All the Web sites I read encouraged fliers to arrive 3 hours before an international flight. I arrived by 3:15 am for a 6:30 flight. The taxi ride to the airport was very short. My drive was in a Mercedes Benz and got me there quickly. My first leg of the flight was on Aer Lingus, a United partner. Prior to coming to the airport, my United app didn't show any way to check in online or to get boarding passes. I also tried the Aer Lingus app with no success. Ramona got on her computer (versus an app on the smartphone) on Friday and was able to check me in.
Now arriving at the airport, the check-in process was automated. I weighed my suitcase at a kiosk, which printed out a luggage tag and a boarding pass. I attached the tag and put my suitcase on the conveyor belt. The tag indicated that the bag was checked through to Dayton.
Then I walked up to security by 3:20 a.m. to find out it was closed. I mean no one there. Eventually a line began to form and they opened a little after 4 a.m. That information is nowhere online or in the literature or etc. But being there early insured I was one of the first in line. I am my mother's daughter.
After going through security, which was very easy, I took the long walk to my gate when I realized I'd never gone through U.S. pre-clearance, which means you go through American customs in Dublin and not in Newark. So I took the long walk back to find that area completely closed and empty. I asked an airport employee about it, and he said, "Oh yeah, they don't come in till about 9 a.m." It turns out you only get pre-clearance if you have a direct flight to the U.S. Since my flight was going through Birmingham, UK, it didn't apply to me. That makes complete sense now, but I was so excited about going through pre-clearance, I got mixed up.
So I took the hike back to my gate and had a nice breakfast, and I was still early. Our Aer Lingus flight to Birmingham England was an Airbus 320, and it was full for this about 45-minute flight. We embarked and disembarked on the tarmac.
Once in Birmingham, I had a very short turnaround before my Newark flight. I had to go through security again, but first I had to find the United "transfer gate" to get a boarding pass. That took awhile. There was no signage I could find and no one I asked knew where United was. I finally saw it (after another long walk), got my boarding pass, went easily through security, arriving at the gate just as we were boarding.
On this plane, I got Economy comfort again, this time the bulkhead seat with no passenger in the middle seat. I was pooped and a little stressed from the drama of not knowing where I was in the Birmingham airport. So when I got on the plane, I sat down, buckled up, and was drifting off to sleep when an airline employee (gate agent?) asked my name. When I told her, she asked to see my baggage receipt from Aer Lingus. Then she asked if I checked it in at a self-service kiosk and I said yes. She again repeated that there was some "problem" with my bag. She went to make a call and then the cabin doors shut and I never heard a thing more about it. I was wondering if my bag was going to be there when I got to NJ. I asked the head airline steward, and he said they won't let an international flight leave if every passenger wasn't hooked up with their luggage. So by nature of the fact that we were allowed to take off, the luggage must be on the plane (and it was).
This plane is a little older and smaller than the one I flew out on. It had two rows of 3 seats, but even though I'm in a bulkhead, I still get a private movie screen. And the leg room is awesome.
We arrived in Newark Terminal B, went through passport control, then picked up our checked luggage and went through customs. That's basically to see if you have anything to declare. You are then supposed to just go to a spot where they collect your luggage again to put it back on the flight. But the man there told us that we needed to take our luggage with us to the proper terminal and then "drop it off" there. I couldn't help thinking what would someone do if they had never been to Newark airport before or if they didn't speak English. I took the Air Tran to Terminal A, and knew enough to go up the escalator to departing flights to the United Counter, where they directed me to a place to drop off the suitcase. The men there didn't even want to take it because it didn't have a United tag on it from the Newark airport on it (it still had the Air Lingus tag), but I convinced them (along with a few others of us) that our original tag would work. (And it did. My luggage got to Dayton).
After dropping off the bag, we needed to again go through TSA security at Terminal A. There is a United Club at Terminal A and this time, there was room for me and my one-time pass. My flight to Dayton was delayed by an hour so I had a couple hours in the club to drink plenty of water and soda, and eat some snacks. Those clubs are a nice perk. I got two free passes with my United Explorer credit card, which also gave me the points to travel to Dublin for about $100 in taxes, and also gave me priority boarding. So there's my advert. The United app is also very helpful as it keeps you informed of things pretty much ahead of what you'll see or hear at the airport.
Arrived in Dayton about 6:45 p.m. and was home by 8:30 I think. I just flopped into bed, grateful for the trip. And happy to have a day off to do laundry and get ready for the week.
Lessons learned (From my point of view) for next time:
Go for at least 10 days.
If at all earthly possible, get direct flights.
Definitely get Economy Comfort
Don't transfer in another country if possible.
Bring more than one pair of shoes even if you're traveling light (your feet will thank you).
Get some walking in before you leave to prepare your feet.
Find some sort of small gift reminiscent of America to bring as gifts, especially for any children you may meet.
Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm!
