Not all flights to Ireland are created equal. The departure time, route, and arrival hour can completely shape your first few days – for better or worse. Here’s how to choose flights that work for your itinerary, and how to handle jet lag when you get there.

Whether you’re flying solo, with family, or meeting a tour group, these five booking tips will help you plan flights that set your trip up for success – followed by five easy ways to beat jet lag once you land.

This article is also available as the Traveling in Ireland podcast, episode 307. Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links.

How to Choose the Best Flights to Ireland for Your Trip

Finding the right flight to Ireland isn’t just about picking dates and times. It’s about balancing flexibility, convenience, and comfort to make your trip smoother from the start. From knowing when to book to choosing the best airports – and deciphering those “too good to be true” fares – these are the things I keep in mind when booking my own flights or assisting clients in choosing the best options for their trip.

Tip 1: Be Flexible

If you're ready to book flights to Ireland you probably have your dates set, but maintaining a bit of flexibility in your travel dates can sometimes save you money.

Many flight search engines, including Kayak, Google Flights, and even airline websites, allow you to check flight prices for a few days before and after the date you have chosen. Be sure to check those! You may find that a small shift in your plans can save a few hundred dollars.

Another option that could save money is using an airport that isn't your local. For example, tickets to Dublin from my ‘international' airport are at least $500 higher than flights from Chicago O'Hare. After figuring in drive time and parking I may decide that is a good deal if I am traveling solo. But if I am traveling with my family you can bet we're driving to Chicago because it will save at least $1000.

More tips on flying from other airports here.

Tip 2: Finding the Best Flight Deals to Ireland Online

I want to preface this by saying that I am not a ‘flight hacker'. I don't collect credit card points nor do I cobble together flights to get the best price. My goal is to arrive in Ireland on the best flight for me at a fair price and (hopefully) well rested. No offense to people who enjoy flight hacking, it's just not my game.

I always begin searching for tickets to Ireland in Kayak. I set airfare alerts for any route I am considering. Then I watch the rates. Kayak has ‘when to buy' advice and while it isn't always right, I really begin to pay attention to it about 4 months prior to my trip if my flights aren't booked.

Kayak Pro Tip If you have flexibility to travel at any time and you are looking for the best rate, try the Kayak Explore tool! I recommend checking it daily- you can find amazing prices on flights to Ireland (and elsewhere).

I also sign up for fare alerts with AirfareWatchdog. You can set alerts from your chosen airports to any airport in Ireland. One downside to AirfareWatchdog is that you cannot set multi-city routes, so if you want to arrive in Dublin and depart from Shannon this site isn't much help. You also can't set travel dates in AirfareWatchdog so it will send alerts every time it finds a good deal. That said, it is a good resource for monitoring prices and knowing when sales happen.

Flight Booking Pro Tip You can book flights too early -> learn more!

Google Flights works much the same as Kayak, offering a date grid and price graph, as well as price trends, a tool that tells you when prices have historically been lowest, and a price guarantee.

Google Flights Pro Tip Try using Google Flights but leave the destination and dates sections blank. Using the map feature and the filters you can search for flights to Ireland – or nearby European locations to catch a budget flight to Ireland- based on deals for weekends and 1 or 2 week trips in a certain month or over the next 6 months.

You can also do quick fare searches for ‘fly to Ireland from (your airport)' from your favorite search engine to get an idea of Ireland flight prices.

Learn how to set up fare alerts and why I don't recommend booking flights with 3rd party aggregators like Expedia, Travelocity, and CheapOair here.

If Aer Lingus, Ireland's national carrier, flies from an airport near you be sure to create a profile to receive their promotions and offers.

Flexible Schedule & You Want the Cheapest Flights to Ireland? Watch This!

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Tip 3: Beware Cheap Flights to Ireland

Before you book that ‘can't believe it's so cheap' ticket check a couple things!

How many layovers will you have – and are they long enough, or too long? Generally speaking, you need a 2-hour layover before boarding an international flight. So if the layover before your connection flight is less you may want to rethink it.

Another layover question to consider is where the connection is. If I have a flight connection I want it to be in the US, before the longest portion of the flight. I can tell you, from experience, that dealing with a connection in Europe after an overnight flight is exhausting – and it gets you into Ireland later in the day and ready to check into a hotel and sleep!

Also understand the seating class. Know what your ticket includes- and what it doesn't. Often basic economy seats don't include the ability to select your seat or checked baggage. They are also usually 100% nonrefundable.

Tip 4: Choosing Your Ireland Airport

Ireland has multiple airports you can arrive into, but only two have direct flights from the US & Canada: Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport.

Dublin and Shannon also allow US travelers (with direct flights to the US) to complete customs in Ireland as opposed to doing it on arrival in the United States.

Dublin Airport

Dublin has the most US flight arrivals and departures, which means it also has the best prices. It is also the busiest airport in the country and not as large as you might imagine, so you can expect crowds, long queues, and waits at Immigration, especially during the busy travel seasons.

If your trip begins or ends in Dublin, or you just want a great deal, this is the airport to choose. Dublin Airport tips for arrival & departure are here.