Most overnight flights from the US land in Dublin early in the morning. Once you leave the plane, you go through passport control, collect your bags, pass through customs and walk out into the arrivals hall, where your chauffeur is waiting. This guide walks through each step, and what we are doing while you are still in the air.
Before you fly: send us your flight number
The single most useful thing you can do is send us your flight number when you book. Alan monitors flight times for every airport pickup, so if your flight lands early or late, your chauffeur already knows. You do not need to call or message us from the plane or the baggage hall.
It also helps to tell us how many passengers are travelling, how many bags you have, whether anyone is bringing golf clubs, and where you are going first. That lets us send the right vehicle: a luxury sedan for one or two people, or a 7 seater MPV for families, small groups and anyone with extra luggage.
Step 1: passport control
After you leave the aircraft, follow the signs for passport control. Rules on which lanes and eGates non EU passport holders can use are set by the Irish Immigration Service, so check its website before you travel rather than relying on what you used last time. Queue times vary with how many flights have landed together, which is one more reason to let us track your flight rather than fix a pickup time in advance.
Step 2: baggage reclaim and golf clubs
Collect your bags from the reclaim belt shown on the screens for your flight. If you are travelling with golf clubs or other large items, tell us when you book so the car has room for them.
Step 3: customs and the arrivals hall
Once you have your bags, go through customs and out into the arrivals hall. This is where your chauffeur meets you, at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. We help with your luggage from the terminal to the car, which waits in the VIP car park a short walk from arrivals, so there is no queue for a taxi and no search for a driver outside.
One recent example: we were booked to collect a senior executive flying in from New York, due to land at 4am. In Alan’s experience, flights from New York tend to come in early, so he kept an eye on the flight tracker through the night. The flight landed an hour early, at 3am, and he was in the arrivals hall when the passenger walked through, then drove them home to Ratoath in Co. Meath.
What we are doing while you are in the air
Lir is based in Ashbourne, a short drive from the terminals, and operates 24/7, so an early landing is not a problem for us. While you are flying, we are tracking your flight, planning the route to your first stop, and timing the drive to the airport around your actual arrival rather than the time on your ticket. On board there is WiFi and water, so you can message home to say you have landed, or simply rest.
Your first morning: hotel, meeting or straight on?
After an overnight flight, most people want one of three things.
- Straight to a hotel in Dublin. If your room will not be ready yet, ask your hotel in advance whether it can hold your bags or offer an early check in.
- Straight to a meeting. Tell us the address and meeting time when you book, and we plan the pickup and route around it, with time built in for passport control and baggage.
- Straight on to the rest of Ireland. Many visitors from the US go directly from Dublin Airport to Adare, Kerry, Galway or the Boyne Valley. We quote the whole journey in advance, with room for luggage and golf clubs, so you can sleep in the car instead of driving on the left after a night flight.
Flying home: leave time for US Preclearance
Flights from Dublin to the US leave from Terminal 2, where you complete US immigration and customs before you board, so you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger. Dublin Airport says Terminal 2 can be busy from 05:00 to 12:00 and advises leaving plenty of time to check in, clear security and complete Preclearance. Give us your flight time and we will plan your pickup with that in mind.
Questions about arriving in Dublin from the US
What happens if my flight lands early?
Alan monitors flight times for every airport pickup, so your chauffeur knows your flight is early and is in the arrivals hall when you come through.
Where will my chauffeur meet me?
In the arrivals hall at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, depending on where your flight lands. Your chauffeur helps with your luggage and walks you to the car in the VIP car park.
Can I book before I leave the US?
Yes. Email info@lirexecutivechauffeurservice.com or call +353 85 842 0199 with your flight number, number of passengers and destination, and we will reply with a fixed quote. Executive assistants and travel managers can book on your behalf.
Planning your trip? See our guide for visitors from the US, or book a Dublin Airport transfer.