Moved from another thread to highlight it - Brendan
I have travelled four times in the past two months. Twice to London. Once to Boston and once to Milan. All with Aer Lingus. I had one occasion where I needed more than 1.5 hours to get through security and that was an early morning London flight. Got the same flight a week later and no issues whatsoever.
My observations:
-If you are travelling, give yourself the 2.5/3 hours for short haul. Give yourself 3.5/4 hours for long haul. Chances are you won't need it but I would rather be sitting there than running through an airport. Lounge Access is a good extra at certain times but last time I was in there for early morning flight, it was packed
-Do not check in bags if it can be avoided. (People have copped on to this and paid for carry on case so on the last couple of AL flights, bags had to be taken off people and put in hold due to no space in cabin). Something to bear in mind if you like me, you like to board last.
-Do not get onboard aircraft hungry thinking you can buy food. Aer Lingus are really struggling with catering at the moment.
-Do not book a flight to the States on the Aer Lingus NEO aircraft. It is single aisle and it is no way suitable for long haul travel. I have no idea how cabin crew work in it.
-Leaving is only one part. Arriving is just as bad. I had a colleague come in from San Francisco last week. Over a hour on the tarmac because they had no stand and then no ground crew to meet the aircraft.
- Airport has been absolutely filthy on at least three occasions that I have been there. Bins overflowing and I have seen better toilets in third world Countries...
- The taxi rank at the airport is a disgrace with the length of time it is taking for people to get a taxi
- Book parking as early as expensive. Last time I parked in long term car park for four days, it cost over €100
Travelling is just unpleasant at the moment. Not taking a holiday until later in the year and my company has also agreed that all non-essential travel can be put on hold until the Summer is over. There are horror stories from airports/airlines in Europe and the US. It is just not worth it if it can be avoided.
But if you do go, just accept it might be bad and then you might be just be lucky and be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise the stress alone will send even the most sane person over the edge!!
I have travelled four times in the past two months. Twice to London. Once to Boston and once to Milan. All with Aer Lingus. I had one occasion where I needed more than 1.5 hours to get through security and that was an early morning London flight. Got the same flight a week later and no issues whatsoever.
My observations:
-If you are travelling, give yourself the 2.5/3 hours for short haul. Give yourself 3.5/4 hours for long haul. Chances are you won't need it but I would rather be sitting there than running through an airport. Lounge Access is a good extra at certain times but last time I was in there for early morning flight, it was packed
-Do not check in bags if it can be avoided. (People have copped on to this and paid for carry on case so on the last couple of AL flights, bags had to be taken off people and put in hold due to no space in cabin). Something to bear in mind if you like me, you like to board last.
-Do not get onboard aircraft hungry thinking you can buy food. Aer Lingus are really struggling with catering at the moment.
-Do not book a flight to the States on the Aer Lingus NEO aircraft. It is single aisle and it is no way suitable for long haul travel. I have no idea how cabin crew work in it.
-Leaving is only one part. Arriving is just as bad. I had a colleague come in from San Francisco last week. Over a hour on the tarmac because they had no stand and then no ground crew to meet the aircraft.
- Airport has been absolutely filthy on at least three occasions that I have been there. Bins overflowing and I have seen better toilets in third world Countries...
- The taxi rank at the airport is a disgrace with the length of time it is taking for people to get a taxi
- Book parking as early as expensive. Last time I parked in long term car park for four days, it cost over €100
Travelling is just unpleasant at the moment. Not taking a holiday until later in the year and my company has also agreed that all non-essential travel can be put on hold until the Summer is over. There are horror stories from airports/airlines in Europe and the US. It is just not worth it if it can be avoided.
But if you do go, just accept it might be bad and then you might be just be lucky and be pleasantly surprised. Otherwise the stress alone will send even the most sane person over the edge!!
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