BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Belfast, Ireland
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It would be great to see APD go but I really don`t think it makes much difference as Cork and Shannon airports face the same issue as Belfast`s airports and they don`t have APD.
The ease of access to Dublin airport due to the opening of the motorway network in the last decade is the real issue. I regularly drive from Belfast to Dublin airport in 75 mins.
The ease of access to Dublin airport due to the opening of the motorway network in the last decade is the real issue. I regularly drive from Belfast to Dublin airport in 75 mins.
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Quiet spot
Age: 74
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Shrinking Ireland?
Yes agree the motorway opening has made use of Dublin airport so much easier to travel quickly to for folk in 'Norn Iron' and I'm sure has helped tourism in general on the Island of Ireland.
The absence of UK/APD and provision of U.S. Pre-clearance certainly promotes Dublin as a very attractive departure choice across the Island.
On the subject of choice we have appreciated the services provided by Aer Lingus ex Georgie Best Airport let's hope they are left in place by Big Airways.
The absence of UK/APD and provision of U.S. Pre-clearance certainly promotes Dublin as a very attractive departure choice across the Island.
On the subject of choice we have appreciated the services provided by Aer Lingus ex Georgie Best Airport let's hope they are left in place by Big Airways.
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: belfast
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To be honest, US pre clearance has never been an issue for me and almost everyone I talk to don't really care. It always comes down to price.
I was having an interesting conversation with two colleagues today that went to trailfinders to book holidays to the US (one to vegas and one to new york). When they sat down to go through the options they were 1) hard sold one hotel and 2) were never given an option of the United flight from belfast. Instead it was united or delta from Dublin (obviously with a connection on to Vegas).
Has anyone else ever came across this issue? I'll be honest I book all my own travel through expedia so I know what the real options are.
Also, as a side note I geeked out a little and looked on expedia for them and the belfast flight via ewr was a bit cheaper
I was having an interesting conversation with two colleagues today that went to trailfinders to book holidays to the US (one to vegas and one to new york). When they sat down to go through the options they were 1) hard sold one hotel and 2) were never given an option of the United flight from belfast. Instead it was united or delta from Dublin (obviously with a connection on to Vegas).
Has anyone else ever came across this issue? I'll be honest I book all my own travel through expedia so I know what the real options are.
Also, as a side note I geeked out a little and looked on expedia for them and the belfast flight via ewr was a bit cheaper
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southampton
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Expedia are not that cheap as there are better deals to be had, once upon a time Expedia was the first site most would use but I definitely don't think that's the case now.
There are several sites on the Internet that are good and far cheaper than Expedia which I always used until I found cheaper deals elsewhere although personally I always book flights direct on the airlines websites especially as I don't do package holidays, I tend to use my Avios with BA which is the majority of the time either on flights or flights and hotels combined.
Booking.com: 704,223 hotels worldwide. 52+ million hotel reviews. in my opinion is by far the best online hotel booking site though.
Off to Madrid on Sunday for 4 days, my third short break in 4 weeks after 3 days in France and 4 days in Barcelona during July.
SEAN
There are several sites on the Internet that are good and far cheaper than Expedia which I always used until I found cheaper deals elsewhere although personally I always book flights direct on the airlines websites especially as I don't do package holidays, I tend to use my Avios with BA which is the majority of the time either on flights or flights and hotels combined.
Booking.com: 704,223 hotels worldwide. 52+ million hotel reviews. in my opinion is by far the best online hotel booking site though.
Off to Madrid on Sunday for 4 days, my third short break in 4 weeks after 3 days in France and 4 days in Barcelona during July.
SEAN
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Belfast
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For hotels trivago is a great comparison site and then I always check gala hotels.com as they always end up cheaper again. For flights, start with sky scanner and go from there, I got the best deal on a flight to Helsinki the other week with mytrip.com
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
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All depends what you want and when - sometimes Expedia is the cheapest, or the deals on topcashback/nectar make it a better deal. For next year I've found sunshine.co.uk cheapest for accommodation by far, and very often travel republic.co.uk. For flights with full service carriers sometimes opodo is cheaper than anyone, cheaper than airlines website.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ballymena
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I have spoken to lots of people who were using Dublin where a service also existed from Belfast e,g London. When I asked why, they couldn't give a reason as to why they were not supporting the local airports. Some had been booked via travel agents, but they didn't query why they were using Dublin rather than Belfast. There was just an air of indifference to the question. So if we don't support existing routes, what chance have we for new ones. Also shows the weakness we have in not having one stronger airport here to fight its corner, but were are not allowed to discuss that.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
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We'll have to see what the future brings. There definitely is demand for euro routes from here, hence the number of connecting pax and people using Dub. IAG may the one with Vueling, and I think some expansion of Wizzair could be possible given the success this time round. Slowly slowly catchy monkey
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Last edited by mart901; 2nd Aug 2015 at 16:57. Reason: correcting
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
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Travel agents
I can honestly say I've experienced the "we have a much wider program available from Dublin" from travel agents, most recently Thomson, and advised how quick and easy it is to get there. I do think more could be done with our existing services also, the expense of connections with BA and KLM is crazy, another carrier or two into some different euro hubs would liven things up. There is always a risk of sounding very them and us but there is a principle in all this of supporting the local economy, taxes going into here and a whole list of other things. If you think what it would do for our economy to have more direct services into European cities, cost and convenience matter greatly in business.
I can honestly say I've experienced the "we have a much wider program available from Dublin" from travel agents, most recently Thomson, and advised how quick and easy it is to get there. I do think more could be done with our existing services also, the expense of connections with BA and KLM is crazy, another carrier or two into some different euro hubs would liven things up. There is always a risk of sounding very them and us but there is a principle in all this of supporting the local economy, taxes going into here and a whole list of other things. If you think what it would do for our economy to have more direct services into European cities, cost and convenience matter greatly in business.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
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Agree Mart901, I have found similar, and although DUB has a greater range of destinations I always try to fly from Belfast airports. However I can fully understand If people live on the south side of Belfast that DUB is just as handy, but I have a one hour drive further north. Yes support local economy if possible
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
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United Airlines now Year-Round
United Airlines have just released that they will be operating year round at BFS no more stopping from 6th Jan to March anymore! Good news!
http://www.belfastairport.com/en/new...er-months.html
http://www.belfastairport.com/en/new...er-months.html