerky · 06-05-2016 3:42pm

Motorbike parking is free in Dublin airport. Just drive around the barrier of the short term car park and park beside the other bikes close to the lifts. Can lock bike to rails.

Confirmed by calling up the car park and asking, this is what they said. I've done it twice now and saved about €100 in taxi fares in doing so. Handy!

spurious · 06-05-2016 3:47pm

ItssDylannnn wrote:

Does anyone know how people are at the gate so early? When I goto the airport I am there about an hour and a half early. I get through security and then I am waiting for my gate to be displayed. As soon as the gate is displayed I walk (speed walk/run) to get there first. I like to line up as soon as I get there so I am able to be one of the first on the plane. I don't bother paying for priority. I was wondering, how is there always peope at the gate when I get there. I don't see anyone in front of me when I walk to the gate but they are there. Its not a big deal, but how do people know the gate early? or am I being stupid?

The airport apps usually give you the gate a good while before it goes on the board.

Turtle_ · 06-05-2016 6:16pm

spurious wrote: »

The airport apps usually give you the gate a good while before it goes on the board.

Is that the official daa app?

VG31 · 06-05-2016 7:12pm

Turtle_ wrote: »

Is that the official daa app?

Yes, the Android app used to show the gates 2 hours in advance, but it's less now.

ItssDylannnn wrote: »

Does anyone know how people are at the gate so early? When I goto the airport I am there about an hour and a half early. I get through security and then I am waiting for my gate to be displayed. As soon as the gate is displayed I walk (speed walk/run) to get there first. I like to line up as soon as I get there so I am able to be one of the first on the plane. I don't bother paying for priority. I was wondering, how is there always peope at the gate when I get there. I don't see anyone in front of me when I walk to the gate but they are there. Its not a big deal, but how do people know the gate early? or am I being stupid?

Some people may know which gates to go to from previous flights. E.g. Flybe always use Pier 2, Lufthansa Pier 3, Air Canada Pier 3, CityJet Pier 2 etc.

If you're flying Ryanair you could go to Pier 1 (the '100 gates') before the gate is announced as Ryanair always fly from there (except in the morning when some flights use Pier 2, so don't do this in the morning or else it's a very long walk back!)

Speedsie · 13-05-2016 2:07pm

Hi,
does anyone know how to order the electronic buggy service that will bring you to the Ryanair departure gates in Terminal 1? I've looked at the website and can't see anything.

I'll be flying with my mother, who does not need a wheelchair, but she found the distance to the gate last year to be quite long.

I know we can check in early & take breaks, but I think the buggy would be ideal.

TIA

Speeds

Fred Swanson · 13-05-2016 2:12pm

This post has been deleted.

Speedsie · 13-05-2016 3:18pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Hi, but we don't actually need a wheelchair. DAA provide a golf-buggy type thing - and I've now been told you just go to the OCS meeting point in Terminal 1.

But your input is, of course, equally valid!!!

Speeds

ferrigan101 · 13-05-2016 4:05pm

Speedsie wrote: »

Hi, but we don't actually need a wheelchair. DAA provide a golf-buggy type thing - and I've now been told you just go to the OCS meeting point in Terminal 1.

But your input is, of course, equally valid!!!

Speeds

It would do you no harm to call the airport/OCS ahead of time as they can be busy depending on the time of day and you might be waiting a while if you just turn up and ask.

Speedsie · 13-05-2016 5:03pm

ferrigan101 wrote: »

It would do you no harm to call the airport/OCS ahead of time as they can be busy depending on the time of day and you might be waiting a while if you just turn up and ask.

Yes, I'l do it closer to the time!

cobham · 13-05-2016 5:58pm

There is a waiting area with seats just beside the lift/escalator in the large food/drink area before you head to the boarding gates that have the long walk. I think you just wait for the buggy to arrive as it goes up and back as demanded. Check your boarding gate as two other areas are in use. These are the ones that used to be in use before the new ones added and have shorter distance to walk.

You might be better to ask for the wheelchair but that means you will miss out on the shopping/eating opportunities of being airside as they usually go a different short cut to the boarding gate.

Fred Swanson · 13-05-2016 5:59pm

This post has been deleted.

spurious · 13-05-2016 8:41pm

cobham wrote: »

There is a waiting area with seats just beside the lift/escalator in the large food/drink area before you head to the boarding gates that have the long walk. I think you just wait for the buggy to arrive as it goes up and back as demanded.

Can confirm this.
Just before you turn right to start the Ryanair hoof, straight ahead of you on the way to the 200 gates is a seating area. Wait there and a buggy comes up and down to the 100 gates. The driver just takes your flight number and name.

