Ex EU flight with VERY tight positioning flight connection

[cashmax]

Got an EX EU flight from Dublin to MIA coming up (Dublin leg to be completed a day before, picking up the MIA from LHR the next day) and I messed up a little with my assumptions. We are flying into LCY from Dub on BA4469, but it turns out that there is very little in terms of flights from LCY on a Sunday. So I am struggling with my positioning flight to get to Dublin.

This has meant my positioning flight option is a cityjet service that leaves LCY at 14.05 and gets in at 15.25. The BA flight leaves at 17.10. This leaves very little in terms of margin and the BA flight is the last flight into LCY on Sunday.

Getting nervous and wondering if it might be best to book some cheap ryanair flights from Stanstead, park at LCY and get a cab to STN?

[cashmax]

Puggit said:

Is this all BA? the BA website will let you book LCY-DUB-LHR if you want.

Struggling to understand the full text above though

Yea sorry, I didn't make it very clear.

The journey I have booked is all BA, but it starts on Dublin - DUB>LCY Then next day LHR>MIA>MIA>LHR Then LCY>DUB

The airport changes are deliberate, its just London to Miami return with the dublin leg on each end to halve the cost.

[cashmax]

surveyor said:

In terms of timing at Dublin, it rarely gets busy. But your reliant on the City flight being on time.

No help, but I've preferred to overnight in Dublin to give that room for manoeuvre. If I mess the flight out of Dublin it's BA's problem, whereas you've made it your problem...

I would not be comfortable with that time difference and would personally look to get there earlier...

Yes, you are right, just chickened out and booked 4 flights out of STN to DUB for the grand total of £54. Having done the research, the CityJet flight is often delayed by 30mins, making it a potentially very stressful experience.

[cashmax]

carreauchompeur said:

I'm confused... A flight gets into LCY at 1525 and you have to leave from LHR at 1710? You have not a cat's chance in hell...

Or could you simply not exit in London on the return leg?

My itinery starts in Dublin at 1710, but I am based in London so I need to get there to catch the flight, which is the issue, the flight I have booked to Dublin gets in at 1525, which is tight, given that if I miss the first BA flight, my onward transit is likely to be cancelled.

[cashmax]

Option 3 would not have been possible on a Sunday. It is the first and only flight into LCY on BA from Dublin. The flight is not a turnaround LCY. (the first BA flight to DUB from LCY is 19.20) I didn't even think about this when I booked the original flights. It just appears that there are clear traffic restrictions at LCY on a Sunday.

Although I have the Cityjet flights booked, I now also have Ryanair flights that get in around lunchtime on Sunday from STN. So a long day (drive to LCY, park car, cab to STN, cab into town in Dub for lunch, back to DUB, land at LCY, drive home and pack for LHR flight next day) but pretty much bolt and braces. If there is some issue at STN then I can still get back to LCY and gamble the Cityjet flight.

[cashmax]

Fats25 said:

Just curious - how much money are you saving doing this?

I have a flight I have to get from Bucharest to Prague in a few weeks, and due to time of day, I have to fly via Vienna. I am dreading it, and am wondering how someone could put themselves through this voluntarily! You say half price? So LHR to MIA - I guess is saving approx 400?

I always hated flying long haul and it ruined a holiday for me (dreaded flying home leg as soon as we got there) so will always try to fly business now, which takes a lot of the pain away for me. I didn't want to end up being any airline's bh, having to worry about status and trying to make dates gel enough to use points to fly.

But with a family of 4, this is a very expensive exercise.

The savings when originating a flight out side the UK are significant. This flight is costing circa £3K for 4 to fly business class to MIA and back. That is around half the normal cost.