Transiting Dublin Airport

[GROUNDHOG]

I will soon be arriving on a flight from Canada (Air Canada) and transiting to Aer Lingus regional DUB/NQY. I have a transit time of one and a half hours.
As a UK citizen I am slightly confused as to whether I can just stay airside and avoid entering Europe or whether there is a terminal change involved?
Appreciate any advice and confirmation an hour and a half should be enough time.
Thanks

[Asturias56]

You stay airside

Sometimes they drop you off at the weird little terminal out on it's own and you have to walk through and get a bus to the main terminal but it's all straightforward

90 minutes should be plenty if you arrive on time - it's not Schipol or LHR

[FGE319]

From quite old experience, you'll enter the CTA with your passport (but can stay airside) and then will enter the UK on your 'domestic' flight (a little like Schengen-Schengen).

You'll need a UK PLF, not sure if you still need one for Ireland or not.

[Una Due Tfc]

No PLF required for Ireland, it was done away with to facilitate Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Groundhog, when you get off the AC flight in Terminal 1 keep a sharp eye out for the “flight connections” signs and just follow them. You’ll remain airside. The EI regional flights used to all depart from remote stands in T1 also when Stobart operated them, I assume now Emerald have taken over they use the same stands.

[Asturias56]

the biggest problem is not getting lost in the vast duty free

[GROUNDHOG]

Thanks Everyone
Great help.
We cannot check our baggage right through so assume can still collect it at Dublin and stay airside as normal. We normally drive from Cornwall to Heathrow to make fairly regular trips to Vancouver but to soon be able to fly NQY/DUB cuts out that long drive and the fares in business class were way cheaper!
Haven't been to Dublin for over 20 years, remember it as being a great place.

[Nightstop]

In my experience, Dublin Flight Connections is useless. I had to clear Immigration inbound and then security outbound, nearly missed my onward flight due horrendous security queues. Your timescale in transit is inadequate. How do you expect to collect your baggage and stay airside? Dream on.

[GROUNDHOG]

In my experience, Dublin Flight Connections is useless. I had to clear Immigration inbound and then security outbound, nearly missed my onward flight due horrendous security queues. Your timescale in transit is inadequate. How do you expect to collect your baggage and stay airside? Dream on.
That is the reason I asked the question Nighstop I don't know. I have certainly been to airports in the past where you can do exactly that.

[S.o.S.]

Nightstop I don't think 'dream on' is needed. You might have said "In my experience .." You've been in the forum long enough to know.

[Una Due Tfc]

That is the reason I asked the question Nighstop I don't know. I have certainly been to airports in the past where you can do exactly that.

Okay, if you can't through check your bags then you might have to go landside, not certain. If that's the case you need to walk over to terminal 2, as that's where Aer Lingus check in is. Then you'll go through security, get airside and have to walk back to T1 airside.

[GROUNDHOG]

Nightstop I don't think 'dream on' is needed. You might have said "In my experience .." You've been in the forum long enough to know.
Thanks I did find it mildly offensive.

[GROUNDHOG]

Okay, if you can't through check your bags then you might have to go landside, not certain. If that's the case you need to walk over to terminal 2, as that's where Aer Lingus check in is. Then you'll go through security, get airside and have to walk back to T1 airside.
Thanks for the advice.

[Speed_Alive_V1]

You'll probably land early as most east bound flights into Dublin benefit from the prevailingly easterly jetstream. You'd be unlucky to get a day where it won't get you there about 40 mins early.

[GROUNDHOG]

You'll probably land early as most east bound flights into Dublin benefit from the prevailingly easterly jetstream. You'd be unlucky to get a day where it won't get you there about 40 mins early.
That would be great thanks for the tip.

[ROKNA]

If your luggage is not checked through
Out through passport control, collect bags, customs, land side, walk the link T1 to T2, check in, security, gate.There is NO other way

Dublin flight connections is ONLY available on ticketed connections no self connection (Ryanair won't pay for the facility) so even if you had hand luggage only you might be turned back. That said AC and EI have interline agreements so you should have been able to purchase a connecting ticket and checked luggage to destination.

