Hello,
We have an AerLingus flight out of Dublin to Paris at 6:30 am. Will be need to be at the Dublin airport by 3:30 am for this flight as we would flying from the States to Europe? We are attending a concert in Dublin the night before and I am beginning to consider staying at an airport hotel if this is the case. If we must be at the airport by 3:30 am, I am concerned about finding public/private transportation to DUB in the wee hours. Thank you for your help.
Posted by
Green Bay
20250 posts
The scheduled bus between the airport and points in central Dublin runs 24-7.
http://www.aircoach.ie/timetables/route-700-dublin-airport-dublin-city-centre
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Airports rarely have much staff before 5:00 and I think that's about when I'd get there, unless the airline has suggested earlier. Looks like you'll fly from Terminal 2. I have not used this airport recently, however.
Posted by
OP
Dover, Arkansas, USA
46 posts
Thank y'all so much for the valuable information.
Posted by
Granite Bay, CA
1918 posts
I can not advise you because I really don' the answer, but years ago we flew Rome to Munich early in the morning. I think we arrived two hours before and no one was there, even employees! I was so surprised to find the ticket/baggage counter empty. It took quite some time before people started showing up. We were shocked!
Posted by
San Diego
18 posts
www.maldronhoteldublinairport.com
or
Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin Airport
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Sorry, but with the current heightened security at European airports, nobody should be suggesting that you only leave 1.5 hours to check in when 3 hours is recommended. At that time of day, if you have checked in online, you should be OK with 2 hours, but you risk missing your flight if you cut it too short. I allow 1.5 hours for European flights having checked in online. The American government demands that airlines run more checks, hence the longer check in.
There were 22 flights out of Dublin before 6.30 this morning and it's only early April, not August! There will be plenty of staff at the airport.
Grab a local hotel and enjoy the concert.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
So, Jennifer, it sounds like you are supporting 1.5 hours in this case, since Judi is flying from Dublin to Paris, not to the USA. In another post, she says that they won't be checking baggage.
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5836 posts
I can't speak to Dubin but have taken my share of early morning flights. As Laura suggest, airline counters for some first flights of the day may not open until an hour or 1.5 hours ahead of departure.
I was told to arrive 1.5 hours ahead of a local domestic flight departing at 6:00 AM. Arrived a bit before 4:30 AM to find that the counter didn't open until 4:00.
On the other had, I had a Venice VCE 7:00 AM departure, got to the airport about 5:30 or 5:45, got my boarding pass from the automatic machine and found myself in front of a large crowd queuing for the machine. Helps to be just ahead of the crowd if it's a popular flight departure time frame. Checked my baggage and got to the gate with plenty of time to eat my sack breakfast. (Breakfasts was included at our hotel and they were kind to pack us a sack breakfast in light of the pre-dawn hour of our departure).