Flights to Dublin from the UK
Whether you’re a fan of literary giants James Joyce and George Bernard Shaw or of Bono and his U2 crew, Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, is a city well worth a visit. Dublin is a mecca for both business travellers and fun-seekers. It’s a popular spot for stag and hen weekends, or to enjoy the big football or rugby match.
Families also flock to Dublin, and children are welcome just about everywhere. You can marvel at the intricate illuminated manuscript in the centuries-old Book of Kells at Trinity College, or make a pilgrimage to the Guinness Brewery, which is appropriately shaped like a pint glass.
Summertime sees the most visitors to Dublin. Mild temperatures beckon, usually ranging from 60F/15C to 70F/20C. Holiday periods, like Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) are also popular.
Travellers from nearly every corner of the UK can easily fly to Dublin. Flying time is generally about an hour, and there are prices and schedules to suit any occasion, from a last-minute business trip to a weekend getaway. Here are some basics on some of the airlines that service Dublin:
Aer Lingus – www.aerlingus.com
The national airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus has competitive prices to Dublin. Although not considered to be a budget airline, Aer Lingus sometimes offers fares listed as free, depending on dates and time of booking.
However, although the fare itself is free, there are additional charges, such as taxes, administration fees, baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding. For example, a round trip between London/Heathrow and Dublin on a no-cost fare in May actually cost GBP 72.85 when these costs were figured in.
Aer Lingus has service to Dublin from: Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster/Sheffield, Durham Tees Vally, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, London/Gatwick, London/Heathrow and Manchester.
Some flights are operated by commuter airline, Aer Arann. Aer Lingus handles their bookings via their web site, except for flights from Derry and the Isle of Man, which can be booked on their own site: www.aerarann.com/ Service from most cities is daily, but subject to change.
Ryanair – www.ryanair.com
Ryanair caters to the budget-minded traveller. It’s best to check their web site frequently, as they have special sales for very limited amounts of time. Periodically, like Aer Lingus, you can find fares listed at no cost. But again, be aware of the additional taxes and service charges.
Ryanair flies to Dublin from: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London/Luton, London/Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Service from most cities is daily, but subject to change.
Flybe: www.flybe.com
Flybe offers an additional class of service, Economy Plus, which caters to the business traveller. Fares are higher, but they do not charge for seat selection, the first checked bag or carry-on bags. Economy Plus passengers receive priority check-in at the airport, and complimentary drinks and snacks on board.
Flybe offers service to Dublin from: Exeter, Guernsey, Jersey, and Southampton. They also have seasonal service from Inverness from late June through September.
So as you can see, there are many flying options from all corners of the UK to Dublin. Whether you’re going for a long weekend or that big conference, you should have plenty of flights to choose from. Just be sure to check with the airline directly, as changes to fares and schedules are frequent and sudden for flights to Dublin.