Which positioning flight?

SW17

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

You can switch to any later Ryanair flight the same route for the same day. The switch can take place up to an hour after the original flight.

There is a "subject to availability" clause.

The fare includes 20kg hold baggage, fast track security, priority boarding, advance seat selection etc.

Ryanair Business Plus fares now allow changes to a flight +/-2 days from the originally booked flight, possibly useful at the end of the trip.

Personally, I prefer doing a back to back (subject to the airport in question being suitable) unless I need to take the first flight of the day on the ex-EU in order to make a connection in LHR. of course I don't check bags and I know the risks / routes around the airport (usually DUB).

I've also done a back to back the day before the long haul flight, e.g. If the route booked is DUB-LHR-JFK, I book the DUB-LHR for the day before the LHR-JFK, and a positioning flight LHR-DUB as a back to back. You can either go home or stay overnight at LHR before taking the long haul the next day. As long as the DUB-LHR arrives LHR less than 24 hours before her LHR-JFK scheduled departure, this works fine. Also avoids the need to take any baggage on the positioning flight, helpful with back to backs.

richardw

SW17 wrote: »

....I've also done a back to back the day before the long haul flight, e.g. If the route booked is DUB-LHR-JFK, I book the DUB-LHR for the day before the LHR-JFK, and a positioning flight LHR-DUB as a back to back....

So the positioning flight LHR-DUB you'd do in the morning and DUB-LHR in the afternoon/evening the same day?

SW17

richardw wrote: »

So the positioning flight LHR-DUB you'd do in the morning and DUB-LHR in the afternoon/evening the same day?

In this scenario I would do LHR-DUB-LHR on the same airfcraft (known as back to back), then LHR-XXX the next day. As long as the airport involved is suitable for doing this, it's actually safer than taking flights a few hours apart.

richardw

With a back to back I'd be too worried that the LHR-DUB flight could get cancelled and the DUB-LHR flight that I should be on was operated by a different aircraft and I missed that flight.

theonlywayisup

k3lvc wrote: »

You've a whole load of variables you've not shown


Time of year
Departure point from UK (which narrows down choice of airlines)
Why only AMS/DUB ? What about BRU/CDG and using Eurostar to get there
Are you wanting the stopover to be part of the 'adventure' or just a bed for the night ?

This ^ but also add Milan, Helsinki, Copenhagen...in fact, don't discount anywhere! It may be a trawl to find a good price but if you want the best you will need a little legwork.

Murphy_The_Cat

my 2pworth
Travel to your positiong point,the day before. Have a night in a hotel and treat it all as an early start/extension of your holiday.

Also, have a look at the price for terminating your return flight in London - it could POSSIBLY, be no dearer than finishing in DUB/AMS/CPH etc etc, or better value if you don't need to book a return flight plus a nights accomodation. POSSIBLY. PERHAPS. MABYE.
With you living in Londonshire On Sea, you have a lot more options in this department.

This is one time when only you can decide on the benefits outweighing the time/costs involved.

dickydonkin

silvercar wrote: »

Ideally you want the positioning flight to be on the same plane as the start of your main trip. that way, if there is some problem getting to the start position it will also impact the start of your trip.

Back to backs can be risky and some airports are not ideal for taking this approach.

Disadvantage of your suggestion of taking the last flight out the day before is that a problem with that flight or the first flight of your trip could mess things up.

The OP stated that he avoided taking the last flight out the day before.

Maybe I have a 'glass half empty' perspective, but with travel, I always assume that if anything can go wrong - it will - and despite many factors being out of control of the individual traveller, taking some sensible precautions such as positioning yourself the day before and staying in a hotel, (which may add a little to the total trip cost) is better that having a trip ruined due to missing a connection with all the associated costs and hassle such events can bring.

SW17

richardw wrote: »

With a back to back I'd be too worried that the LHR-DUB flight could get cancelled and the DUB-LHR flight that I should be on was operated by a different aircraft and I missed that flight.

BA highly unlikely to have a spare aircraft in DUB or any other outstation to operate the return (unless one that had gone tech previously happened to be sitting there), so while your concern is technically possible, in practice it is extremely unlikely to happen. It would be a rebooking situation.

I accept it's not for everyone, and at DUB in particular a back to back can go from piece of cake to slightly hairy depending which gate the LHR-DUB arrives into. I've experienced both.

richardw

SW17 wrote: »

BA highly unlikely to have a spare aircraft in DUB or any other outstation to operate the return (unless one that had gone tech previously happened to be sitting there), so while your concern is technically possible, in practice it is extremely unlikely to happen.

They could easily arrange something with their sister airline Aer Lingus from Dublin. A back-to-back is too risky for me.

SW17

richardw wrote: »

They could easily arrange something with their sister airline Aer Lingus from Dublin. A back-to-back is too risky for me.

I'd say you're overthinking it (and plenty of airports where BA has no sister airline, even though using an EI aircraft is not likely), but everyone has their own risk profile, you should do what you are comfortable with. As I said, it's not for everyone, and if you have the time then the overnight option is just fine, though still has its own risks.