In the summer months, high ticket prices dissuade Irish emigrants and visitors from journeying to Ireland. Many of Ireland’s six million yearly visitors schedule flights from June to August and a high percentage of those come from the U.S.
At press time, a round-trip ticket from New York City’s JFK Airport to Shannon Airport costs approximately $2,200, and to Dublin Airport costs approximately $1,500. And it’s nearly the same price from Boston.
“I am not going home to Ireland this summer. It’s too expensive this time of year,” says Kathy McDermott, an Irish mother. “For me just to buy two tickets to Ireland, it would cost more than an entire week in Long Beach Island (a resort community in New Jersey), all expenses paid, for a family of four.”
Peter Kelly, an Irish laborer, says, “A buddy of mine needed to go back home for family reasons. When it was all said and done, he ended up paying over three [thousand dollars] on tickets.”
Ireland’s three international airline carriers – Aer Lingus, Delta Airlines and United Airlines – attribute the increase primarily to rising fuel costs.
In fact, Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller lauded his company’s 2011 performance amid “a difficult backdrop of non-controllable fuel price inflation, increased airport charges and challenging demand conditions in our primary markets.”
However, fuel surcharges – fees that allow airline carriers to compensate for fuel price inflation – have risen twice as fast as fuel prices in the last year. According to a study by corporate travel management company Carson Wagonlit Travel, airline carriers have not reduced fuel surcharges since 2009, despite drops in fuel prices over that time.
Norman Crampton, a Co. Leitrim native and operator of Tara Travel in Yonkers, NY, explains that airline carriers engage in a risky procedure known as fuel hedging, whereby a fixed cost reduces their exposure to potentially volatile fuel costs.
“Every carrier engages in fuel hedging, but they don’t reveal the hedge price to the public,” says Crampton. “If the market dictates a fuel price lower than the hedge price, the airline could lose money.”
Dympna Tully, a Co. Cavan native and operator of Tully Travel in Yonkers, NY, believes that “less competition and fewer flights” encourage high ticket prices.
In the past, several airline carriers competed for transatlantic dominion, including: American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Pan American World Airways and Trans World Airlines. Due to financial difficulties or merger opportunities, however, only three carriers currently travel between Ireland and the U.S.
In June, another carrier entered the fray – unofficially.
Discount-airline Ryanair, led by CEO Michael O’Leary, has launched three bids to acquire Ireland’s flag carrier, Aer Lingus. Supporters contend that the acquisition would lower ticket prices, given Ryanair’s tendency for cheap labor and basic accommodations.
“I wouldn’t mind paying a lower fee if it meant a lower standard of service,” says Danny C., an Irish immigrant. “As long as Ryanair can get me there, I’m okay with it. I booked four tickets a few months back, and they cost me $3,600.”
Tommy G., an Irish-American bus driver, agrees. He says, “A lot of people want Ryanair to come in and take over. The fares are just too expensive, and something’s got to change.”
Critics contend that a takeover would negatively affect the airline carrier’s customer relations and Ireland’s tourism and airline industries.
“Social-service roots do not exist in Ryanair,” says Crampton. “Ireland is liable to become a stop rather than a destination.”
Tully adds, “Ryanair may offer low ticket prices, but they make up for it in other fees. If you haven’t done online check-in when you arrive at the airport, they’ll charge you at the front desk.”
Sarah O’Leary, from Co. Kerry, was planning all year to visit Ireland for a long weekend in August to attend her parents' 50th wedding anniversary, but the cost of the flight home to Ireland has prevented her from going.
“I just couldn’t justify spending over a grand on a flight or four grand for myself, my husband and two kids, for a weekend. We work hard for our money and that would be a good chunk out of the little bit of savings we have so I have to send a bunch of flowers, a few dinner vouchers and my apologies,” said O’Leary.
So is there any way to secure a lower price ticket for the summer months? Tully advises that any potential visitor to Ireland “book the tickets as soon as possible” in order to obtain lower ticket prices and to maximize a budget.
24 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Frosty38 | Aug 13, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT
From Orland to Shannon forget it, You have to go to NY BOSTON Or Newark
Frosty38 | Aug 13, 2012, 09:51 AM EDT
You should live in the Orlando area we have two flights a week. The bad thing is i work in the Travel Industry and try and do a group with CIE which is a Ireland owened company. It is bad, The fares from this group is 900.00 roundtrip April travel, but I wish the had more days.
bobby | Aug 13, 2012, 09:08 AM EDT
I flew Dublin to JFK high season for €460/ $570 return. http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/weboffersfromireland/sale-usafrom229/
johnshiel | Aug 10, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT
reasons to visit Ireland outside of summer months: sure, to save money. But also to avoid the crunch travel season where crowding frays attitudes and fuels carping about too many loud Yanks, etc. overnights are cheaper too, and reservations less necessary, and lines at hotspots are gone. And being from Chicago area myself, our winters make even Feb and March in Ireland feel balmy and relaxing...
ciaradexy | Aug 10, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
Oh Jamie, you dummy! This article is about Irish emigrants getting home! Not plastic Paddys looking for a holiday!
jamieLM | Aug 08, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT
@irishcoffeekid - oh, oh. I'm waiting for Ciaradexy to post that you are NOT Irish, since she thinks it's her job to decide who is and who is NOT "Irish". LOL Good post.
irishcoffeekid | Aug 07, 2012, 07:08 PM EDT
not all irish live in Ireland chiefjustice - just because we live overseas doenst mean we're not still Irish! Aside from that silly comment made, its true about the flights. I used to get home to see my family every summer and was originally paying around $599 (7 years ago) for flights home. Now I'm lucky if i can find one under the $1000 mark. Its got more expensive all year, not just during the summer - even booking in advance (e.g. september for Christmas) there just arent as many cheap flight. My flights in december were usually $499 return from Washington DC to Shannon (via Newark with Continental). I am now paying $900 to $1100 for the same flight at the same time same dates - it gets higher every year. You pay it because you want to get home to see your family but you spend a lot more time trying to time it to get a better deal! The price I pay now is what 1st class was a few years ago so i can't imagine how much those folks are paying!!
