This years trip

Roy · Guru

This years trip

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

You have my sympathy, Roy. My wife is NOT a 'Happy Passenger' to begin with (although she enjoys BEING there) and our flight options from Florida make it even harder. It's always a delicate dance between price and convenience.

Although neither of us are tall (a fate you suffer, if memory serves) the shrinking seats and the likelihood of sharing a single row isle with a 'new, best friend' is daunting to say the least.

Some of those $300-500 Round Trip fares from the North East seem SO tempting -- but, NOT at the price of space and comfort.

Has Aer Lingus switched their Washington, DC flights to 757s, as with their NYC and Boston flights? The Airbus 2-4-2 seating helps, although the seats seem just as small as on every other plane.

Pity that Business Class is SO expensive -- but unless a Lottery Win happens, I fear many more years of 'Cattle Class' is in MY future! cry cry

Roy · Guru

Bob,

Actually Aer Lingus is switching from 757s to 330s this spring on their direct flight to Dublin! Thats the good news and I accept that I wont scoring a bargain given the limited options. Oh to afford business class! You can fly direct Orlando to Dublin? The 2+4+2 seating on the 330 is still small, but at least Rita & I dont have to have a new best friend. The second aisle makes moving around a little easier.

Roy

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Roy -- The Orlando flights are DUB only and are QUITE limited -- only certain days and rather 'Pricey' . Add in the need for long-term parking and the 2 1/2 hour drive each way and . . . I feel your pain! hmm hmm

Michele Erdvig · Host

Some airlines have "comfort" seats in coach. They give you a bit more room. I have done that domestically since I tend to be claustrophobic (especially in a middle seat in the back!) disbelief Look into that as it might be worth the extra cost.

Roy · Guru

The only direct flights out of Dulles are Aer Lingus and United. United flies the dreaded 757 so that takes me back to Aer Lingus. Fortunately they are switching from the 757 to the 330. Its interesting (for lack of a better word) that fares now include economy saver/light. Why would I want or possibly go on vacation with only a carry on and no seat selection? To me its not worth the savings even on a teachers budget. The whole idea of finding a plane with only two seats together is so we can actually sit together!

Like Bobs situation, being 2 or so hours from the airport, dealing with parking etc is no fun, yet its the only airport in reasonable driving distance that even flies direct. Forget about a direct flight to Shannon, thats non-existent. We usually do a park and ride at a nearby hotel which saves a lot of parking fees.

Roy · Guru

Michele Erdvig wrote:
Some airlines have "comfort" seats in coach. They give you a bit more room. I have done that domestically since I tend to be claustrophobic (especially in a middle seat in the back!) Look into that as it might be worth the extra cost.

Delta? It would be nice to find a comfortable seat in economy! Any recommendations on carry on cushion? I have some from Costco but they have jel in them and I doubt they would be allowed on the plane.

markan · Senior Member

One big reason my wife and I agree that we'll never move out of Massachusetts is that being able to fly out of Boston we've at least got the shortest route possible to Ireland. However, I do loathe the 3 x 3 planes as much as you folks. But on our trip coming up in September with my two daughters Shannon is the best option so we'll deal with it. My wife and daughters at least can sit together and I get to be someone's new best friend with an aisle seat right across. Not looking forward to it but at least I grabbed the aisle seat. I'll never understand the decision to switch to the 757. It's nuts. Hopefully with more competition (i.e. Norwegian Airlines flying direct out of Providence to Ireland for example) Aer Lingus will realize that they need to be more like Lufthansa and offer quality rather than trying for the lowest price.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I got hubby a neck pillow at Home Goods filled with beads that he likes. Delta and United have comfort seats in coach. Do not know about Aer Lingus as I have not flown them across the Atlantic for ages.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Yes, Delta offers 'Comfort Plus', which includes certain 'Perks':

"Are Delta Comfort Plus seats wider?

Economy Comfort seats are the same exact width as normal coach seats, except they have up to 4 inches more of legroom and 50% more recline. ... Delta is installing Economy Comfort on domestic flights, but it will only feature the 4 more legroom and no free drinks.

Delta Comfort+ customers will enjoy: More legroom and on select longer flights, extra recline. Premium snacks and complimentary Starbucks®, beer, wine and spirits on most flights* Seat location toward the front of the plane which means customers are among the first off."

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/onboard-experience/delta-comfort-plus.html

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/support/faqs/booking-your-trip/delta-comfort-plus-faqs.html

You buy it for each leg of the trip. I seem to remember it ran around $80dollars per seat, per leg on my last flight via ATL to DUB, in 2016.

markan · Senior Member

Delta Comfort sounds similar to what Lufthansa has done. They call it "Premium Economy" but the concept sounds about the same. I don't know about the cost. I did use it last year and it was well worth the extra $250 considering it was a 7.5 hour flight.

markan · Senior Member

.... and I will add that I wish Aer Lingus would offer this as well as an intermediate option between cattle car and biz class.

Roy · Guru

We often route through Boston enroute to Shannon or Dublin. My wife really hates the layover and you are right about the 757s. Aer Lingus is even charging more for the forward part of economy now- same seats. They flew 330s out of Boston in the past. Why does this have to be so complicated? At least we arent going trough Reykjavik!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Delta offers a seasonal (I believe) direct flight from ATL to DUB that uses a wide-body, double isle, 2-4-2 seating configuration -- typically, a 767 or 777.

