Aer Lingus for IAD to London - how is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did that in August. The plane is a narrow body, which is slightly freaky to me to fly across the Atlantic with only one aisle (but I’m a nervous flyer). They did have in-flight entertainment, which was nice.

Coming back, the preclearance in Dublin was a hot mess. Incredibly long lines. I’d definitely budget for a lot of extra time though our plane held for a long time waiting for passengers. Oh- the check-in at LHR for Aer Lingus was a major mess too.

If you hit the Preclearance area at DUB between 9:30-11 AM it can get really bad, as so many US bound flights depart from 10:30-12:30. Global Entry helps a lot. If its a later flight the lines won't be as long.

PP here. You reminded me…Aer Lingus doesn’t participate in Global Entry!! We found that out too, much to our dismay.

Not my experience…

I thought GE had nothing to do with airlines.

PP here- I misspoke. They don’t participate in PreCheck. I do have GE but all I can remember is standing in line for a very long time in Dublin.

There wouldn't be any PreCheck at a security checkpoint in Ireland, as PreCheck is only something at US airports

There is a security checkpoint at the preclearance facility before you hit the CBP passport control/customs line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did that in August. The plane is a narrow body, which is slightly freaky to me to fly across the Atlantic with only one aisle (but I’m a nervous flyer). They did have in-flight entertainment, which was nice.

Coming back, the preclearance in Dublin was a hot mess. Incredibly long lines. I’d definitely budget for a lot of extra time though our plane held for a long time waiting for passengers. Oh- the check-in at LHR for Aer Lingus was a major mess too.

If you hit the Preclearance area at DUB between 9:30-11 AM it can get really bad, as so many US bound flights depart from 10:30-12:30. Global Entry helps a lot. If its a later flight the lines won't be as long.

PP here. You reminded me…Aer Lingus doesn’t participate in Global Entry!! We found that out too, much to our dismay.

Not my experience…

I thought GE had nothing to do with airlines.

PP here- I misspoke. They don’t participate in PreCheck. I do have GE but all I can remember is standing in line for a very long time in Dublin.

There wouldn't be any PreCheck at a security checkpoint in Ireland, as PreCheck is only something at US airports

There is a security checkpoint at the preclearance facility before you hit the CBP passport control/customs line.

But yes you are right they do not participate in PreCheck, so you wouldn't get it on your boarding pass at Dulles, and would have to use the regular security line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did that in August. The plane is a narrow body, which is slightly freaky to me to fly across the Atlantic with only one aisle (but I’m a nervous flyer). They did have in-flight entertainment, which was nice.

Coming back, the preclearance in Dublin was a hot mess. Incredibly long lines. I’d definitely budget for a lot of extra time though our plane held for a long time waiting for passengers. Oh- the check-in at LHR for Aer Lingus was a major mess too.

If you hit the Preclearance area at DUB between 9:30-11 AM it can get really bad, as so many US bound flights depart from 10:30-12:30. Global Entry helps a lot. If its a later flight the lines won't be as long.

PP here. You reminded me…Aer Lingus doesn’t participate in Global Entry!! We found that out too, much to our dismay.

Not my experience…

I thought GE had nothing to do with airlines.

PP here- I misspoke. They don’t participate in PreCheck. I do have GE but all I can remember is standing in line for a very long time in Dublin.

There wouldn't be any PreCheck at a security checkpoint in Ireland, as PreCheck is only something at US airports

There is a security checkpoint at the preclearance facility before you hit the CBP passport control/customs line.

I was talking about the outbound trip originating from Dulles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just did that in August. The plane is a narrow body, which is slightly freaky to me to fly across the Atlantic with only one aisle (but I’m a nervous flyer). They did have in-flight entertainment, which was nice.

Coming back, the preclearance in Dublin was a hot mess. Incredibly long lines. I’d definitely budget for a lot of extra time though our plane held for a long time waiting for passengers. Oh- the check-in at LHR for Aer Lingus was a major mess too.

We’ve had wide bodies and narrow bodies on IAD-Dublin Aer Lingus flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just be aware that the IAD to Dublin flight is quite short, and the flight leaves IAD pretty early, so it is even more difficult to sleep than on the longer non-stops.

Depends on the day. Sometimes they have two different evening flights, leaving in 5-6 hour and the 8-9 hour. We’ve been on both, and I agree that the earlier one is tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t add a ton of travel time and saves us $300-$400pp (there are 4 of us) over the nonstops, which pays for a few of our hotel nights. Am I crazy to do this? It’s us and a 12 and 15 year old who are good travelers. I know food and activities are going to add up so I’m trying to be mindful, but also don’t want to be foolish.

I'd definitely do it. I fly IAD-DUB frequently and often most of the passengers are connecting to other flights. IAD-DUB gets in really early so you should make the first flight to LHR. If not, there are so many others.

[Anonymous]

I might be stretching the truth a bit, but we did IAD to DUB once in 5.5 hours. There was a very healthy tailwind. I could be exaggerating, but we were there in under six hours easily. Arrival was super early- around 5am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did that in August. The plane is a narrow body, which is slightly freaky to me to fly across the Atlantic with only one aisle (but I’m a nervous flyer). They did have in-flight entertainment, which was nice.

