12 Hours in Coach -- What Shall We Expect?

baja · Veteran Member

12 Hours in Coach -- What Shall We Expect?

YaYa · Guru

Dear baja,

I can't figure out how it could take 12 hrs to fly from the east coast to Ireland. From Atlanta to Shannon it would only take 7 to 8 hours. Maybe you are going to Dublin first with a lay-over and then over to Shannon?

Good Luck, Joan

baja · Veteran Member

Well Joan -- we wondered the same thing, matter of fact ... But that's what the confirmation says. To quote: departing 7:25 pm Newark, arriving 6:55 Shannon am (no in between stops).

Or ... are they not taking into consideration the time change? (It's 7 hours, insn't it?)

Maybe Continental is confused?

-- Edited by baja at 13:11, 2007-04-04

Sidz · Guru

Take a deep breath and smile. That can not be correct unless the flight is going via the North Pole! biggrin

I just made the trip from Chicago to Shannon two weeks ago, and THAT only took 7 hours.

Would think Newark to Shannon would be closer to 6 or something. I wouldn't fret about 12 hours -- that appears to be bad data. Pour yourself a Guinness and check your time again.

No matter how long it takes you, the trip will be worth the wait!

baja · Veteran Member

Yes, I agree Sidz ... They HAVE to be forgetting the time change.

Okay -- my question is still germane, tho ... What can we expect from Continental for that duration? (Forgetting the fact that we can NOT expect good time-keeping.)

(I also agree that it may not matter -- but we like to be prepared.)

Sidz · Guru

baja:

Just saw your next post. That indeed must be what you are seeing -- the time difference is calculated into the arrival time.

Just subtract that and you have your "in-flight" responsibility!

Have fun.

baja · Veteran Member

Michele? Got any valuable input to this? (ALL your input is valuable, BTW -- we're just looking for more! ;-D)

baja · Veteran Member

Anyone else fly Continental to Shannon lately?

Can you let us know what we can expect?

Thanks,
Bill

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

All flight times are quoted in LOCAL time, folks. Since Ireland is five hours ahead of us East Coast folks, arrival in Shannon will be at 6:55 AM SHANNON TIME (To your biological clock, it will be 1:55 AM Newark time.).

CO isn't a bad airline for coach. We've flown them to Ireland a couple of times. They use a 757, which is arrayed in a 3 and 3 set up.

Being coach, the seats are narrow, with limited knee room. You can check their plane/seat info on:

http://www.seatguru.com/

I feel your pain.

Bob

baja · Veteran Member

Ouch. Thanks for the first-person experience and input, Bob. Sorta appreciated .... evileye

-- Edited by baja at 16:47, 2007-04-04

wckc · Guru

Sidz - What airline did you fly? We are flying Aer Lingus and I'm trying to figure out what (if any) meal service to expect. If they are going to feed us dinner, we won't bother to buy someting at O'Hare. If they are, we'll save the money!

-wc

irelandbound · Veteran Member

We are taking that same flight in a few weeks. Continental travel time states it is a 6 1/2 hour flight going over and 7 1/4 hour coming back.

I am carrying my own travel pillow, neck rest, eye mask, earplugs, blanket, and wearing very comfortable clothing just to make sure I am as comfy as possible since it will be a night flight. Also, a good book to read in case I can't sleep. A 6 1/2 hour flight is not so bad (as compared to more than double that going to Hawaii from where I live) but I think the big thing will be trying to get some sleep because it will be 6:55 a.m. their time when you arrive.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

On our trips on CO, we flew EWK to SNN.
The first time, there were LOTS of empty seats and my wife and I moved to two empty rows and actually "stretched out" (curled up, is more like it) and got a bit of sleep. We felt amazingly lucky.

Last April, every single seat was filled. In fact, they had OVERSOLD and we sat on the plane for about thirty minutes while they tried to entice ONE person to voluntarily give up their seat. With the 3 and 3 configuration on the 757, that meant we had a 'seat partner' the whole trip....

Because we were over 30 minutes late taking off, we arrived 30 minutes late at Shannon, and off-loaded at the same time as at LEAST one other LARGE plane.
Baggage Claim, Customs and the Rental Car desks were SWAMPED!! It took us well over two hours after landing, before we drove out of the parking lot.

The return trip was much the same, -- filled AND oversold -- except our scheduled layover had given us ample "cushion" to make our connecting flight.
CO is no worse than any other airline. But, they AREN'T Miles Ahead, either.

By the way, when I said earlier, that I share your pain, I meant it.
We had found a REALLY good deal on a Business Class, one-way TO Scotland, matched to a decent price, one-way Coach, back home from Ireland.
But, while we were waiting for our prospective traveling companions to decide NOT to join us, those great fares VANISHED, into thin air!!!

Consequently, we will be flying CATTLE CLASS (once again) on our upcoming last two weeks in June trip.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 22:05, 2007-04-04

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bill,

I'm glad you cleared up the mystery of the 12 hour flight. Whoever programed the couputers for the airline did not take the 5 hour time difference into consideration. The flight should be 7.5 hours going over. If you get a good tailwind sometimes it is less than that.

I haven't flown Continental in decades. Delta owns Atlanta. However, the flights are heavily booked so far this year. Take whatever makes you comfortable and keeps you entertained. Take my book and read it on the plane!

Michele

baja · Veteran Member

Thanks, IrelandBound and Bob and Michele ...

After reading your valuable input, I guess we're as prepared as we can be and our mindset about coach class is is as mellow as we can expect.

We have your book at hand, Michele -- but I know most of it very well already!

We're looking forward to Aer Lingus out of Orlando -- and maybe business class next time.

I'll post a report about flying Continental when we get back. I also urge ALL travelers visiting Michele's board to do the same as I think we all wonder what the trip over is like on a given airline.

20 days to go!!

susan · Senior Member

We flew continental EWR to SNN June 2006.The first flight (7:30pm) is direct to Shannon.The later flight(10:00pm)lands in Dublin first then Shannon.

In flight they get things moving pretty fast,so people can get to sleep.
drink cart-$5 for alcohol
dinner
drink cart
movie/sleep
coffee
small breakfast
land

It really is not that bad of a flight ,and when you see the west coast as the sun is coming up you forget about the long flight.

Have a great trip we will be returning in 08.

baja · Veteran Member

Thanks for the first-person report, Susan. We're on the 7:30pm too. And, despite our trepidation, we are indeed looking forward to this -- 7+ hours in coach or not. It is, after all, a trip to Ireland.

Bill

Sidz · Guru

wckc:

We flew American Airlines from Chicago. They fed us a main meal both ways, and going over, even also provided an early morning breakfast sandwich about 1 hour before we landed in Ireland. I was pleasantly surprised by the food.

My wife flew on Aer Lingus last year, and she says they also fed them as well, so you shouldn't need to worry about that. smile