Heathrow to Dover with DCL transfers

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I think you're still limited to nothing bigger than 100ml and what can fit in one of those bags they provide at security per person. A friend who flew Stansted to Dublin last year said her travel partner was forced to throw out some high quality hair products because the bottle could hold more than 100ml despite there being only a small amount left in them.

Confirmed still restricted.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Confirmed still restricted.

Thanks once again for the quick reply. -- Suzanne

 

[bumbershoot]

they went through a bad patch on staffing a year or so back.

I wonder if that is what we encountered? Nothing like 3 hours, though, thankfully.

walking a long way is the biggest time user

So true. [Especially problematic if you're trying to get from one flight to the other, and you miss the sign saying "go that way" (to the left) so you go through where you think you're going through (to the right, through a security area), get sent aside because they think you have two 311 baggies (which you do, but there are TWO travelers), then ask for assistance. And are told to go to the right down that hall, go out the door and turn right, and at the next hall turn right (at this point I'm thinking "hey wait a minute")...and you do that and the clump of people who were in front of the "go that way" sign are gone and you see you messed up. But at least the security guy was kind about it!]

We looked into the ferry/ train option, but it really takes a full day of travel. If you leave Dublin on the 8:05 AM ferry, you arrive in London at 4:40 and then transfer to the train to Dover, which gets in about 7 pm. The price is reasonable (about $55 per person) and some of the train journey is very scenic. -- Suzanne

Oh yes. That's the adventure part. Vs the flying in at the last minute part. Heck, you're over there, take some time! And you can gamble on the ferry (slot machine type of things). And drink. The scenery was incredible. And on the train the lady with the cart came by saying "here's your trolley", which was just so adorable-sounding to my ears and I loved it. I definitely got tea from her. Hard to take time from Ireland (which is why you're wanting to fly in the day of, no doubt), but if you have wiggle room in your schedule, it's a lovely way to travel to where you're going. This all-Irish-descent girl liked the UK a heckofa lot more than she expected.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I wonder if that is what we encountered? Nothing like 3 hours, though, thankfully.



So true. [Especially problematic if you're trying to get from one flight to the other, and you miss the sign saying "go that way" (to the left) so you go through where you think you're going through (to the right, through a security area), get sent aside because they think you have two 311 baggies (which you do, but there are TWO travelers), then ask for assistance. And are told to go to the right down that hall, go out the door and turn right, and at the next hall turn right (at this point I'm thinking "hey wait a minute")...and you do that and the clump of people who were in front of the "go that way" sign are gone and you see you messed up. But at least the security guy was kind about it!]



Oh yes. That's the adventure part. Vs the flying in at the last minute part. Heck, you're over there, take some time! And you can gamble on the ferry (slot machine type of things). And drink. The scenery was incredible. And on the train the lady with the cart came by saying "here's your trolley", which was just so adorable-sounding to my ears and I loved it. I definitely got tea from her. Hard to take time from Ireland (which is why you're wanting to fly in the day of, no doubt), but if you have wiggle room in your schedule, it's a lovely way to travel to where you're going. This all-Irish-descent girl liked the UK a heckofa lot more than she expected.

Heathrow and most places went through too many staffing cuts a few years back, now Heathrow and Gatwick are in competition as Gatwick had to be sold off , service is king and border control normally is fast. However whilst they staff to expected demand all you need is a few flight delays and they all come in together and the staffing can't cope. Heathrow is massive and you loose more in walking about than border control.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I wonder if that is what we encountered? Nothing like 3 hours, though, thankfully.



So true. [Especially problematic if you're trying to get from one flight to the other, and you miss the sign saying "go that way" (to the left) so you go through where you think you're going through (to the right, through a security area), get sent aside because they think you have two 311 baggies (which you do, but there are TWO travelers), then ask for assistance. And are told to go to the right down that hall, go out the door and turn right, and at the next hall turn right (at this point I'm thinking "hey wait a minute")...and you do that and the clump of people who were in front of the "go that way" sign are gone and you see you messed up. But at least the security guy was kind about it!]



Oh yes. That's the adventure part. Vs the flying in at the last minute part. Heck, you're over there, take some time! And you can gamble on the ferry (slot machine type of things). And drink. The scenery was incredible. And on the train the lady with the cart came by saying "here's your trolley", which was just so adorable-sounding to my ears and I loved it. I definitely got tea from her. Hard to take time from Ireland (which is why you're wanting to fly in the day of, no doubt), but if you have wiggle room in your schedule, it's a lovely way to travel to where you're going. This all-Irish-descent girl liked the UK a heckofa lot more than she expected.

Nice to hear you enjoyed the sail/rail! That was actually plan A, but it would mean missing a day in or around Dublin. Maybe next trip . . .-- Suzanne