Coming back, the preclearance in Dublin was a hot mess. Incredibly long lines. I’d definitely budget for a lot of extra time though our plane held for a long time waiting for passengers. Oh- the check-in at LHR for Aer Lingus was a major mess too.

We’ve had wide bodies and narrow bodies on IAD-Dublin Aer Lingus flights.

Yes, they used to mix the A330 widebody and the 757 on this flight, but now that they have the A321neo narrowbody, it looks like they run that pretty much all the time.on this route, even in the summer days when they operate two flights per day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might be stretching the truth a bit, but we did IAD to DUB once in 5.5 hours. There was a very healthy tailwind. I could be exaggerating, but we were there in under six hours easily. Arrival was super early- around 5am.

Definitely possible- this flight the other night was in the air for 5:50.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/EIN116/history/20230115/2230Z/KIAD/EIDW

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks all. There are two outbound flights - one leaves Dulles at 5:10pm and the other at 8:55pm. I assume we want the second one?

For the return, the two choices leave Heathrow at 9:50am or 1:25pm. What option would be best here in terms of crowds at checkin/customs/etc.?

Both ways, the layover in Dublin is under 90 minutes.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all. There are two outbound flights - one leaves Dulles at 5:10pm and the other at 8:55pm. I assume we want the second one?

For the return, the two choices leave Heathrow at 9:50am or 1:25pm. What option would be best here in terms of crowds at checkin/customs/etc.?

Both ways, the layover in Dublin is under 90 minutes.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

Yes, the 8:55 outbound.

90 minutes on the return would make me nervous since you have to clear US customs in Dublin. Probably later in the day is better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks all. There are two outbound flights - one leaves Dulles at 5:10pm and the other at 8:55pm. I assume we want the second one?

For the return, the two choices leave Heathrow at 9:50am or 1:25pm. What option would be best here in terms of crowds at checkin/customs/etc.?

Both ways, the layover in Dublin is under 90 minutes.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

Yes, the 8:55 outbound.

90 minutes on the return would make me nervous since you have to clear US customs in Dublin. Probably later in the day is better?

I'd take the earlier Heathrow flight so if there are immigration slowdowns you have a backup of the second IAD flight. But depends a bit if you have GE. If you do the 90 minutes is doable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be aware that the IAD to Dublin flight is quite short, and the flight leaves IAD pretty early, so it is even more difficult to sleep than on the longer non-stops.

Depends on the day. Sometimes they have two different evening flights, leaving in 5-6 hour and the 8-9 hour. We’ve been on both, and I agree that the earlier one is tough.

Can you elaborate on why the earlier one is tough? I am planning a trip to Dublin--my first time in Ireland and only my second trip out of the country--and I'm trying to decide between these two flights (the one that leaves in the 5-6 hour and the one that leaves in the 8-9 hour). I'm not connecting anywhere else; staying in Dublin. I am a very, very nervous flyer, and I hardly ever do it ... because it scares the crap out of me. So I'm debating whether I'd be less freaked out if I left while there are still a few hours of daylight or whether it would be better to leave at night when (presumably) I can't see much. It's been my dream to go for such a long time, and I've finally saved enough, but my anxiety is getting in my way. I want to book, but not knowing which flight would be better is keeping me from doing so. Can anyone offer some gentle advice or pors/cons to an inexperienced and nervous traveler? Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be aware that the IAD to Dublin flight is quite short, and the flight leaves IAD pretty early, so it is even more difficult to sleep than on the longer non-stops.

Depends on the day. Sometimes they have two different evening flights, leaving in 5-6 hour and the 8-9 hour. We’ve been on both, and I agree that the earlier one is tough.

Can you elaborate on why the earlier one is tough? I am planning a trip to Dublin--my first time in Ireland and only my second trip out of the country--and I'm trying to decide between these two flights (the one that leaves in the 5-6 hour and the one that leaves in the 8-9 hour). I'm not connecting anywhere else; staying in Dublin. I am a very, very nervous flyer, and I hardly ever do it ... because it scares the crap out of me. So I'm debating whether I'd be less freaked out if I left while there are still a few hours of daylight or whether it would be better to leave at night when (presumably) I can't see much. It's been my dream to go for such a long time, and I've finally saved enough, but my anxiety is getting in my way. I want to book, but not knowing which flight would be better is keeping me from doing so. Can anyone offer some gentle advice or pors/cons to an inexperienced and nervous traveler? Thanks so much.

The early departure time means it's hard to fall asleep until probably 3-4 hours into the flight, which is about 6 to 6.5 hours in the air. Then the landing time is around 1 AM for your body time. You are just sort of a wreck at that time, and will get into Dublin probably 5-6 hours before you can check into your hotel and get some rest. If you take the later flight, you can probably fall asleep within the first hour or two, and when your arrive it's more like 4 AM body time - not great, but not as hellacious as 1 AM. And by the time you get into Dublin it's probably 11 AM- get some food and you can probably check into your hotel a couple of hours later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might be stretching the truth a bit, but we did IAD to DUB once in 5.5 hours. There was a very healthy tailwind. I could be exaggerating, but we were there in under six hours easily. Arrival was super early- around 5am.

That definitely happens. It is often the first flight in which is great.