Bad Pink Tink 2.0
Joined March 2015 Hi Fans Who Talk About My Posts
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- Aug 1, 2023
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Saturday 22 June 2024
I arrived at Dublin airport just after 11.00am. Aer Lingus online check in opens about 24 hours before departure so I had checked in at home and printed my boarding pass. I always do online check in with Aer Lingus when I fly out of Dublin. Dublin airport is the main Aer Lingus hub, and the check in areas are for all Aer Lingus flights, both long haul transatlantic and short haul to UK and Europe. To beat the queues, its always best to do online check in and then use the machines to print the bag tag and do bag drop.
It was a little stressful this year, as a few days before my flight, Aer Lingus announced Pilot Strikes and Work To Rule and cancelled a huge amount of flights. Luckily for me, the only transatlantic flight affected was the Dublin to JFK route.
But when I arrived at the airport, it was chaos in the check in area. The baggage belts were not working properly and breaking down frequently, which was causing a big back log of people both in the normal check in areas and in the bag drop areas.
I was in a queue for over 30 minutes and during that time, the amount of people increased. I was really glad to get out of that area and up to security. The security area was relatively quiet as the main crowd of people were still downstairs doing check in and bag drop.
Once I was through security and into the main restaurant and shopping concourse of Dublin Terminal 2, I just bought some cheap water for the flight. In Dublin airport they have both free water refill stations and cheap bottle of water. These water cost €2 and its on an honour system. You either pay with coins or there is now a tap and go option.
It was now about 12pm. I checked the departure screens and my flight said US Preclearance opens at 1.25pm.
As I had booked 51st and Green Lounge I just went straight to US Preclearance. This is a second security area in Dublin airport, in the lower level of Terminal 2. Its a special arrangement with US Homelands Security to have passport check and customs before getting on the plane. This means that we arrive in America as domestic passengers and can go straight to bag reclaim.
I was through US Preclearance easily and then I just went straight to 51st and Green Lounge.
This lounge is open to all transatlantic passengers on any airline. It is not a business class only lounge. I fly economy. It can be booked online in advance through Dublin Airport website or on the day if there is availability.
The lounge is located right at the end of Terminal 2 and has great views of the South Runway.
There are hot food items, a salad bar, a small selection of pre made sandwiches, soup, pastries, cans of soft drinks, water, tea, coffee. There is also a bar with barista coffee. There is a limit of 2 alcohol drinks per person.
I started with
Then had some pancakes with maple syrup, butter and sugar
I walked around, took some photos, watched the planes for a while and then it was time to board my flight.
The fare I bought with Aer Lingus was the Economy Smart Fare, and I was able to select my seat at the time of booking.
My preferred seat is the window seat at the end of the main cabin, which has no seats behind. Usually get the aisle, but this time I choose the window and got some great photos of take off and flying over Ireland.
About 2 hours into the flight the onboard service started. Aer Lingus do the drinks and food separate. Soft drinks, juice, tea and coffee are complimentary but alchol has to be paid for. Aer Lingus are cash free so you need to pay with a card. I got an orange juice and a coke for the meal.
The meal had chicken or beef options . I choose the chicken option, which was sweet and sour chicken and rice.
A few hours later then came around with icecream
Then about an hour before landing we got a hot tomato and cheese roll and tea and coffee
We landed a bit before schedule at 6.15pm LA time and as I was at a window I got some great photos of LA
Then it was the big walk to bag reclaim.
Aer Lingus use the new building of Tom Bradly International Terminal at LAX. This building is across the tarmac from the main building, so we have to go under ground, back to the main building, through the big food and shopping area and then down to bag reclaim. Its about a 20 minute walk.
When I arrived at the bag carousel, the bags were not out yet. I had booked Midwilshuttle to bring me from LAX to my hotel, so I sent them a text on WhatsApp to let them know I had arrived. It took a while for my bag to come though, but eventually it did.
Then it was out to the passenger pick up area. I sent Midwilshuttle a selfie and the number of the area I was standing in.
