Nikki

I have been considering flying Aer Lingus from Boston to Paris with a connection in Dublin. There would be a connection of one hour twenty-five minutes on the way to Paris and a connection of one hour fifty-five minutes to Boston.

How difficult is a connection in Dublin? I have had very hectic experiences making connections at Heathrow and in Paris, but am hoping that Dublin is not that kind of a scene.

Cathinjoetown

Nikki,

Relatively speaking, Dublin Airport is small and sane. Your Aer Lingus arrival and your connection to Paris should both be in Terminal 2.

Sounds like a good plan to me.

C.

flanneruk

Assuming you're connecting the same way on the way back, remember:

- you go through neither immigration nor baggage reclaim eastbound. If you don't make it in 90 mins (you probably will), Air Fungus will rebook you relatively painlessly

- you don't go through Irish immigration, but do go through US immigration, westbound, at Dublin. I THINK this now includes US Customs, and therefore you need to reclaim your bags and go through US inspections. 120 mins strikes me as tight for this, and if you miss the Boston flight it's a day's wait.

I'd ask the airline directly, unless someone pops up here who's done precisely that connection (under today's arrangements, since doing US Customs at Dublin is relatively recent) in the time you're suggesting.

nytraveler

Dublin airport is tiny - nothing like Heathrow or CDG. However, you have the same problems - if the incoming plane is late you can end up in a mess.

If it were me I would just fly Boston to Paris - there must be a ton of flights.

As for the change on the way back - I think the chance of missing it is fairly high.

opaldog

Nikki: Here is a link to another post about boarding and security in Dublin. Thought it might be of interest to you. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ty-of-time.cfm

Nikki

"If it were me I would just fly Boston to Paris - there must be a ton of flights."

There is one non-stop flight a day from Boston to Paris in March. It's a difference of three hundred dollars on my dates. Otherwise I would not be considering it.

nytraveler

Well, everyone has to make their own decisions. If you are willing to change planes, with the chance of missing the connection, that that is the risk you are accepting.

I always take non stops unless there is nothing else available -since I am risk averse when it comes to my limited and valuable vacation time.

Cathinjoetown

More lovely lolly to spend in Paris!

opaldog

Nikki: I fly from Boston also so I know that the only direct most of the year is Air France, which I love to fly but it is always more expensive. I flew Iceland Air in February(and once before). It is sort of like using a Greyhound bus, but it does get you where you want to go and the connections are scheduled so that you won't miss your flight. The airport is small and all about Iceland Air. You may have already used them. The fares might be comparable with Aerlingus.

Nikki

I have flown Icelandair in the past, and I did check them. But they don't fly the days I need to go.

I am leaning against the Aer Lingus connection because of the possibility of having to claim my bags in Dublin to go through customs on the way back to Boston. It is for this reason that I avoid flghts connecting in the US on the way back from Europe.

Thanks for all the advice.

seafox

Hey Nikki - when are you going? We are headed to Paris for New years week on Aer Lingus via Dublin....seemed like the best deal and for 4of us the savings added up.

Nikki

Going in March. Sorry I'll miss you.

I ended up booking with Air France.

And then the fare went down.

You can't win.

seafox

Enjoy - Air France is, I think, the best option to Paris out of Boston.

opaldog

I love Air France. I don't often get to fly them because I always opt for the best fare. Summer 2012 I am celebrating a milestone birthday and I might give myself a present of a ticket on Air France. Have a great trip to Paris. Are you renting an apartment?

Nikki

Yes, I'm staying in this apartment: http://www.vrbo.com/103254

I see the fare for my flight has just gone up a couple hundred bucks to even more than I paid. It's the Turkish bazaar out there.

capxxx

I took that Aer Lingus flight out of Boston (connecting to Milan) with about the same connection times and it was fine. As mentioned, it is quite a small airport (not as small as Reykjavik though) -- nothing at all like Heathrow or Paris.

Given the price difference I think it is worth the risk.

Another thing to look into is direct flights from NYC/Paris -- sometimes you can book the Boston/NYC leg of the trip at very small extra cost. And changing planes while not suffering jet lag (eastbound) is great.

seafox

Nice lookin apt Nikki - I like teh garden - let us know how it turns out.

Cathinjoetown

Nikki,

The studio looks great, let us know how you like it.

Are you planning to go to any lectures this time?

Despite 5 hours a week, my French is regressing!

Nikki

I'm not sure how useful a garden will be in March, but we'll see.

One of the reasons I am going in March is because I will be able to catch a couple of classes in each of two courses at the College de France given by professors whose courses I have been following by means of podcasts for the past several years. This year's literature course is Beaudelaire, so I'm keeping the paperback copy of Fleurs du Mal that I bought for 50 centimes at a brocante in Bagneres de Bigorre next to my reading chair. Maybe some of it will sink in.