V-Flyer

Does anyone have any experience of flying Aer Lingus business class, particularly on the DUB-MCO leg? The aircraft is listed as an A330-300. I've seen mixed seat review, particularly about the front row. I'll be traveling alone, so any pointers for a decent seat?

Also, as I've booked BHX-DUB-MCO as business class and I see the BHX-DUB leg whilst classed as business is configured entirely as Economy, will I have any issues with luggage. I've got 3 bags (23kgs) allocated within the ticket, but this configuration of baggage is not recognised if I look at booking BHX-DUB as a stand alone flight. I've checked the site and it also says that I can combine weight allowance upto 32kg per bag as long as I don't exceed 69kg(?) in total. Again, If I load up 1 bag with 32Kgs and have two smaller cases (say 20 and 10kg) will I be OK when departing BHX?

Will I have to collect my luggage and re-check at DUB, or it is it checked through?

Will I arrive and depart out of the same terminal at DUB (ie will be BHX flight arrive in the same terminal as my MCO flight departs).

I'm sure I've heard others talk about clearing customs and immigration in DUB for the MCO flight. Is that the case? How does it work?

Any other tips or gotchas on this route?

TIA

Paul

OK, straight from the horse's mouth - the horse being Aer John.

First of all the seats are somewhat like the old J2000 seats that used to be in UC before UCS and also like some of the seats on Emirates in some of the 777 cabins where the seats are sleeperettes rather than lie flat. He recommends that you get a seat near the front to be sure of getting your meal choice, even in J.

All routes between the UK and Ireland (and Europe) are configured in Economy (the guy in Dubai nearly had a conniption when I missed my connection to Dublin last year and asked to re-routed through LHR back to Ireland and he couldn't find a J seat on Aer Lingus. J on European routes means a fully flexible fare and lounge access).

The route between BHX and DUB is served by a mixture of Aer Lingus mainline and regional services. If your flight number is a 3000 one it is with Regional and on a TR72, otherwise it's a mainline service and on an A320. If your flights are on the same ticket your bags will be checked through and you will arrive and depart from the same terminal - T2 (which in my opinion is a very nice terminal) There is a Flight Connections desk which is signposted.

Yes you do clear US Customs and Immigration before leaving Dublin and it closes roughly an hour before the flight leaves (although Aer John feels it might be less for MCO since the flight doesn't leave until around lunchtime. He suggests you try and get the customs forms in BHX to save time filling them out in DUB.

The lounge is DUB, if you have time to visit it, is near the entrance to the BCP (Border and Customs Patrol) but make sure you get to the Aer Lingus one and not the Priority Pass one which is poor enough and I think is the first one on the corridor.

From Aer John's personal experience: "Once past BCP there is nothing but an overpriced bar with a queue a mile long and a WHSmith so small it makes a New York hot dog stand look like Macy's"

Another interesting nugget, I hadn't thought of, and an obvious downside to pre-clearance is that technically speaking DUB (and SNN for that matter) are technically domestic flights so no duty-free is sold onboard.

Thanks for a very complete response. I have 4 hour lay over at DUB so no rush. Hoping to enjoy the lounge. I never buy duty free so the omission of that doesn't bother me at all.

Just to add to Honey Lamb's/Aer John's answer - you will be amazed how good it feels to walk straight past the Mahoooosive queues in MCO immigration and customs - I did an EI run to ORD a few years back, and from chocks under to taxi was less than ten minutes....

EI is not the best J class by a long chalk, but I found it comfortable (I'm 6'4") and the food and service was pleasant enough. The IFE was a bit ropey (smallish video and not VOD) but that was some years ago, so may well have changed.

EI is full Avod with wifi on A330 flights now. Wifi is free in J.

honey lamb wrote:the guy in Dubai nearly had a conniption

pjh wrote:

honey lamb wrote:the guy in Dubai nearly had a conniption

You're just too young pjh. I think I remember Cicely Courtneige using it. Am I right honeylamb?