• Author: Ireland West Airport
• 19 Jul, 2018
• 7221 Views

So you’ve booked your flight, bought your sun hat, rang the kennel, told your neighbour.  You’ve done all the prep so you shouldn’t have to worry about getting on the plane.
Below, we’ve explained how to make your journey seamless and enjoyable.

PARKING
There are 2 ways to park at the airport. You can book online and save up to 30% by visiting our website www.irelandwestairport.com but make sure you do this at least 12hrs before you travel as it is not possible parking online within 12 hours of your arrival at the airport.

The second way is to turn up at the airport and press for a ticket at the machines at the entry gate, keep the ticket and when you get back pop it into the parking payment machines situated outside the arrivals hall. Alternatively, all our machines at the entry and exit gates accept all major credit and debit cards and you can simply insert your card into the machine on arrival at the airport and do the same at the machine at the exit gate when you arrive back to the airport and your card will be charged the applicable rates for your duration of stay. Again you will find more information on Drive-up parking on our website.

Unlike most other airports, Ireland West Airport does not charge different rates for short term and long term parking. All our spaces are onsite within a few minutes walk of the terminal. You can park at the nearest available space to the airport terminal that you can find. In busier times you may be required to walk about 5 minutes at most but in most cases you will find a space closer than that. Don’t worry, there are always spaces available.

CHECK-IN
During the busy summer season to avoid delays we advise passengers to arrive to the airport at least 90 minutes prior to your flight departure time.

For Ryanair customers you need to have checked in online at least 4 hours prior to your departure otherwise you incur a check-in fee at the airport. You can check-in via the mobile app and download your boarding pass or alternatively check in on their website and print your boarding pass. If you have checked in online and you have no bags to check-in you don’t need to queue. You can proceed directly towards departures.

For Aer Lingus and Flybe no requirement is needed to check-in online so you just present yourself to the check-in desks. Here you will be presented with a boarding pass. Aer Lingus do offer an online check-in service if you prefer this way and their mobile boarding pass is also accepted at our airport.

DEVELOPMENT FEE
Before going through security, we have a Development Fee desk where we require all passenger from the age of 12yrs and older to pay a €10 development fee. It can be paid by cash or card. The Development Fee is a critical contributor to the ongoing sustainability of the airport and is currently a major support towards the airports €15m transformation programme. 

SECURITY
Going through security need not be stressful. If you come prepared there should be no issue and no beeps.  It is worth knowing that even if you went through in your birthday suit you could still beep as there are random legal required checks. See some tips below:

* Comply with your airline’s guidelines on cabin baggage allowance.
* Remove jackets and coats, these will be screened separately through the x-ray scanner.
* Remove laptop computers, tablets (iPad etc.), kindles/e-readers and other large electrical devices from your cabin baggage to be screened separately.
* Be prepared to remove your shoes and belt if instructed to do so.
* Have all toiletries, aftershaves, perfumes and cosmetics (in containers of 100ml or less each) in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag ready for security staff. These are x-rayed separately to your cabin baggage. If you don’t have a plastic bag for this, they can be purchased for at security for €1. There is a €1 coin vending machine.

EAT, SHOP AND RELAX
After security you can choose to have a browse in our retail shop ‘shopwest’. Here you can find perfumes at a reduced cost with savings of up to 30%.  Remember though that if you have carry-on luggage only that your perfume shouldn’t be over 100ml.  This is in case you are returning and get stopped on your way back.  However, we do offer a Shop, Drop, Collect service – so anything you buy in the shop that you don’t want to carry you can opt to collect it on your return at no extra cost.  Lot of our products in the shop support local suppliers.

ARE YOU FEELING HUNGRY?
If you chose not to eat in Slainte (our restaurant upstairs) you can instead enjoy hot food, wraps, sandwiches, snacks & drinks in the comfortable surroundings of our departures restaurant ‘eatwest’. Here you have access to more toilets and a smoking area. If you prefer, to enjoy a settling drink before your flight you will find ‘barwest’ nestled close to the departure gate. Here you can enjoy a lovely pint of Guinness, a glass of wine or a refreshing mineral.

EXECUTIVE LOUNGE
The hustle and bustle of an airport doesn’t do if for you. You are looking to relax, watch TV, read a paper, and get your own drink or just a quieter space. The executive lounge is for you. For just €20, you can enjoy the lounge and its complimentary drinks and snacks up to 2 hours before your flight. Better still if you prebook you can get this for only €15. Shhhhhhhhhhh we don’t tell everyone this!

WI-FI
Within the airport you can access our free WIFI, no sign-in is requited. Just find Ireland West Airport Wi-Fi and click connect. Do bear in mind when it is very busy the strength can be interrupted.

BOARDING
Your flight is called, what do you do?
Make sure you have all your belongings tidied away and just locate your passport and boarding pass. Keeping your passport open on the photo page saves time at boarding. Staff may give you a yellow cabin bag sticker if you haven’t booked priority boarding (Ryanair). Here your bag will be taken of you just before you reach the steps of the aircraft. It will be kept in the hold free of charge and you collect on the carousel at your destination airport. If you wish to have the bag with you on board you need to book that service online beforehand. This only applies to Ryanair. Flybe and Aer Lingus passengers can still bring their cabin bag on board. Once through you can start putting your passport away, the only thing you need now is your boarding pass to show to the crew member on board. This is so she can guide you to your seat and also check that you’ve got on the right plane!

Now sit back, relax and enjoy your flight!

Thanks for being a customer of Ireland West Airport.