Irish Rail - Ticket Prices

Instead of a supply and demand pricing structure that we are used to with airlines and some train companies, Irish Rail offer three standard prices for each route.

I can never remember the cutoffs for each fare, so decided to write this post to refer to!

Low Fare - Four days

Low is the name of the cheapest fare on Irish Rail and you need to book this four days - specifically 96 hours - in advance.  There is a rolling cutoff on day four.

This fare does sell out on the most popular trains, so sometimes you need to book further in advance.  As you'd expect this fare has very limited flexibility.

Medium Fare - One day

The middle option is available up to 24 hours in advance of departure - with a rolling cutoff throughout the day.

Medium fares can also sell out, so sometimes you need to book further in advance.  This fare has limited flexibility.

Full Fare - One hour

The most expensive online fare is available until one hour before departure, and rarely sells out. This ticket can be amended up to 60 minutes before departure.

Brutal station prices

If you miss the one hour online cutoff - the station prices are shocking.  Instead of paying €17.39 online for this route, you will pay €31.65 at the station.

Even the helpful Irish Rail staff can't do anything to assist - both the ticket machines and the ticket counter only have these nasty prices available for sale.

When this happened to me recently, a staff member suggested I buy an online ticket for the next day and let me through the barrier without inserting in my ticket!

Departing from Northern Ireland

If you try and book a ticket departing from a station in Northern Ireland, the Irish Rail website shows you times and prices, but won't let you complete a purchase.  Iarnród Éireann will of course sell you a return ticket from the Republic to the North.

And good luck using the ugly Translink website!

Bottom Line

Don't miss the one hour deadline for online ticket sales.

Book 24 hours in advance for Medium fares.

Purchase 96 hours in advance for the cheapest tickets.

 

Aer Lingus reward availability

Aer Lingus has become notorious in recent years for constantly changing the rules on redeeming Avios - but without publicly disclosing what the rules are.

Whilst it's their currency and their rules, it would be nice if they actually told us how to play their game!

Since I was recently looking at flights between London and Ireland, I thought it would be useful to systematically look at what rules Aer Lingus has invented for each route - using a single flight to London to keep things simple.

Dublin - London

This is Aer Lingus most frequently served route with up to eleven flights a day from the Aer Lingus main base to Heathrow.

However, if you want to redeem your hard earned Avios in the next thirty days - hard luck.

But then it goes from famine to feast with 9 flights and 50 seats available for redemption on Wednesday 2nd December.

For context the Aer Lingus cash fares are also included.  There are lots of days where the airline will sell you flights for less than 60 euro - but won't allow you to redeem Avios.

Cork - London

With up to four flight per day from Cork to Heathrow, this is another Aer Lingus route with a lot of seats.  But the airline also operates a thirty day block on Avios redemptions on this route.

However on day 31 all four flights are available and at least 24 seats across the day.

The airline has cash fares available for as little as 70 euro in the next month - but you can't redeem your own Avios.

Ireland West Knock - London

Aer Lingus operates a single daily flight from County Mayo to Heathrow, but instead of the Dublin and Cork thirty day block, it looks something like a 12 day blackout period.  And then it's only Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for the following two weeks.  Only after 20 days do we see regular Avios availability.

Whilst cash fares can be as low as 72 euro on the dark days of mid November (plus 10 euro payable at the airport), Aer Lingus seem to operate specific rules on releasing Avios seats.

Shannon - London

Aer Lingus operates three daily flights (two on Saturdays), and if you live in the Limerick catchment area you have the best opportunity to redeem your Avios.  The airline seems to operate a seven day block on flights from Shannon to Heathrow.

Similar to Knock, it's Tuesdays and Wednesdays that get the most seats available.  And after 30 days almost every flight is available for Avios redemption.

Cash fares in the next week are as low as 69 euro - but Aer Lingus rules mean no redemptions.

Bonus: Dublin - Birmingham

Since Aer Lingus operate a mix of two mainline A320 family aircraft and four or five Emerald ATR aircraft on this route, it's worth checking out the reward release pattern.

Whilst you cannot fly from Dublin to London on Avios in the next 30 days, you can grab a seat to Birmingham in five days time!  Admittedly it's the painful 06:40 departure that is released on most days, but it's better than any other route we've seen.

There is however a 60 day block on most Emerald seats - they're not available until January.

Bonus 2: Dublin - Manchester

Since Aer Lingus operate a mix of three or four mainline A320 family aircraft and three or four Emerald ATR aircraft on this route, it's worth checking out the Manchester route.

