"Self-transfer" connection at Dublin Aiport

notabob

But booking via SkyScanner taks me through to Trip.com which say they offer  a self-transfer package g'tee.
"

Trip.com Self-Transfer Package Guarantee

A self-transfer package includes several flights combined by Trip.com into one itinerary. These flights are operated by different airlines that do not have a shared ticketing agreement. After booking, this package will be separated into several bookings and the tickets will be issued individually. A self- transfer package may require you to complete entry/exit procedures, collect your baggage, and check in again when transferring. Please ensure you have the necessary travel documents/visas for the countries/regions where you will transfer.

If you are unable to take connecting flights due to one of your flight segments being canceled or changed by the airline, Trip.com will ensure that you get to your destination, or will offer you a refund for all your affected unused flight segments."

https://www.trip.com/trip-page/flight-guarantee-terms.html?locale=en-gb

Is this not reliable for some reason?

daveyjp

Looks like some comforting words to secure your booking, not for me I'm afraid.

How much will all this actually save you over a theough ticket where you have far more consumer protection?

notabob

On the dates I was looking at going it will cost about £1,000 return.  If, as has been suggsted I go on the Aer Lingus website (Manchester to Chicago) there is no economy left outgoing, and the so the toal price will be c£3,300.  Smiiliar from London.

Caz3121

notabob said:

On the dates I was looking at going it will cost about £1,000 return.  If, as has been suggsted I go on the Aer Lingus website (Manchester to Chicago) there is no economy left outgoing, and the so the toal price will be c£3,300.  Smiiliar from London.

Have you looked at the Dublin-Chicago flights on the Aer Lingus website? if there are no economy flights direct from the airline it is unlikely that a third party (that does not have live availability or pricing)) will be able to provide you one
I would expect after making a booking request they would check if they would be able to fulfil that request and then advise you that there is no availability and you need to pay £x more.
I have done separate tickets via Dublin previously (pre-covid) and saved a fair bit of money (travelled business class cheaper than economy from London) but had factored in an overnight stay in Dublin so had a number of options in case of cancellations. I would recommend at least 5 hours (with a plan if doing it on same day.

onashoestring

notabob said:

On the dates I was looking at going it will cost about £1,000 return.  If, as has been suggsted I go on the Aer Lingus website (Manchester to Chicago) there is no economy left outgoing, and the so the toal price will be c£3,300.  Smiiliar from London.

Agree with what @Caz3121 says with  trip.com You are making a booking request only - if you have already checked with Aer Lingus and there are no economy seats left then trip.com will not be able to book a flight at that price - but will hold onto your money whilst they try to find alternatives- 

In the meantime the flight prices will likely increase . Another poster had this experience with trip.com

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6359786/compensation-for-delay-in-confirming-flight-availability

onashoestring

notabob said:

But booking via SkyScanner taks me through to Trip.com which say they offer  a self-transfer package g'tee.
"

Trip.com Self-Transfer Package Guarantee

A self-transfer package includes several flights combined by Trip.com into one itinerary. These flights are operated by different airlines that do not have a shared ticketing agreement. After booking, this package will be separated into several bookings and the tickets will be issued individually. A self- transfer package may require you to complete entry/exit procedures, collect your baggage, and check in again when transferring. Please ensure you have the necessary travel documents/visas for the countries/regions where you will transfer.

If you are unable to take connecting flights due to one of your flight segments being canceled or changed by the airline, Trip.com will ensure that you get to your destination, or will offer you a refund for all your affected unused flight segments."

https://www.trip.com/trip-page/flight-guarantee-terms.html?locale=en-gb

Is this not reliable for some reason?

The guarantee is that if they can’t get you to your destination they will refund you - which could still leave you stranded . Or if they can’t make an alternative travel plan you have to sort one out yourself pay for it and claim it back - do you have the funds available to do that ? 

Also read section 6 in their T&Cs if you do make a claim under their self- transfer guarantee - 

6. ClaimsBy making a claim under this Trip.com Self-Transfer Guarantee, you hereby assign to us your present and future rights, title and interest in all claims you may have against the relevant airlines in connection with the relevant Trigger Event (including, without limitation, under EU regulation 261/2004) and agree not to enter into any negotiations or accept any offers directly with the relevant airline.

And this posters experience of a connecting flight booked with trip.Com is worth reading . 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6354542/holiday-flight-nightmare

notabob

Thanks.  So I've checked and the (relatively) reasonably price Dublin-Chicago is with United Airlines.  But when you try on their website and start at Liverpool, Manchester or even London, there is nothing that comes up for less than £5k.  So I am proposing booking Ryanair return directly for the night before and stay in Dublin overnight.  And separately book Dublin-Chicago direct with United Airlines... does this seem better?  (I will book the second last Ryanair plane to Dublin for the night before so if that getss cancelled there is still another one that night)

notabob

To upgrade from Basic Economy to Economy, I can pay about £130 and get to choose a seat and a few other things I don't really need but also an option to chnage flights, so I presume that's an extre bit of self-insurance if what I have suggested above doesn't sound sufficient

Westin

notabob said:

Thanks.  So I've checked and the (relatively) reasonably price Dublin-Chicago is with United Airlines.  But when you try on their website and start at Liverpool, Manchester or even London, there is nothing that comes up for less than £5k.  So I am proposing booking Ryanair return directly for the night before and stay in Dublin overnight.  And separately book Dublin-Chicago direct with United Airlines... does this seem better?  (I will book the second last Ryanair plane to Dublin for the night before so if that getss cancelled there is still another one that night)

Try searching for a return rather than one-way flight for a comparison. 

If you do decide on UA DUB ORD then yes to you idea of the RyanAir flights the day before and an overnight close to DUB.

notabob

Thanks.  been trying to book on United Airlines directly and there's a problem..  It was £1,400 USD, and now I am trying to pay it's saying it is £1,680 in pounds!  Unless I am being stupid then it looks like they've done the exchnage rate the wrong way i.e. added 20% not took it off.. I was expecting £1,168!  Is this even possible?  I can't believe I am writing this, I'm so confused.