London: It is time for a daytime flight from the US to Ireland.
I am more convinced than ever after this trip to London.
I boarded a British Airways plane at 8.30 in New York on Wednesday morning and arrived here in London at 8 p.m local time.
I had time to have dinner, meet a friend and get a full night's sleep and woke this morning feeling refreshed and ready for the world.
Usually when I am flying to Ireland and I have to fly overnight and end up feeling bedraggled and worse for wear for at least a couple of days.
------------------------
READ MORE:
More stories on tourism in Ireland from IrishCentral
Guinness secret revealed: Why do bubbles go down instead of up?
Mystery of the moving rocks off Irish island solved
-------------------
At least I don't have to go through what many families have to do, sitting around hotel lobbies, sometimes with young kids, waiting for the room check-in time which can often be around 2.p.m.
The flights mostly arrive in around 6.a.m so the hapless family may be at least five or six hours waiting around.
There is no good reason in the world why day-time flights to Ireland cannot happen.
I have heard every argument from crew rosters to plane positioning to hotel rosters but the truth is that the consumer is being overlooked here.
I also think it would do wonders for travel to Ireland with people arriving at a much more civilized hour and getting access to hotel rooms right away.
It is the kind of issue that gets raised every few years but little gets done.
Ye,t at a time when tourism has become a huge factor in the recovery of the Irish economy, it is worth revisiting again
It is so obvious that it would help numbers coming to Ireland immediately.
Whatever airline tries it will benefit greatly I believe
I am certainly all for it -- what do you think?
28 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Harliemt | Nov 14, 2011, 06:37 PM EST
Each year we travel to Ireland for the month of June. We do this via London on British Air from Boston because we can take the morning flight. This is the civilized way to travel. Unfortunately the following day we fly London to Cork. Convenient, wide awake and ready to start our wonderful holiday. Why can't Aer Lingus do this??? There is nothing like a day flight.
irelandmusic | Nov 13, 2011, 12:29 AM EST
I would love a day flight also the overnight flight is hard the next day, I feel alot more people would go if there were day flights.
luckysusan | Nov 11, 2011, 05:42 PM EST
More than anything we would love to see flights from Chicago to Shannon again! Don't care when we get in - just love to land in Shannon and get started west!
UKIreland | Nov 11, 2011, 12:12 PM EST
I have done it to London once and found it to be very very strange indeed... I felt like I had basically lost a whole day. However, I can definitely see the logic for tourists who arrive tired with a whole day ahead of them.
borefield | Nov 11, 2011, 06:17 AM EST
I fully agree. A few years ago I took a day flight to London, it was great. I arrived refreshed, had time for a light meal and a short family visit, turned in early, had a good nights sleep and got up the next day like a normal person, not a zomby. Yes, let push for this.
maryemoore | Nov 11, 2011, 12:19 AM EST
I have taken the day time flight to London and loved it. Got in around 9 PM, family was not inconvenienced in picking me up. Stayed up till midnight, had a good night's sleep and woke up at around 9 AM totally refreshed, not jet lagged and on a normal schedule. Fabulous!
boydshield | Nov 10, 2011, 04:43 PM EST
Niall, Finally something we agree on! You fly from whatever your place is on to NY or Boston and get on a plane (usually hours later) and then take an overnight flight which gets you to Dublin at about 7:30-8:00 a.m. Hotels usually will not let you check in, your tired and touring is not what you want. As you suggested getting on a day flight and getting to Ireland at a reasonable hour would be grand! Can you make it happen?
Mairin67 | Nov 10, 2011, 02:36 PM EST
Amen! Would love to see it happen.
FastEddy | Nov 10, 2011, 11:56 AM EST
1) If the EuroTrash are going to green-tax inbound US aircraft on the jet fuels, forget about extra flights to ireland. In fact if these non-citizen, non-resident, anti-tourist travel tariffs are allowed to continue, expect reduced tourism to Ireland and the continent. 2) If Ireland has a better idea, then Irish airlines should offer it. 3) If this is an Irish Jobs thingy, how about reducing taxes, landing fees, tithes and tributes to those out of town airlines who comply with your "central planning" schemes?
IAPRINCESS | Nov 10, 2011, 11:42 AM EST
great idea
Oldwildrover | Nov 10, 2011, 11:26 AM EST
It will probably never happen...as it all has to do with the positioning of planes. Example, the flight that leaves the east coast say at 9.00am would have to sit on the ground overnight...a large fee and non utilization of the aircraft. The present method gives the airline the greatest utilization. Planes do not make money sitting on the ground. However, that said, the proposal would be nice.
abhainn | Nov 10, 2011, 11:09 AM EST
The overnight flights from the US to Ireland are so convenient because you can have a day in the US, sleep through a long, boring flight in a cramped tube overnight, then leave Dublin airport the next morning to go home for a decent full Irish breakfast to ease back into the Irish dining experience. Then you have a whole day ahead of you. What could be better? Flying during the day is an utter waste of daylight.
belcarra | Nov 10, 2011, 10:58 AM EST
I think this is the first time iv'e ever agreed with you.
irishtxn | Nov 10, 2011, 10:47 AM EST
I have to agree with joan1954, I would rather do a direct flight in to Ireland than have to go to the UK! It would be nice to get Aer Lingus(?) to come to the Southern States like Texas!
joan1954 | Nov 10, 2011, 10:21 AM EST
It may be alright for those who live on the east coast as that is where the various hubs are but for those of us who live in Texas and elsewhere in the south wouldn't do any good.
