EWRFlyerAL

I am flying into Dublin on 5/7 (on Continental) and will be connecting to a RyanAir flight to Bologna. I am *G and also have a Continental President's Club membership. Continental's site shows that both of these should grant access to the BMI lounge in DUB. Does anyone know if I wouldn't be able to enter the lounge and how close is the lounge to where RyanAir flights depart?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

hugolover

But you're flying on FR. AFAIK BD lounges do not have an open access policy.

EWRFlyerAL

I thought that as long as you had a *G card that you were granted access. Or if a ticket was required that having the President's Club card would be okay.

colmc

I think it's only if you're travelling on a *A flight.

littlevoices

Its definitely only if travelling on an onward *A flight from that airport that day. BD isn't BA!

So no lounge access at all unless you find a paid lounge.

"Enjoy" Ryanair... I assume you've read something about them but connecting onto their flight on a separate ticket will be cheap as long as you manage to catch the flight!

TuxTraveller

Yup no *G lounge access unless you're on an onward *A flight.

Even without lounge access I hope you've given yourself a comfortable connection time as it'll turn out far more expensive (and fun?) if you miss the FR flight..

EWRFlyerAL

I have 3 hours to connect. Thanks for the replies.

Sherwood Hampton

Enough time to prepare yourself for the sheer horror that is Ryanair.

aidanc

If you were connecting from another european carrier in Dublin, 3 hours would be enough. If you've never flown Ryanair before, then you've a few small things to note...

- You should already have a boarding pass printed before you get on your first flight. FR charge something like €40 to print one at the airport.
- Watch out for the quality of the boarding pass printing - laser is good. There have been some (tabloid) media reports of passengers denied boarding with faded barcodes on their home printed boarding passes
- If you can print on A4 do so, I'm not sure how they will react to letter
- You will only be allowed one piece of hand luggage, NO personal items, and it will be inspected at the boarding gate for size and weight. Max 8-10Kg.

In Dublin, many of the Ryanair gates are in the 'D' pier (some in 'A') which is a comfortable 10 minute walk from the main security screening area.

Just above the main screening area are the BMI lounge (which the others here correctly say you'll have no access, and the Airport Lounge, which has Priority Club). To repeat, this is some distance from the A or D gates.

You'll need to clear customers, and re-check in (really drop off) your baggage. With the new FR process, there are consolidate check-in lines for all European flights. If you don't have an EU passport, there's something about a Visa check prior to drop-off. Drop-off for your flight will close at 40 minutes prior to departure. Boarding will take place at 20 minutes prior.

If your CO flight is anyway late, or their baggage handling is poor (something which I always find DUB is poor at regardless of carrier), or immigration is busy, then your three hours will be uncomfortably short.

Best of luck...

Aidan

EWRFlyerAL

Thanks, aidanc. We'll be bringing our luggage on the CO flight, so won't have to wait for it before checking it in with Ryanair. I've flown Ryanair before and while they aren't big on frills (I know that that is an understatement), they were a fraction of the price for a flight to Bologna. BMI was $989 each and Ryanair was $85 each.