[SpringHeeledJack]

As long as you are reasonably fit, the walk is well within your capabilities and a good 'system purge' after 10hrs in the air. I would double check to see if there is the possibility of checking your hold luggage through as you are simply transiting through DUB. Perhaps you should check if there is the possibility of passenger assistance from either AC or EI whilst transiting DUB, it might speed up the process.

[SWBKCB]

If your luggage is not checked through, Out through passport control, collect bags, customs, land side, walk the link T1 to T2, check in, security, gate.There is NO other way

Dublin flight connections is ONLY available on ticketed connections no self connection (Ryanair won't pay for the facility) so even if you had hand luggage only you might be turned back. That said AC and EI have interline agreements so you should have been able to purchase a connecting ticket and checked luggage to destination.

I think this is the key issue - are you connecting through Dublin (single ticket, bags checked through) or taking one flight in to Dublin (collecting your baggage, clearing immigration) and then taking another flight out (checking in, through security)

[rog747]

Thanks Everyone
Great help.
We cannot check our baggage right through so assume can still collect it at Dublin and stay airside as normal. We normally drive from Cornwall to Heathrow to make fairly regular trips to Vancouver but to soon be able to fly NQY/DUB cuts out that long drive and the fares in business class were way cheaper!
Haven't been to Dublin for over 20 years, remember it as being a great place.

You may find that when you check in for AC flight to DUB that as EI and AC have an Interline agreement if you ask the check-in agent nicely to check all your bags right through to NQY you may find that he/she can do this for you and give your boarding cards for DUB-NQY -
Even if you are on a seperate ticket for the DUB-NQY sector I have found that on legacy airlines it is still often doable for them.
This would then allow you to use the DUB Flight Connections.

Good luck - it's worked for me plenty of times. - and when your board your small plane to NQY ask the ground crew if your I/L bags made it OK - chances are you will see the trolley by the plane anyway with your bags sitting on it.

If they (AC) really cannot check your luggage right through to NQY then yes, you will have to clear Irish Immigration, collect your bags then go through Customs and make your way to the Domestic Terminal check in.

Edit -
Thing is - I'm thinking if you arrive NQY, you would just walk straight off a DUB flight, no UK Border immigration, - so if you remain in the DUB flight transfer connections then how are you ''cleared'' from Canada into the UK>?
Eire (EU) to UK is an 'open border' so no passport checks - BUT you are coming from Canada,
Just a thought...

[GROUNDHOG]

You may find that when you check in for AC flight to DUB that as EI and AC have an Interline agreement if you ask the check-in agent nicely to check all your bags right through to NQY you may find that he/she can do this for you and give your boarding cards for DUB-NQY -
Even if you are on a seperate ticket for the DUB-NQY sector I have found that on legacy airlines it is still often doable for them.
This would then allow you to use the DUB Flight Connections.

Good luck - it's worked for me plenty of times. - and when your board your small plane to NQY ask the ground crew if your I/L bags made it OK - chances are you will see the trolley by the plane anyway with your bags sitting on it.

If they (AC) really cannot check your luggage right through to NQY then yes, you will have to clear Irish Immigration, collect your bags then go through Customs and make your way to the Domestic Terminal check in.

Edit -
Thing is - I'm thinking if you arrive NQY, you would just walk straight off a DUB flight, no UK Border immigration, - so if you remain in the DUB flight transfer connections then how are you ''cleared'' from Canada into the UK>?
Eire (EU) to UK is an 'open border' so no passport checks - BUT you are coming from Canada,
Just a thought...
Thanks all very interesting.
My route is actually YCD/YVR/YYZ/DUB/NQY I might make it but bags checked all the way I would probably never see them again or should I be more confident in the system:)

[rog747]

Er, yeah that's a LOT of trust in Interlining your baggage all the way home - LOL

Well if you did do it and they don't arrive in NQY then the EI handling agents lost luggage desk at NQY has to create a PIR and give you a lost luggage ref.
Then you have to call your Travel Insurance when you get home within 7 days to report the loss.....But chances are you will get the bags delivered to your home within a few days, or worst case is one or more bags is lost for evermore...