Liam3494 | Nov 10, 2011, 10:16 AM EST
I guess I am in the minority who actually welcome the overnight flights. Not saying that additional daytime flights would be a problem, but as i frequently travel from the mid-west or California, I need the connection time. At present, coming from South America, via Houston or DC, I need those evening flights to get me home without undue delays on the East Coast. Whichever way around, more flights, and more competition, will always be a help.
Ajreaper | Nov 10, 2011, 10:08 AM EST
I have always slept on the plane and was ready to go when she touched down- for some perhaps sleeping on a plane is an issue but for both its not a problem. I have also always been able to check in right away- even at 7 or 8am but I travel in the off season and I am sure that's not always possible "in season". Personally I like to hit the ground running and prefer not to pay for that extra night in a hotel- LOL, I don't like to arrive anywhere and just go to the hotel and go to sleep= wasted day in my book.
dermotryan | Nov 10, 2011, 09:59 AM EST
A great idea! Visitors arrive in Kinsale for the Heritage Town Walks in tghe morning, exhausted after the flight and the drive from Shannon / Dublin. A change would definitely be as good as a rest and help people enjoy their visit.
stephendoyle | Nov 10, 2011, 09:55 AM EST
It is rare when I can agree with every word in a article. This is one of them!
jamieLM | Nov 10, 2011, 09:48 AM EST
I completely agree with you and the other posters who have made good points. Even after dozing on the plane, I've arrived in Ireland with a dull headache and feeling DOA. I, too, have fallen asleep on the bus the first day, in spite all of the tea I drank upon arrival in Shannon at 7:00 AM. I'd really like to fly out of O'Hare before 6:00 PM.
MotherIrish | Nov 10, 2011, 09:48 AM EST
Oh Hell froze over today because I totally agree with Niall on something. I rarely agree with anything from him but this is a first. When we got to Ireland last May it was at 10:00 in the a.m. after a plane load of kids and babies coming from Orlando on Aer Lingus - sleep - heck no! Would have been better to arrive later in the day, kids would have been happier and us too. Would have changed the entire way we attacked our first day - and last.The airlines feed us a line of hype and we eat it up. Sic'um Niall!
crmccabe | Nov 10, 2011, 09:42 AM EST
Here! Here!
happyfeet | Nov 10, 2011, 09:34 AM EST
Agree completely!I travel to Ireland several times a year. Family and friends would appreciate not having to take time off from work to fetch me up at half 6 in the morning!
dooly001 | Nov 10, 2011, 09:29 AM EST
I too would love an am flight but feel we would lose some tourists that are connecting from other cities through New York or Boston. It would definitely suit East Coast travelers. Perhaps with 2 Aer Lingus daily flights from JFK to Dublin one could serve breakfast the other dinner.
GeorgeDillon | Nov 10, 2011, 09:13 AM EST
I also support this call. The airlines falsely claim that the current regime gives you an extra day, but the fact is that this day is worthless. Last year a friend of mine arrived in the morning. I suggested that she take the bus tour of Dublin in order to orienet herself and kill time while waiting for hotel check-in. She did, and she feel asleep for two hours on the bus. It should be even easier for flights to Dublin than flights to London, since they take up to an hour less. You could leave the Northeast at 8 and arrive by 7 (even better for Boston). Of course all of this will be wasted if Dublin Airport continues to be so inefficient and slow with baggage delivery.
MatthewJshow | Nov 10, 2011, 09:11 AM EST
This would be great for tourism. And I might add, direct service to Cork airport would be a plus. It would probably have to be a U.S. carrier to pull it off. It's time for Cork to be part of the tourism equation.
Sydluna | Nov 10, 2011, 08:15 AM EST
I agree! I've been to Ireland twice on overnight flights and since I can't sleep on a plane, felt like hell the first day. We had to book an extra day at the hotel in Dublin so we wouldn't be sleeping in the lobby (like I saw others doing) waiting to get into our room.
Towngate | Nov 10, 2011, 05:41 AM EST
Niall, a chara: Don't faint! - but I agree with every word! I am sure British Airways will appreciate your endorsement, as will the London hotels for their civilised approach to customer care. Perhaps all US flights should detour through the London Heathrow Hub on their way to the Red-eye Republic! That would be a real eye-opener!