Non-rev to Ireland

[AVDAD]

Posted this in international travel with no luck.

We are going to Ireland over the Fourth of July holiday next year (2012) and returning two weeks or so later. I have heard that travel during the Fourth is a good time to non-rev. We will be returning space "a" fyi.

Wha'dt you think, hell yeah give it a shot or, in your dreams big boy.

Any insight appreciated,

AvDad

 

[yournextFO]

Ireland is always hit or miss when non-revving. July is of course a big vacation month in Europe complicating the situation. As is often the case, you'll probably make it over but find getting back to be the challenge...just have backup plans in place and be ready to spend a few extra days. Edinburgh, Dusseldorf, Brussels, or Manchester are usually good backups. Amsterdam has a lot of flights to the US, but it's where all the non-revs go when the crap hits the fan.

 

[kf4amu]

I just went to Dublin from CLT on the US 757. Coach there, Envoy back. Coach sucks on the US 757's but hey, i got there. US also has flights to/from PHL so there were backup options.

 

[charlie2]

If you can buy first class up grades. We did and it saved us coming back from Germany a few months ago. The 330 was full in coach with only two first class seats available.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

buy a ticket. Non-Rev travel blows.

 

[rumrnr78]

I remember non-reving to Ireland with my wife and her family years ago. Total nightmare! We all made it but it was very stressful and the gate agents were total A- holes. I do not miss non-reving one bit. Since you are planning far out I second buying a ticket. Have a great trip. Make sure to see Kinsale and have a pint at the Mad Monk!

 

[Newjetjockey]

Nonreving to Ireland and other places in Europe can be very difficult during the summer.

 

[AVDAD]

Thank for the replies folks!

The biggest part of the question is traveling to Ireland on the 4th of July. Is the flight over more likely to be wide open on that day?

We'll try to get first class as well going over with the upgrade.

We will return using ticketed travel.

 

[SOVT]

Don't forget Belfast.

The station folks are great, generally seats are available. The departure tax is stiff but unless the Brits eliminate the tax CO is going to cancell the route anyway.Will know by Christmas.

The antrim coast north of Belfast is spectacular and the music and hospitality is the best Ireland has to offer.

.

Thank for the replies folks!

The biggest part of the question is traveling to Ireland on the 4th of July. Is the flight over more likely to be wide open on that day?

We'll try to get first class as well going over with the upgrade.

We will return using ticketed travel.

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

I travel to Ireland (DUB) about twice a year and have given up trying to non-rev, I tried it once on Delta out of SAN - ATL -DUB and it was a nightmare. Check KAYAK for prices and get notifications on pricing from them.

 

[Mr Wu]

Going to Ireland in the summer is definitely easier than coming back. Having said that it's still a PITA. Best thing to do is buy the cheapest ticket you can find to a city Ryanair or EasyJet flies to DUB from and then buy a ticket on them.

 

[Hamburger]

More important.

You can't buy a beer at the Guinness Brewery.............

Seriously. The one place on Earth where you can't buy a pint of Guinness is where they make the stuff.

 

[Mr Wu]

More important.

You can't buy a beer at the Guinness Brewery.............

Seriously. The one place on Earth where you can't buy a pint of Guinness is where they make the stuff.

When did that start? They have a bar on top of the brewery and you get a pint with the tour but you used to be able to buy there too.

 

[Hamburger]

Always been that way. It's a 'tasting room' with no liquor license where they can 'give' you a pint with your tour ticket.. But one is all you're gonna get and all the tea in china won't get you another.

 

[Mr Wu]

At least in 2004 you could buy a pint in the gravity bar. 3.50 ea up to 6pm, tokens only after that. Can't see why they would not allow it now as the tourist traffic must have dropped way off. They don't advertise it, just ask.

 

[ATRCA]

CO has two flights a day to DUB from EWR. There are also flight to SNN and BFS from EWR daily. If you add the UK destinations, LHR, MAN, BHX, EDI, GLA, you add some serious flexibility. There are 5 LHR flights a day from EWR! (not to terribly hard to non-rev on those), two a day to MAN and the rest have one daily flight.

If you broaden your choices to all of the UK and Ireland, to can gate hop in EWR and find something open I'm sure. Good luck.

 

[DX Jake]

BUY A REAL TICKET. It's a nightmare. We went to Ireland last year. Took AAL92/93. It was a 763. Not bad at all. STILL got upgraded to Business over. It STILL amazes me what a cheap box of Godiva can do. Coming back, coach. It was full. It this is a meaningless "I wanna get away" trip, then non-rev, but if you reserve hotels and stuff, buy a ticket. PM if you need any further help. Beautiful country.

 

[TWOTTER69]

Jumpseat on Omni...fairly regular flights out of ATL to SNN.

 

[NEDude]

If you are going over alone, or with another pilot type, I would suggest Atlas or Kallita for trips to/from Europe in the summer. Best seat you will ever get and usually no competition from other jumpseaters. You may have to put up with some smaller airports, but it is the best ride across the pond you will get. Kallita does a lot of AMS to EWR (at least they used to). Took Atlas back from Europe a few weeks ago and had to do LUX to HSV, but almost zero stress.

 

[Hamburger]

At least in 2004 you could buy a pint in the gravity bar. 3.50 ea up to 6pm, tokens only after that. Can't see why they would not allow it now as the tourist traffic must have dropped way off. They don't advertise it, just ask.

I stand corrected.
They seem to have done a great deal of construction since my last visit. There used to be only one windowless room in the bowels of St. James Gate complex. There is now apparently a Storehouse complex with a fishbowl bar that does sell pints.

Nice to see they read my suggestion card and got somebody on that.
You're welcome.