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Great deals on flights to Ireland as airlines cut fares

Aer Lingus offering one-way premier class for just $849

PAT PRESTON,

IrishCentral.com Travel Expert

Published Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 3:10 PM

Updated Sunday, November 22, 2009, 9:58 PM

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Travel to Ireland is on a downward curve this year. Tourism Ireland (www.tourismireland.com) reports that “the first 10 months of 2009 have proven to be a very tough period for tourism to the island of Ireland, and for tourism worldwide.”

Final figures are yet to be recorded, but Tourism Ireland anticipates “close to 8 million people will have visited” in 2009 from overseas. This compares to 8.7 million in 2008 and 9 million in 2007.

So what are the tourism officials doing in the face of adversity? They are not giving up!

Tourism Ireland has launched a major Tourism Marketing Drive for 2010. According to Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive – Tourism Ireland, “We are telling the world that the island of Ireland is very much open for business, is easily accessible by air and sea and, despite the downturn, we have a wealth of impressive new developments coming on stream – including the Convention Centre Dublin (www.theccd.ie), Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport (www.dublinairportauthority.com/Airport_Development/Terminal_2), the Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road (www.avivastadium.ie), and the Titanic building (www.titanic-quarter.com) in Belfast.”

Tourism leaders are also showcasing Ireland’s strengths: “Culture, heritage, literature, music, food and our warm, friendly people – all wrapped in a message that the island of Ireland has never offered better quality and value for money.”

So how does that affect you and me? For one thing, it has brought a wave of lower prices. Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) announced transatlantic airfares to Ireland as low as $189 each way from NY for economy class for travel between January 11 and March 10. Although those fares expire on November 19th, it is likely that a new wave of sale fares will be announced later this year or early in the New Year.

Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) is also doing something not often seen – selling its Premier business class seats from $849 each way based on a roundtrip from New York, Boston or Chicago. That’s less than half of the normal Premier fare. This offer is valid for travel from January 1 to April 30, 2010, but tickets must be booked by November 30.

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mandokeith | Nov 23, 2009, 11:26 AM EST

I want to go back so bad it is almost all I think about. But the high prices in Ireland and the terrible value of the Democrat Dollar are keeping me away. Ireland needs the tourists and the tourist money, but there needs to be some changes first........

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MickRegan | Nov 23, 2009, 11:16 AM EST

And a little extra plug for Cork! Lonely Planet voted it one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit this year, so when you're looking at those flight schedules don't be forgetting the South West! ;)

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billohagenbender | Nov 23, 2009, 10:51 AM EST

There is ONLY 1 place for orange-s--t & its about 6' under Whale s--t & thats @ the bottom of the ocean. Int the words of Bobby Sands MP > Tiocfaidh ar la, Saoirse, Eireann Go Bragh !!!! TOIG2016

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kickstar | Nov 18, 2009, 06:23 PM EST

Aer Lingus has never ventured into Canada I think they are scared that Protestant bums might touch their Papist seats

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IrishCanuck | Nov 18, 2009, 04:00 PM EST

It would be great if they flew out of Western Canada and could offer the same price. I would like to dee the Irish recognize Canada more. There are lots of Irish Canadians who would like to see Ireland, I being one of them.

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dessieglynn | Nov 18, 2009, 03:41 PM EST

I have just come back from two weeks vacation in Ireland. As I am 81 years young I could not rent a car. However I had no trouble renting a car in the U.S.A. to get to the airport. Better get your act in gear, Ireland.

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annhowell | Nov 18, 2009, 12:58 PM EST

As an American tourists planning my first trip to Ireland in May 2010, I am just confused. What is Aer Lingus doing? If I book a flight now will it still be available in May? I've already booked a week of accommodations so the flight is next and, since I want to see as much of Ireland as possible, I'm flexible about which side of the green I fly into - West or East. Guess I'll just look for whoever has the best deal on flights. Sounds like I need to save on that budget to afford to eat in Ireland for two weeks!

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knockatee | Nov 18, 2009, 11:36 AM EST

Why would anybody travel via Aer Lingus if going to the West of Ireland? Aer Lingus had a quarter-page ad in the NY Times yesterday with a headline "Now is the time to visit Ireland's Wonderful West." What a hypocrite it is. It has always wanted Dublin to be its main hub and has done everything imaginable to discourage visitors to the West by cutting flights to Shannon - and probably eliminating them altogether in 2010. I plan on going for a visit next year but if I travel with Aer Lingus, I can fly directly to Shannon. But on the way back, I'd have to be in Shannon for a 7:00 a.m. flight (a two-hour drive from my home in Co. Galway), fly to Dublin, spend 3 hours there and then get on a flight to NY. I'm traveling Continental instead.

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cinhahn | Nov 18, 2009, 11:05 AM EST

Tourism Ireland is in denial. They have made it almost impossible to get to the west coast of Ireland -- the best spot -- due to Aer Lingus cutting flights. From Chicago, you have to fly to Dublin and have a 2-3 hour layover, then get back on the plane and fly to Shannon. Ditto on the way home. Yeah, Ireland's open -- but it's impossible to get there unless you live in NYC or Boston. Once you're there, the cost of the simplest B&B is 40 euros PER PERSON -- $60 for a room with a hard mattress, barely enough lighting to read by, and kids and mom yelling downstairs. That was my experience. And the single supplement they charge on top of that if, god forbid, they can't charge $120 for their bedroom, is ridiculous and makes traveling solo cost-prohibitive. I go to Ireland once or twice a year, because I used to live there and have several friends I love dearly that I like to see, but ever since Aer Lingus cut back it's flights, I'm only going to go on very special occasions (weddings, funerals, etc).

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mandokeith | Nov 18, 2009, 10:17 AM EST

We are way ready to go back and I appreciate Are Lingus offering low fares. BUT, the high prices in Ireland and the terrible state of the dollar against the Euro.......looks like we will not be going in 2010. Don't know when at this point. We are not rich americans, and we can't help support the Irish economy with tourism when it costs so much. Just don't have the green to see the green.

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benbhoy | Nov 18, 2009, 09:50 AM EST

ITS NOT THE COST OF THE FLIGHTS,ITS THE COST OF LIVING,I HAVE BEEN TO IRELAND 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR,AND THE COST OF FOOD HAS SKYROCKETED.I DONT KNOW HOW THE ORDINARY IRISH WORKER IS SURVIVING.

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