Can anyone tell me about Aer Lingus?

So, I'm just about to buy my plane ticket for May 2 to May 23rd, Boston>Dublin>London, and I'm doing so through Aer Lingus. Total cost is nothing to complain about. I'm a bit nervous because I've never had to get off a plane and go on another. (Both planes will be through Aer Lingus though) Can anyone tell me their own experience with this airline? How is the airport in Dublin? Is it confusing at all? I'm figuring all I do is follow the signs like you usually do. Do you grab your bag(s) and then go through security all over again just to put them on a different plane?

I'm kinda confused about what goes down. I'm making it so my layover will be about two hours, which is the longest I could find, god willing, I'll make it through Irish immigration without an issue to hold me up. If anyone could give me their experience with Dublin airport I'll be very interested to hear.

Just an FYI - you might want to reconsider going through Dublin. Consider that you're going to be actively evading UK Immigration Control and you're limited to the time that you're stamped in by Irish Immigration, which means you cannot stay longer than 3 months.

Just a myriad of issues that come into play...

Have you had issues with UK Immigration previously?

The OP has put this question in the travel section and has stated that she's coming to the UK for 21 days, so I gather that this is just a normal visit. Therefore she is not "actively evading" immigration control by choosing a cheaper fare.

I have flown to London via Dublin. Unfortunately it was 7 years ago so my memory is not great. What I do remember is that getting from the international arrivals section over to the area where my connecting flight departed from was not the easiest and it involved walking down many narrow corridors. I made the connection though and things may have changed in that time. Sorry I cannot be more helpful!

I've been through Irish immigration multiple times and it's no better or worse IMHO than any other immigration service. When I arrived into Dublin on my way to London, my passport was stamped with "I/T London" (In transit).

I am one of the people who arrived on my visa through Dublin and went on to successfully receive my ILR last year. Whilst it CAN be abused, not every person who is doing that route IS doing so. I think it's fine to gently make people aware that this entry method has it's potential pitfalls, but I think accusing normal visitors of "actively evading" immigration and telling them to choose another, more expensive flight is a bit OTT.

 

Big fan of Aer Lingus! The planes on the Boston-Dublin route are new, good entertainment, staff are very friendly, food not bad for economy class at all!

Dublin airport is not huge, but big enough.  You will go through immigration in Dublin and as Courtney says, will mark "I/T" on your stamp.  I found the immgiration officials fine, nothing mean or too friendly about them. 

I can't remember from last time, but I think my bag was checked all the way through, but you can ask in Boston what you'll need to do.   

Ah! PB's post triggered me. My bags, (and I had 6 because at the time they had very generous/reasonably priced excess baggage fees) were checked all the way through to London. All arrived intact. 

I've flown with Aer Lingus several times (Chicago-Dublin-Glasgow).  

Your bags won't be a problem.  They're checked through, though consider how much carry-on baggage you'll have, because there's a lot of security to go through at Dublin.  You have to go through security when you get off the plane, as well as when you get on the next flight.  So, if you've got a lot of stuff with you, it just makes it a bigger chore.

Also, keep an eye on the transfer times.  Passport control at Dublin can get really backed up, and I've missed a flight in the past because, after a ground delay, there simply wasn't enough time to make the connecting flight.  Whenever possible, I try to leave at least 3 hours' layover time.

Also, on your way home, make sure that, before you actually go through the checkpoint to enter the U.S. departures lounge, you've had a bit to eat/bought whatever you want in the main terminal, because there's only one little shop in that area, and they don't have much.  And once you're down there, you're kind of stuck.

ETA: With regards to the whole immigration issue through Dublin, I think the only thing to really be aware of is that, on a subsequent visit, if you arrive directly in the U.K., and go through U.K. immigration, they'll likely ask you why you flew through Dublin the last time.  It kind of threw me when they asked, but I just told them 'Because it was cheaper' and there was no problem. 

The key, as when crossing any border anywhere, is to never lie, and to do what you've said you're going to do.  Don't overstay.