I actually just tried to call NQY Airport and HM Border Force there to ask about your 'Clearance' scenario - but sadly no one could give me an answer, just went around in circles, not even Border Force as there are no flights in at the mo.

I find this incredulous they do not know the answers as both NQY and EXT airports are bannering adverts to use the new EI DUB flights to connect with the 'New World' -
However, there is plenty of clear info about the Outward U.S. pre-clearance at DUB but nothing about returning to the UK via DUB and how one has to do it....

I'll keep digging....

[Asturias56]

In my experience you're far more likely to lose the bags in the Canadian part of the trip...............

rog747 is correct - often airlines will route your bags through if you ask nicely - don't try it if it involves a LCC tho'

[rog747]

There I think are direct flights from YCD to YYZ>? or is it seasonal

[DuncanDoenitz]

Slightly off-topic, but Mrs DD and I took a direct flights from/to Dublin in November and found everyone, particularly the security staff, to be the among nicest and most helpful of any we have met anywhere.

[GROUNDHOG]

There I think are direct flights from YCD to YYZ>? or is it seasonal
Indeed there are but the timings are wrong for connections and going via YVR means the 4 hour flight in business is a pod rather than just a seat.
​​​​​​It was also the only way I managed to get fare below half the normal cost
Really appreciate your investigations thanks.

[Una Due Tfc]

I’ve never flown to NQY but in all the other UK airports I’ve never had to go through immigration on arrival from Ireland as you entered the CTA in Ireland and therefore no need to check again. Customs might be a different matter post full Brexit implementation though, due COVID I haven’t entered mainland Britain since 2019.

[ROKNA]

I’ve never flown to NQY but in all the other UK airports I’ve never had to go through immigration on arrival from Ireland as you entered the CTA in Ireland and therefore no need to check again. Customs might be a different matter post full Brexit implementation though, due COVID I haven’t entered mainland Britain since 2019.

Everyone making a connection or arriving into Dublin passes through Irish passport control, even if connecting off a domestic/CTA flight (I know thats a bit strange but its how things work), UK + EU + US + CA origin passengers do not need to reclear security if arriving into T2 itself, but do if coming in via T1

As you are arriving from outside the UK, standard customs formalities red/green challenge apply, in reality its the same as it always has been

[GROUNDHOG]

Thanks again everyone!

[Consol]

I will soon be arriving on a flight from Canada (Air Canada) and transiting to Aer Lingus regional DUB/NQY. I have a transit time of one and a half hours.
As a UK citizen I am slightly confused as to whether I can just stay airside and avoid entering Europe or whether there is a terminal change involved?
Appreciate any advice and confirmation an hour and a half should be enough time.
Thanks
You would be entering Europe anyway. NQY, UK is located in Europe.

[GROUNDHOG]

You would be entering Europe anyway. NQY, UK is located in Europe.
Brexit..... Its hard enough convincing the locals NQY is in England:O

[rog747]

I have just seen on another site that there is Passport Control in DUB Transfers/flight connections and arriving from YYZ you will clear Irish immigration there (EU), which then of course gives you open access to fly from DUB-NQY which has ''no border'' as such > aka 'Common Travel Area'

As for your luggage if you hang onto it until Toronto YYZ then ask there to check it through to NQY and you may get a result.
Ask them also if they can issue your DUB-NQY boarding cards as well.

In 2012 Air Canada and Aer Lingus Signs Interline Agreement and is pleased to interline with Aer Lingus as it will complement our Toronto-Dublin seasonal service to make it easy to fly year-round between Canada and Ireland via convenient connections through to London Heathrow Airport, and UK regional airports from Air Canada's largest international station YYZ. We intend to follow through with other measures, including a full code share relationship with Aer Lingus.

It seems-
No PLF or Covid Tests needed to enter Eire.
UK GOV says no PLF needed if flying in from Eire.

[GROUNDHOG]

Thanks so much rog747 a great help!