Chiefjustice | Aug 07, 2012, 03:41 PM EDT
Gee, I thouight that the Irish already lived in Ierland
fargobarbi | Aug 07, 2012, 02:34 PM EDT
Certainly is a major deterrent. We always go in October which saves us about 1000 USD. We would definitely go more often if the flights were more affordable.
malahide | Aug 07, 2012, 02:13 PM EDT
Let Michael O'Leary buy AerLingus and we will get cheaper travel. Look what he has done all over Europe. A friend of mine from Sweden hadn't been home for many years until Ryanair started a service from London. Now he gets home twice a year.
irishpjk | Aug 07, 2012, 02:13 PM EDT
wtf The best thing that could happen is to get Michael O’Leary in charge of some/any airline fling the North Atlantic route. He puts the blame right where it belongs too many taxes and way to much waste and duplication. The white elephant called terminal 2 at Dublin airport in a nightmare even on a good day. On a return flight from Dublin I got in the door of terminal two at 9:15 am online check-in boarding pass in hand. I found the baggage drop line and thirty five minutes later I was on my way up to the security line on the third level. Forty five minutes later I was on my way back down to the lower level for US emigration and customs, followed by another security check which included removal of shoes belts and anything else you can think off. Now I am in favor of security but twice for the same flight is over kill or a job’s/tax collection program out of control. Two hours from terminal door to gate is just out of line. I was hoping to stop at duty free and also have an Irish breakfast before I went on board. I love Shannon airport but they won’t fly you there late fall to late spring; it’s a tax thing to pay for the white elephant at Dublin.
TheNetherlands | Aug 07, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT
If there is two people there are fairly cheap fares by ship (Cunard) from New York to England. I have seen them as cheap as 700 per person. Check ahead. It's a 7 day cruise but hey you get food and it's an experience. I know if u book ahead you can get some great deals. Just a thought
seagreen | Aug 07, 2012, 01:44 PM EDT
Aer Lingus is a grease job !!
beodonne | Aug 07, 2012, 01:41 PM EDT
Flights from Boston to LA is now $400 to $500 round trip. I know the fuel is less expensive in the US but Aerlingus buys its fuel in Boston for the flight to Ireland so the tickets should not be three times higher.
Padraig8 | Aug 07, 2012, 01:39 PM EDT
bunkerisland: the reason DUB is less than SNN is because the Irish tourist board wants you to pay for the grand new aeroport in DUB,and the DUB area is wanting your money,i have asked for years why? when the west coast is where most yanks want to go to see the real ireland and is a shorter haul ergo less fuel.
bunkerisland | Aug 07, 2012, 11:33 AM EDT
Why is an Aer Lingus flight from NY to Dublin less than a flight from Boston to Dublin? And what causes flights to Dublin to be less than a flight to Shannon. Early fall visits suit me with less Yanks and Germans about!
ctraynor | Aug 07, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT
I went to Ireland in June (Boston - Dublin) with two children. Aer Lingus were quoting $1150 plus per ticket, even with trying to book early. I ended up going Air France via Paris for $650 round trip each. The journey was prolonged by about 4-5 hours but the savings made it well worthwhile. We even got to meet up with French friends at CDG airport on the way back!
ConnieCobe | Aug 07, 2012, 11:02 AM EDT
It's true, the cost of the flight over is what keeps us in the USA right now. We've been to Ireland a couple of times, once in June and once in September and the difference in airfare was miniscule. Perhaps between November and March it would be cheaper....the weather would be a deterent at that time of the year though because we love being outdoors when traveling. Perhaps it'd be more cost effective to fly to England then fly to Ireland from there. Hmmm something to check into.
ReturnedYank | Aug 07, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
When I lived in the States several years ago, it was the same. I always avoided summer travel due to prices.
joan1954 | Aug 07, 2012, 10:41 AM EDT
I live in Texas and I planned for my upcoming trip to Ireland back in March. My ticket was 1,208. Each year I start planning for the next year when I get back so by the time I am ready to go it is are paid off. However friends visited from Ireland in early July and they chose to come by way of Britain becaue it was less expensive.
FitzCandice | Aug 07, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT
I'm not from Ireland but I found one from Boston to Dub for Oct. only $619.
Bailey2000 | Aug 07, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT
Very good Young Pike and whats more when you fly to England the aircraft uses different fuel! Sooner we start using fracked Gas to drive our cars the cheaper Jet fuel will be...bring on Liquified Gas cars
WoundedKnee | Aug 07, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT
--What are fares to UK like? If there's a fuel surcharge they should be equally inflated.
mumbleyou | Aug 07, 2012, 09:38 AM EDT
Denver Colorado to Dublin $1322 (US Airways) in Mid-June, same trip in September $822 (Aer Lingus). The "FUEL" costs have really dropped!!! I have heard that the Euro Football (soccer) Championships, Olympics, Titanic Expo have all contributed to cost increases - profit hungry airlines is the only contributor!!!!