Travel Question--Airlines

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Yes @auntiehill just ignore my Airlingus comment. I was speaking from teh internet

And I didn't realize you were going next year, thought this was for this summer. You're in a great position then to monitor all the sites and wait for your bargain deal which WILL come. Don't forget to immediately after buying the ticket buy travel insurance that covers you if you can't go due to illness or whatever. It's not expensive.

As to weather, yeah April may be quite chilly and the advice to NOT GO AT EASTER is very important ! But there's advantages to not going in the summer if you're going to a country with a lot of tourists. You are literally in a sea of tourists if you go in summer at some spots compared to other months. I'd be leaning towards May though weather wise, not because of it being chilly but because of rain.

 

[RevDMV]

We used Kayak.com to watch airfare for our scout trip this summer to Canada.

I've done a ton of domestic travel in the US, not much international. Although folks I know who do always say the US carriers are the worst. Emirates and Singapore Air seem to be the top rated.

I agree with the statement, your most of the way to Wales, or in Shawshank "And if you've come this far, maybe you're willing to come a little further"

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Miles and Points whore perspective here - if you can narrow down the least objectionable alternative from an airline alliance standpoint - OneWorld, StarAliiance - consider getting an airline branded credit card that allows you to earn miles for that carrier. Several offer good sign up bonuses, i.e 50K points with a $3K spend first 90 days or somesuch. Those airline points can be used to upgrade from sucky, to less sucky flights. From economy to premium economy with more leg room, bigger seats, earlier boarding. Many also come with free checked bag allowances. The Points Guy has a good breakdown of their top choices.

American Express membership rewards can also be transferred to airline loyalty programs in some cases.

With a year to plan and accumulate points, you could have a cheaper out of pocket trip potentially by just redirecting your everyday spending to a card that earns miles/ points and then cashing in.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I was also going to suggest you look at airbnb for staying. In some countries it can be cheaper.

 

[auntiehill]

I was also going to suggest you look at airbnb for staying. In some countries it can be cheaper.

Yeah, I think that could be a good possibility. Hubby is cheap as hell, so an alternative to some crappy hotel might please both of us.

I am interested in taking one of two train trips. I think that sounds like a nice, relaxing way to see the country. I know we will have to rent a car but we don't have to drive all the time.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Hotels do suck. At least with airbnb you have a stove etc.. it's just so much more space.

Yeah take trains, they are definitely relaxing and you'll probably end up going further! You have tons of time to research though! It's very exciting

I've never been to Ireland, though I lived a year in London and have seen a chunk of southern UK. My grandfather was Irish, classic name and from county clare as I recall but I have no personal affinity to the place. My strongest Irish feelings were from The Last Jedi

 

[Astra]

-try and get an evening flight, pass out/sleep using earplugs or noise cancelling headphones

Shouldn't you get up regularly and walk around? It's not good to sit cramped for hours.

 

[MacLeod]

Yeah, I think that could be a good possibility. Hubby is cheap as hell, so an alternative to some crappy hotel might please both of us.

I am interested in taking one of two train trips. I think that sounds like a nice, relaxing way to see the country. I know we will have to rent a car but we don't have to drive all the time.

Just remember unless you are familiar with a manual car to specify you want an automatic car.

 

[Timby]

auntiehill, I mean you no offense whatsoever when I say this, but am I the only one bothered by a spouse unilaterally declaring that a trip--worth several thousand dollars, easily--is happening, no discussion, no questions asked? And then putting the burden of planning the trip on the other spouse? That's ... well, nothing rings right about that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Yeah take trains, they are definitely relaxing and you'll probably end up going further! You have tons of time to research though! It's very exciting

Taking a train trip across Canada is definitely on my bucket list.

 

[auntiehill]

auntiehill, I mean you no offense whatsoever when I say this, but am I the only one bothered by a spouse unilaterally declaring that a trip--worth several thousand dollars, easily--is happening, no discussion, no questions asked? And then putting the burden of planning the trip on the other spouse? That's ... well, nothing rings right about that.

