Warning for anyone connecting out of Dublin to fly to USA, don't be me!

[MorrisZapp]

I'm a broken human and it's all Aer Lingus's fault. Business trip yesterday Edinburgh to JFK, connecting through Dublin.

Due to weather, my Edinburgh flight was delayed and we landed late in Dublin. Still in time for connection but all travellers to the USA have to go through US Homeland Security in Dublin, and there is no fast track option for late incoming connections.

It took well over an hour to clear US customs, the queues were horrendous and there are four levels of security to clear.

I think ten different people beeped my boarding pass but this means nothing as US security exists to protect the USA, not to help people catch flights.

After a horrific race to the furthest gate in the terminal, I arrived to a closed gate and the staff clearing up. They were kind and sympathetic but I was absolutely not getting on the plane. My bags had been taken off. Other people were in the same situation.

We could not approach Aer Lingus ticketing until to got landside, and we couldn't get landside until we had our bags back, which took an hour. Once we arrived at the ticketing desk there was a queue of desperate and upset travellers ahead of us, all trying to get to the USA. There were further flights out but we couldn't get them because going through homeland security again would have taken too long, and many flights were full anyway.

All they could offer was overnight accommodation with onward travel the next day. This didn't work for me as I'd missed my meeting anyway so I had to get a flight home instead. Edinburgh was full so I took a teatime flight to Glasgow. I got home at 10pm having been in transit from 6am.

I can't explain what it feels like to miss a transatlantic flight, I'm still processing it now. Seeing that closed gate was like the most stressful scene in a film, but it was real and actually happening to me.

Catching connections works until it doesn't. How the fuck Aer Lingus thought I could negotiate their huge, multi level airport and the whole of US security in the time allowed even had my incoming flight been on time was baffling to me. Why they haven't set up support airside for all the people held up like this is a mystery for the ages. Entire families were crying, the staff were helpful but there weren't nearly enough of them and they can't offer solutions that don't exist.

People who don't live near hub airports have no choice but to use connections. I've learned my lesson. I've informed my company that my next journey to the USA will require me to catch a train to London the day before (early, in case of train shenanigans) a night in a Heathrow hotel and a flight out of Heathrow next day.

Don't be me. Don't trust airline's own itineraries for connecting flights, and never fly Dublin to USA unless you are able to arrive at Dublin many hours in advance.

And an extra fuck you to the last US security guy I dealt with. Your utter nastiness made one of the most stressful experiences of my half century on this earth even worse and for what, sir? If you want your country to be safe then ban gun ownership and be civil to middle aged ladies who obey every rule and command asked of them.

Last moan, a pint in Dublin Airport costs seven pounds thirty. Most needed pint of my life. Just.... don't be me.

I am not a morning person. I will resent that 4.45 am revielle for the rest of my days.

I'm leaning towards a hotel in Dublin. Despite my moans it's a great airport and the glimpse I caught of the post clearance waiting areas was tantalising.

[wibbles] I prefer larger aircraft. Feels less bumpy.

I'm in Aberdeen (though Dublin's my home city - miss the direct flights). Quite a short runway here I think. A definite thud on landing.

Especially if they have kids. Unthinkable.

Aiberdeen has entered the chat. Fit like min?

@MorrisZapp

I'm leaning towards a hotel in Dublin. Despite my moans it's a great airport and the glimpse I caught of the post clearance waiting areas was tantalising

It's better than Heathrow certainly.

Although Heathrow's lounges are better than Dublins.

Agreed re big planes. More room to walk about if needed and at least the illusion of a smoother flight, maybe the geeks can verify. Also on the daylight flight, more of a 'woohoo! We're off to America!' feel.

Always the way isn't it. My husband travels a lot and some of the connection times between flights are crazy.

Sorry, the trauma counselling course is that way >

Boarding pass being scanned

I think Gàidhlig is more my thing (working on my basic Irish) 😁

Ah okay - Nae bad, chavin' awa.

Where are you now Morris?

I can't explain what it feels like to miss a transatlantic flight, I'm still processing it now. Seeing that closed gate was like the most stressful scene in a film, but it was real and actually happening to me.

