Aer Lingus

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Has anyone flown to Orlando with Aer Lingus before? I was wondering what Dublin airport was like for eateries and shops after immigration is completed?

 

[irisheyes123]

There is not a lot after immigration a small cafe and some vending machines. You are better off eating and getting all you need before immigration and customs.

 

[wayneg]

We are using them for the first time on August 1st. Everyone I have spoke to has said there isn't much after immigration.
Not sure what we will do, I think we might be best getting thru immigration ASAP, DS will not have a straight forward ESTA, he needs a visa due to him staying out there to study for a year, hopefully we will go thru easy enough but rather get it done with before eating.

 

[bee86]

Flew to Chicago with them in march and the gate i was at just had vending machines so I would advise doing any shopping for snacks or duty free shopping before immigration. Also allow yourself a nice amount of time as it can be busy as you have the immigration desks then another security check so there can and probably will be ques. I'd prefer to be waiting at the gate a little bored then faffing about getting stressed about being late.

 

[General Panic]

Those who have flown Aer Lingus before is it true you do the US immigration clearance there in Dublin and not in Orlando , so when you arrive in Orlando it's like arriving on a US domestic flight?

sounds too good to be true but not sure if someone was yanking my chain

 

[irisheyes123]

Those who have flown Aer Lingus before is it true you do the US immigration clearance there in Dublin and not in Orlando , so when you arrive in Orlando it's like arriving on a US domestic flight?

sounds too good to be true but not sure if someone was yanking my chain

Yes you do it all in Dublin so it's like arriving from a US domestic flight .

 

[wayneg]

Those who have flown Aer Lingus before is it true you do the US immigration clearance there in Dublin and not in Orlando , so when you arrive in Orlando it's like arriving on a US domestic flight?

sounds too good to be true but not sure if someone was yanking my chain

Yes its true. Details on their site http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/movetoterminal2atdublin/usimmigration/#d.en.8502

Click further down the page on "Flights that Pre-clear......."
It will show "EI 121 Dublin Orlando"

 

[General Panic]

Wow , cheers guys. Thats a definate plus on them though i find they don't fly out on a sunday or monday which i need idealy

 

[starrysky]

We will be flying with them for the 4th time this October.
After immigration there is a small cafe and vending machines but depending on how long you have before your flight you might want to eat before going through.
I will say last time the que for immigration was pretty long and took us an hour to get through. They were calling people out of line for the New York and Chicago flights to the front.
Soft drinks on board are free and the entertainment is good with a good selection of films.
Pre selection if seats like extra legroom are available from when you book unlike some where its 24+ for this.
Over all I would say they are a great service and the short hop to Dublin is easy and it's nice to know once you arrive in Orlando it's just right off the flight and collect your bags. We have been 1 1/2 hours from landing to checking into our resort longest wait was for the ME bus.

 

[Samaya]

Yes its true. Details on their site http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/movetoterminal2atdublin/usimmigration/#d.en.8502

Click further down the page on "Flights that Pre-clear......."
It will show "EI 121 Dublin Orlando"

Just noticed on that page that the Orlando flight only pre-clears in Dublin between 31st March to 26th October 2013, thought Orlando would pre-cleared all year round....hope that soon changes to all-year

Not sure if this has been posted before but also found a good 5-minute video by United States Customs and Border Protection on going through the pre-clearance, well worth watching for those one their first trip through Dublin.
http://www.dublinairport.com/gns/at-the-airport/US-Preclearance.aspx

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Just noticed on that page that the Orlando flight only pre-clears in Dublin between 31st March to 26th October 2013, thought Orlando would pre-cleared all year round....hope that soon changes to all-year

It can be as simple as it not being up yet. I precleared at DUB in december '11 and know of many others who've precleared in winterseason '12.

Other flights have had the same thing previously, where it would take some time before it would be announced official preclearing indeed. In practice EI120 has a history of preclearing year round and no communication about scaling down. In fact; preclearing is rapidly being added on other flights that did not have it or yearround where it used to be seasonally. CBP and EI definately push it.

 

[Samaya]

Thank you for that info goofieslonglostsis, was hoping it would be all year-round, in fact at the moment we can't get a price for a return via Dublin to Orlando for any date after the end of October. Looks like none of the return flights to our local airport with Aer Arann have been loaded for November onwards.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Thank you for that info goofieslonglostsis, was hoping it would be all year-round, in fact at the moment we can't get a price for a return via Dublin to Orlando for any date after the end of October. Looks like none of the return flights to our local airport with Aer Arann have been loaded for November onwards.

Might be a wait and see thing. I know some folks have mentioned the same problem on Flyertalk from a UK airport to US airport through DUB. EI flights were out, but not the shorthaul yet. Replies there were that it is not to be sweated, expect to see the shorthaul flights to be loaded into the system as the winter season gets closer.

Hopefully that will be the case for you also and coming out with a good price. Allthough I can see the downside of waiting longer than the wait we have for most schedules to be out. I'm flying AMS-DUB-MCO and the shorthaul is KLM and those are loaded a year out, thankfully. Makes planning that much easier.

 

[irisheyes123]

My guess its to do with the flight EI 109 as I know it's being added to pre clear for the summer. I'm going to ring and check as we fly in December will update when I find out .