We have had more than a few discussions, and I have made my opinion known. He's grieving and having a hard with it, so I am giving him a bit of a pass this time. In fact, the only reason we can afford any trip at all is because his mother left us some money. Don't think I haven't thoroughly busted his chops, though. I am not the "suffer in silence" type.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Shouldn't you get up regularly and walk around? It's not good to sit cramped for hours.

Yeah. As to evening flights I cannot sleep on planes, the fantasy of going to sleep and waking up almost there just never works for me. Rather I have a torturous time in the dark for hours and when it's finally lights on I'm totally exhausted and taking headache pills to get through the landing, customs, airport, travel that is ahead of me. Last time I swore NEVER again would I do a night flight but I just booked one because it was a better price and the stopovers were only 2 hours rather than 9 hours so I convinced myself it was worth it. We'll see how that goes.

The worst part though.. is you get on a plane at 10pm, by the time it takes off you are hoping to go to sleep but noooo they have to serve you a meal you don't want to eat and it's lights out after midnight and after being over stimulated with food and service and.. ugh.

 

[Snaploud]

Per Kayak.com:

Top Tips for Finding a Cheap Flight (Boston to Dublin)

The cheapest flight from Boston Logan International to Dublin was found 56 days before departure, on average.

Book at least 3 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price.

High season is considered to be June, July and August. The cheapest month to fly is October.

Morning departure is around 8% more expensive than an evening flight, on average*.

https://www.kayak.com/flight-routes/Boston-Logan-International-BOS/Dublin-DUB

Top Tips for Finding a Cheap Flight (New York to Dublin)

The cheapest flight from New York to Dublin was found 90 days before departure, on average.

Book at least 3 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price.

High season is considered to be June, July and August. The cheapest month to fly is October.

Morning departure is around 39% cheaper than an evening flight, on average*.

...

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly New York to Dublin?

For New York to Dublin, Sunday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Saturday is the most expensive. Flying from Dublin back to New York, the best deals are generally found on Monday, with Saturday being the most expensive.

...

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from New York to Dublin?
In the past 3 days, the cheapest round-trip tickets were found on WOW air ($151), Iberia ($246) and British Airways ($287).

...

SWISS, Delta, WestJet are the highest-rated carriers for this route, as reviewed by KAYAK users.

https://www.kayak.com/flight-routes/New-York-NYC/Dublin-DUB

 

[Astra]

and the stopovers were only 2 hours rather than 9 hours

I agree that 9 hours is a bit much but on the other hand 2 hours sounds very little. Depends of course where the stopover is but when I come home from London I have to go through security again at the stopover plus passport control plus it is a long walk from one gate to the other and you never know if your plane will arrive late for whatever reason.

Last time I had 3 hours stopover of which one and a half were eaten by the plane being late due to weather. I still had plenty of time to catch the other flight. Not like the one hour they liked to give me before between landing and starting, not taking in account the long walk and aforementioned lines, plus you have to be at the gate half an hour earlier for the boarding, not when the plane takes off. I have complained several times about this. Even after a flight is booked and you think you have enough, an e-mail arrives with changed times and suddenly it is half an hour less.

But the best once was KLM who once wanted to give me 45 minutes to change planes at Amsterdam, which is like a little town for those who have not been there. I had booked the thing without noticing, since then I pay much attention to the time in between.

So, for international travel I would rather be on the safe side.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Oh yeah I agree, I'd much rather 4 hours but it is what it is. Seems to be 9+ hours or 2 hours is what comes up. I've done the 9+ hours 3 times now and I'm willing to take the risk of 2 hours, if I miss something so be it. I'm going for long enough it's not a disaster (and it truly is a disaster if you're booked for a 5 day holiday and you lose a whole day to this kind of thing). 45 minutes in Amsterdam no way, that's insane. My stopover is in Taipei which I think is not too massive a place.

 

[MacLeod]

Yeah. As to evening flights I cannot sleep on planes, the fantasy of going to sleep and waking up almost there just never works for me. Rather I have a torturous time in the dark for hours and when it's finally lights on I'm totally exhausted and taking headache pills to get through the landing, customs, airport, travel that is ahead of me. Last time I swore NEVER again would I do a night flight but I just booked one because it was a better price and the stopovers were only 2 hours rather than 9 hours so I convinced myself it was worth it. We'll see how that goes.