I’m sorry you had such a rubbish day OP, it sounds exhausting. Unfortunately this sort of occurrence is not unusual though, Although your reaction does make me wonder if you need counselling and/or treatment for shock?!

that attitude is classic homeland security. I'm american and occasionally drive across the border from detroit to windsor, ontario and firstly, the border is like a war zone. Men stomping around with long guns out, glaring at everybody like they're all terrorists.

Once one of them scoffed at my reason for going to windsor, he clearly enjoyed the power he had over me. And you can't get sassy in return or all hell could break loose. Its all yes sir no sir, eyes cast downward in respect/appropriate terror.

When they were looking at the ireland-n.ireland border crossings during brexit, they came several times to the detroit-windsor border and reportedly said it was exactly what they wanted to avoid.

meanwhile on the canadian side, once it's determined that you're not bringing firearms into canada the border police are very kind. The difference in attitude is shocking. I call homeland security jack booted thugs 🙁

I'm not surprised he was shitty to you, sorry.

Chavin awa quine 😊

Safely home in Scotland. Will probably have to go to NY in the nearish future but next time will be different.

Don't forget to bring the tape to attach the steps to the plane.

1.5 hours is shockingly tight for security. I've missed flights in similar circumstances and I feel your pain. I agree that they shouldn't really schedule flights like that with really no margin for error at all, but they do. (United via Dulles I am looking at you,)

Thank you, no I just needed a pint and a lot of support, which I got from friends and family in real time on the group chats.

Yes, I agree, the tight scheduling is bonkers, especially in summer when there are so many planes full of tourists heading to the US and the USCIS bottleneck can easily be predicted. This is what algorithms are for.

If I had taken my Dsis up on her offer of a lift to the airport at a civilised hour instead of lugging my bags to the bus stop for the Aircoach at the crack of dawn or if I had dawdled in the shops or stopped for the loo or a cup of coffee, I'd have missed my flight or cut it far too close for comfort

I can sort of see why the existence of fast tracking for emergencies isn't more widely advertised - there are a lot of chancers out there who would besiege any personnel assigned to sort the sheep from the goats. But I do think delayed connecting flights should be flagged and crew should advise that fast tracking is available. There's no reason this couldn't be accomplished, especially if you book all your flights in the same package amdnyour bags have gone directly onto the US bound flight. Communication could be greatly improved.

I know you had no choice as it was a business meeting, but I won’t be travelling to the US again in a hurry. For one reason only. The awful tipping culture. The prices in restaurants are the same as other cities worldwide, yet the restaurant owners pay the staff a couple of dollars an hour and expect customers to make it up to a living wage. And as for shops who ask you to tip, for putting something in a bag…. There are countries with just as good scenery and destinations.

I will be so unhelpful and say I can’t believe you saw the Irish Olympic team- that’s so cool!!! Went to the us this year- it took a fair while- I’d say definitely get your company to leave an extreme Amt of time between flights

Actually just remembered a very tight turnaround for a connecting flight about eight years ago. With the (non stressed) DH and two teenage DDs. They knew we’d been delayed coming in obvs, running through the airport, it seemed like there was an airline rep on every corner shouting “Are you the Crenchingly McQuaffens?, hurry they’re holding the flight for you!’
OMG the stress, I don’t think they were playing the Chariots of Fire theme out loud but I could certainly hear it in my head….

I completely sympathise OP.
I remember trying to get from one end of T4 at Madrid airport to the other- it’s actually 1.2km. long- to catch a connecting flight to Heathrow.
Never. Again.
It nearly killed me!

I'd book a direct flight to be safe.
Alternately, you could do what I like to do with stop overs. ... I'll book a larger gap if possible to sight-see in the stop over city for a few hours. 😄
I've stayed at a gorgeous airport hotel in Japan before taking 2nd leg onward by train and spaced out a 2 hour stop in Chicago to 5 hours, hopped into an Uber to a resto for famous deep dish pizza and an hour of sight-seeing before heading back to O'hare. At the very least there's a good cushion of time just in case of emergencies.
I'm sorry you had a stressful trip. What a waste. 🙁