In contrast to most of the Heathrow flights, you can fly on Avios to Manchester in a week's time - again it's mostly the painfully early 06:30 departure that is released.

There is however a 60 day block on most Emerald seats - they're not available until January.

Same day reservations

Aer Lingus does not allow same day Avios bookings. However British Airways often does have availability for same day reward travel.  And BA sometimes releases extra award seats a day before travel.  If you want to fly from Dublin to London tomorrow you have a choice of eight different British Airways flights - four to Heathrow and four to London City.

Conclusion

Aer Lingus have a 30 day block on Avios redemptions from Dublin and Cork to London. And a 60 day block on most Emerald flights.

The airline invents different rules for each route.

Aer Lingus needs to be honest with their customers, and publish the rules of the game.

Whilst redeeming points with most airlines is a matter of supply and demand - with Aer Lingus it's all about the rules they conjure up in HQ.

  

Low Cost Carrier Baggage Fees

I was genuinely shocked seeing the cost of an EasyJet hold luggage fee on a flight I was about to book, so thought it was worth looking at all the main Low Cost Carriers to see if they are just as bad!

Of course these fees depend on the length of the flight, and the time of year, and the way the wind is blowing - but this should still be directionally correct.

I'm using London to Paphos or Larnaca as my case study - since all the main European LCCs fly this route.  Or course all airlines are required to give you a personal item so I've ignored that for this comparison.

When you checkin you'll again be offered to add bags - both cabin and hold.  The prices may be higher or lower depending on the airline algorithms!

Skip to the table near the end for the money shot.

EasyJet

After selecting your flight you get three different bundle options.  These were the prices that seemed crazy expensive.

If you decline all the bundles and the seat selection you initially get the cabin bag option, and in the next screen you get the hold bag options.  These are still pretty crazy!

Ryanair

After choosing your flight you get three different bundles with a handy comparison table.  NB the Flexi Plus bundle does not include any hold luggage.

If you decline all the bundles, and skip the seat selection page, you then get to add a cabin bag or a hold bag.

Wizz Air

After struggling with the Wizz website I finally got it to offer up the bundles for a Larnaca flight.

And after declining the bundles you get the cabin and hold luggage options.  Wizz cabin wheelie price is remarkably decent and puts EasyJet to shame!

Jet2

Whilst Jet2 is primarily a holiday company, they also sell stand alone flights.  They include a 10kg cabin bag in all their fares (as well as a personal item) and don't offer bundles.

And instead of offering a range of hold bag weights - they have a more simple 22kg take it or leave it option!

British Airways

For completeness here's what British Airways bundles look like.

And after declining the bundles, here's their luggage option.  A single piece of luggage for this flight is more expensive than their Economy Plus bundle!

Comparison

Cabin Bag - whilst BA & Jet2 include them for free, Wizz price is best and EasyJet is worst.

Cabin Bundle - Wizz and EasyJet pricing looks wild compared to a cabin bag on it's own, whilst Ryanair looks less over priced.

Hold Bag - Ryanair have the best prices for 10kg and 20kg bags, whilst EasyJet pricing above 15kg is particularly punchy.

Hold Bundle - because EasyJet hold luggage pricing is so high, their bundle almost looks reasonable.  Wizz and Ryanair charge a similar premium for their hold bundle.

If you've got a 20kg hold bag it will cost you:

£40.99 with Ryanair

£43.25 with Wizz

£47.50 with Jet2

£48.99 with EasyJet

£52.00 with British Airways

Differentiation

We're used to the big supermarkets selling us slightly different sized versions of the same product to make it harder to compare prices. It's clear from the table above that airlines are now doing something similar with slightly different weights of hold luggage.

Conclusions

There is a huge difference in pricing between airlines. Jet2, BA & Wizz win on the hand luggage front, whilst there is no clear winner on the hold luggage side.

EasyJet really is sleazy in their pricing of both cabin bags and hold luggage.

Tenerife to La Palma

After last year's trip to El Hierro, this year we're planning to visit the larger island of La Palma.  We have already booked flights to Tenerife South Airport, and will spend the first night near the airport.  Last year we had a very pleasant day in San Isidro, just 10 minutes from TFS, before taking a ferry to El Hierro.

So now we're looking at how to get from Tenerife to La Palma.

