cheapest day to travel?

Creativitychick · Member

cheapest day to travel?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Creativitychick,

Welcome to the forum! Aer Lingus sometimes has flights from Orlando but mostly in the winter. Since you are teachers I assume your trip will be in the summer? You can fly directly from Atlanta to Ireland on Delta (which is what I do frequently). Starting in May Delta will have more daily flights from Atlanta. See my "Hot News" page for more info on that. Any chance your grandparents can fly or drive up from Orlando and meet you?

Once you decide on which airline and what city to fly from you should check the airline website to see when they have the cheapest fares. Personally, I try to fly mid-week because it is usually less crowded. Many people start their vacations on a Friday and will depart on Fri/Sat/ to optimize their time on vacation. But check around to see what best suits your needs.

If you have any genealogy research to do I suggest doing as much as possible before your trip.

Michele

Creativitychick · Member

I decided on Wed. departure for my looking puposes. I have found a flight from Newark to Dublin, and including a flight from Orlando- for about $510 on Continental. Is that good? Should I get it, or wait? I haven't seen any news in the AJC about fares to Ireland going on sale... This is the best I've seen.

Is it reasonable to plan to stay in Dublin a couple days, get a car, drive SW, stay one night at a location on the way to Cork City. Stay a few days in Cork City or the surrounding area. We want to drive up to Castlemagner area. Head back to Dublin, stayin one-two nights on the way back again, and then another night in Dublin before leaving on day eight? Car rental for 6 days will be about $400 USD? Is that close? I will need to pay extra for an automatic! One one hand that doesn't sound like we are seeing much of Ireland, but I don't want to be in a hurry, or herded around by a busy tour group and not get to stop and stare, if I want to!

Thanks for your help.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Creativitychick,

If that fare is for this summer, jump on it! You don't want that getting away from you.

One way to optimize your time might be to depart Dublin on your arrival day and drive somewhere else (within around 2 hours drive or less). Then spend you last two nights in Dublin. That way you only have to pay for 2 nights in Dublin (expensive!).

As for the car, it depends on what type of car, what is included, insurance, etc. Did you try this booking engine? http://www.kemwel.com/booking/car.cfm?creditedAgency=IYES An automatic can double the price easily.

Michele

Green Dragon · Guru

Where did you find such a great fare? And for what dates? I'm traveling from Orlando to Dublin or Shannon in June/July, so am on the hunt for these things! :)

Orlando usually gives the best prices in the area, except Miami.

Creativitychick · Member

Well, I went out of town for a convention- gone 4 days. And my cheap fare is gone! The good news is, my hubby has agreed we can go! But now I am looking at a few more $$. I had found that price on Orbitz.

What I am looking at now is either flying Continental from Orlando to JFK to Dublin. OR flying Delta to JFK, and then Aer Lingus to DUB. The Aer Lingus flight is cheapest directly on their web site. Wondering if I should book that and wait for a sale to JFK, or go ahead and book the Delta flight now as well. On airgorilla.com there is a Delta flight from MCO to JFK for $175 and change. Not too bad. I worry that waiting to make up my mind will cost me more moolah!

I will definately check out the site for rental cars. Thanks!

L

Michele Erdvig · Host

Creativitychick,

Airfares change by the second! That's why it is important to get a good fare when you can. Keep trying and let us know how it goes.

Michele

Creativitychick · Member

I am now anxious to book at least the Aer Lingus flights, and worry about Orlando to JFK later. Which is a more comfortable carrier, Continental, or Aer Lingus?? HELP!

I think it sounds good to fly to Dublin, drive S and W and then drop the car off and fly back to JFK out of Shannon. Then we wouldn't have to spend time doubling back after we go to Cork. Good idea? Or is it really going to hurt me in one-way drop off fees with the rent a car?

L

Michele Erdvig · Host

Creativitychick,

Most car rentals do not have a drop-off fee for Dublin and Shannon. But just to be sure check with yours on that. I haven't flown Aer Lingus or Continental transatlantic recently but I have heard that Aer Lingus is updating their fleet. I generally fly Delta direct from Atlanta or United through London.

If anyone else has flown Continental or Aer Lingus across the big pond, please let us know of your experiences.

Michele

Dude · Guru

I have flown both Continental, once, and Aer LIngus (twice) but they were some time ago. I liked the big AirBuses of Aer Lingus; seemed like we had more room but that may have been perception. And the flight attendants have such charming accents, getting you ready for Ireland. They also served tea on the first trip, if I remember correctly.

Aer Lingus had the three, four, three seat arrangement so if two people get lucky they can have three or even four seats to spread out in. That was on the first trip, in '93, so they may not have those big planes any longer.

Continental in '03 had three, three seating and not much leg or shoulder room. But the people were nice and I got some sleep.

Aer Lingus in '97, to be honest, I don't remember much about the flight.

I wouldn't hesitate to book either airline.

stannseniors · Veteran Member

I looked and looked for my European fares on line---i still got a better deal when i called a travel agent. If you can find a nice one....they will find you a sweet deal that you may not even find on the net.

almoon · Member

We bought tickets for Aer Lingus from Boston to Dublin for the end of March. It worked out best to fly on Thursday and Sunday for our dates, but we went with Friday instead of Thursday. The Aer Lingus website gave us the best deal. From what I saw on the website, this plane will have the 2 - 4 - 2 seat configuration. Our tickets were $802 for both, so you missed a great deal! (The most we ever paid was in the summer of 95, at $625 each.)

We haven't flown with them since October 04, but I was so airsick I barely remember anything else about the flight. They started charging for previously free alcohol sometime between April 03 and Oct 04. They do still serve tea on the flights and reasonably decent food.

I had looked at flights on Continental out of Newark and they were using a much smaller plane in 04.

Allison