My Economy Flight to Dublin: Which Costs Were Worth It?

I advocate for experiencing the world, and it’s great to do so while not spending needlessly. Make no mistake, I love a fight-class flight, and those lay-down pods are a taste of luxury. However, flight upgrades are expensive, and upgrades and add-ons can significantly increase the final cost of a trip. And if budget travel is the priority, the total price can quickly add up to something that may make you think twice about hitting that “pay now” button at the final step of your flight booking. As a result, cutting additions where you can is key.

In mid-January, a fantastic deal appeared for a flight from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Dublin, Ireland; one too good to pass up. In this post, I’ll discuss my experience from booking to return, what I upgraded, and why I think the upgrades were worth it.

Flight Deal and Booking

One afternoon, I stumbled upon this particular flight deal while browsing for direct flights from Halifax across the Atlantic. We have seasonal, direct flights to select destinations, including Dublin, Paris, and London, among others. A direct flight to Dublin is enticing, and even though I have been to Ireland before, it was in 2017; that trip was fantastic fun with some great people, but it wasn’t one where I could take my time, go off on my own, and capture photos. So it’s been a destination I’ve been considering returning to since I was first there.

A one-week return trip to Dublin was hovering around $500 CA from an initial search on Google Flights; not a bad price considering it’s a convenient, direct flight to a connected city. The timing was an early June departure. After selecting a departure date, I noticed that if I extended it to 10 days instead of seven, the price dropped to $396. That is an excellent price! Now, will I spend all 10 days in Ireland? The answer is no. My arrival at Dublin Airport will be brief as I depart on another flight. I chose to fly from Dublin to Seville, Spain—my first extended stop.

Flight Restrictions

It’s not surprising that there are limitations to that low price. The flight is an UltraBasic with WestJet. UltraBasic means no changes or cancellations, rewards earned, and there is an additional cost to select seats or check a bag. Choosing a seat is preferred, as I like the aisle, but I can endure wherever they put me. The flight is approximately six hours long and overnight, arriving at 8:30 am local time. I know I would not be checking a bag; carry-on only. However, another restriction is that I am among the last groups to board. That can be problematic, as there is a fair chance that no space will be left for my carry-on, which must be checked. That’s a problem. I want to ensure my baggage is with me.

Before the Flight

I received an email with the subject line, “Let’s curate your trip.” I have the option of extending my leg room if I desire. The duration is 5 hrs, 35 mins. Perhaps I will consider extending my legroom if the price is right. For $28, I can select my seat. I could have also done this when booking, but now I have a reminder about the option.

For early boarding and exit row - $172. For “Extended Comfort” - $159. This includes 3-6 in of extra legroom, early access to overhead bins, priority boarding (Zone 2), quicker exit upon arrival (in case that wasn’t obvious being in the front of the plane), priority security screening (whatever that is), and a complimentary alcoholic beverage during in-flight service. (which you are paying for anyway, so it’s not complimentary)

Fun fact: You can’t upgrade only one leg of the flight. If you select an upgrade option for your departure flight, you must also choose an upgrade option for your return flight. So even if you choose a seat for $28, you at least have to do that for the way back. Of course you do!

Thinking of the potential scenarios, I upgraded. Reading more about UltraBasic and the possibilities of being in the back of the plane were not appealing. The back of the plane puts you right beside the lavatories, so after about 30 minutes into the flight, you can guarantee someone will stand beside you for a significant portion of the flight waiting for their turn. And since I prefer an aisle seat, my arm would constantly be bumped. I would not get any sleep. I chose the “Extended Comfort” seat for both flights. This adds approximately $300 to my cost.

Departure Flight

An overnight flight, departing at 10:50 pm. Everything on time, and I must say, I’m glad I upgraded this seat. The flight wasn’t full. I had an overnight flight with the luxury of two empty seats beside me. Once this flight gets going, I can stretch out and use these for a more comfortable flight. Plus, I have three blankets, two of which I can use for a passable pillow. However, lying out across the three seats was not an option. A hump between the seats makes it highly uncomfortable to lie across. But at least I could stretch my legs out without having my camera bag underneath the seat directly in front of me.

