I’ll never fly Aer Lingus again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were at the counter more than 75 minutes before departure then you have every right to be upset, and you could even pursue involuntarily denied boarding compensation. If you weren’t at the counter at least 75 mins before then I am sorry this is a giant learning experience.

75 minutes for an international flight??? I don’t know what the exact time you should arrive for an overseas flight, but I always do three hours. Even if the flight is within the EU, I do three hours since I’m always unsure of customs, it’s usually an airport I’m not familiar with and I simply always like to be early and have some wiggle room with regard to time. I’d much rather be relaxed, get a coffee, than go what OP went through.

OP, sorry you went through this. It sounds truly awful. I never book through 3rd party sites, because I’ve heard too many horror stories similar to yours.

Overkill. Two hours is usually plenty unless you suffer from anxiety.

Nope. Not at Dublin. Need minimum of 3 hours. Buy the fast track too. Worth the 13 Euro investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were at the counter more than 75 minutes before departure then you have every right to be upset, and you could even pursue involuntarily denied boarding compensation. If you weren’t at the counter at least 75 mins before then I am sorry this is a giant learning experience.

75 minutes for an international flight??? I don’t know what the exact time you should arrive for an overseas flight, but I always do three hours. Even if the flight is within the EU, I do three hours since I’m always unsure of customs, it’s usually an airport I’m not familiar with and I simply always like to be early and have some wiggle room with regard to time. I’d much rather be relaxed, get a coffee, than go what OP went through.

OP, sorry you went through this. It sounds truly awful. I never book through 3rd party sites, because I’ve heard too many horror stories similar to yours.

Overkill. Two hours is usually plenty unless you suffer from anxiety.

Nope. Not at Dublin. Need minimum of 3 hours. Buy the fast track too. Worth the 13 Euro investment.

Last time I went through Dublin with 90 minutes with online check in and Global Entry and totally fine. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTH is the Dublin Preclearance? We were there last year and this is the first I'm hearing of it. Is this only out of DC?

It’s where you clear US immigration and customs at foreign departure point rather than at home. In my opinion, it’s the stupidest policy ever, but it persists in Ireland, Abu Dhabi, and certain parts of the Caribbean.

I would much rather wait in line prior to my flight than after. It's much easier to walk off the plane in a domestic terminal and get your luggage. It does require planning though because the lines are longer for preclearance and you have to get to the airport much earlier.

Totally disagree. I want to enjoy my vacation time and clear in less than five minutes anyway returning home with Global Entry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 hours is recommended for international flights.

I would be mad at yourself first, your 3rd party fares site 2nd, American 3rd, and Aer Lingus 4th.

I fly all the time internationally and have never arrived at an airport three hours early, and have never missed a flight. This sounds unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were at the counter more than 75 minutes before departure then you have every right to be upset, and you could even pursue involuntarily denied boarding compensation. If you weren’t at the counter at least 75 mins before then I am sorry this is a giant learning experience.

75 minutes for an international flight??? I don’t know what the exact time you should arrive for an overseas flight, but I always do three hours. Even if the flight is within the EU, I do three hours since I’m always unsure of customs, it’s usually an airport I’m not familiar with and I simply always like to be early and have some wiggle room with regard to time. I’d much rather be relaxed, get a coffee, than go what OP went through.

OP, sorry you went through this. It sounds truly awful. I never book through 3rd party sites, because I’ve heard too many horror stories similar to yours.

Overkill. Two hours is usually plenty unless you suffer from anxiety.

Two hours may USUALLY be plenty, but there is a risk. If you can handle the risk and not have a toddler fit over a travel snafu, then go for it (I’ve cut it close, too, but was well aware that if I missed the flight, it was on me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 hours is recommended for international flights.

I would be mad at yourself first, your 3rd party fares site 2nd, American 3rd, and Aer Lingus 4th.

I fly all the time internationally and have never arrived at an airport three hours early, and have never missed a flight. This sounds unusual.

It is unusual because it Dublin preclearance. I fly 1-2 a month to/thru Dublin and would never leave 75 minutes for it even with Global Entry. Once your flight is cleared to enter preclearance you have no idea what the wait is like beyond the escalator down. Sometimes I go and there is no one before the additional security and I fly right thru. This week the line for security (NOT CBP) was like Disney long and you can't skip that. Another time I went and
Global Entry was down. The line for CBP made them stop the additional security line.

