So I've booked a surprise trip from Dublin to Boston via lhr with ba.

How far can I get without telling my other half where we are going?

If I do the check in and bag drop and dublin will our boarding passes say lhr or boston? If it says lhr where do we pick up our boarding passes for boston?

I want to keep it a secret as long as possible.

Thanks in advance.

DUB-LHR-BOS, Is this all on BA? If so, when you check in at Dublin, you will be given 2 boarding passes, one for LHR, the other LHR-BOS. You could probably get away with your surprise until you get to the gate in London to board the Boston trip, at that point, all bets are off.

Do any of you have frequent flyer status with the carrier? Are you going to credit the trips to your accounts.

Hi.

Yup all on ba

I have a baec and I've just set up one for him too using a spare email address of mine but in his name and created a household account so they all go into the same bank. I think that's the right way to do it but it's a bit confusing lol

It will probably be blown at check in, as the agent will say something like "is Boston your final destination?" I suppose you could mention to the check in agent that you're trying to keep your final destination a surprise and ask them not to say it aloud, though this might get an eyebrow raise and I'm not sure if they'd play along.

Either way, you'll each be given two separate boarding passes in Dublin, one for your LHR flight and one for BOS. If you hold onto the LHR-BOS boarding pass and only let your companion hold on to the LHR one, you could theoretically keep the surprise until you get to the gate at LHR. At that point however the person you're traveling with will see the screens and hear the boarding calls with the destination included.

^

This is great! I did this once! A family member turned 13. She stumbled out to the car for a ride to school, not realizing that we were going to the airport to go to Disneyland for a 13th birthday surprise.

Find an excuse to separate yourself briefly at the bag drop, if you can, just in case the agent says (loudly) 'going to BOS today?'

Great surprise for your SO!

I was planning to get him to stand at the entrance to terminal while I check us in and drop bags so he doesn't need to be present or do they need to see its him as per passport?

I know it's all sob story blah but it's his 30th next year and this is his present and he truly deserves it. We have had a tough two years with me being suddenly paralysed and he had to give up his job to care for me. I'm no longer paralysed but still have some.health problems. He would never in a million years let me spend this amount of money and he's never been to usa so I figured let's do its a surprise and he can find out on the day.

I've spent the past year selling loads and saving like mad to save up for club world

<delorted>

Well good for you! This is a wonderful gift under any circumstances, but particularly in view of the ones you describe.

I did something similar for my wife for her birthday several years ago, when I took her to Paris for her first visit there. No guarantee this would work for you and your other half, but for what it's worth here's what we did:

1. She kept her earbuds in with some music playing the whole time, and kept looking down as much as possible.
2. If I recall correctly, at check-in I approached the desk agent without her and explained the situation. The agent agreed to go along with it. I believe my wife had to join me at check-in, but the agent didn't tell her where we were going and gave me the boarding passes. (Though fro this stage I wonder: Can you simply check in and get your boarding passes online?)
3. I can't recall how we handled security, but generally they don't say where you're going when they check your passports and boarding passes anyway.
4. Boarding the plane, my wife kept her earbuds in and music playing and kept her eyes down while we boarded. It wasn't until we had our glasses of bubbly in our hands that I told her.

Granted, your situation is more complicated by virtue of the connection, whereas we were flying non-stop. But I hope this info helps.

Have a great trip!

Sjc. I sold lots of stuff on ebay lol

Good idea about the music. I think I'll try that!

Only 8 months left to keep the secret lol

Did you get an ESTA for him?

Yes estas are all sorted.

I don't understand why you're asking this question. Surely you could say to the check-in person 'please don't reveal the final destination, it's a surprise...' He'll know by the time you get on the plane because of the cabin announcement.

I think the OP's plan is to fly to LHR and then say surprise this isn't our destination and lead the partner to the gate for their flight to BOS. So wouldn't want the gate agent in DUB to blurt it out.

Enjoy the lobstah.

Yes basically what Yoshi said.

Don't want to surprise too early of I can keep it a secret until London. So wasn't sure if he needs to be beside me at check in gate or not.

He'll know when you start going through Flight Connections or, if you choose to go landside, when you go back through security! Nice gesture!