The DUB trick dilemma.

Hi,

Would appreciate the thoughts of the experts here in relation to the following:

On 27 Dec I want to fly LHR-SFO, returning on 12 Jan. These dates are fixed so can’t change them.

I have priced up the flights on Expedia via DUB and have come up with these two options:

Option 1: 19 Dec LHR-DUB-LHR, 27 Dec LHR-SFO, 12 Jan SFO-LHR, 14 Jan LHR-DUB.
Virgin flights in UC cost roughly £1600.

Option 2: 26 Dec LHR-DUB-LHR, 27 Dec LHR-SFO, 12 Jan SFO-LHR, 14 Jan LHR-DUB.
Virgin flights in UC cost roughly £1300.

Going for Option 1 takes the pressure off making sure I’m at LHR for the LHR-SFO sector as I have a week to play with in case of any possible delays, i.e. weather.

Option 2 gets me back into LHR the day before my flight to SFO but with little room for manoeuvre in case of flight problems out of DUB but for £300 less.

The price of the LHR-DUB leg to get me out there in the first place isn’t an issue as the cost is pretty much similar for either option and I would go out and back on the same day for either Option 1 or 2.

What would you do, given your knowledge and experience flying out of DUB.

Many thanks.

I'd go for option 2. Of course there's always a risk that your DUB flights are disrupted but for a £300 saving I'd say it's a risk worth taking. Your only real concern is getting to DUB - if your flight back to LHR is disrupted to the extent that you miss your VS flight the next day (very, very unlikely) it's up to BA/EI to get you to SFO asap.

[honey lamb]

What airline is the DUB-LHR sector? BA or EI? EI have more flights out of DUB.

As Gumshoe says the flight out of DUB is not an issue, if it's delayed you'll be fully protected as it's sector #1 on your through ticket. I'd say go for the £300 saving :-) Just make sure with your positioning flight to DUB that you have plenty of slack in case it's delayed or cancelled.

What airline is the DUB-LHR sector? BA or EI? EI have more flights out of DUB.

Can be either by the look of things (not much difference price wise), could even be into LGW but LHR is easier for me to get to.

[honey lamb]

What airline is the DUB-LHR sector? BA or EI? EI have more flights out of DUB.

Can be either by the look of things (not much difference price wise), could even be into LGW but LHR is easier for me to get to.

It's just that EI have more flights a day than BA so that there are more options if things go wrong.

Personally I'd go for option 2 also.

EI may have more flights but they don't have business class. So bear in mind if you use them you'll be in Y with no lounge access at DUB, even though you've paid for business class. BA will at least put you in Club Europe and give you lounge access (for what it's worth).

I wonder if they cancel the sort of flights such as to Dublin or back, how much right do you have dropping that leg and just start at LHR.

It seems that Option 2 is the favourite here.

I think that whoever I decide to go from LHR - DUB with (BA or EI) should be the same airline that I fly DUB - LHR with even though they will be on different bookings.

My thinking behind this is that should the LHR - DUB leg go terribly wrong I may be able to get them to drop the requirement to do the first leg of the DUB - LHR - SFO flight (as Smid mentions above) and allow me to start the DUB - LHR - SFO from LHR if it's the same airline but if they were different I can't see me getting much help from them as it wouldn't be their problem.

So it's down to EI with more flights or BA with Club Europe and a lounge, the other thing maybe is that if it were BA and my DUB - LHR flight was really messed up at least BA fly to SFO and may transfer me on to them, don't know if they would do that or not.

Have you considered what you're doing with your luggage (assuming you're not taking a trip back home for it after you get back to LHR from DUB)? The cheaper BA fare (and I assume the EI one) is hand baggage-only.

I'm doing the same ex-DUB to SFO in September, but flying to DUB (on BA) the afternoon before, staying the night in Dublin and flying BA back to LHR as the first-leg in the morning before catching the afternoon VS41.

Our plan is to leave the cases at the Excess Baggage Company's luggage storage in T5 (£10 a case), take just hand luggage to Dublin and collect the cases when we get back to LHR before transferring to T3 to check in for the flight to SFO.

I'm lucky in that I only live a few miles from LHR so will either go home or if not will leave it in the car at Heathrow and then stay in an airport hotel overnight so I don't really need to factor that into the equation.