Overnight flights are always an adjustment for me. Do I try to exhaust myself during the day so I can sleep through the flight? Also, they serve a meal during the flight, so technically you are eating chicken, potatoes, salad, and perhaps a cookie at 1 am. They turn the lights on when they serve, too, so good luck getting any sleep even if you wanted to. The bottom line is that I need to be prepared for overnight flights and to be quite tired upon arrival. On the first day, I sometimes need to power through it to adjust as quickly as possible.

Sitting near the front of the plane is always preferable, and if you can select a seat in the front row, I recommend doing so, even if it incurs an additional cost. However, one possibility of sitting near the front can be annoying: proximity to the lavatories. If you are near the front but not in the business or first-class section, if one exists, then the nearest lavatory you can access may be located at the very back of the plane. This is because you may not be allowed to access the front lavatory unless you are seated in that business or first-class section.

Time in Dublin Airport

The overnight flight to Dublin landed at 8:25 am, and the second flight to Seville didn’t leave until close to 3 pm. So I had about six hours to kill in Dublin Airport. At least I didn’t have to rush! Since there is only so much time to browse books in Relay or to explore the many things I won't buy in duty-free, I needed to find a way to make the most of this time. I booked a lounge, the L1 lounge in Dublin. Admittedly, it wasn’t easy to find, even based on the arrow directions in the airport, but once in, it was a great experience. It cost £26 and it was probably worth almost twice that.

First, let’s realize that with even just a few hours in an airport, you will probably spend that much money. A snack, a meal, and a drink will put you back that much or even more. Additionally, airports can be uncomfortable and loud. Yes, you can plug in and use a laptop, but there is never a prime spot. A lounge, on the other hand, is.

The L1 lounge featured booths similar to those found in a restaurant. It served coffee, including cappuccinos and espressos, as well as various teas, pastries, meats, cheeses, and more that you would want. In this particular lounge, there was also a limit of two alcoholic drinks if you chose to have alcohol. It was quiet and relaxing. Additionally, many lounges offer private shower facilities. After an overnight flight and sleeping in my clothes, I felt disgusting. Always seems to be that way when getting off a plane. As a result, I had a fresh shower before the next flight. All for £26!

In conclusion, I highly recommend getting lounge access if you have the time. Some credit cards include access. Lounges can be in high demand for obvious reasons, so try to book online beforehand to ensure your entry.

My time in Dublin Airport on the way back was similar, but I booked another lounge, the Liffey Lounge. It seemed premium, but was very similar to the L1 Lounge. The difference here is that the coffee machine was broken. That was disappointing, as the coffee options were the first thing I was looking forward to. The coffee they had in place was awful. I will usually drink any coffee, but I’ll admit that this was not easy. Half a cup and I was done with the coffee.

Return

The return flight was similar to the departure. It was the same seat on the plane and probably the same plane. However, the seats beside me were not empty this time. I like the aisle seat because I can get up when I want without bothering anyone, but my shoulder gets hit constantly. It isn’t enjoyable, but I think it’s worth the convenience.

Conclusion

All of my flights were as scheduled. The flight back to Halifax from Dublin was longer than the departure flight, and did it ever feel that way this time! I think I was just anxious to get home. The flight wasn’t terrible, but at this point, I exhausted my podcast list and was honestly getting tired of my Spotify playlists. However, upon arrival, I was the first person on that flight to clear customs. I have Nexus, so the process was straightforward.

Being conscious of a budget when planning a trip takes effort and balance. This trip could have been half the price, but the flight upgrades and the lounge access were worth it, making everything more comfortable and enjoyable. When booking your next flight, I highly recommend selecting the seat you prefer, even if it incurs a cost, and doing so near the front of the plane for guaranteed access to overhead bins and the convenience of an early exit.

Lounges will vary in cost and offerings, but I always found they are worth the money for what they offer. You may pay less during your stay at an airport by purchasing lounge access.