pumpkin

Hubby & I are to leave for Edinburgh this Sat. the 27th of August. We fly SEA to JFK on Delta (we booked this) then JFK to Edinburgh via Aer Lingus to Dublin then Stobart Air from Dublin to Edinburgh.
The more I investigate, the more frustrated and confused I get. I even called our tour company, but they did not know answers to my questions and suggested I call Aer Lingus. I have repeatedly, but cannot get through.

It appears that although it is booked on one ticket, we must use the smaller requirements from Stobart for luggage in the cabin. It appears that the dimensions are 49 cm x 37 cm x 22 cm which a converter says is 19.29" x 14.56" x 8.66" with a weight of 7 kg which is 14.4 lbs. Somewhere I thought I saw measurements for a purse which were basically 10" x 13" x 8", but since then I have seen things which may indicate differently.

My questions are: 1) does anyone here have any experience to shed some light on this and 2) I have seen something about booking our bags in advance. Since we are coming in on Aer Lingus to Dublin and have the same reservation # for Stobart, is this necessary? 3) I just finished reading a large number of reviews on Aer Lingus which have us horrified...it sounds like nothing is included such as meals, drinks, even water.

Anything you know and can pass on, will be appreciated as we need to be prepared!
Thank you in advance,
Jean

Macross

It is a bit confusing and have only had to fly on them one way back from EDI to DUB on a tiny plane. Think they use to be called aran air or something. YES, we had to pay and I wanted to do it in DUB because I had a clue this was going to happen but they were sure I wouldn't have to pay but did in pounds in EDI. The plane is small and though it is not your fault they make you pay for check baggage.

Macross

I just finished reading a large number of reviews on Aer Lingus which have us horrified...it sounds like nothing is included such as meals, drinks, even water.

I thought this also last year and had flown on them twice before but the wording was confusing. They have an upgrade meal plan and that is extra. They give you a mediocre meal and drinks but you have always had to pay extra for snacks. Usually they will give you drinks. I fly them because it is straight through for us and decent times. I just eat before boarding and zonk out, 8:30 flight, don't need to eat but do coming home. Boredom but the return meal looks much better.

bvlenci

I don't know anything about Stobart, but we've just returned from a trip to Ireland on Aer Lingus, although it was a flight from Rome, not New York. No free food was provided, although, since it was only a three-hour flight, we didn't need any. I think we did buy a beverage.

Our carry-on bags were much smaller than the limit. We had one checked bag on the way out, and checked one of our small bags on the way back so we could carry some purchases in a collapsible bag I had brought along in the suitcase.

There were no free checked bags in economy class unless you had a flexible ticket. Somehow that's what I had bought by mistake. Otherwise we could have managed with just carryon.

The rules may be different on transatlantic flights.

I thought the service was fine. I don't mind paying for food and baggage checking if it keeps ticket prices down.

Padraig

bvlenci wrote: "The rules may be different on transatlantic flights."

They are - quite different.

pumpkin

Well, I guess I am wondering if our bags will go straight through to EDI since we start in New York. I guess they must since there is only 1 hour and 15 minutes between landing in Dublin and then departure to EDI.

bvlenci

If you booked both flights as a single itinerary, they'll be checked through.

Macross

Pumpkin, my flight was a separate booked flight so you might be ok. We went to Dublin, then took a flight to EDI and then back to Dublin. Transatlantic is different, no cost for baggage or food unless you want that upgrade meal.

ellenem

Just flew Aer Lingus roundtrip on a ticket booked as a single itinerary: JFK to Dublin (Aer Lingus), then Dublin to Inverness (Flybe) and back again. The itinerary was booked on the Aer Lingus site.

My one suitcase was checked all the way through and this bag was listed on the ticket and did not cost extra on either flight. This bag would usually meet carryon size but was too big for a Flybe carryon, so I checked it all the way through. My Dublin layover was three hours.

For the transatlantic flight, I had all the usual amenities I expect--beverage service, dinner, light breakfast, headphones, seatback entertainment system--at no additional charge. Even Flybe provided a beverage and cookies on the short flight.

Bette

<<I just finished reading a large number of reviews on Aer Lingus which have us horrified...it sounds like nothing is included such as meals, drinks, even water.>>

Meals, snacks, coffee/tea, water, soft drinks, entertainment are provided without additional charge. Alcoholic beverages are extra but are reasonably priced. I've flown them often. Just recently from Boston to SNN on 8/2 and Dublin to Boston on 8/18. Both flights were fine.

Sorry I can't help with the Stobart part of your question.

Christina

I don't know of any airline that doesn't include a meal for a transatlantic flight, certainly none of the major, regular carriers. I think maybe Norwegian does not, the new budget entry, but I'm not even sure abut that.

Of course rules are different for transatlantic flights on airlines because the flights are much longer.

I flew Aer Lingus to Dublin many years ago, but it was fine.

Macross

The website made me question this a couple of trips back but think it was to get you to upgrade to the better meal they are pushing.