All the talk about ex-DUB fares was getting under my skin! Eventually I struggled with Matrix to explore the opportunity of some cheap[-ish] travel to the USA using the “Irish Connection”. Our destination was Savannah, GA, for various reasons I won’t bore you with, and in the process gave us the opportunity to fly TATL with US Airways in their nice A330 and clock up a couple of [short] sectors in First in the RJ. The deal was done with Expedia for the TATL, and a separate booking on-line with BA to get us to DUB. Routing and costs were:

JER-LGW/LHR-DUB with BA @ £238 pp, in CE, price abated by 15,000 avios each.
DUB-CLT-SAV with US/AA @ £1159 pp, in Business and Domestic First.
Total £2,795 for 2

Other costs were:
Hilton in DUB €85 (£60) for one night outbound.
Hilton/Homewood Suites in SAV $1,803.48 (£1,160) for 14 nights.
Avis/BA £388 for 14 days of mid-size SUV.

TPs = 40+40+140+60 each way, for a total of 560
Avios (Flights) = 24,240
Avios (Hilton Double Dip) = 1,689
Avios (Avis/BA) = still waiting to post! 1,321
And, of course, loads more Avios from BA PP Amex spend (c. 18,000)
HHons points = 1,166 + 19,950 = 21,116

Right, here we go. On with the story.





The Outward Journey

2 Sep 15
BA2669, JER-LGW, 0850>0945, CE (2A/C), B737 G-DOCW

Nothing of significance, just another x-Channel hop! The only moment of note was the dear old lady who was fully convinced that my wife in 2A had stolen her seat, until I pointed out that her BP said 6A. We smiled sweetly as she wandered back a few rows. Meal service was the ‘English Breakfast’, which was perfectly acceptable. Bags x 2 at LGW took about 10 minutes to arrive in Reclaim - a notable improvement on the 60+ minutes they were achieving last year! And so, with our regular taxi driver, we launched into the M23/M25 and the wonders of LHR Terminal Five.

2 Sep 15
BA830, LHR-DUB, 1415>1535, CE (2A/C), A320

Dropped off at the south end of T5, we saw the short queues at Zone H (Club pax) and decided to exercise our BAEC Gold privileges by using Zone J (First) which was empty. Friendly greetings from the staff, who never queried our right to be there as they clearly identified us as “suitable people”. Bags dropped, we entered the short queue for Priority Security which was working well. The experience was marred by the typical DYKWIA passenger who, without a word, half-pushed my wife aside to grab a tray from underneath her as she was about to push hers forward onto the belt, dumped a couple of things in it and then pushed his tray in front of hers. Post screening, he of course left his trays to be tidied up by someone else [me].

A couple of sandwiches and a glass or two of fizzy beverage in the FLounge passed an hour or so, some of it in the company of aks120 who was returning from DUB after a trip to HNL. Boarding went smoothly, and we squeezed into the CE seats on the A320. Wow, they are both cramped and uncomfortable! Afternoon Tea was served - more sandwiches! This is not a balanced diet!

And then it was our first experience of DUB airport. Arrivals and Reclaim was quite painless, and I tried to work out the translations between English and Gaelic on the signs. According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language), “Irish is spoken as a first language by a small minority of Irish people, and as a second language by a rather larger group.” I found it far too difficult! Sadly my photo was blurred.
Emerging from Terminal 1, we were greeted by one of our favourite signs …



… so we took a short break before passing through Terminal 2 and into the beyond (to Zone 14 where the hotel shuttle buses are to be found). Straight ahead, keep walking, it’s about 200 yards, helpful map and info on the Hilton website.. Unfortunately we had just missed the Hilton bus, which operates on roughly a 30-minute cycle, so we loitered. Eventually it arrived, and we watched as an even older couple struggled with the concept that this mini-bus with “Hilton” written all over it wasn’t going to their hotel.

A 10-minute drive had us at the Hilton, where we were surprised [and pleased] to discover we were in a spacious, high-ceilinged, ‘Family Room’. The clues were there when I checked in on-line the day before and had a choice of 2 rooms, but it never really registered. Anyway, a most acceptable spot for a night-stop before the next leg of the journey and, with a shuttle booked for the 0630 departure in the morning, after a couple of drinks at the bar we decided that was enough excitement for one day.




