Hi - I need to travel regularly to Belfast on business and have been hunting for the best route to get there. Newark is often a nightmare, so I'm looking at either Chicago->Dublin->Belfast or Chicago->Manchester->Belfast. There are direct flights to both Dublin and Manchester, so the issue is the next leg.

Can anyone advise on:

- Chicago -> Dublin, then express train (NI Railways) to Belfast? Trains seem to leave from Connolly Station - easy to reach by shuttle from airport? The trip looks like about 2:20, which is tolerable given the long layover and missed connection that is not unlikely connecting through Newark. Do these trains have enough luggage space for a roller bag and a briefcase or would it be a struggle?

- Chicago -> Manchester, then one of those small carriers like bmibaby over to Belfast? I don't know if these carriers are reliable or safe. Opinions?

- Does anyone have a suggestion for another approach to this trip?

Many thanks!

< I don't know if these carriers are reliable or safe >

If they weren't safe they wouldn't be flying in the UK - the UK isn't a 3rd world country.

...and if they weren't reliable they'd go bust.

Unlike America, Britain doesn't subsidise commercially incompetent airlines. We believe in capitalism here.

BMI is an excellent airline from my experience.
Zenpicker-- you have to be carefull when the "B" word is in your post.
They did rule the world at one time and took a real bad fall.

I didn't mean to offend. In the US there have been some egregious maintenance issues with the older planes operated by the little guys, that's all.