Dallas – Aer Lingus or American?

[gillbee36]

I’m flying to Dallas on a Monday from Glasgow and there are no BA options that day. Looks like like Aer Lingus via Dub or American via LHR. Times are much the same. Is one option better than the other ? Is it preclearance worth or for more Dallas? I’ve been in touch some horror queues on the US side but no experience of Dallas.

Any advice appreciated.

[Richie]

I’d go Aer Lingus.

[Zana]

I’ve flown LHR-DFW at least 30 times because my sister lives there. I would say that DFW immigration queues can be quite short or absolutely terrible. I’ve gone straight through but I’ve also in the queue for over an hour before. There’s no pattern that I could work out.

For what it’s worth, the queue in DFW is now automated for ESTA holders. If this is NOT your first time flying into the US on your current ESTA, then the machine will generally not flag you for further inspection and join the “long” queue.

I’ve also done the route via Aer Lingus – the pre-clearance in Dublin is great. Given current situation with LHR, I would go Aer Lingus.

[yonasl]

Flying Air Lingus won’t earn Tier Points if that makes a difference to you.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

Aer Lingus don’t fly direct to DFW. Are you sure you’re not being routed onto Jetblue or United on arrival in an East Coast hub? If so that’s quite a few more hours in a non-lie flat seat on the domestic flight within the US. Alternatively you’re being shown a mixed carrier route EI GLA-DUB then AA (who do fly direct) DUB-DFW. If it’s this latter option you absolutely should choose this over a LHR transfer. DUB has thrown staff at their congestion problem and you’d avoid initial security checks anyway as you’d transfer airside within T2 and go straight to US pre-clearance.

[gillbee36]

Thanks all. It was AA from Dublin – I misread the routing. I think Dublin routing wins. Not fussed about TP earnings as my leisure travel will most likely be on VA.

[dahokolomoki]

If flying Business, the other consideration ON AA is which route has their better Flagship seats. I’ve just booked DFW to LHR (as opposed to PHX to LHR) on AA because my flight is the newer 77W plane with the better business class seat.