Aer Lingus: Dublin to Catania

The carrier: Aer Lingus

About

Ireland's legacy flag carrier Aer Lingus has been morphing over the course of the last several years into a low-cost airline. Flying to major airports across Europe, and as of recently North America and Dubai, Aer Lingus is dependable and well established. Fares can be quite low, though advance purchase fares don't quite compare to those offered by that other Irish low-cost carrier, Ryanair.

Upside

Airline is well established and serves major airports.

Downside

Connections beyond Europe are not very good, thus dulling one distinctive draw. Frequent delays and unhelpful staff are common complaints.

Baggage

* Carry-on: One bag up to 10 kg (7kg for regional flights), plus one personal item.
* Checked: €12 per bag booked online (€18 at airport). Max 9 bags with combined weight of 20 kg. Over 20 kgs, fees apply. No single bag over 32 kg (70 lbs) is allowed.

* Please visit Aer Lingus’s website for more information on its baggage policy.

Seating

You may select seats online at time of booking.

Check-in and Ticketing

Aer Lingus offers online-check in for most flights and is available from 30 hours in advance until 4 hours and 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.  Times vary for US airports.  Checked baggage is accepted from passengers who check-in online.

Fun Fact

All Aer Lingus planes bear the name of an Irish saint.

Departure: Dublin, Ireland (DUB)

In Brief: Dublin Airport is located 10 km (about 6 miles) north of the city. It's a major base for both Aer Lingus and Ryanair, and also handles several Centralwings routes. In terms of sheer numbers, it's one of the most budget airline-friendly airports around. Transportation: Public buses cost between €1.60 and €1.90 to traverse the distance between central Dublin and the airport, depending on how far the journey in question is. Airlink buses, which travel to Dublin's Central Bus Station, cost €6.

Arrival: Catania, Italy - Fontanarossa (CTA)

Catania-Fontanarossa Airport or "Aeroporto di Catania-Fontanarossa" is the busiest airport in Sicily. Location: Catania-Fontanarossa Airport is located 5 kilometers (3 miles) south of Catania, the second largest city on the Italian island of Sicily. Transport: - Bus: A shuttle bus service provides transport into Catania city center and the Central Train Station, while scheduled bus services to other parts of the island are also available direct from the airport. - Taxi: Travelers can take a taxi from the terminal building into the city or beyond, with popular locations including nearby Syracuse, Palermo, and Marsala. Service: This airport offers a shopping center and newsstand as well as restaurants and bars. Also, there is a flight information office, currency exchange, nursery, and bus ticket office. more...