DUB Trick

Good morning.
I am about to book a first trip like this. I just wanted to check the final logistics before I go ahead.

Going DUB to LAS via LHR, LGW.

Booking via Expedia. I think I have all this correct from previous V Flyer tips. Just wanting to check the logistics.

Outbound - making own way to DUB then starting official routing DUB to LHR same day in the evening (Friday). Not planning to take any luggage as I will be going home in the evening. Will I receive boarding passes all the way to LAS in DUB, or inform them I will be checking in luggage at LGW the following day.

Check in as normal at LGW with luggage the next day (Saturday)

Inbound - check in in LAS. Am planning to book the onward trip to DUB the following day after arrival in London. Need to request bags be offloaded at LGW for collection for overnight stay. Pick up bags at LGW then return home.

Does all this sound correct, or anything else I need to know?
Thanks

Ive often looked at these threads many times and wondered how exactly the logistics work and what you can and cant do.

Would love an idiots guide please if anyone could find the time

Just out of curiosity how much are your flights coming in as?

Looking forward to your TR!

Good luck!

R-P

Hi ColOrd - flight seems to come in around the £1,400 mark for the dates I was looking at - summer 2015 - little bit lower on certain dates and then can jump dramatically in others.

When I did BRU-LHR-LAX just after Christmas (all on the same day, 4 hour layover at LHR) the BA desk at BRU happily checked my luggage right through to LAX and issued my VS boarding pass.

HOWEVER this caused issues at the gate at LHR when it came to boarding the VS flight as, even though I already had my boarding pass, it transpired that I should have checked in again at the VS transfer desk in Flight Connections at T3.

The return was LAS-LGW/LHR-BRU but I didn't do the final leg - baggage wasn't an issue as they can't check it all the way through where there's a change of airport so it was just tagged to LGW.

Had my LAS arrival and BRU departure both been at LHR I would have just asked at LAS for my bags not to be tagged all the way to BRU as I had a stopover in London and needed my luggage.

Otherwise it really is very simple. No idiot's guide required really but feel free to ask any specific questions.

Hi Gumshoe
Thanks for your feedback.
As my flight to LAS is on day 2, and I wasn't planning to take luggage to DUB the previous day - assume I will just turn up with luggage and check in at LGW?

Thanks

Hi Gumshoe
Thanks for your feedback.
As my flight to LAS is on day 2, and I wasn't planning to take luggage to DUB the previous day - assume I will just turn up with luggage and check in at LGW?

Thanks

Yes you can do this. Just check in as normal.

Thanks Hamster

Expedia seems a bit screwy today, I am looking at doing MCO using the DUB trick, so i entered the flights/dates etc using multi city routing.

Now you would expect it to offer something along the lines of dub/lgw/mco/lgw-lhr/dub.

It offered this as the 'cheapest' available:
dub/IST/lgw/mco/lgw-lhr/dub at a modest £2996pp, when i know its available for approx £1200pp, every option today was either dub/ist/lgw or even better dub/dxb/lgw...

Think i'll look again tomorrow - definitely something wrong with expedia today

I never use the multicity option. Try just using the normal point to point search for DUB-MCO. Selecting VS as your preferred airline will automatically route you via London.

I've just tried it for 3-12 Feb 2015 and it's come back with £1234 return.

If it's still coming back with silly prices it may be that there genuinely are no cheap fares left on the dates you want.

How do you get the first leg to be the day before , whenever I've tried the first leg is always the same day , can't work what I'm doing wrong

How do you get the first leg to be the day before , whenever I've tried the first leg is always the same day , can't work what I'm doing wrong

I'm not sure there's a way you can force it to, but whenever I've looked it throws up dozens of permutations, some of which (normally further down the results as it sorts them in order of price and total duration) include an overnight stop in London.

Obviously if you want an overnight stopover your chosen departure date needs to be the date of your first leg, not the transatlantic flight.

[honey lamb]

How do you get the first leg to be the day before , whenever I've tried the first leg is always the same day , can't work what I'm doing wrong

Try putting your departure date as the day before the one you want to fly the VS leg on and see if that works. I've never had a problem in getting a day-before leg on an ex-AMS flight.

Mind you, if you want to fly on -say - the VS25, Expedia will probably not show a day-before flight as there will be so many DUB-LHR options during the day.

I am looking to do this for our trip to the US next year.Coming back its routing me through Manchester ( Which suits us as we from up North ) then back over to Dublin on Air Lingus. Is it possible to request that the check in agent at MCO only tag my bags to Manchester

I am looking to do this for our trip to the US next year.Coming back its routing me through Manchester ( Which suits us as we from up North ) then back over to Dublin on Air Lingus. Is it possible to request that the check in agent at MCO only tag my bags to Manchester

Are there any options for flying the last sector the day after? That would be your best bet to guarantee no awkward conversations at check in. Otherwise it will probably depend on the airlines as to whether you will be allowed to short check the luggage. There's been reports that BA is getting more strict with this, and there's a risk that other airlines might follow suit in the time between now and when you travel.

@stevedaley you shouldn't have any issues as far as I know, but if possible best to book your tickets so there's an overnight stopover, as mrsw says, it would help avoid awkward conversations. I'm doing combo trick for the first time next year.

As far as I know and have read, the issues that have arisen with BA have been with numerous frequent flyers making a habit of dropping the last leg. I've read stories of TPs being removed from BAEC accounts, miles being removed and I'm sure I read somewhere there was someone whose status was downgraded, but don't quote me on that one. Occasional "offenders" should slip by unnoticed, but it does serve as a warning not to make a habit of it. But if you only fly a couple of times a year for leisure it's not so bad. The stories I've read have concerned business travellers, you're proper FFs.

Anyway, best of luck and hope you get a good deal.

I hope this doesn't sound rude because I really don't mean it too, it is a genuine question....Why would BA (or virgin for that matter) care if someone doesn't fly the whole route? I really wonder what the problem is; this is a flight that you pay for, they offer it, they get paid. Surely people on business flights buy flights and don't take them all the time...what does it matter? Very interested in your opinions..

I agree - as a customer if I buy a product, surely it's up to me if I decide not to use it all? I don't see McDonald's getting angry because I've bought a Happy Meal and thrown away the drink as it was cheaper to buy the combo rather than just the burger & fries I actually wanted.

Presumably, though, the airlines regard it as deliberately exploiting a loophole to avoid paying the whole quoted fare for the journey you intend to make.

I say it's the airlines' fault for creating that loophole in the first place.