3 Sep 15
US725, DUB-CLT, 0930>1250, Business (2A/3A), A330

We rose, showered, repacked and shuttled with a growing sense of anticipation and adventure. This is NEW territory, a NEW airline and the NEW experience of US Pre-clearance [a distinct bonus of the ex-DUB routing]. Shortly before 0700, there was a bit of a queue (or Ciú in the Gaelic), during which time we were loosely interrogated by a floor-walking Agent asking things like “Is your name and address on your bags?”.



Bag dropped, we headed upstairs to begin the journey through a maze of shops, more shops, Security, Duty Free, US security, immigration and finally Customs … we seemed to be going up and down all over the place! However, it was all very well managed and our Immigration Officer was charm personified. And, finally, we found ourselves at Gate 426 at 0750 … with an hour to wait before boarding commenced. Still, better that than being late, and that’s what Kindles and iPads are made for, and at least we had an aircraft sat outside



Yes, it’s in AA markings, but it’s a US booking. When the merger is completed later this year it will be easier! Boarding was conducted in a civilised manner … i.e. we were in the first boarding group Oh, what a nice cabin: the 1-2-1 configuration is obviously akin to BA’s First, and one reason we chose this particular route/flight. Nice wide and comfortable seat, with handy shelf and storage space … miles better than BA’s CW seat, and without the yin/yang factor! Not many decent photos here, as they’re all available on the www. anyway - sorry.





Wheee … I also have a window [or three], although the view is less than perfect, this being the Emerald Isle



PDB of some unknown fizzy liquid which was probably champagne and was decently chilled, and push-back at 0925. A bit later, meal orders were taken, together with the first beverage run … wine and warm nuts is fine by me.



The Menu … of course you want to see the menu, and the reality of what was served.



oops … wrong image … try this one …



The Salad[s] was/were … OK. Well, you do need to stock up on vegetables in your diet before hitting the US of A, although they might have varied the theme a little



I went for the Jalapeño Chicken, which was likewise … OK



And finished with the famous and delicious Traditional Ice Cream Sundae, which deserved a round of applause!



That all done and dusted, I turned to the IFE. A good, clear picture, and a choice of 216 films. I watched "Mall Cop" and then "Mall Cop 2", because I like 'brain dead' films on long-haul flights, and then decided to have some sleep. Good, comfortable flat-bed, with much more shoulder space than BA’s CW seat, although the “foot socket” arrangement didn’t do me any favours as a 6-footer. Decent-sized pillow and blanket too.

For the “Light Meal” before landing I chose an agreeable plate of charcuterie. No problems there, and infinitely nicer than BA’s Tea sandwiches!



And …. here we are in CLT, some 50 minutes early (!) after a 6h30m TATL, at 1200 local time at Gate B9. With our bags checked through to SAV, and having done all the ‘procedures’ at DUB, we just popped out to kerb-side for a quick smoke before re-entering the system [via the efficient TSA Pre✓] to loiter in the AAdmirals Club for 3 hours or so. What a nice airport: busy but a very calm environment, and the AA Lounge was fine.






3 Sep 15
AA5043, CLT-SAV, 1617>1717, First (2A/3A0, RJ700

Eventually it was time for the longish walk to Gate E26 for our Domestic First sector to SAV. We were pleased to see our RJ700 parked up at the Gate - it’s always a comforting feeling. Despite the dense gathering of people at the gate, boarding was well managed, and we slipped into our comfortable seats [this is going so well!].



Hey, you get leg-room in a little RJ in First



One hour later ... SAV is a lovely little airport, about the size of JER [14 stands] but much prettier!! We seemed to be the only aircraft there at the time, so the cases were on the carousel within moments of us getting there.



Then straight across Reclaim to the Avis desk, where we picked up the keys for the SUV and wandered outside to the covered Rental parking area. So simple, so painless, really satisfactory!



Hmmm. We booked a “Ford Escape or similar”. What did we get? A Ford Escape! At least Dollar and Budget used to come us with a “Similar” occasionally

We called the vee-hickle ‘Humbug’, as the FL plate said HBG and we have a sad habit of naming our cars.



Whatever, after two days’ travelling we leave SAV airport, turn left onto I-95S for a coupe of miles, then left onto I-16 and filter onto I-516 which becomes DeRenne Avenue. Turn right at the 2nd traffic signal onto Abercorn Rd, about 1/2 mile south turn in to Homewood Suites by Hilton. About 20-25 minutes, couldn’t be easier!

More later