The worst part though.. is you get on a plane at 10pm, by the time it takes off you are hoping to go to sleep but noooo they have to serve you a meal you don't want to eat and it's lights out after midnight and after being over stimulated with food and service and.. ugh.

I also can't sleep when travelling, last night flight I did was something 11.5 hours long LA to London. The flight out to San Francisco was worse with a 3.5 hour layover in O'Hare. But some of that might have been down to the plane out it was an old 757 to O'Hare coming back it was a new A380.

 

[auntiehill]

Per Kayak.com:
...
Top Tips for Finding a Cheap Flight (New York to Dublin)

The cheapest flight from New York to Dublin was found 90 days before departure, on average.

Book at least 3 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price.

High season is considered to be June, July and August. The cheapest month to fly is October.

Morning departure is around 39% cheaper than an evening flight, on average*.

...

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly New York to Dublin?

For New York to Dublin, Sunday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Saturday is the most expensive. Flying from Dublin back to New York, the best deals are generally found on Monday, with Saturday being the most expensive.

...

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from New York to Dublin?
In the past 3 days, the cheapest round-trip tickets were found on WOW air ($151), Iberia ($246) and British Airways ($287).

...

https://www.kayak.com/flight-routes/New-York-NYC/Dublin-DUB

Thanks! That is really very helpful.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Oh yeah I agree, I'd much rather 4 hours but it is what it is. Seems to be 9+ hours or 2 hours is what comes up. I've done the 9+ hours 3 times now and I'm willing to take the risk of 2 hours, if I miss something so be it. I'm going for long enough it's not a disaster (and it truly is a disaster if you're booked for a 5 day holiday and you lose a whole day to this kind of thing). 45 minutes in Amsterdam no way, that's insane. My stopover is in Taipei which I think is not too massive a place.

When I plan a trip, I try to get as long a layover as I possibly can.

Not just so I can drink gin in the airport lounge (although that is a factor ) but mostly to act as an insurance policy against flight delays. That's the most important thing to me. Better to sit around and wait in the airport than to have to rush to your gate like a bat out of hell (or, even worse, miss your connecting flight altogether).

And about those airport lounges - they're not just for drinking, of course! All of the major airlines have them - United has the United Club, American has the Admirals Club, Delta has the Sky Club, and Air Canada has the Maple Leaf Lounge. I cannot stress ENOUGH how important these things are for long term airport survival. You get free internet, free food (snacks, anyway), free drinks, power outlets where you want them - it's actually really hard to find a handy outlet to charge your devices when you're in an airport - and, of course, PEACE AND QUIET. When you're in one of these lounges, you almost forget you're even IN an airport!

Plus, the lounges all have their own customer service agents to help you if something goes wrong with your flight. So if there's a cancellation or delay, you can just stay in the lounge and let them help you - you don't need to leave the lounge and go to your airline's CS desks. Which are likely to be overcrowded anyway.

 

[Leviathan]

Shouldn't you get up regularly and walk around? It's not good to sit cramped for hours.

Indeed, once every 4 hours! DVT is a known hazard of frequent air travel.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (which killed a friend of mine) is caused by a combination of inactivity for more than 4 hours and the low air pressure. In his case he would walk once an hour on the flight for comfort (he was too tall for most seats)...got off a long haul flight with massive calf pain...4 foot clot. He was allowed to travel by train after that but never really recovered.

If you are at risk of clotting or have a heart condition it's best to some stretching exercises in the seat...but be moving for at least 15 minutes. I usually do the latter to stay comfortable.

 

[Finn]

A while back, I flew frequently back and forth for a several months, and got to see a variety of airports. Syracuse airport was a dump, and not worth a stopover. However, I wished I had a longer stopover in Charlotte, NC. Lot of restaurants and shops. I had to walk fast past such an area, with pubs, sports bars and bookstores to the next flight. I wouldn't mind a three to four hour stopover there next time.