There are two ferry operators.  Fred Olsen Express offer two departures from Los Cristianos - at 8.30am and 7pm for 60 euro per person each way.  With the port being about 40 minutes from San Isidro by bus and stroll, or 20 minutes by taxi - the earlier departure might be a challenge!

Armas Ferries are now owned by Balearia and they also have two departures - at 8am and 6.30pm and charge 64 euro per person each way.

There's also the option to fly with two airlines shuttling between the islands.

Binter have two daily flights from Tenerife South to La Palma departing at 9.25am and 6.50pm for 102 euro per person - including 20kg hold luggage and 8kg hand luggage.

Binter also have 14 daily flights from Tenerife North airport to La Palma with the last departures at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm & 10.15pm - for 92 euro per person including luggage.

The bus journey from San Isidro to TFN takes about 90 minutes including a change of bus in Santa Cruz. A taxi to TFN takes about 45 minutes.

Canary Fly also operate the route from Tenerife North to La Palma with 7.45am, 3.10pm & 5.10pm departures. The cheapest flight costs 52 euro per person when through their partner Air Europa.  Booking directly the prices start at 57 euro per person.

Both booking options include cabin and hold luggage - but Air Europa fares theoretically include 23kg of luggage whilst a direct booking includes 20kg.

Last January when we were departing El Hierro island all the flights to Tenerife were cancelled due to weather - and passengers were moved to the ferry. La Palma airport is further away from the mountains and has a much longer runway, so hopefully is less impacted by weather.

Decision Time

Ferry or Fly ... early or late ?

  

London to Birmingham Airport

When flights from London's six airports are expensive, my first choice alternatives are Birmingham and Southampton airports.  Although cheap flights out of Liverpool are often too attractive to turn down, and I recently flew out of Leeds Bradford.

I've written posts about getting to Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Heathrow - by bus, tube and train.  And since I'm currently on a train to Birmingham International, I thought it was worth a post as well.

Train operator choice

The great thing about getting to Birmingham Airport from London is that you have a choice of operators.  Whilst Avanti West Coast will speed you from Euston station to Birmingham International station in just over an hour, you also have the slower London Northwestern Railway option. If you have the patience for a two hour journey, you can save a lot of money.

These options are for a weekday daytime booked around 48 hours in advance.

If you have a travelcard you may save even more, and with a Network Railcard most ticket sellers will check whether two tickets are cheaper.

If you want to see more cheap London Northwestern options, it's worth checking their own website, and clicking on the Our Trains toggle box.

I look at which train gets into Birmingham International an hour before my flight departs (I'm usually flying out at quieter times), and then take the train before that in case of cancellations.  Your risk tolerance may be different!  One time the whole line was closed, so I couldn't get to BHX in time - but that can happen travelling to London airports as well.

Sometimes it's cheaper getting to Birmingham Airport, and even Liverpool Airport, than it is on the Express train to Stansted or Luton.

And when booking a train from Birmingham back to London the off peak single (more flexibility for a late arrival) on LNR is usually reasonably priced.

Birmingham SkyRail

Once you exit the barriers at Birmingham International train station, you turn right for the NEC and turn left for the airport.

The little people mover gives a frequent service and takes under two minutes to get to the airport terminal.

Or if the weather is fair the walk is less than 10 minutes - although you don't get any aeroplane views.

Only once when I've used BHX has the people mover been out of action - but the airport provided a bus replacement service.

Once you're in the main terminal there are a decent number of shops - including an M&S and a Greggs between the far check in desks and the arrivals section.  It's worth having a look around if you have time and are in the mood.

And Birmingham security machines have all been upgraded and no longer have the dreaded 100ml limit - which makes life easier for departing passengers.  If you're departing at a very busy time, then Fast Track security is available for a pretty reasonable £7 fee.

Conclusion

If you like a cheap rail journey, then the slow train to Birmingham might be for you.

Just be aware that you probably won't be able to get a train in time for an early departure from BHX - although I'm not a fan of first wave flights, so it's not really an issue for me!

  

Aer Lingus status by flight segments

Whilst Aer Lingus do not offer status directly via flight segments, they work out the numbers for you via their four different Fare Types.

Even though Aer Lingus is owned by IAG - the parent company of British Airways and Iberia - it is not part of the Oneworld alliance.

Aer Lingus status only gets you benefits directly on American Airlines and British Airways.  And these benefits are limited to "on the day" - no advance seat selection, even for top tier Aer Lingus members.

Aer Lingus Silver is a bit like Oneworld Ruby - but without seat selection.

