I like the idea of flying JFK to DUB on the cheap and I am sure I can get a inexpensive SW or AT flight out of MCI direct to JFK.

My main goal is to accrue DL miles as I am 15k MQM's short of Silver. I have never had any type of status w/DL before and I think it might be kind of nice to actually see some glory from the lack of sleep I have had on some flights that I have taken this year. I saw on the DL website that Aer Lingus is not one of their codeshare partners and I presume I wouldn't earn any DL miles thru them if I booked a flight on AL?

I do have 145k miles banked with DL so I could certainly book a award ticket if absolutely necessary.