[Luckybo]

Slightly off-topic, but Mrs DD and I took a direct flights from/to Dublin in November and found everyone, particularly the security staff, to be the among nicest and most helpful of any we have met anywhere.
I confirm that. I had a flight in January and the experience with the staff was the best I ever had

[GROUNDHOG]

To close the op we landed four hours late at DUB from YYZ, spent two hours in baggage hall searching for our now lost baggage and missed our NQY connection with no further flights available for 2 days.
Aer Lingus were very good and put us on a BRS flight, itself delayed by several hours, then cost us £350 for a taxi BRS/NQY at midnight.
What the percentage chances are of ever seeing our baggage again I would love to know but observing the sea of cases spread across the floor in DUB my expectations are low. I suspect the bags were lost in YYZ.
Respect to the staff at DUB handling some of those rude and arrogant passengers, difficult times indeed.

[rog747]

Did you as I suggested hang on to your bags as far as YYZ then reclaim them there and then re-check in for DUB>?

[GROUNDHOG]

HI rog747, remembered your advice and tried but AC wouldn't do that, said they had to be checked right through YCD/YVR/YYZ/DUB or checked to YVR then again to YYZ etc and there was no time in connecting to do that.. One of the bags just arrived back here to our home, it came from Dublin via Manchester so the other one which is the important one is pretty likely to be somewhere in Dublin too. It was shambolic when we arrived with baggage on the wrong belts and strewn all over the floor, bikes, buggies, surfboards etc.
If I could find someone at Dublin could locate the bag, I would happily pay them a reward!

[kpd]

Dublin baggage is sadly a nightmare - would probably work on the assumption you wont see it again unfortunately. Even people with air tags who actually know where their bags are are not being allowed to go and get them as bags are airside

[Nightstop]

And so, it came to pass, the dream turned into a nightmare QED.

[GROUNDHOG]

Just out of interest are unclaimed bags sold off or just destroyed, on top of the bag inside is a big sign with our e mail, phone number and reward offer so maybe somewhen in the future.....!
If they are just destroyed so be it, big insurance claim coming up!

[rog747]

Just out of interest are unclaimed bags sold off or just destroyed, on top of the bag inside is a big sign with our e mail, phone number and reward offer so maybe some when in the future.....!
If they are just destroyed so be it, big insurance claim coming up!

With luck your 2nd bag will show up soon -

Rule of thumb with Lost Luggage is that you must report the loss to your Travel Insurance Co. within 7 days -
So if you have not yet then I suggest you speak to them PDQ - You have your PIR ref to quote.

Also if you have an amount of Cover added on for ''all risks, aka away from the home'' on your Home Contents Policy then you are also covered for lost luggage on there.

The airline will pay (you may have to lean on them) your unrecoverable losses such as the Taxi and the Policy Excess and any out of pocket expenses.
If you paid for your air ticket on a Credit Card you also may have some clout for a Section 75 charge back claim.

[GROUNDHOG]

Cheers Rog747, once again a constructive and helpful reply. Not holding my breath but you never know, Air Canada are notorious for not paying up but I have three other options if I get nowhere with them. Paid on Amex so that is one,.I can be very persistent. Time will now tell.

[GROUNDHOG]

And so, it came to pass, the dream turned into a nightmare QED.
But a voice did appear from the East, Swindon actually and he did say "Fear not you are inconvenienced I shall cross your palm with gold to compensate your suffering, we do this NATIONWIDE so how much would thou like". No sooner than the voice had uttered a miracle known as the man from DHL did appear with a bag, "This I believe is yours it cometh from Glasgow" its travelling companion though had not been so lucky and was still in the wilderness known as Dublin Airport.
Time passed and again a voice appeared "This is Newquay Airport, we have a strange bag here, don't know how it got here or why but think it may be yours" And lo and behold it was ours and tomorrow assuming he doesn't get lost on the A30 another man from DHL shall deliver it!
All is well that ends well and the moral of this story is if it can get lost it will and do get yourself a Nationwide Flex Plus account, their service is brilliant if you need to make a claim on breakdown or travel insurance and it is much more cost effective than paying for it
Special thanks to Rog747!