This map shows it:

degsie · 13-05-2016 9:01pm

spurious wrote: »

Can confirm this.
Just before you turn right to start the Ryanair hoof, straight ahead of you on the way to the 200 gates is a seating area. Wait there and a buggy comes up and down to the 100 gates. The driver just takes your flight number and name.

This map shows it:

You mean OCS?

Fred Swanson · 13-05-2016 9:14pm

This post has been deleted.

spurious · 13-05-2016 9:23pm

degsie wrote: »

You mean OCS?

Yes. We didn't book it, my mother having injured herself only the day before we travelled. We just waited there and when the guy with the buggy came, off we went.

onway · 26-05-2016 10:20pm

Do anyone know how long it takes to do Pre - clearance for USA - I know there is very little to do when you get through there.

Speedwell · 27-05-2016 12:36am

onway wrote: »

Do anyone know how long it takes to do Pre - clearance for USA - I know there is very little to do when you get through there.

It depends on the length of the line and your visa status, but assuming you have a valid ESTA when you get to the head of the line (or are a US citizen or permanent resident), it's a few routine questions and go.

If you have a more complicated visa situation (for example, you are using your new green card for the first time, which a lot of people do though Dublin because it is said to be a little quicker), it could take longer.

Speedwell · 27-05-2016 12:40am

I flew recently though Knock West and Luton on my way to a conference last week. As a US citizen with residency in Ireland, all they did was stamp my boarding pass at check-in both ways. I use OCS for walking long distances and for help with the stairs. At Knock everyone was cheerful and kind, and at Luton they even pick you up at the parking lot and wheel you into the airport (you dial from the pick-up point and they come out to get you).

Pro Hoc Vice · 28-05-2016 9:39pm

sbEdge wrote: »

My knees normally touch the seat in front but they don't dig in until the person in front reclines on top of my knees.

I am 6 1 there is no seat on any plane my knees touch, it amazes me how any person under 6 2 touches the seat in front.

athtrasna · 28-05-2016 9:40pm

Pro Hoc Vice wrote: »

I am 6 1 there is no seat on any plane my knees touch, it amazes me how any person under 6 2 touches the seat in front.

Seat pitch varies from aircraft to aircraft and even within the same aircraft type it varies from airline to airline. Here's a long haul economy comparison http://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_economy.php

Pro Hoc Vice · 28-05-2016 9:42pm

athtrasna wrote: »

Seat pitch varies from aircraft to aircraft and even within the same aircraft type it varies from airline to airline.

And I never on my many flights had my knees stick in any chai in front maybe I just sit upright.

Pro Hoc Vice · 28-05-2016 9:45pm

In any flight I am on, if paid lounge access is available I opt for it, usual cost between €20 to €40 while it seems expensive it stops me wasting money in shops and as I like a few drinks pre flight I would spend at least €20 in any bar for a few drinks.

Thoie · 28-05-2016 9:52pm

Pro Hoc Vice wrote: »

I am 6 1 there is no seat on any plane my knees touch, it amazes me how any person under 6 2 touches the seat in front.

People of the same height can have different length legs (the important bit in this case being the length of the upper leg). I have the same inside leg length as a friend who's a good bit taller than me. A lot of your height may be in your torso.

If you have a bigger bum, that pushes you further forward in your seat, meaning your knees are closer to the seat in front. You may have a very neat bum, and are not affected by that.

from_atozinc · 28-05-2016 9:59pm

This isn't a tip, just an observance / pet hate.

One thing that annoys the sh1t out of me is this.

I am sitting on an aisle seat towards back of plane. The only exit off the plane is the front door - obviously way up the front ! And 99% of the time, (the millisecond that the fasten seatbelt sign goes off) the 2 panickers in the middle and window seat want to get out of their seats and get their bag and stand in the aisle. . I have to move out to let them out and I then I Sit down again.

The 2 panickers will be left standing in the aisle holding their bags tutting waiting for the other 150 or so people ahead of them to get off. Sometimes this can be 10 minutes, longer if issues with door or stairs etc. All the time, I am SITTING there looking ar them thinking "gobsh1tes"

I don't get these panickers, can they not just wait. They are not saving any time really by doing this and just tut and moan when waiting in the aisle.

classic33 · 28-05-2016 10:03pm

Lock your bag/case with a small padlock for that bit of extra security?

You'll be aware then that most of the small padlocks used require one of three keys to open them. And you'd be none the wiser. Use a small brightly

coloured zip tie/tie wrap/cable tie. Avoiding black, white & clear. Your case is opened, it's immediately apparent that it's been tampered with. The odd colour makes it hard to replace.

Just make sure you carry one or two extra. This from an ex baggage handler, whose "upset" some of the younger ones using these on my own luggage.

Airport Tips&Tricks (incl baggage-drop;connecting-flight & terminal-info)

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