It is a great system and why I fly via Dublin 99% of the time but it can be a bear with a lot of tourists or system failures.

Are Lingus is great and code shares with United. If they have a change or cancellation they rebook quickly. Your problem is the 3rd party tickets and a tight connection which you just can't do in Dublin flying to US. Live and learn.

[Anonymous]

I believe someone posted last year about Aer Lingus and I responded that they are basically a discount airline not much above Ryanair. Certainly not a legacy carrier at this point. I was criticized for that opinion, but this post seems to show that it’s true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTH is the Dublin Preclearance? We were there last year and this is the first I'm hearing of it. Is this only out of DC?

Returning from Ireland to the US you clear customs and immigration before getting on the plane

Yes, I remember doing that.
But we didn't go through EU customs on our way TO dublin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were at the counter more than 75 minutes before departure then you have every right to be upset, and you could even pursue involuntarily denied boarding compensation. If you weren’t at the counter at least 75 mins before then I am sorry this is a giant learning experience.

75 minutes for an international flight??? I don’t know what the exact time you should arrive for an overseas flight, but I always do three hours. Even if the flight is within the EU, I do three hours since I’m always unsure of customs, it’s usually an airport I’m not familiar with and I simply always like to be early and have some wiggle room with regard to time. I’d much rather be relaxed, get a coffee, than go what OP went through.

OP, sorry you went through this. It sounds truly awful. I never book through 3rd party sites, because I’ve heard too many horror stories similar to yours.

Overkill. Two hours is usually plenty unless you suffer from anxiety.

Nope. Not at Dublin. Need minimum of 3 hours. Buy the fast track too. Worth the 13 Euro investment.

Last time I went through Dublin with 90 minutes with online check in and Global Entry and totally fine. YMMV.

Yes indeed, YMMV.

I'm guessing you flew first/business/premium access (or equivalent) and/or did not check a bag and/or flew on a weekday. That timeline is unrealistic for DUB international to US with checked bags on a weekend morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTH is the Dublin Preclearance? We were there last year and this is the first I'm hearing of it. Is this only out of DC?

Returning from Ireland to the US you clear customs and immigration before getting on the plane

Yes, I remember doing that.
But we didn't go through EU customs on our way TO dublin.

It was horrific coming home. After you do the sweet Irish security all of a sudden you are doing security AGAIN with TSA USA glassholes. They really are glassholes. It's jarring to hit that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe someone posted last year about Aer Lingus and I responded that they are basically a discount airline not much above Ryanair. Certainly not a legacy carrier at this point. I was criticized for that opinion, but this post seems to show that it’s true.

We fly Aer Lingus between the UK and Ireland and Ireland and the US regularly. There is no comparison between AL and Ryan Air or Easy Jet. You couldn't pay me enough to take a Ryan Air or Easy Jet flight. The problem with the post here is the third party booking. It isn't Aer Lingus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WTH is the Dublin Preclearance? We were there last year and this is the first I'm hearing of it. Is this only out of DC?

Returning from Ireland to the US you clear customs and immigration before getting on the plane

Yes, I remember doing that.
But we didn't go through EU customs on our way TO dublin.

Like in US? You don't go thru EU customs in US. Just passport check.

If you landed and exited the airport in Dublin you did. It was after the long walkways-- EU left and non-EU right. Then baggage claim then out the green doors.

If you made a flight connection then you didn't in Dublin and did it when you exited the airport at destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was doing 3 different legs. Was easier to use one website.
Don’t lots of people use Travelocity, Expedia, smart fares etc?

I used to but no longer. Too many problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I was doing 3 different legs. Was easier to use one website.
Don’t lots of people use Travelocity, Expedia, smart fares etc?

I used to but no longer. Too many problems.

Actually easier (not cheaper) to use one airline/alliance. OP wanted cheaper and now knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe someone posted last year about Aer Lingus and I responded that they are basically a discount airline not much above Ryanair. Certainly not a legacy carrier at this point. I was criticized for that opinion, but this post seems to show that it’s true.

We fly Aer Lingus between the UK and Ireland and Ireland and the US regularly. There is no comparison between AL and Ryan Air or Easy Jet. You couldn't pay me enough to take a Ryan Air or Easy Jet flight. The problem with the post here is the third party booking. It isn't Aer Lingus.

It’s very comparable. I have flown virtually every European discount and legacy carrier, including Aer Lingus. They are much closer to Ryanair and Wizz than British Airways. Sorry, but it’s true.