Backup Plan?
 

I am trying to create a backup plan, and I hope someone can help me out.

Background: Several months ago we booked UA nonstop IAD->DUB for three people on 6/24, returning on 7/5. We need to be in Dublin no later than 11:59pm 6/26 for a scheduled tour, so we have allowed for an extra day just in case. Two weeks ago, UA cancelled our nonstop outbound flight (...in fact, cancelled ALL nonstop IAD->DUB service until 7/1), so we rescheduled to IAD-EWR-DUB, again leaving IAD late afternoon on 6/24, with a several-hour layover in EWR before a 10pm departure which arrives in DUB on 6/25.

The problem: I have noticed that UA has recently been cancelling the IAD-EWR leg with considerable frequency (despite no weather problems in either location), including today (7 days away from our scheduled outbound flight date). I am hoping to create a backup plan, in case they do it to us next Friday.

Having tracked the IAD-EWR flight for a number of days, it appears that when UA cancels this flight, they do so early in the morning on the day of the flight, but by the time they did it today, all WAS-EWR flights were full for the day, and all UA and EI flights WAS-DUB were fully booked for the next several days.

Do we really have no choice at this point but to roll the dice and hope the IAD-EWR flight is not cancelled, or can we create some sort of backup plan?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

There are close to 30 Amtrak departures next Friday from Washington / Union Station to Newark Penn, where you can catch the AirTrain to the airport.

If all of the flights are full, that's probably your best backup plan.

6-17 as in today? Like late afternoon... leaving in the next couple of hours?

So for backup...... I *think* there are EI flights out of BOS, check that...

But also, if things go really sideways, I would try to get to LHR tonight, lots of non stop options to get to DUB from there.

Or ask if IAD-ORD-DUB is an option - or drive to EWR.

Completely understand your concern - I think the best option - since this is clearly a concern for you - us to call UA and explain the situation - and asked to be put on an earlier flight - given that they cancelled your original flight you should have more flexibility with changes than is typical.

The other thing I would do - and this is just me - is that I would research in advance what the other possible options to get to DUB could be if something goes wrong…. Always know your options for example - UA/LH via FRA - so you could suggest to an agent a possible routing - don’t hope that they can find one for you - their systems don’t always work like you think - including on other airlines….

The train can be your backup if all flight options are gone in the morning. Just make sure that UA correctly drops your first flight when the flight is cancelled and no good rebooking is available.

Sorry...just modified the original post. Departure date is one week from today: 6/24. Original post said 6/17 by mistake.

WAS-NYC is indeed ripe for cancels. Not much to do other than research until you have an actual problem.

The train to EWR is one option assuming you know about the cancel in time.

Lots of one stop options on both sides of the pond for getting there. Given the amount of time you have to get to DUB, rerouting through any European gateway (preferably *A from UA's perspective, but not necessarily) should get you there in time, so I wouldn't worry about the EI IAD-DUB loads too much.

Or IAD - Europe - DUB.

That is sound advice.

Explore your options when you have plenty of time, well before there is a problem, so that you aren't doing that research in a panic. Explain the options you find to your traveling companions. Print them out, and be prepared to ask specifically for the ones that work best for you if you encounter a problem on the day of travel. Do not wait for something to be suggested when you phone / step up to a counter. Instead say, "the first leg of our trip has been cancelled. We've done some research about what will work well with our plans, and would like to know if you can put us on the following itinerary," and hand them your original BP and the slip of paper. And, yes, paper. Don't rely on your mobile device when traveling internationally.

Whenever my travel includes an important reliance on timing, I am always prepared with pre-selected options in case things go pear-shaped. Mostly, this effort is just to assure myself that the options exist, because mostly, the information is never utilized. But you never know --- This past weekend, my wife was returning from visiting her parents and things went very pear-shaped. She was delayed mid-travel by 12 hours ... had she been better prepared (my mistake for not insisting), she probably would have refused the first rebooking she was offered and selected something different that would have gotten her home only slightly delayed, or allowed her to overnight with her parents instead of in an intermediate airport.

There's also IAD-YYZ-DUB too

If you do that - I'd suggest LHR with constant flights with Aer Lingus

What about Shannon airport (SNN) and take a 25 minute taxi to Limerick and train to Dublin? (But there is a rail strike soon)

I know this isn’t pleasant, but you asked for back up, so maybe call this plan D.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f3bf212c30.png

ETA: Ireland is about the size of Indiana, so it’s pretty easy to get around. The rail was easy to use.

