Hi Julia

Rather than trying to get through to Customer Services perhaps you can clarify a few things for me before I make the big decision to book.

As I would be travelling from Belfast the night before departure and have to stay in a hotel as the flight leaves at 6.20am,can you verify what time we need to be at the check in desk as most hotel shuttle buses only begin their service at 5am and if we need to be there 3 hrs before departure how do we get to the airport? Does it mean a taxi there??

Also can you tell me how long the stopover in Madrid airport is? Looking at the Iberia website on the way back especially there are up to 6 and 7 hour waits??

I would be grateful if you could answer these questions and then I can get on the phone to book rather than lose out.

Many Thanks

Anita:cool:

Hi Anita,

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you, my colleagues have been in touch with the airline to clarify it all and make sure we give you accurate information.

So we have been advised that the check-in desks at Heathrow will open at 5:00am in the morning so it may be safer to get a taxi in case there is a delay with the hotel shuttle.

The stopovers in Madrid are approximately 2hr - 2hrs30mins on both your outbound and inbound flights.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi Anita,

I'm booked on this amazing sounding holiday for next March and I'm in the same boat as you - I'll be flying from Belfast the night before. I was in the same position when I did Vietnam/Cambodia in Feb this year. That time I stayed in the Comfort Inn (but wouldn't stay there again, I'm going to book the Premier Inn on Bath Road nearer the time). Along with another traveller I got a taxi to the airport, I think it cost around £12 and was well worth it to avoid any stress and get there in plenty of time. If you do book the same date, I'd be happy to share a taxi with you!

All the best,

Bob

Hi Julia,

Thanks very much for getting back to me with the answers.

Bob

I read somewhere there are 2 Premier Inns on Bath Road. Am I right or if you can give me the telephone number of the one you will be staying in I would be grateful. Yes I would be happy to share a taxi with you to the airport as like yourself I like to get there in time and not rushing at the last minute. There shouldn't be a problem on the way back as we arrive in Heathrow about 8pm so a shuttle bus would be fine for staying in the hotel that night.Can I ask you if you have arranged your flights from Belfast to Heathrow with JY yet and if so what the flight times are?

Will be really looking forward to this holiday when I get it booked:)

Hi Anita, the flights are only provisionally booked for the Belfast/Heathrow legs at present, JY told me to check back around November and they should have the details then. They'll also send out an amendment invoice when the flights are confirmed. I'll book the Premier Inn then; I didn't know there were two Premier Inns on Bath Road?!! I've only stayed at the Comfort before and those who stayed in the Premier Inn had very good things to say about it. I'll inquire in Nov when I ring JY about the flights. Hope you book the March trip, it should be a great time to go as it'll be in the dry season!

Keep in touch,

Bob