Traffic wasnt too bad and finally after 17 hours travel I was at my hotel
I arrived at Dublin airport just after 11.00am. Aer Lingus online check in opens about 24 hours before departure so I had checked in at home and printed my boarding pass. I always do online check in with Aer Lingus when I fly out of Dublin. Dublin airport is the main Aer Lingus hub, and the check in areas are for all Aer Lingus flights, both long haul transatlantic and short haul to UK and Europe. To beat the queues, its always best to do online check in and then use the machines to print the bag tag and do bag drop.
It was a little stressful this year, as a few days before my flight, Aer Lingus announced Pilot Strikes and Work To Rule and cancelled a huge amount of flights. Luckily for me, the only transatlantic flight affected was the Dublin to JFK route.
But when I arrived at the airport, it was chaos in the check in area. The baggage belts were not working properly and breaking down frequently, which was causing a big back log of people both in the normal check in areas and in the bag drop areas.
I was in a queue for over 30 minutes and during that time, the amount of people increased. I was really glad to get out of that area and up to security. The security area was relatively quiet as the main crowd of people were still downstairs doing check in and bag drop.
Once I was through security and into the main restaurant and shopping concourse of Dublin Terminal 2, I just bought some cheap water for the flight. In Dublin airport they have both free water refill stations and cheap bottle of water. These water cost €2 and its on an honour system. You either pay with coins or there is now a tap and go option.
It was now about 12pm. I checked the departure screens and my flight said US Preclearance opens at 1.25pm.
As I had booked 51st and Green Lounge I just went straight to US Preclearance. This is a second security area in Dublin airport, in the lower level of Terminal 2. Its a special arrangement with US Homelands Security to have passport check and customs before getting on the plane. This means that we arrive in America as domestic passengers and can go straight to bag reclaim.
I was through US Preclearance easily and then I just went straight to 51st and Green Lounge.
This lounge is open to all transatlantic passengers on any airline. It is not a business class only lounge. I fly economy. It can be booked online in advance through Dublin Airport website or on the day if there is availability.
The lounge is located right at the end of Terminal 2 and has great views of the South Runway.
There are hot food items, a salad bar, a small selection of pre made sandwiches, soup, pastries, cans of soft drinks, water, tea, coffee. There is also a bar with barista coffee. There is a limit of 2 alcohol drinks per person.
I started with
- Small salad plate
- Chicken Chasseur with mash potato
- Latte
Then had some pancakes with maple syrup, butter and sugar
I walked around, took some photos, watched the planes for a while and then it was time to board my flight.
The fare I bought with Aer Lingus was the Economy Smart Fare, and I was able to select my seat at the time of booking.
My preferred seat is the window seat at the end of the main cabin, which has no seats behind. Usually get the aisle, but this time I choose the window and got some great photos of take off and flying over Ireland.
About 2 hours into the flight the onboard service started. Aer Lingus do the drinks and food separate. Soft drinks, juice, tea and coffee are complimentary but alchol has to be paid for. Aer Lingus are cash free so you need to pay with a card. I got an orange juice and a coke for the meal.
The meal had chicken or beef options . I choose the chicken option, which was sweet and sour chicken and rice.
A few hours later then came around with icecream
Then about an hour before landing we got a hot tomato and cheese roll and tea and coffee
We landed a bit before schedule at 6.15pm LA time and as I was at a window I got some great photos of LA
Then it was the big walk to bag reclaim.
Aer Lingus use the new building of Tom Bradly International Terminal at LAX. This building is across the tarmac from the main building, so we have to go under ground, back to the main building, through the big food and shopping area and then down to bag reclaim. Its about a 20 minute walk.
When I arrived at the bag carousel, the bags were not out yet. I had booked Midwilshuttle to bring me from LAX to my hotel, so I sent them a text on WhatsApp to let them know I had arrived. It took a while for my bag to come though, but eventually it did.
Then it was out to the passenger pick up area. I sent Midwilshuttle a selfie and the number of the area I was standing in.
Traffic wasnt too bad and finally after 17 hours travel I was at my hotel