NOT all wide-bodies are perfect, however -- as the window seats in the two seat rows typically have intrusive 'Power Boxes' that seriously undermine leg room. Being on 5' 7" (and shrinking! hmm hmm ), it's NOT a 'Big' issue for me (or my even shorter wife), but it IS worth bearing in mind.

Continental (Now United) used to use wide-body for flights from Newark to Dublin, but 757s for the Newark to Shannon routes. Dunno what their current options are, though.

USAIR from Charlotte uses only 757s as far as I know -- and, although CLT is a delightful little airport, that's a really LONG time sitting 3 and 3! I BELIEVE using 757s is also true for their PHI based flights, as well. Near as I can tell trying to fly USAIR to SNN from MY vicinity requires plane changes in CLT AND PHL -- which is a minimum of one too many! furious furious

Best priced routing for ME, from SW Florida, is via 1 connection in ATL (when Delta runs the wide-body flights), or -- via BOS and JFK (in various mixes) -- as they generally offer the shortest lay-over and total travel time options.

The BOS / JFK flights usually involve Jet Blue and Aer Lingus, though.

Even though flight / total travel time isn't significantly different, my wife now REFUSES to even consider direct flights into England or other European airports Even if they are cheaper, or quicker) as it SEEMS excessive 'Back-Tracking' to her. confuse confuse

I just work with what I have. hmm hmm

Roy · Guru

Yes Bob, its all complicated. Direct IAD to Dublin sitting 2+4+2 is looking really good. My wife is short, she can deal with a box under the seat if necessary (says I). Do they show up on seat guru?

I will miss Shannon, but appreciate having a house in Dublin to go to!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Seat Guru should show the legroom details.

Roy · Guru

Itallian Chauffeur wrote:
Seat Guru should show the legroom details.

Unfortunately under seat obstacles don't seem to be identified,yet I know exactly what you're referring to from experience. There seem to be more low fare options that are more complicated in terms of where they fly from (and getting there) plus I wonder how much you actually save by the time additional costs are factored in. It looks like JetBlue might be getting into the transatlantic business. I assume they will initially focus on flying out of their hub in Boston, plus it looks like they will be flying A321LRs (3+3 seating). Sigh.

Roy · Guru

Good all around base for a week in Sligo?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Self-cater, B&B, or hotel?

Roy · Guru

Either hotel or B&B. My wife has been preferring hotels the past couple trips. Id like self-cater, but its not on my wifes idea of holidays. I prefer walking distance to towns, with some night life in the pubs.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I love staying at Iorras House on the Rosses Point Road. Ita is a wonderful host, breakfast is excellent. She bakes some of the best scones I've had in Ireland. Rooms are spotless and comfy. Not walking distance to town but you could walk to some pubs at Rosses Point.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

We have an agreement when we self-cater -- NO meals at the place more complex than cereal or sandwiches! biggrin biggrin

We really enjoyed our river-view room at the Glasshouse Hotel right in the heart of Sligo. Be forewarned, though, that the décor (particularly the rather wildly-patterned carpets) can best be described as somewhere between avant garde and garish! They offer underground parking on site. http://www.theglasshouse.ie/

Roy · Guru

Michele Erdvig wrote:
I love staying at Iorras House on the Rosses Point Road. Ita is a wonderful host, breakfast is excellent. She bakes some of the best scones I've had in Ireland. Rooms are spotless and comfy. Not walking distance to town but you could walk to some pubs at Rosses Point.

Thanks Michele!

Roy · Guru

Itallian Chauffeur wrote:
We have an agreement when we self-cater -- NO meals at the place more complex than cereal or sandwiches!
We really enjoyed our river-view room at the Glasshouse Hotel right in the heart of Sligo. Be forewarned, though, that the décor (particularly the rather wildly-patterned carpets) can best be described as somewhere between avant garde and garish! They offer underground parking on site. http://www.theglasshouse.ie/

I dont think my wife realizes the year we stayed at my sister-in-laws house in Dublin by ourselves was essentially self-catering. And we were cooking our own breakfast each day!

chaika · Veteran Member

We have stayed several times at Iorras House, including this past September, which I recommend. Not sure you can walk to any pubs from there, at least as far as I can recall. Foley's downtown is a good pub for music.

Michele Erdvig · Host

2.9 miles to Rosses Point and the bars there. About a third of a mile to the Radisson where they have a nice bar.

Roy · Guru

Michele Erdvig wrote:
I love staying at Iorras House on the Rosses Point Road. Ita is a wonderful host, breakfast is excellent. She bakes some of the best scones I've had in Ireland. Rooms are spotless and comfy. Not walking distance to town but you could walk to some pubs at Rosses Point.

No availability for the dates Im looking for in July. In fact, there are a lot of places booked out in Sligo as well as Mayo, particularly on weekends. We usually dont travel in July, but this year its the only option. I have reservations at Riverside Hotel Sligo and Fairview House Belmullet. Both can be cancelled but I think I was pretty through researching whats available within walking distance. Glasshouse Hotel was also booked and slightly out of our budget.

Roy · Guru

Looks like four days in either Ballina or Belmullet. Any recommendations/pros-cons on which town to stay in?

Michele Erdvig · Host

Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet is very nice and the price for B&B is not much more than a traditional B&B. Both places are a bit off the beaten path but Bulmullet feels more isolated. Location probably depends on what you want to do and see in the area.

Roy · Guru

Broadhaven Bay Hotel is booked on the dates I need, a common problem Im running into even this far out from July. I tentatively have refundable books at Fairview House B&B in Bellmullet and The Loft in Ballina while I sort out where to stay July 19-23.