Is this pushing it - connection flight timing?

sjw64

Im looking to fly to San Francisco in August and have found a flight with Aer Lingus :

Depart Birmingham 0810
Arrive Dublin 0910

Depart Dublin 1220 (Gates close 90 mins prior)

Does anyone know if this is enough time between arriving in Dublin, checking through the various desks etc and checking in again for departure to SFO.

Thanks

bagand96

Are you booking on a through ticket? If so its fine and they will have to guarantee you to San Francisco in the event of a missed connection.

However I'd say the chances of missing it are slim to none, over 3 hours connection time is more than enough!

A very good way of doing it too, you'll be able to pre-clear US immigration at Dublin, arriving in San Francisco as a domestic passenger.

SW17

It should be enough time if your flight from BHX is on time, DUB not a huge airport. The 90 mins in DUB is not gate closure, it's the latest time they tell you to be at US immigration pre-clearance. The queues for that can get quite long in busy periods. Don't know if that is a guideline, or a hard rule. At the same time they say check-in for transatlantic closes 75 mins before departure, so a bit of a contradiction there...

If your flight from BHX-DUB is on EI and on the same ticket as the DUB-SFO sector, EI would take care of you with rebooking in the event of a delay from BHX. If with another airline or even a separate booking with EI, you are basically subject to their goodwill, they are not obliged.

sjw64

Thanks. The flight(s) is on one ticket so to speak. BHX - DUB - SFO via Aer Lingus direct as they come in miles cheaper than anyone else.

That said Im sat here staring at the monitor at Premier Economy seats with BA/Virgin from London - SFO for about £3k (2 people) compared to £1.9k. My body is saying yes but my wallet is saying no!

steve1500

We flew Man Dublin then Dublin to Orlando all on the same ticket in the summer.


Flight was 0800 from Man & 1330 from Dublin. We had no problems.


Spent hours being bored, as Dublin is a pretty small airport

richardw

When do you want to travel?
Off peak travel inc WT+ will go on sale soon.

sjw64

richardw wrote: »

When do you want to travel?
Off peak travel inc WT+ will go on sale soon.

Thanks. Traveling in August for 3 weeks - Me + Mrs. Sadly must be during school holidays due to work .

Voyager2002

sjw64 wrote: »

Thanks. The flight(s) is on one ticket so to speak. BHX - DUB - SFO via Aer Lingus direct as they come in miles cheaper than anyone else.

That said Im sat here staring at the monitor at Premier Economy seats with BA/Virgin from London - SFO for about £3k (2 people) compared to £1.9k. My body is saying yes but my wallet is saying no!

Read reviews carefully... I understand that WT+ is nothing special, certainly not comparable with Business Class.

If the cost were the same I would hesitate between the two options. I would value the convenience of leaving from a local (and fairly small) airport and above all avoiding the nightmare of clearing US Immigration at a major gateway when worn out after a long flight. The opportunity to stretch your legs and exercise during the Dublin stopover would also be a bonus.

Perhaps save the grand and use some of it on lounges in Dublin... or see if Aer Lingus offer any upgrades.

sjw64

Thanks !

I’m still very tempted to travel via DUB to SFO but I have this vision of my knees stuck to my chest and someone’s feet from behind on my shoulders for 14hrs!

I keep getting drawn to BA/Virgin premium seats and their potential sale prices at Christmas/New Year.

But…. Aer Lingus price is very good.

callum9999

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Read reviews carefully... I understand that WT+ is nothing special, certainly not comparable with Business Class.

If the cost were the same I would hesitate between the two options. I would value the convenience of leaving from a local (and fairly small) airport and above all avoiding the nightmare of clearing US Immigration at a major gateway when worn out after a long flight. The opportunity to stretch your legs and exercise during the Dublin stopover would also be a bonus.

Perhaps save the grand and use some of it on lounges in Dublin... or see if Aer Lingus offer any upgrades.

While there's no way I'd pay the £500 extra the OP's found, WT+ most certainly is significantly better than Aer Lingus Economy. Business class food, wider seats, better recline and extra legroom. Being a cheapskate I'd never pay for it (I got moved to a WT+ seat once because my tv screen broke half way through the flight), and it clearly isn't the business class experience, but it's noticeably more comfortable. You'd also get about 14,000 avios each compared to a couple of thousand with Aer Lingus.

richardw

AA and United have direct services from BHX to NYC this summer, perhaps consider breaking up the journey a bit.