All packed and ready to go. About fly to Dublin on Aer Lingus to attend the AAGBI Linkman congress, closely followed by the AAGBI Annual Congress.

My trip started a couple of months ago when I searched the Internet for cheap flights to Dublin. I was amazed when I discovered a direct flight from Aberdeen to Dublin at VERY reasonable rates. So I booked it immediately. Perhaps the warning bells should have rung when the confirmation email arrived from “CheapOair”! But my confidence was boosted when this was closely followed by an email from Aer Lingus to confirm my flight and asking me to “click on this link” to book seats and anther link to book bags – I knew the price was too good to be true! Anyway being somewhat used to and familiar with flying on “budget airlines”, I clicked on the link and was asked to enter my booking reference, name and email address. I entered all of the information only to be advised that the email address did not match my booking reference. No bother, I’ll try again in a couple of weeks. Same story! So I send an email to Aer Lingus customer services who advise me that I have to phone a customer services number and that they will be able to assist. So I phone the number which advises me that this is a premium rate line and I will be paying silly rates to speak to someone – my Scottish blood kicks in and I promptly hang up. Another 2 or 3 emails later from Aer Lingus advising me to book bags in on-line, I was still not able to do so. Determined not to be ripped off, I checked the rates for booking bags in at the airport and it was more than £10 additional to the on-line rate. OK, they have me! I reluctantly phone the number, proceed through multiple choices (is this all designed to maximise the time spent on this premium rate call call?) and eventually speak to a human! They hear my story, then ask for my email address – I explain, so they ask for my credit card number – this has changed since the booking due to a fraud alert, so I don’t know the old one. Sorry sir, we can’t help without those details, you will have to phone the agent you booked through! Oh great, I have just spent all this time on a premium rate call for nothing! So now, I get hold of cheapOair, who will not give me access to book the bags, seats, etc on the website myself, but insist on booking the bags for me at a premium of £4 per bag per flight. Nice one! CheapOair and Aer Lingus – you need to sort your acts out!

Bags packed and loaded into the car I set off for the trip down the A96 to Aberdeen. The A96 is the main trunk road between Inverness and Aberdeen. It is single carriageway for the vast majority of its length. Being the main road route it has a heavy load of trucks plying its length which combined with the rural element of tractors make it a slow frustrating drive. Much excitement recently as we have been advised that the A96 is going to be converted into a dual carriageway. Fantastic! Only problem is that that it will be dualled by 2040. I hope that I am still able to drive, and am still alive, by that stage!

All checked in. Ready to go. Hope the flight is better than the booking process!

See you all in Dublin.