rpjs

I flew one-way with Aer Lingus Manchester-Dublin-JFK a month ago and it was pretty good. The Manchester-Dublin leg was a quick half-hour flight in a low-cost style plane (leather seats, no IFE, cash bar and food service) but the transatlantic leg was pretty comfy, an excellent on-demand IFE and good service with edible food. The only minus point was alcoholic drinks aren't complimentary. I'd rate it as good as BA or Virgin and better than the US carriers.

I've heard that having US pre-clearance in Ireland started back when all transatlantic flights had to refuel at Shannon. The pre-clearance is a real boon - as I was travelling with carry-on only it meant I was through the terminal and with OH within about 5-10 mins of the seatbelt light going out. I'd fly with EI again for that reason alone.

Tyrone

I've heard that having US pre-clearance in Ireland started back when all transatlantic flights had to refuel at Shannon.

That is my understanding and also all Aeroflot flights were also processed through Shannon Customs - the idea was to relieve the backup at JFK.

Lothianlad

When using the Channel Tunnel in your car via the trains that transport you still inside in your car from the French side to the British, you go through the UK Border Agency Passport Control checks, staffed by British UK Border Agency officials, at Calais before you join the train. There is no similar non British equivalent at Folkestone, but there again it is all one sided anyway - only the UK insists on all the usual passport and customs checks for all travellers entering the UK by train, ferry or air, irrespective of whether they are arriving from other EU countries or anywhere else outside the EU.

tonrob

That's interesting. What the **** has it got to do with this thread?

AmerLisa

tonrob

Rete would have let that by...

andy1

Because the U.S. funded the IRA..

S Folinsky

The Pan-Am Clipper started off with stops at Foynes on the the Shannon Estuary and Botwood, Newfoundland. After the second World War, the stops were at Shannon and Gander. In regards to Aeroflot, during the Cold War, it was important that Ireland was not part of NATO.

Now that airliners have sufficient range, the airports at Shannon and Gander are not as necessary as they used to be.

I believe the Irish government is interested in keeping Shannon busy and the US government is interested in keeping Shannon as a transit point for US military transportation flights.

As an aside regarding the other side of the world, Wake Island is no longer a refueling point. Neither is Midway.

AmerLisa

Would or wouldn't have?

qprchris

Good old Shannon Airport, where the local time is 1972.

Most have sufficient range - except the tiny one BA use from London City Airport to JFK and also like to rather ingeniously avail of the immigration facilities;

http://www.britishairways.com/travel...n/public/en_gb

Little bit more about the US border pre-clearance, still very much fully operating;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon..._Pre-clearance

oh, and hello to everyone by the way!