[joe_million_miler]

Today I got to the airport 70 mins before departure time for Aer Lingus EI 105 DUB -> JFK. I was told I had missed the check-in time, even though I had no luggage. I rebooked to fly to Boston (rebooking cost: 150 EUR), but when I got to the gates flight 105 hadn't even started boarding. So I ask at the gate if I can get on my original flight. Nobody is willing to help me. 90 minutes later -- the flight was long gone -- the duty manager (Alan Dodd) shows up to say that I had tried to board the plane with an invalid boarding pass and hints that I could be in real trouble. Apparently his staff had lied to him to cover their own rear-ends for their apathetic service. No offer of any kind of redress, just a veiled threat that I should be careful, that I was "walking a fine line."

This was the second time in a month that someone from my company encountered crazy cut-off criteria that resulted in missing an Aer Lingus flight (this one in Chicago).

I've since read that Aer Lingus uses these crazy cut-off criteria as a scam to sell stand-by seats and earn rebooking fees. Is there any truth to this?

Whatever the truth, I will try hard to never fly them again. (I have been flying them twice a month -- so much for rewarding loyalty!) A second-rate airline with abusive, apathetic service. Fly someone else!

[cliff7080]

Aer Lingus web site says that the RECOMMENDED check in time for flights outside Europe is 3hrs 30 minutes and that Check in CLOSES 45 minutes before flight time. Exactly how many minutes before flight time did you actually attempt to CHECK IN? Not what time you "ARRIVED" at the airport?

[one_step_beyond]

It mentions for flights travelling outside of Europe in regards to check-in for economy class flights "Long-haul routes (Depart or arrive outside Europe) 75 mins before departure* 3.5 hours before departure", if you had a business class it states 'Check-in for Business Class on all long-haul flights closes 60 minutes prior to departure.'

So basically if you had an economy class ticket and tried to check in 70 minutes prior to your original flight the airline were within their right to refuse this request for check-in and boarding.

If you had a business class seat I suggest that you complain to Aer Lingus Customer Relations.

[cliff7080]

How come its always the frequent flier with a "million miles" who is the one that shows up the airport barely an hour before departure on an International flight and then can't understand why they deny him boarding?