It looks like there's also a routing IAD-ORD-DUB available on UA for that date. Because of the slight backtrack, you benefit from a slightly longer overnight flight than with EWR-DUB.

Another vote for suggesting IAD-LHR-DUB or IAD-FRA-DUB or IAD-YYZ-DUB to them if it cancels, with LHR the greatly preferred option. But make sure there is at least a two, if not three (if you want to feel less panicky) hour layover to get through immigration in LHR, if you don't have a UK passport.

If IAD to EWR cancels, you have the option to be rerouted to one of the other NYC airports. Then take Uber from LGA or JFK to EWR. It’s time-consuming and expensive of course. I second taking Amtrak as a first back-up plan.

You have already created a backup plan by leaving 2 days earlier.

Calmly assesses the situation on the day of.

Everyone else has already provided sound advice above. But a couple of minor additions/corrections...
You'll want to try to get an Amtrak train from Union Station to Newark Airport, not Newark Penn, if possible. The Airtrain runs from the airport station, not Newark Penn, to the terminals. The catch is that no Acela trains and not all NE Regional trains stop at the airport, so you might still be better off catching a train to Newark Penn at a better time and taking a taxi/Uber to the airport.
UA and EI operate from the same terminal at LHR. There is a separate immigration checkpoint for passengers connecting onto UK/Ireland flights, which is much less congested than the main immigration checkpoint for LHR-terminating passengers. So I wouldn't stress too much about immigration at LHR, and if you do miss the EI connection to DUB for some reason, there are several later flights that you can be rebooked on. Two hours should be more than sufficient.

Thanks for the correction :tu:

Not really. The flight across the pond is leaving the evening of the 24th but arriving the morning of the 25th. So really a single day buffer. To calmly assess the situation on the day of means having proactively having a backup plan up. Exactly what the OP is doing.

For the OP. As mentioned and if possible would be to move your flights to earlier in the week which would be mid week and sometimes lighter loads (probably not the case given the current times). Spend a couple of extras days ahead of time, get over the jet lag, take a side tour. The suggestion of the train is good too I have used between NYC and DC with very good luck. Otherwise having other routings that you know will work in hand is best. Being able to suggest them to an agent rather then searching saves you and them time and stress. Last time I did that it worked out fine for me.

The OP doesn't need to be in Europe until the end of night on the 26th.

The actual time on the 26th is moot as the vast majority of flights east across the pond are evening flights that arrive the following morning. There are exceptions. As such, what happens if they miss their flight on the 24th? Worst case, that means a flight on 25th which gets in on the morning of the 26th. As such, flying on the 24th arriving on the 25th is a single day buffer.

If tied with ual, I’d fly via LHR. One can even take a ferry to Dublin.
Else a nonstop with aer lingus.

bummer on that iad/dub CXL. Ugh.

Option E is to do what Matthew did a few years back, in reverse. Get an Uber from DC to Newark Airport.

https://liveandletsfly.com/long-distance-uber/

This is ABSOLUTELY the best option. It's the ONLY thing you can do now. The saying of "$&!+ flows downhill" absolutely applies in transportation. The morning is as close to a fresh start as one can get. The later in the day you fly, the more things can go wrong to cause flight cancelations. Thunderstorms, mechanical issues, late arriving crew or aircraft due to similar situations at another location.

If you get to EWR too early, take a cab over to the Ironbound and walk around and have a real dinner at one of the Spanish restaurants over there.





While maybe 30% of all Amtrak trains stop at EWR Rail Station, NJ Transit has very frequent service between the two, as in at least 3X every hour throughout the day. It's a 4 minute ride from Newark Penn station to EWR Rail station. Also, while more expensive, Amtrak will prioritize the movement of the Acela Express trains over all other trains. In fact, I rate an Acela with a connection to NJT in Newark Penn over a direct train (Non-Acela) that stops at the rail station. If a train is option 2, make an Acela with a connection to NJT in Newerk Penn option 2A, a direct train to EWR Rail Station option 2B and a Non-Acela train with a connection 2C.

take Amtrak up the day before. Lots of daily DC-NJ routes.

I vote for sticking with the original plan and taking a different transatlantic flight if plan A fizzles. The OP has already given himself a generous time cushion.