Aer Lingus Platinum is a bit like Oneworld Sapphire - but without seat selection.

Aer Lingus Concierge is a bit like Oneworld Emerald - but without seat selection.

I previously looked at how to earn OneWorld status via segments on different airlines.

The headline from that analysis is that you can achieve Oneworld Ruby with 14 segments, Sapphire with 30 segments and Emerald with 46 segments.

Aer Lingus sort of equivalents of 21, 41 and 71 do not sound very attractive.

Nice try, but no cigar!

Leeds Bradford Airport - trip report

I enjoy comparing and contrasting different airports, and having never experienced Yorkshire's finest ... when the price was right ... last week I took a flight from Leeds Bradford to Dublin.

The trip started with a cancelled train from London to Leeds ... which meant that the next LNER service half an hour later was standing room only.  LNER tip - they have half a carriage of unreserved seating with green dots above the seats, if you get there early.  For the rest of us, it was an hour standing, before getting a seat for the final 80 minutes.

Leeds station itself is an impressive affair, with a huge train shed design, and plenty of retail outlets.  It's also a more manageable size than the enormous Birmingham New Street station.

A1 Flyer by Transdev

After enjoying a wander around Leeds city centre, I made my way over to the bus station - which is impressively large.  But that's the only superlative that one could use about this bus station!  It was unpleasantly hot on the relatively cold and damp afternoon, and there was a lot of security to deal with some of the difficult people hanging out.

I was in the bus station to catch the A1 Flyer to the airport.  All the A1 buses seem to go from bay 13 in the station.  You just tap your Contactless card and the next day a £2.50 charge appears - you can't buy a ticket before boarding.

But if you're catching the A1 I'd advise avoiding the bus station. The stops at Trinity N and Station B are convenient for the city centre.  And the bus that I caught was still fairly empty after the Trinity stop - it was only at the Station stop that it started to get busier.

The A1 Flyer bus itself is well setup, with decent seats and USB power for every passenger.  They also have a nice colour information display and announce every stop.

The drive out to the airport is pleasant with a mix of Leeds suburbs, neighbouring villages and proper countryside.  There's currently roadworks shortly before the airport which adds about 10 minutes to the scheduled journey time.

First Impressions

There are also a lot of building works at the airport itself, so the entrance is rather underwhelming!

The check in area at LBA reminded me a bit of Heathrow T3 with the limited headroom giving it an underground parking lot vibe.

Security

The security area was busy on a Friday afternoon with signs indicating a 15 minute wait for normal security and five minutes for fast track - which was probably about right.  It would have been quicker if the airport had opened all four security machines rather than just operating three - one for fast track and two for the rest of us plebs.

There were four loading bays for each security machine.  In most airports security staff tell you when to push your tray forwards and it can get heated when staff get angry with passengers! But at LBA the staff have long sticks and they pull forward your tray, via an intermediate row that I've never seen in any other airport.  It seemed to work, and was calmer than other airports.

My bag got pulled for extra screening, but thankfully the security staff were quick to deal with secondaries.  In fact they handed my bag over straight away without further scrutiny - something about the image not having loaded properly.

Terminal

And so to the main terminal area.  Initially you enter the older part of the airport, and it's really showing its age.  Lots of buckets collecting leakages.  The only interesting part is the bar, which unfortunately looks out over the car park (and building site) rather than over the runway.

After that it's on to the posh part as I heard one flyer describe it to a friend.  You have to keep walking through to find the newer part, but it really is worth it.  There's lots more food options, and just before you get to Burger King, on the right hand side, tucked into a corner there's actually a water fountain!

On the afternoon that I used the airport there wasn't much seating available - but hopefully this will improve when the rest of the building works are completed.  Even in the newer section there wasn't much in the way of power sockets - so make sure you bring a spare battery for your phone.

My flight was over an hour late boarding, so I had plenty of time to wander from one end of the airport to the other.  It's really not very big, so it's easy enough to find your way around.

Eventually my boarding gate was announced, and it was at the far end of the airport in the annex gates, accessed through a strange outdoor corridor.

Conclusion

Would I use Leeds Bradford Airport again?  Probably not.

If you want to try out LBA you need to leave plenty of time for train delays, and bus delays, and bag drop queues and security queues.  And if the new part of the airport is anything to go by, even after the building work finishes it won't be a particularly impressive structure.

But am I glad I made a trip to Yorkshire to experience a new airport?  Absolutely.