Dublin Airport must be one of the most accessible airports in the world for transit travellers. Aer Lingus passengers arriving from and continuing to destinations outside Ireland or the United Kingdom and already possessing their boarding passes simply exit their incoming aircraft, walk down a hall, past the e-gate, and back into the Departures area. This system streamlines the experience for passengers and the airport.

Boarding is well organised at Dublin Airport.

Before travelling on Aer Lingus Flight EI544 from Dublin to Nice, take a look at the Departures board and make note of the Aer Lingus destinations listed.  Aer Lingus flies to many Mediterranean destinations popular with the sun-starved Irish; these flights are also very relevant to travellers from other parts of the world on their way to Europe for an ever more popular cruise experience.  Not many people associate an Irish airline with a Mediterranean cruise. Still, Aer Lingus’ extensive flight network to such favourite ports as Nice, Málaga, Mallorca, Rome, Venice, and Athens is highly appealing.  Especially for air passengers returning to the US after their cruise experiences, Dublin Airport’s US border pre-clearance allows for arrival on US soil as if flying on a domestic flight.  Having cleared US Customs before boarding the plane, Aer Lingus passengers are never left wondering how long it will take to get through Customs upon arrival in the US, where Aer Lingus maintains an equally impressive route network that grows each year.  The recent addition of Denver and the imminent introduction of service between Dublin and Las Vegas provide new, convenient options for European travellers heading to the western United States.  Nashville will also be joining the Aer Lingus flight network soon.

Place Massena in Old Town Nice.

The Dublin Airport experience and Aer Lingus flight to Nice were typically enjoyable.  Without the emotional drama sometimes witnessed at airports in the United States and certain European countries, Aer Lingus provides friendly service impressively efficiently.  Aer Lingus is a well-oiled machine that functions admirably well in getting people on and off the plane without wasting time.  Short European flights depart from Terminal 2’s South Gates, where boarding the aircraft is executed by stairs on the tarmac rather than through a jetbridge. This allows for simultaneous boarding through the front and back doors of the aircraft and reduces turnaround times for aircraft at the gates.

Even before boarding, Aer Lingus is on the ball.  The airline’s website makes check-in a breeze and sensibly allows passengers to check in for their flights 48 hours before departure rather than 24.  Friendly staff at the airport direct passengers in a helpful manner to get people to the right place to pass through the gate.

Nice, the jewel of the French Riviera.

EI544 to Nice departed on time and arrived on time, two fundamental aspects of air travel that alone are important for today’s travellers with tight schedules.  The Airbus 320 aircraft had the 3-3 configuration found on most intra-European flights.  Onboard service was amiable, and many passengers purchased food and beverages from the inflight menu.

Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur is similar to DUB in its relaxed ethos and expertise in expediting the movement of passengers through the terminal.  Travellers with passports eligible for use of the e-gates barely break stride before an Immigration officer stamps the passport.  Unlike the vast airports like FRA, CDG, or LHR, there was no long walk to Baggage Claim.  The airport in Nice is not close to the city; it is to the town, which makes hotel transfers short and easy.  Aside from taxis and private car services, there are several options for public transport, including various bus routes and Nice’s smart tramway system.  From the airport to Nice’s charming Old Town takes 15 minutes by bus or tramway, less by car.  The flyer-friendly scheduling of Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Nice departing at 11:00 allows local passengers to avoid a rushed morning to get to the airport but still provide enough time for an afternoon stroll along Promenade des Anglais or through the charming streets of Old Nice, where the vibrant Mediterranean way of life is immediately observed among patrons of bars, cafés, and restaurants with outdoor seating on the picturesque (and car-free) streets and squares.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

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